The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032119.cfm)
reminds me that it
will never be useless to hope in God.
They
say that life is unfair, and it a lot of sense, this is true. You don’t always
get what you deserve, both in the positive and negative aspect of if. However
God is always fair, and we just need to hold on to that thought when subjected
to unfair situations. This reality should give us hope.
May
pakialam ang Diyos sa kapakanan mo.
The
first reading and the psalm remind us of the benefits of hoping in God. He will
reward those who hope in him. He will reward those who are faithful. We just
need to persevere. In the gospel, we see someone who never lost his hope in the
Lord. Lazarus was a very poor and sick man, yet he did not blame God or
question God. He lived right and did his best in the tough situation he was in.
Thus, the Lord rewarded him in due time and brought him to paradise to spend
eternity with Him.
God
may not always answer us the way we want to, but his answer is always better
than ours.
God did not give Lazarus a better life or at least improved his situation
during his last days on earth. Hindi fairy tale ending ang nangyari sa kanya.
But God gave him something better – eternal rest with Him in paradise.
Sometimes God does not answer how we want him to, but his answer will always be
better. Sometimes God does not reward us in this life, but his reward will
always be better. Eternal paradise is definitely a lot better than temporary
comfort in this world.
No
matter what situation we may be in. No matter how hopeless and helpless we may
feel. No matter how the world treats us. We should always remember that God
loves us. That he is watching over us. And he has great plans for us - in this
world and the next. We just need to have faith and trust in Him.
What
are my concerns in life? What are my prayers? Do I lift them to God? How does
God respond? Do I ask God to do as I want, or do I trust in him enough to
surrender and obey?
May
we remember the words of the psalmist – “Blessed are those who trust in the
Lord” and have full faith and hope in him despite whatever stuation we may be
in.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live.
Thank you for another day to love and experience your love. Thank you for
always reminding me of your goodness. Lord, sorry for the times I lose my faith
in you. Sorry for letting the world overwhelm me. Sorry for not trusting in you
enough. Lord, I ask that you never let me go. I put my faith and hope in you. I
know you will continue to bless me and provide for me, and you see what I am
going through and my concerns. I know you have a great plan for me – in this
world and the next. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
March 21 2019
Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
Lectionary: 233
Lectionary: 233
Reading
1 JER 17:5-10
Thus
says the LORD:
Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings,
who seeks his strength in flesh,
whose heart turns away from the LORD.
He is like a barren bush in the desert
that enjoys no change of season,
But stands in a lava waste,
a salt and empty earth.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose hope is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters
that stretches out its roots to the stream:
It fears not the heat when it comes,
its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress,
but still bears fruit.
More tortuous than all else is the human heart,
beyond remedy; who can understand it?
I, the LORD, alone probe the mind
and test the heart,
To reward everyone according to his ways,
according to the merit of his deeds.
Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings,
who seeks his strength in flesh,
whose heart turns away from the LORD.
He is like a barren bush in the desert
that enjoys no change of season,
But stands in a lava waste,
a salt and empty earth.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose hope is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters
that stretches out its roots to the stream:
It fears not the heat when it comes,
its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress,
but still bears fruit.
More tortuous than all else is the human heart,
beyond remedy; who can understand it?
I, the LORD, alone probe the mind
and test the heart,
To reward everyone according to his ways,
according to the merit of his deeds.
Responsorial
Psalm PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6
R.
(40:5a)Blessed are they who hope in
the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Not so, the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Not so, the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Verse
Before The Gospel SEE
LK 8:15
Blessed
are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.
and yield a harvest through perseverance.
Gospel LK
16:19-31
Jesus
said to the Pharisees:
"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man's table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.'
Abraham replied, 'My child,
remember that you received what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing
who might wish to go from our side to yours
or from your side to ours.'
He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him
to my father's house,
for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.'
But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.'
He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
Then Abraham said,
'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded
if someone should rise from the dead.'"
"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man's table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.'
Abraham replied, 'My child,
remember that you received what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing
who might wish to go from our side to yours
or from your side to ours.'
He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him
to my father's house,
for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.'
But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.'
He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
Then Abraham said,
'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded
if someone should rise from the dead.'"
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