The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051519.cfm)
reminds me how
important and powerful being sent by God is.
Ambassadors
are very important diplomats. They act in behalf of their president. they
represent their country. In the same way, when we do God’s work, in essence we
are being ambassadors for Christ. We are acting for God. We are representing
God. That is why it is a very important role. This is why it is a powerful
role. The prophet Isaiah knows this, and we can see his willingness and
readiness to serve God. In Isaiah 6:8, when God asked whom he shall send,
Isaiah readily volunteered himself - Here I am! Send me!
God
needs human ambassadors to do his work
In
the gospel, Jesus said that whoever believes him believes the one who sent him
- God. He also said that whoever sees him sees the one who sent him – God the
Father. Jesus is an ambassador of God the father. And He is asking us to be his
ambassadors as well. In the first reading, we see how Barnabas and Saul
actively worked as Jesus’ ambassadors when they proclaimed the good news of
salvation to different places. They were willing to go wherever God wanted them
to. God needs human beings to spread his love and proclaim his kingdom to
others. Actually, this is for us humans – that we may feel God’s love become
alive through others.
We
are all called to be ambassadors for Christ. In our simple ways, in the way we
live and treat others, we become his ambassadors. We need not explicitly preach
the gospel and tell the people about God. Sometimes, or a lot of times, a more
powerful testimony is how we live our lives. As St Francis of
Assissi once said, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and when
necessary, use words.”
Sharing
a quote from Corey Brooker. May it inspire and challenge us:
Don't
speak to me about your religion;
first show it to me in how you treat other people.
Don't tell me how much you love your God;
show me in how much you love all God's children.
Don't preach to me your passion for your faith;
teach me through your compassion for your neighbors.
In the end, I'm not as interested in what you have to tell or sell
as
I am in how you choose to live and give
Do
I realize that God is sending me as an ambassador for hin? How do I respond? Do
I live in a way pleasing to him? Does my life reflect his love and goodness?
May
we be willing ambassadors of God and allow Him to send us.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live.
thank you for another chance to experience your love. Thank you for another
chance to share your love. Lord, thank you for the reminder. Thank you for
telling me that you need me to be an ambassador for you. Lord, sorry for the
times I am not willing. Sorry for the times I do not step out of my comfort
zone for you. help me live up to it, Lord. I will do my best to live a good
life for you. I will do my best to live right, so people can see how great and
loving the God I am serving is. Magnify my actions so that It may glorify you.
Send me and use my as you please. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
May 15 2019
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Lectionary: 281
Lectionary: 281
The
word of God continued to spread and grow.
After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission,
they returned to Jerusalem,
taking with them John, who is called Mark.
Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
"Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them."
Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off.
So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit,
went down to Seleucia
and from there sailed to Cyprus.
When they arrived in Salamis,
they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.
After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission,
they returned to Jerusalem,
taking with them John, who is called Mark.
Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
"Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them."
Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off.
So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit,
went down to Seleucia
and from there sailed to Cyprus.
When they arrived in Salamis,
they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.
Responsorial
Psalm PS
67:2-3, 5, 6 AND 8
R.(4) O God, let all the nations
praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel JN
12:44-50
Jesus
cried out and said,
“Whoever believes in me believes not only in me
but also in the one who sent me,
and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.
I came into the world as light,
so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.
And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them,
I do not condemn him,
for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.
Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words
has something to judge him: the word that I spoke,
it will condemn him on the last day,
because I did not speak on my own,
but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.
And I know that his commandment is eternal life.
So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”
“Whoever believes in me believes not only in me
but also in the one who sent me,
and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.
I came into the world as light,
so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.
And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them,
I do not condemn him,
for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.
Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words
has something to judge him: the word that I spoke,
it will condemn him on the last day,
because I did not speak on my own,
but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.
And I know that his commandment is eternal life.
So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”
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