Special Ka

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121118.cfm) reminds me reminds me how special I am in God's eyes. 

Self-esteem is a very big problem. Sometimes, the people we think that are confident, beautiful, or successful are the ones who have big self-esteem issues. They do not see their worth, or their importance, that’s why some try to cover it with achieving things, or appearing beautiful or confident. Self-esteem issues can also ruin relationships. One cannot trust another person if he or she is very unsure about the self. 

The gospel today should help us feel better about ourselves. God thinks highly of us.

“What is your opinion?

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills
and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost

Every creation of God is important. 

Everyone. And our importance is not based on how we see ourselves, or our achievements in life. We are important because God created us. We are important and God loves us.

God sees us not for what we are right now, but for what we can be. 

He made us with great potential. All our sins, concerns, problems, and issues do not change that. Despite all these things and imperfections, God still sees the beautiful and wonderful creation he made in us, and we are invited to just surrender to him, to come to him as he looks for us, and allow him to use and mold us.

God will go the extra mile for you. 

No matter where you are, no matter how far you may feel from him, no matter how little or insignificant you may feel, God will search for you and go looking for you. He will find you. However, he won’t force you to come with him. He will just wait and hope you will go with him. 

How do I see myself? Do I feel good about myself, or is the way I see myself dependent on what other people say? Do I believe God when he says I am special? Do I recognize what he says or does the opinion of others more important for me? 

May we find the heart to surrender to God when he comes looking for us, and allow him to mold us to be the great creation we were intended to be.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to experience your love. Thanks you for the inspiring reminder. Lord, sorry for letting my concerns and the issues of the world get the best of me. Sorry for making these things Affect the way I see myself. Help me focus on you, Lord. Help me see myself the way you see me – beautiful, full of potential, capable of doing good, destined for greatness. I know you love me and how special I am to you. I surrender Lord and allow you to use my for whatever purpose you have for me. I know you have great plans for me, and I will do my best to just cooperate with you as you work in and through me. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

December 11, 2018

Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
Lectionary: 182

Reading 1 IS 40:1-11

Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,
her guilt is expiated;
Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD
double for all her sins.

A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;
The rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

A voice says, "Cry out!"
I answer, "What shall I cry out?"
"All flesh is grass,
and all their glory like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower wilts,
when the breath of the LORD blows upon it.
So then, the people is the grass.
Though the grass withers and the flower wilts,
the word of our God stands forever."

Go up onto a high mountain,
Zion, herald of glad tidings;
Cry out at the top of your voice,
Jerusalem, herald of good news!
Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by his strong arm;
Here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
in his arms he gathers the lambs,
Carrying them in his bosom,
and leading the ewes with care.

Responsorial Psalm PS 96:1-2, 3 AND 10AC, 11-12, 13

R. (see Isaiah 40:10ab) The Lord our God comes with power.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name;
announce his salvation, day after day.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then let all the trees of the forest rejoice.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
They shall exult before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The day of the Lord is near:
Behold, he comes to save us.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 18:12-14

Jesus said to his disciples:
"What is your opinion?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills
and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost."