The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121218.cfm)
reminds me that I
should be ready to serve whatever situation I may be in.
When
we look at the players in the NBA, we are amazed at their skills and talents.
We feel that they are superior. However, I was struck when I saw the article
about an NBA superstar, and he mentioned that it is very rare that he is 100%
coming into the game. There will always be injuries, pain and
difficulties coming into the game, but he just focuses on the game,
gives it all he has, and when he plays, you will not think that he is playing
hurt. That’s how God wants us to serve.
We
should serve God no matter what situation we are in.
In
the gospel, Mama Mary just found out she was pregnant. Things were not clear
yet. she did not know what will happen, and who will be the “earthly father” of
the child she’s bearing. She did not know the details. And she is already
pregnant, so she could have just rested since she’s carrying God’s son.
However, she did not. Instead, despite her situation, she still served
God as she travelled to serve her cousin Elizabeth. That’s the kind of
service God wants.
We
will never be 100% okay in life.
There
will always be challenges. There will always be problems.
This is why we should not wait for these things to be over before we
serve God. We should not wait until work settles down, or that we are
financially stable before we serve God. There will always be something that
will prohibit you from being 100% okay. We should serve God right now.
God is not asking that we reach a certain level in work
or in life achievement before we serve him. what he wants is for us to simply
serve him, to simply do his work and do what we can – no matter how simple we
think it may be. As we serve Him, He will use us and our actions and magnify
them to give glory to his name.
Do I serve God right now? In what way? Do I wait for the perfect situation or condition before I serve God? What prevents me from serving God? What is he telling me today?
May we never wait for the perfect situation to serve God,
but serve him where we are right now.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live.
Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for another
reminder. Thank you for Mama Mary who constantly inspires me. Lord, I am sorry
for the many times I give a lot of excuses for not serving you. Sorry for
focusing on my challenges and the imperfections instead of on you. Sorry for
letting myself be distracted. Sorry for being weak. I ask that you give me a
heart like Mama Mary. Give me a heart that would always want to serve you no
matter what situation I may be in. give me a heart that would love you more
than I love myself. As I do my best to serve you where I am now, I ask that you
bless my actions and glorify your name through it. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflections:
December 12, 2018
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Lectionary: 690A
Lectionary: 690A
Reading 1
Sing
and rejoice, O daughter Zion!
See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day,
and they shall be his people,
and he will dwell among you,
and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
The LORD will possess Judah as his portion in the holy land,
and he will again choose Jerusalem.
Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the LORD!
For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling.
See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day,
and they shall be his people,
and he will dwell among you,
and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
The LORD will possess Judah as his portion in the holy land,
and he will again choose Jerusalem.
Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the LORD!
For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling.
God's temple in heaven was opened,
and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.
Then another sign appeared in the sky;
it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,
and on its heads were seven diadems.
Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky
and hurled them down to the earth.
Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth,
to devour her child when she gave birth.
She gave birth to a son, a male child,
destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.
Her child was caught up to God and his throne.
The woman herself fled into the desert
where she had a place prepared by God.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed."
Responsorial Psalm JUDITH
13:18BCDE, 19
R.
(15:9d) You are the highest honor of
our race.
Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God,
above all the women on earth;
and blessed be the LORD God,
the creator of heaven and earth.
R. You are the highest honor of our race.
Your deed of hope will never be forgotten
by those who tell of the might of God.
R. You are the highest honor of our race.
Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God,
above all the women on earth;
and blessed be the LORD God,
the creator of heaven and earth.
R. You are the highest honor of our race.
Your deed of hope will never be forgotten
by those who tell of the might of God.
R. You are the highest honor of our race.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise;
from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise;
from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK
1:26-38
The
angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel,
"How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?"
And the angel said to her in reply,
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word."
Then the angel departed from her.
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel,
"How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?"
And the angel said to her in reply,
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word."
Then the angel departed from her.
Or LK
1:39-47
Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled."
And Mary said:
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior."
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