The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122718.cfm)
reminds me that I
should always share God's love to others.
They
say it is better to give than to receive – and in a lot of ways, this is true.
Members of our community generally feel more blessed in giving and in serving
others, especially as they serve as sponsors in a retreat, than participating
in one. In giving to others, in serving others, we allow God to use us to
spread his love to others. The more love we receive from God, the more we want
to spread and share it to others.
As
we celebrate the Feast of St John, the apostle and evangelist, we see this in
action. John probably felt this way. In the gospel, we see him regarded as “the
disciple whom Jesus loved.” Some say he is the favorite. Of course, Jesus loved
them all, in a way that he loves us all, but probably John was special. He was
one who probably felt Christ’s love the most, but this feeling, this being
special, did not make him act like a spoiled, selfish person. Instead, this
made him love others more, this made him spread God’s love to others, as seen
in the first reading. He wanted to share God to others “so that our joy may be
complete”
We
should share God to others and not keep him for ourselves.
Knowing
God is not for one's gain and appreciation only. Knowing God brings joy,
but sharing God to others would bring even greater joy. That is why
we are called to share God to others too - to share our stories, our encounters
and our faith with others.
Sharing
the love, sharing Jesus, is not through preaching only. They say actions
speak louder than words. When we do good and help others; when we are
constantly trying to do good and be honest; when we continue to be happy and
peaceful despite all the challenges we encounter - then that's when we really
share God. Why? because That's when people will wonder - what God is
this person serving? Why is he so happy and peaceful? Why is she genuinely
good? I want to be like him. I want to know his God.
What are my blessings for this year? What are my greatly
undeserved blessings? What am I sharing with others? Am I spreading God’s love
to others? How can I concretely share God to others?
May we be inspired by John and spread God’s love to
others.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank
you for another day to live. Thank you for all the blessings, both evident and
in disguise, that you continue to give to me. Lord, sorry for the times I do
not recognize them. And sorry for not acting like John, sorry for not sharing
you to others. Sorry for being too lazy to move and act. Disturb me. Make
me like John. Lord, may I always feel your love and blessings, and as I do,
help me spread your love to others. Help me share you to others. Use me to make
your love more alive and more real in this world. May my life remind people how
great and loving you are. May you be glorified through my life. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
December 27, 2018
Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist
Lectionary: 697
Lectionary: 697
Reading
1 1 JN 1:1-4
Beloved:
What was from the beginning,
what we have heard,
what we have seen with our eyes,
what we looked upon
and touched with our hands
concerns the Word of life —
for the life was made visible;
we have seen it and testify to it
and proclaim to you the eternal life
that was with the Father and was made visible to us—
what we have seen and heard
we proclaim now to you,
so that you too may have fellowship with us;
for our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.
What was from the beginning,
what we have heard,
what we have seen with our eyes,
what we looked upon
and touched with our hands
concerns the Word of life —
for the life was made visible;
we have seen it and testify to it
and proclaim to you the eternal life
that was with the Father and was made visible to us—
what we have seen and heard
we proclaim now to you,
so that you too may have fellowship with us;
for our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.
Responsorial
Psalm PS
97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12
R.
(12) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Clouds and darkness are around him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Clouds and darkness are around him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Alleluia
See Te Deum
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel JN
20:1A AND 2-8
On
the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we do not know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.
Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we do not know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.
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