He Looks Inside

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/033119-yeara.cfm) reminds me that God sees and looks inside my heart. 

A lot of people get influenced by appearance. They get impressed or intimidated based on what the eyes see. Rich and powerful people show off their money and influence with their appearance. In the same way, it is easy to judge the weak and poor by appearance. However, what is real is not always seen by the eyes. Similar to what the little prince said, "what is essential is invisible to the eye". God looks at us this way. 

God does not judge by the appearance, but looks at our heart. 

It is easy to appear good to other people. It is easy to make and maintain a reputation - of confidence, power, success, or goodness. However, God sees more than what we show. God sees our hearts and what really are in there. God sees if our actions are superficial, or if they are manifestations of the goodness in our hearts. 

We see this in the first reading. Samuel thought Eliab was the anointed one. He was the eldest. He was strong and mighty - a leader in the worldly sense.  But God did not choose him. God did not choose the others who were mighty. God chose David, a young shepherd. He chose David not because of his worldly characteristics, but because of his heart. And David did great things with God's guidance and blessings. 

We also see this in the gospel. Jesus healed a blind man. His outside appearance was not good. Other people thought he or his parents were sinful. But Jesus looked inside his heart. And he healed him. We eventually see that he had a good heart when he testified to people, even to leaders at that time, about his healing. Then when he had the chance, he worshipped God. This was different from the leaders who appeared mighty and righteous but had unclean and hardened hearts towards Jesus. 

We do not need a lot of credentials to serve God and do good. Unlike in corporations where further education and accomplishments are very important to be at the top, God's ladder is climbed differently. He does not need these accomplishments. He just needs a heart willing to serve Him and sees Him as the God he is. Then like David, he will use and equip, and make great things through us - no matter how simple we may seem in the eyes of the world. 

May we remember that God sees our hearts, and work to have not a good image, but a good heart. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for another reminder. Thank you for all the blessings you have been giving me. Lord, sorry for the times i get contented with superficial level service. Sorry for the times i focus on how I would appear good to other people. Sorry for the times I work to get the approval of other people and not you. And I am sorry for underestimating you, for thinking that because I am simple and have no credentials the world recognizes, I cannot serve you well. Help me have a heart like David. Help me have a heart that focuses on you, that loves you. Help me have a heart that surrenders to you. As I work to have that, I Ask that you make me more like you and use me however unworthy I may seem. Use me for your purpose and your glory. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

March 31 2019 - Year A

Fourth Sunday of Lent – Year A Readings
Lectionary: 31

Reading 1 1 SM 16:1B, 6-7, 10-13A

The LORD said to Samuel:
“Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.
I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem,
for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”

As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice,
Samuel looked at Eliab and thought,
“Surely the LORD’s anointed is here before him.”
But the LORD said to Samuel:
“Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature,
because I have rejected him.
Not as man sees does God see,
because man sees the appearance
but the LORD looks into the heart.”
In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel,
but Samuel said to Jesse,
“The LORD has not chosen any one of these.”
Then Samuel asked Jesse,
“Are these all the sons you have?”
Jesse replied,
“There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said to Jesse,
“Send for him;
we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.”
Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them.
He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold
and making a splendid appearance.
The LORD said,
“There—anoint him, for this is the one!”
Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand,
anointed David in the presence of his brothers;
and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.

Responsorial Psalm PS 23: 1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6.

R. (1)  The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
 In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Reading 2 EPH 5:8-14

Brothers and sisters:
You were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light,
for light produces every kind of goodness
and righteousness and truth.
Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness;
rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention
the things done by them in secret;
but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
for everything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore, it says:

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”

Verse Before The Gospel JN 8:12

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Gospel JN 9:1-41

As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.
His disciples asked him,
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,
that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered,
“Neither he nor his parents sinned;
it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.
We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.
Night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
When he had said this, he spat on the ground
and made clay with the saliva,
and smeared the clay on his eyes,
and said to him,
“Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—.
So he went and washed, and came back able to see.

His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,
“Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?”
Some said, “It is, “
but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”
He said, “I am.”
So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”
He replied,
“The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes
and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’
So I went there and washed and was able to see.”
And they said to him, “Where is he?”

He said, “I don’t know.”

They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.
Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.
So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see.
He said to them,
“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”
So some of the Pharisees said,
“This man is not from God,
because he does not keep the sabbath.”
But others said,
“How can a sinful man do such signs?”
And there was a division among them.
So they said to the blind man again,
“What do you have to say about him,
since he opened your eyes?”
He said, “He is a prophet.”

Now the Jews did not believe
that he had been blind and gained his sight
until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight.
They asked them,
“Is this your son, who you say was born blind?
How does he now see?”
His parents answered and said,
“We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.
We do not know how he sees now,
nor do we know who opened his eyes.
Ask him, he is of age;
he can speak for himself.”
His parents said this because they were afraid
of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed
that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ,
he would be expelled from the synagogue.
For this reason his parents said,
“He is of age; question him.”

So a second time they called the man who had been blind
and said to him, “Give God the praise!
We know that this man is a sinner.”
He replied,
“If he is a sinner, I do not know.
One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.”
So they said to him,
“What did he do to you?
How did he open your eyes?”
He answered them,
“I told you already and you did not listen.
Why do you want to hear it again?

Do you want to become his disciples, too?”
They ridiculed him and said,
“You are that man’s disciple;
we are disciples of Moses!
We know that God spoke to Moses,
but we do not know where this one is from.”
The man answered and said to them,
“This is what is so amazing,
that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes.
We know that God does not listen to sinners,
but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.
It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind.
If this man were not from God,
he would not be able to do anything.”
They answered and said to him,
“You were born totally in sin,
and are you trying to teach us?”
Then they threw him out.

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,
he found him and said, ADo you believe in the Son of Man?”
He answered and said,
“Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”
Jesus said to him,
“You have seen him,
the one speaking with you is he.”
He said,
“I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.
Then Jesus said,
“I came into this world for judgment,
so that those who do not see might see,
and those who do see might become blind.”

Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this
and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?”
Jesus said to them,
“If you were blind, you would have no sin;
but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.

Content

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/033019.cfm) reminds me that God looks at the content of our prayer. 

There is more than what meets the eye. 

I believe this is true. There is almost always something more, a deeper meaning and reason beyond the surface level. There are people who seemingly say one thing but actually mean another. There are people who seem to proclaim and share their work for God but are actually looking for applause and building up themselves, not God. This is what happened to the story in the gospel. 

It is not enough that we pray. God looks at the content of our prayers, for the content tells God the state of our hearts. 

The Pharisee prayed, but the focus was not on God. The focus was on himself. How he thinks he is a good person, a God fearing person that people should look up to. He was boasting of how advanced his state is compared to others. And God did not like than. On the other hand, the tax collector had a short prayer. Short but sincere, humble and repentant. Simple, but deep because it was from the heart. Because the focus was on God. Because he knows how small he is compared to God's greatness. And because he knows and hopes God will forgive him. 

Our prayers tell God the state of our hearts. 

When we are like the Pharisee, focusing on ourselves and how great a servant of God we are, then we are not praying. We are boasting and telling God how great we are. We are not focusing on God, but on ourselves. We do not ask God to fill us up, but are telling God we are doing well and must be emulated by others. However, if we are repentant like the tax collector, then God sees how serious, repentant and humble we are. And will help us improve and become more like him. 

Do I pray? How do I pray? Do I merely say how great I am? Or do I humbly come to God with a contrite and repentant heart, asking for his forgiveness and his guidance? How can I improve my prayer life today?

May we not be contented by merely praying, but examine our prayers and see if we are focusing on God or on ourselves. 

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 weekend. Lord, sorry for the times my prayer focuses on myself, not on you. Sorry for being proud. Sorry for having pride. Lord, help me be more aware of my prayers. Help me be sensitive of my prayers. Disturb me and make me aware if my prayers are focusing on myself, and not on you. Help me have a humble and contrite heart, and as I come to you, I ask that you not only forgive me, but fill me and make me more like you. Amen. 

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2018/03/not-just-sacrifice.html

Daily Readings

March 30 2019

Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
Lectionary: 242

Reading 1 HOS 6:1-6

"Come, let us return to the LORD,
it is he who has rent, but he will heal us;
he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds.
He will revive us after two days;
on the third day he will raise us up,
to live in his presence.
Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD;
as certain as the dawn is his coming,
and his judgment shines forth like the light of day!
He will come to us like the rain,
like spring rain that waters the earth."

What can I do with you, Ephraim?
What can I do with you, Judah?
Your piety is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that early passes away.
For this reason I smote them through the prophets,
I slew them by the words of my mouth;
For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice,
and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Responsorial Psalm PS 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21AB

R. (see Hosea 6:6)  It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
Be bountiful, O LORD, to Zion in your kindness
by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem;
Then shall you be pleased with due sacrifices,
burnt offerings and holocausts.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.

Verse Before The Gospel PS 95:8

If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.

Gospel LK 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
"Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —
greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week,
and I pay tithes on my whole income.'
But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.'
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

With Everything

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032919.cfm) reminds me that I should love God with everything that I have. 

They say that if you won't do your best, don't do it at all. Just as important as what you do is how you do it. You should give your best. You should give your all - no matter how simple what you are doing is. Doing your best means you give your all - all you have, all you've got. You cannot control the outcome of everything, but you can control how you do it. You can control how much effort you give as you do it. This is true in different things in life, but especially in loving God. 

God deserves our best, and we should give him that. We should give God our everything. 

In the gospel, Jesus himself said that:

Hear, O Israel! 

The Lord our God is Lord alone!

You shall love the Lord your God 

with all your heart, 

with all your soul, with all your mind, 

and with all your strength.

He wants us to love God with everything - all our heart, soul, mind and strength. He wants our whole being. He wants all of us, including all our imperfections. He wants us to love him and offer him everything, because only then can we experience his great love and power. He wants us to love him and surrender to him everything. We need not be holy as we love him. He accepts us as we are. And as we love him and give him everything, he will fill us with everything of his. And as this happens, we will feel his love and power and we will be transformed to be more and more like him. 

Loving God and giving him our all should be translated to the second greatest commandment - love your neighbor as yourself. It is easy to say we love God, but hard to do. Love for God should be concretized and lived by loving others. Others, especially the unlovable. Others, especially those who cannot and will not love us back. Only then can we say we love God with all we have. 

Loving God with all we've got is not easy. But it surely is necessary for us to realize and experience all his love as well. 

Do I love God? How do I show my love for him? Do I livenit by loving my neighbors? Am I willing to love God by loving others? How can I concretely live my love for God?

May we be moved into action and love God with all we have, and translate this to loving others. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for loving me so much. Thank you for your reminder of how I should love you.  Lord, i am sorry for the times i don't love and serve you with all I have. Sorry for holding back my actions for you. Sorry for giving excuses - that I'm busy, that i'm tired, that I do other good things anyway. And sorry for not loving others as you want me to. Sorry for not concretizing my love for you. Help me surrender to you. Help me love you, not the way i want to love you, but the way you want me to love you. As I surrender, as I love you, I ask that you make me more and more like you. May you be pleased with me, my actions, and how I love you.  Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

March 29 2019

Friday of the Third Week of Lent
Lectionary: 241

Reading 1 HOS 14:2-10

Thus says the LORD:
Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God;
you have collapsed through your guilt.
Take with you words,
and return to the LORD;
Say to him, "Forgive all iniquity,
and receive what is good, that we may render
as offerings the bullocks from our stalls.
Assyria will not save us,
nor shall we have horses to mount;
We shall say no more, 'Our god,'
to the work of our hands;
for in you the orphan finds compassion."

I will heal their defection, says the LORD,
I will love them freely;
for my wrath is turned away from them.
I will be like the dew for Israel:
he shall blossom like the lily;
He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,
and put forth his shoots.
His splendor shall be like the olive tree
and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.
Again they shall dwell in his shade
and raise grain;
They shall blossom like the vine,
and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols?
I have humbled him, but I will prosper him.
"I am like a verdant cypress tree"–
Because of me you bear fruit!

Let him who is wise understand these things;
let him who is prudent know them.
Straight are the paths of the LORD,
in them the just walk,
but sinners stumble in them.

Responsorial Psalm PS 81:6C-8A, 8BC-9, 10-11AB, 14 AND 17

R. (see 11 and 9a)  I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
An unfamiliar speech I hear:
"I relieved his shoulder of the burden;
his hands were freed from the basket.
In distress you called, and I rescued you."
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
"Unseen, I answered you in thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Hear, my people, and I will admonish you;
O Israel, will you not hear me?"
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
"There shall be no strange god among you
 nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt."
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
"If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
I would feed them with the best of wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would fill them."
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

Verse Before The Gospel MT 4:17

Repent, says the Lord;
the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Gospel MK 12:28-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
"Which is the first of all the commandments?"
Jesus replied, "The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these."
The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
He is One and there is no other than he.
And to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him,
"You are not far from the Kingdom of God."
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

For or Against

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032819.cfm) reminds me that I should decide if I am for God or not. 

There are a lot of politicians who stay on the safe side, on the powerful side. Sometimes you do not know what side they are on – opposition or administration. They are not loyal to a party or core values, but are loyal to those in power. Personality based. They would change parties depending on who is in power. They stay where it will be politically safe and wise, and not make their own firm stand. This is not something that would work for God. We need to decide. 

You are either for God, or against him.

There is no middle ground. Jesus says in the gospel that we are either for God or against him. We cannot be in the middle – choosing which commandments and laws to obey. We cannot choose what doctrines we are comfortable with and believe in just those. We cannot choose what commandments we want to obey and just do those. It’s all or nothing – for God or against God. We should be all in. 

in the first reading, God himself said that we should listen and obey him. This should be a whole hearted decision, and not a half baked one. He sends people to remind us, but he cannot force us. The decision is ours to make. 

Are there commandments I do not follow? Do I choose what I believe in? Do I just do and obey what is comfortable to me? What is God telling me today?

May we heed the psalmist’s call – to soften our hearts and obey God as we hear his voice today calling us. May we decide that we are fully on God’s side and live that decision. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another reminder. Lord, I am sorry for the times I ignore this. Sorry for the times I only choose what I believe in, what I want, what is comfortable and acceptable to me. Sorry for not loving you wholeheartedly. Help me live pleasing to you. Create in me a pure and clean heart, that I may wholeheartedly follow you as I live my life. I will do my best to live my decision to be on your side, to follow and love you. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

March 28 2019

Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
Lectionary: 240

Reading 1 JER 7:23-28

Thus says the LORD:
This is what I commanded my people:
Listen to my voice;
then I will be your God and you shall be my people.
Walk in all the ways that I command you,
so that you may prosper.

But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed.
They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts
and turned their backs, not their faces, to me.
From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day,
I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets.
Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed;
they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers.
When you speak all these words to them,
they will not listen to you either;
when you call to them, they will not answer you.
Say to them:
This is the nation that does not listen
to the voice of the LORD, its God,
or take correction.
Faithfulness has disappeared;
the word itself is banished from their speech.

Responsorial Psalm PS 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Verse Before The Gospel JL 2:12-13

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
for I am gracious and merciful.

Gospel LK 11:14-23

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,
and when the demon had gone out,
the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.
Some of them said, "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons."
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
"Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself,
how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters."

Obedience

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032719.cfm) reminds me how God values obedience to Him.

Obedience is not something easy to do. We usually obey when we are forced to, or when we respect the one giving the command or order. The first reading shows Moses reminding the people not to forget God’s commandments, and teach them to their children. Following these commandments will make us closer to God. The gospel says that we should obey the commandments to be the greatest in God’s kingdom

Why is obeying God so important?

Why will we be the greatest in God’s kingdom if we obey and encourage others to do so?

Obeying God is giving importance to God.

It means we are humbling ourselves and acknowledging that God is God in our lives. Obeying his commandments is submitting to His will, not ours. This is what makes us the greatest, because we want to know Him more, we want to be more and more like him, because we want to serve him with our lives. It shows dependence and humility – qualities that God loves in his children. And the more we obey, the more we have these qualities, then the greater we will be in God’s eyes and in God’s kingdom.

In the same way, he said that whoever breaks his commandments and teaches others to do the same is the least in his kingdom. Least, because disobedience to God is a sign that one does not recognize and value God. And if this is how one looks at God, then he doesn't want to be in God's kingdom, thus the least.

Do I obey God’s commandments? When - all the time, or just when it is convenient for me, or when I am being watched? Do I always obey his will, or only when I need something from Him? Do I easily forget the good he has done for me and do things my way? Do I bring people to him and encourage them to follow and obey God’s commandments?

May we remember to humble ourselves and obey God’s commandments and his will, not ours, in our lives. As we do so, may we also bring other people to Him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love you, but more importantly to experience your love. Thank you for the reminder. Sorry for the times I do not obey you. Sorry for the times I do what I want, not what you want. Sorry for the times I love myself more than I love you. Lord, make my heart like yours. May I always seek you and obey you in all aspects of my life…everytime. May I live my life focused on doing your will and giving you glory. Use me for your kingdom, for your purpose, and for your glory. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

March 27 2019

Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
Lectionary: 239

Reading 1 DT 4:1, 5-9

Moses spoke to the people and said:
"Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees
which I am teaching you to observe,
that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land
which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees
as the LORD, my God, has commanded me,
that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy.
Observe them carefully,
for thus will you give evidence
of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,
who will hear of all these statutes and say,
'This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.'
For what great nation is there
that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us
whenever we call upon him?
Or what great nation has statutes and decrees
that are as just as this whole law
which I am setting before you today?

"However, take care and be earnestly on your guard
not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen,
nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live,
but teach them to your children and to your children's children."

Responsorial Psalm PS 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20

R. (12a)  Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
He spreads snow like wool;
frost he strews like ashes.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Verse Before The Gospel SEE JN 6:63C, 68C

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.

Gospel MT 5:17-19

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven

Forgive Others

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032619.cfm) reminds me that I should be quick to forgive others just as God is quick to forgive me. 

It is not always easy to forgive. When people hurt us, when people say bad things about us, when we are abused or exploited, when we are treated unjustly, and when people break our trust, we get hurt. And when we are badly hurt, it is very hard to forgive. However, if we take a look at these reasons, they are all dependent on us. They are based on how we feel. They are caused by what happened to us. This is why it is very hard to forgive.

It is hard to forgive when we love ourselves more than we love others.

In the gospel, Jesus tells us that we should always forgive others - more than the prescribed times in their laws back then. He further explains this with the parable of the unforgiving servant. The master forgave him for all his debts, yet he was unwilling to forgive someone who owed him a tiny portion of what he owed the master. So he was punished.

We all sin. We all hurt God. In a big way. Yet he still forgives us always. However, we are not as forgiving to others, even if God forgives our great sins. We love ourselves too much. We love ourselves more than we love God and others so we find it hard to forgive. We ignore God's goodness and command, and instead focus on ourselves - our hurts and pains, our feelings, that's why we find it hard to forgive others. And as we wallow in these negative things, our hearts are hardened and turned away from the loving presence of God. As we harbor ill feelings and hurts in our hearts, they occupy space that could have been taken by God - space that God could have filled with love, joy and peace.

In the last part of the gospel, we see that God will not forgive us if we do not forgive others - not because his forgiveness is conditional, but because he cannot forgive those who are not asking for forgiveness. If we focus on ourselves and our hurts, and not forgive the sins of others, then we are denying our sins before God. We are focusing on ourselves, not on asking forgiveness from God. So we cannot be forgiven.

How hard is giving forgiveness for me? Do I find it hard to extend forgiveness to others? Who is the one person I know I should forgive? Likewise, do I ask forgiveness from God? Do I recognize that I always sin and hurt him, and that I need to ask for forgiveness from him?

May we be encouraged to focus on God's love and forgive others just as God freely forgives us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love you. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for your love that always forgives me. Sorry for the times I find it hard to forgive others. Sorry for the times I focus on myself, my hurts, and not on you. Sorry for loving myself more than I love you. Help me be always ready and willing to forgive others. As I feel your love and mercy and forgiveness, may it break the hardness of my heart and enable me to forgive others, no matter what they have done to me. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

March 26 2019

Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent
Lectionary: 238

Reading 1 DN 3:25, 34-43

Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud:

"For your name's sake, O Lord, do not deliver us up forever,
or make void your covenant.
Do not take away your mercy from us,
for the sake of Abraham, your beloved,
Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one,
To whom you promised to multiply their offspring
like the stars of heaven,
or the sand on the shore of the sea.
For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation,
brought low everywhere in the world this day
because of our sins.
We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader,
no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense,
no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you.
But with contrite heart and humble spirit
let us be received;
As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks,
or thousands of fat lambs,
So let our sacrifice be in your presence today
as we follow you unreservedly;
for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.
And now we follow you with our whole heart,
we fear you and we pray to you.
Do not let us be put to shame,
but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy.
Deliver us by your wonders,
and bring glory to your name, O Lord."

Responsorial Psalm PS 25:4-5AB, 6 AND 7BC, 8-9

R. (6a)  Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Verse Before The Gospel JL 2:12-13

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart;
for I am gracious and merciful.

Gospel MT 18:21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him,
"Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive him?
As many as seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
Since he had no way of paying it back,
his master ordered him to be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and all his property,
in payment of the debt.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,
'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.'
Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a much smaller amount.
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
'Pay back what you owe.'
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
But he refused.
Instead, he had him put in prison
until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,
they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master
and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?'
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart."

Annunciation 2019

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032519.cfm) reminds me how powerful saying Yes to God is.

Just a few months ago, we celebrated Christmas. Today, 9 months before December 25, we commemorate Jesus' Annunciation - when the Angel announced that Mary would bear a child, and more importantly, when Mary said yes and started Jesus’ earthly life. As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, we see that the readings focus on the joyful feast. The first reading gives prophecy on what will happen – that a virgin will bear a Son from God. The gospel fulfills that prophecy as Mama Mary said yes to being the earthly mother of God’s Son. Then in the second reading, we see that animal sacrifices cannot take away our sins, so God had to send his Son as a living sacrifice to save us. And we see how Jesus lived and quoted the psalm – “here I am Lord, I come to do your will”

Mama Mary’s simple yet powerful yes to God started great things.

Mary was visited by the angel in today’s gospel. She was told she would be the mother of God. How frightening it must have been for a young girl to be told this. She was also told that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and God’s power will overshadow her and make her pregnant. There were a lot of concerns, especially as she did not understand everything that will happen and how things will happen. However, she still said yes. She did not let her concerns or worries get in the way of saying yes to God, to serving God.

It is not easy serving God. Almost always, we are taken out of our comfort zones. Our schedules and plans will change. That’s why is not always an immediate yes when God calls us. However, we see that Mama Mary’s yes caused great things, and it enabled her to play a great part in God’s plan.

God calls us to do different things. Different and oftentimes, hard. These things may not be within our schedules and plans, but we should be inspired by Mama Mary’s faith filled Yes to God!

In what ways am I being called by God to serve him? How do I respond? Am I ready to give my yes to God? What hinders me from giving my yes to Him? Do I have faith that as I give my yes, God will use me mightily for his purpose, and equip me with the things that I need to serve him? Do I believe that as I die of myself and embrace his will, nothing is really impossible?

May we always be ready and willing to say yes to God and echo the words: “May it be done to me according to your word” and Jesus’ “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will”. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for your reminder. Thank you for your love. Thank you for seeing the greatness in me, that no matter how simple and normal I am, like Mama Mary, you give me opportunities to serve you and become part of your great plans. Sorry for not always saying yes to you. Sorry for letting my fears and concerns get the best of me. Sorry for not focusing on you. Lord, give me a heart like Mama Mary. Help me to always surrender to you and abandon my concerns and worries and just say yes to you. I have faith that as I respond to your call, you will equip me to do your work. May you use me to glorify you. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

March 25 2019

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Lectionary: 545

Reading 1 IS 7:10-14; 8:10

The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;
let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered,
"I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!"
Then Isaiah said:
Listen, O house of David!
Is it not enough for you to weary people,
must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:
the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel,
which means "God is with us!" 

Responsorial Psalm PS 40:7-8A, 8B-9, 10, 11

R. (8a and 9a) Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."
R. Here I am, 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 I am, 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 I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Your justice I kept not hid within my heart;
your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of;
I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth
in the vast assembly.
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Reading 2 HEB 10:4-10

Brothers and sisters:
It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats
take away sins.
For this reason, when Christ came into the world, he said:

"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight.
Then I said, 'As is written of me in the scroll,
behold, I come to do your will, O God.'"

First he says, "Sacrifices and offerings,
holocausts and sin offerings,
you neither desired nor delighted in."
These are offered according to the law.
Then he says, "Behold, I come to do your will."
He takes away the first to establish the second.
By this "will," we have been consecrated
through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Verse Before The Gospel JN 1:14AB

The Word of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us;
and we saw his glory.

Gospel LK 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel,
"How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?"
And the angel said to her in reply,
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word."
Then the angel departed from her.