The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/050919.cfm)
reminds me that God
has specific missions for me
In
the movie series James Bond or most of the spy movies, we see the main actor
being given a specific mission, then after he successfully completes the
mission, he is taken out and given another mission. Same is true in the
corporate world. There are consultants who are hired for a specific task, and
after they have completed it, they transfer to another company and given
another task. God does something similar to this.
God
has specific missions for you.
In
the first reading, we see God doing it to Philip. He was told by an angel to
take a specific route, and eventually was led by the Spirit to go up to the
Eunuch, a high official at that time. It was probably not an easy thing to do
at that time. However, he did not let it get in the way. He was bold and
followed the leading of the Holy Spirit. He explained the scripture to the
eunuch, and proclaimed Jesus. The eunuch asked to be baptized, and after that,
Philip was taken by God for another mission.
It
is important to obey God and do our mission.
Some
are not necessarily long term ones – some missions may be as simple as to lift
the spirit of a person, or proclaim God to the person by talking about God
or by the way we live our lives. Some may be long term such as looking after
the faith and spiritual journey of friends. Only God knows
these missions, and only he has the wisdom and vision to see the effect of our
simple specific mission to his grand plan for humanity. On our part, what is
important is we are sensitive enough to recognize and humble enough to
obey.
To
be sensitive, we should know God's voice and we should build a relationship
with Him. We need to pray and be familiar with His voice so we would know when
he calls us. We also need to obey him. Knowing is not enough. We need to act.
Philip wont be able to do his mission if he did not follow the angel and set
out on the road. Also, he would not have done it if he had not been bold and
followed the leading of the Spirit to approach the eunuch. We too will not be
able to do God’s mission if we won’t take the first step and recognize God
speaking to us, and obey what God wants us to do – no matter how simple,
unclear or weird it may be.
Am I sensitive to God when he calls me? Do I know his voice?
Do I listen to his voice and to his promptings? Am I willing to be used by God
to reach out to other people?
May
we be sensitive, obedient and bold as we do God's specific missions for us.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live.
Thank you for having faith in me – in seeing the goodness in me, and in seeing
my potential as your child, as your servant working in your vineyard. Lord,
sorry for the times I do not listen to you. Sorry for the times I do not know
what you want me to do. Sorry for being scared or afraid to do what you want me
to do. Lord, I ask that I always be sensitive to you and recognize what you
want me to do. may I always be humble and obey what you are leading me to do –
no matter how simple it may be, no matter how unclear the direction may be, no
matter how weird it may be, and no matter how hard or challenging it may be. I
have faith that as you call me, you will equip me and use me for your kingdom,
for your purpose. And may all my actions glorify you, not me. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
May 9 2019
Thursday of the Third Week of Easter
Lectionary: 276
Lectionary: 276
Reading
1 ACTS 8:26-40
The
angel of the Lord spoke to Philip,
"Get up and head south on the road
that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route."
So he got up and set out.
Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch,
a court official of the Candace,
that is, the queen of the Ethiopians,
in charge of her entire treasury,
who had come to Jerusalem to worship, and was returning home.
Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
The Spirit said to Philip,
"Go and join up with that chariot."
Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said,
"Do you understand what you are reading?"
He replied,
"How can I, unless someone instructs me?"
So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.
This was the Scripture passage he was reading:
Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who will tell of his posterity?
For his life is taken from the earth.
Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply,
"I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this?
About himself, or about someone else?"
Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this Scripture passage,
he proclaimed Jesus to him.
As they traveled along the road
they came to some water,
and the eunuch said, "Look, there is water.
What is to prevent my being baptized?"
Then he ordered the chariot to stop,
and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water,
and he baptized him.
When they came out of the water,
the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away,
and the eunuch saw him no more,
but continued on his way rejoicing.
Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news
to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
"Get up and head south on the road
that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route."
So he got up and set out.
Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch,
a court official of the Candace,
that is, the queen of the Ethiopians,
in charge of her entire treasury,
who had come to Jerusalem to worship, and was returning home.
Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
The Spirit said to Philip,
"Go and join up with that chariot."
Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said,
"Do you understand what you are reading?"
He replied,
"How can I, unless someone instructs me?"
So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.
This was the Scripture passage he was reading:
Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who will tell of his posterity?
For his life is taken from the earth.
Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply,
"I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this?
About himself, or about someone else?"
Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this Scripture passage,
he proclaimed Jesus to him.
As they traveled along the road
they came to some water,
and the eunuch said, "Look, there is water.
What is to prevent my being baptized?"
Then he ordered the chariot to stop,
and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water,
and he baptized him.
When they came out of the water,
the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away,
and the eunuch saw him no more,
but continued on his way rejoicing.
Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news
to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
Responsorial
Psalm PS
66:8-9, 16-17, 20
R.(1) Let all the earth cry out to
God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Bless our God, you peoples,
loudly sound his praise;
He has given life to our souls,
and has not let our feet slip.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare
what he has done for me.
When I appealed to him in words,
praise was on the tip of my tongue.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed be God who refused me not
my prayer or his kindness!
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Bless our God, you peoples,
loudly sound his praise;
He has given life to our souls,
and has not let our feet slip.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare
what he has done for me.
When I appealed to him in words,
praise was on the tip of my tongue.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed be God who refused me not
my prayer or his kindness!
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia JN
6:51
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord;
whoever eats this bread will live forever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord;
whoever eats this bread will live forever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel JN
6:44-51
Jesus
said to the crowds:
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,
and I will raise him on the last day.
It is written in the prophets:
They shall all be taught by God.
Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.
Not that anyone has seen the Father
except the one who is from God;
he has seen the Father.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven
so that one may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my Flesh for the life of the world."
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,
and I will raise him on the last day.
It is written in the prophets:
They shall all be taught by God.
Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.
Not that anyone has seen the Father
except the one who is from God;
he has seen the Father.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven
so that one may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my Flesh for the life of the world."
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