Follow Agad

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011419.cfm) reminds me that I should immediately follow God when he calls me. 

People react differently when summoned. Whatever the situation is, wether it is a superior calling regarding work, or your parents telling you to do something, the reaction differs. Some would take their time and wait until the person is mad before heeding the call. Others wait two to three times of being called before following. While others follow and respond to at once. This is similar to how we react with our faith. And God reminds us to respond and follow immediately. 

We should immediately respond and follow when God calls us. 

In the gospel, we see Jesus calling Peter, Andrew, James and John – the first four apostles, and Jesus’ closest ones. They all immediately said yes to him when he called them. No questions asked. It might be hard to imagine this. They were fishermen, what do they know about being fishers of men? But when Jesus called them, they immediately left everything to follow Him. Yes, siguro iba talaga pag si Jesus physically, personally, ang tumawag sayo. Siguro hindi rin alam ng apostles bakit sila nag yes agad. But they did, and it changed their lives forever.

Jesus may not be with us physically right now, but he never ceases to call us. He always gives us a chance to serve Him, to follow Him. It’s just up to us how we would respond. There are so many reasons preventing us from giving God our Yes. Like a lady having qualifications or characteristics waiting to be met before giving her yes to a suitor, minsan ganun din tayo. We are sometimes waiting for the perfect time to serve or give our yes to God. Pag mas madami na akong time. Pag mas may pera na ako. Pag may na accomplish na ako sa career ko. Kapag mas magaling na ako… Unfortunately, these can easily trap us. It’s not easy to be contented, so sometimes we have the tendency not to realize that we have more than enough already. More importantly, Jesus doesn’t need these things. These self-imposed things are sometimes just our excuse for not serving Him. Jesus just wants our Yes to him.

Jesus just needs our availability, he will provide the ability.

We should not ignore his call. We should not wait multiple times before we respond. We should immediately follow Him. We should respond to Him. We should learn how to trust in Him. Things may not be perfect. We may feel unprepared.  The situation may be ugly. We may still be doing and taking care of things. But we should be ready to follow Him. We should be ready to leave everything behind for him. And we should have faith in him that as he calls us, he will help and equip us. 

Do I believe that God calls me? In what ways does God call me? How do I respond to his call? Do I say yes to him, or do I give him reasons or excuses?

May we be ready and willing to immediately respond and follow God as he calls us. 

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 week. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I do not immediately follow you. Sorry for the times I prioritize doing my things over following you. Sorry for waiting until I have free time before I do things for you. Increase my faith in and love for you. Help me have that faith in you that would be willing to drop everything for you. As I follow and serve you, I know you will equip me, guide me, and help me. Amen. 

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

January 14 2019

Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 305

Reading 1 HEB 1:1-6

Brothers and sisters:
In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways
to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he spoke to us through the Son,   
whom he made heir of all things
and through whom he created the universe,

who is the refulgence of his glory,
the very imprint of his being,
and who sustains all things by his mighty word.
When he had accomplished purification from sins,
he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
as far superior to the angels
as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

For to which of the angels did God ever say:
You are my Son; this day I have begotten you?
Or again:
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a Son to me?
And again, when he leads the first born into the world, he says:
Let all the angels of God worship him

Responsorial Psalm PS 97:1 AND 2B, 6 AND 7C, 9

R. (see 7c) Let all his angels worship him.
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Let all his angels worship him.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
Let all his angels worship him.
R. Let all his angels worship him.
Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,
exalted far above all gods.
R. Let all his angels worship him.

Alleluia MK 1:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 1:14-20

After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the Gospel."

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Then they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.