The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011219.cfm)
reminds me that we
should always be pointing our lives to Christ.
Everyone
loves God. Everyone wants to be successful. Everyone wants to be accomplished.
Everyone wants to be respected and looked upon highly. We pray to God for
worldly success and accomplishments, however, when we actually get these, some
forget who gave us these things in the first place. Some get too engrossed by
their achievements or by the praises of other people that they forget who got
them there in the first place.
God
loves us and wants the best for us, but we should not forget him when things
are going so well in our lives.
In
the gospel we see who did not forget God. John had a lot of followers already.
He got the respect of people. But he did not let these things get on his head.
He did not forget his mission in life and why he was doing things in the first
place. And when told about a man who might be challenging his popularity and
followers, he responded in a humble way – “He must increase, I must decrease” IT is good to be reminded of
this humility and focus on God despite all the worldly achievements.
What
are the achievements I hold dear in my heart? How did I get these things? Do I
recognize God’s help in these things? Do I thank him?
May
we never be too proud of what we have accomplished, and remember to point to
God when we get praises for good work or achievements, may our live always be
about pleasing God, doing his work, his will, and glorifying him – just like
John.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live.
Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for being with me. Lord, sorry for the
times I forget you. Sorry for the times I get too proud of myself. help me to
not lose sight of you. As I pray for blessings and guidance in life, I also
pray that you keep my eyes on you. May I not forget who gave me these blessings
and who allowed success to come in my life. May my work, my success, and my
life glorify you. May I reflect your greatness and show people how great and
loving you are. Amen.
Blessed Weekend!
In Christ,
-g-
January 12 2019
Saturday after Epiphany
Lectionary: 217
Lectionary: 217
Reading
1 1 JN 5:14-21
Beloved:
We have this confidence in him
that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask,
we know that what we have asked him for is ours.
If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly,
he should pray to God and he will give him life.
This is only for those whose sin is not deadly.
There is such a thing as deadly sin,
about which I do not say that you should pray.
All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.
We know that anyone begotten by God does not sin;
but the one begotten by God he protects,
and the Evil One cannot touch him.
We know that we belong to God,
and the whole world is under the power of the Evil One.
We also know that the Son of God has come
and has given us discernment to know the one who is true.
And we are in the one who is true,
in his Son Jesus Christ.
He is the true God and eternal life.
Children, be on your guard against idols.
We have this confidence in him
that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask,
we know that what we have asked him for is ours.
If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly,
he should pray to God and he will give him life.
This is only for those whose sin is not deadly.
There is such a thing as deadly sin,
about which I do not say that you should pray.
All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.
We know that anyone begotten by God does not sin;
but the one begotten by God he protects,
and the Evil One cannot touch him.
We know that we belong to God,
and the whole world is under the power of the Evil One.
We also know that the Son of God has come
and has given us discernment to know the one who is true.
And we are in the one who is true,
in his Son Jesus Christ.
He is the true God and eternal life.
Children, be on your guard against idols.
Responsorial
Psalm PS
149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6A AND 9B
R.
(see 4a) The Lord
takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia MT
4:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel JN
3:22-30
Jesus
and his disciples went into the region of Judea,
where he spent some time with them baptizing.
John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim,
because there was an abundance of water there,
and people came to be baptized,
for John had not yet been imprisoned.
Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew
about ceremonial washings.
So they came to John and said to him,
"Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan,
to whom you testified,
here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him."
John answered and said,
"No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.
You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ,
but that I was sent before him.
The one who has the bride is the bridegroom;
the best man, who stands and listens for him,
rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice.
So this joy of mine has been made complete.
He must increase; I must decrease."
where he spent some time with them baptizing.
John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim,
because there was an abundance of water there,
and people came to be baptized,
for John had not yet been imprisoned.
Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew
about ceremonial washings.
So they came to John and said to him,
"Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan,
to whom you testified,
here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him."
John answered and said,
"No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.
You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ,
but that I was sent before him.
The one who has the bride is the bridegroom;
the best man, who stands and listens for him,
rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice.
So this joy of mine has been made complete.
He must increase; I must decrease."
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