The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/012419.cfm)
reminds me how
powerful Jesus is.
In the
Philippines, the “palakasan” culture is very strong. It’s not necessarily good,
but it’s true. They say that nowadays, it’s not what you know, but who you
know. You can most likely get anything you want if you know the right people –
be it in school, business or corporate. Knowing the right people, and having a
good relationship with them, will be beneficial.
In the
spiritual context, that is true as well. And it is in a good way. An
excerpt from the first reading says:
Jesus is always
able to save those who approach God through him,
since he lives forever to make intercession for them
How
comforting to know that. Jesus is ALWAYS ABLE to save us… if
we come to God THROUGH Him.
So
powerful!
Knowing
Jesus makes us good with or strong to God. Why? Because Jesus goes in between
us and God. He intercedes for us. As the reading says, he is always able – not
just when he was living here on earth, but always. We just need to come to
Jesus.
In the
gospel, we see all who came to Jesus were healed. It is a testament of not only
Jesus' power, but more importantly his love for us. Even just touching his
cloak healed the people. Jesus saw their faith, and he rewarded them. All
according to God's plans and purpose.
What
does coming to Jesus mean? Does it mean we will always get what we want if we
course it through Jesus?
Coming
to Jesus does not mean we’ll just ask him to tell God what we want. On the
other hand, coming to Jesus is humbling ourselves and submitting ourselves
to Him. And as we do so, we will be changed. Our hearts will be more and more
like him. our desires will be one with him, will be what he desires for us. We
will decrease and God will increase in our lives. Thus, we will be saved as we
die of ourselves, and we will get what we pray for as we pray for what God
wants for us.
Are
you ready to come to Jesus, knowing that he is always able? What prevents me
from fully coming and surrendering to him?
May we
always remember that Jesus is able, and may this lead us to humble ourselves
and come to him.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another sunrise. Thank
you for reminding me how loving and powerful Jesus is. It is inspiring that you
are always able, as we see in the first reading and in the gospel. Thank you
for not turning away anyone who comes to you in full faith. Sorry for the times
I lack faith. Lord, give me that faith. Give me that humility. May I have the
heart to come to you, and surrender myself to you. May you be God in my life,
so that my life will be my love offering to you. As I strive to live my life
for you, I know that you will give me my heart’s desires, because I will only
desire what you desire for me. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
January 24 2019
Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor
of the Church
Lectionary: 314
Lectionary: 314
Reading
1 HEB 7:25—8:6
Jesus
is always able to save those who approach God through him,
since he lives forever to make intercession for them.
It was fitting that we should have such a high priest:
holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners,
higher than the heavens.
He has no need, as did the high priests,
to offer sacrifice day after day,
first for his own sins and then for those of the people;
he did that once for all when he offered himself.
For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests,
but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law,
appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.
The main point of what has been said is this:
we have such a high priest,
who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne
of the Majesty in heaven, a minister of the sanctuary
and of the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up.
Now every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices;
thus the necessity for this one also to have something to offer.
If then he were on earth, he would not be a priest,
since there are those who offer gifts according to the law.
They worship in a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary,
as Moses was warned when he was about to erect the tabernacle.
For God says, "See that you make everything
according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."
Now he has obtained so much more excellent a ministry
as he is mediator of a better covenant,
enacted on better promises.
since he lives forever to make intercession for them.
It was fitting that we should have such a high priest:
holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners,
higher than the heavens.
He has no need, as did the high priests,
to offer sacrifice day after day,
first for his own sins and then for those of the people;
he did that once for all when he offered himself.
For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests,
but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law,
appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.
The main point of what has been said is this:
we have such a high priest,
who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne
of the Majesty in heaven, a minister of the sanctuary
and of the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up.
Now every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices;
thus the necessity for this one also to have something to offer.
If then he were on earth, he would not be a priest,
since there are those who offer gifts according to the law.
They worship in a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary,
as Moses was warned when he was about to erect the tabernacle.
For God says, "See that you make everything
according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."
Now he has obtained so much more excellent a ministry
as he is mediator of a better covenant,
enacted on better promises.
Responsorial
Psalm PS
40:7-8A, 8B-9, 10, 17
R. (8a
and 9a) Here am I, Lord; I come to do
your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you,
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, "The LORD be glorified."
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you,
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, "The LORD be glorified."
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Alleluia SEE 2 TM 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus
withdrew toward the sea with his disciples.
A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.
Hearing what he was doing,
a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem,
from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan,
and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.
He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd,
so that they would not crush him.
He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases
were pressing upon him to touch him.
And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him
and shout, "You are the Son of God."
He warned them sternly not to make him known.
A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.
Hearing what he was doing,
a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem,
from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan,
and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.
He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd,
so that they would not crush him.
He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases
were pressing upon him to touch him.
And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him
and shout, "You are the Son of God."
He warned them sternly not to make him known.
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