The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070219.cfm)
reminds me that as I
live in Christ, I should not look back at my old way of life.
We
have a saying that goes “Ang hindi marunong tumingin sa pinanggalingan,
hindi makararating sa paroroonan.” This shows that in our journey in life,
it is important to know and remember where we came from, where we started, and
not to forget our beginnings. However, in God’s kingdom, it may not always be
best to look back as we move forward to serve him.
Everyone
in Christ is a new creation.
In
the first reading, we see that the wife of Lot was not saved. In Genesis, there
is a story about Lot and his family. They were supposed to escape the
destruction of Sodom, and the angel told them to just flee and don't look back.
However, Lot's wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt.
Looking
back can hinder the progress of moving forward.
It
is not necessary to look back to your old life. This just opens the door to
temptation and relapse. Once you decide to choose God, to follow
Him, then it should be permanent. No need to reminisce your old life,
or old decisions or sins. As we choose God, as we allow ourselves to be
transformed, we should just let God use and mold us, and not look back to what
we are before
However,
the reading and the psalm also remind us how merciful God is. He sent angels to
forcibly take out Lot from the evil city. And he gave Lot and his family a safe
place ti be in. God will not judge us based on where we are or on what
situation we are in. Lot was living in a sinful city, but he was living pleasing
to God. So God saved him. As long as we are living pleasing to God, wherever we
are, God sees it.
How
do I live my life? Do I live in a way pleasing to God? Do I live consistently
with the gospel values? Do I keep walking and keep moving forward and not look
back at my old life and past sins?
As
we live our new life in Christ, as we allow Him to mold and use us, may we not
be tempted to look back at our old lives and just focus on what lies ahead.
Father
God,
Thank
you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance
to love and serve you. Lord, thank you for always welcoming me as I come to
you. Thank you for fresh starts. Lord, sorry for the times I do not focus on
you. Sorry for the times I look back and get affected in the process. Sorry for
the times I relapse. I pray that I may continue to submit to you, and never
look back to what I was before you in my life. Help me surrender and just focus
in you. I allow you to mold me and change me. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
July 2 2019
Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 378
Lectionary: 378
Reading
1 GN 19:15-29
As
dawn was breaking, the angels urged Lot on, saying, "On your way!
Take with you your wife and your two daughters who are here,
or you will be swept away in the punishment of Sodom."
When he hesitated, the men, by the LORD's mercy,
seized his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters
and led them to safety outside the city.
As soon as they had been brought outside, he was told:
"Flee for your life!
Don't look back or stop anywhere on the Plain.
Get off to the hills at once, or you will be swept away."
"Oh, no, my lord!" Lot replied,
"You have already thought enough of your servant
to do me the great kindness of intervening to save my life.
But I cannot flee to the hills to keep the disaster from overtaking me,
and so I shall die.
Look, this town ahead is near enough to escape to.
It's only a small place.
Let me flee there–it's a small place, is it not?–
that my life may be saved."
"Well, then," he replied,
"I will also grant you the favor you now ask.
I will not overthrow the town you speak of.
Hurry, escape there!
I cannot do anything until you arrive there."
That is why the town is called Zoar.
The sun was just rising over the earth as Lot arrived in Zoar;
at the same time the LORD rained down sulphurous fire
upon Sodom and Gomorrah
from the LORD out of heaven.
He overthrew those cities and the whole Plain,
together with the inhabitants of the cities
and the produce of the soil.
But Lot's wife looked back, and she was turned into a pillar of salt.
Early the next morning Abraham went to the place
where he had stood in the LORD's presence.
As he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah
and the whole region of the Plain,
he saw dense smoke over the land rising like fumes from a furnace.
Thus it came to pass: when God destroyed the Cities of the Plain,
he was mindful of Abraham by sending Lot away from the upheaval
by which God overthrew the cities where Lot had been living.
Take with you your wife and your two daughters who are here,
or you will be swept away in the punishment of Sodom."
When he hesitated, the men, by the LORD's mercy,
seized his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters
and led them to safety outside the city.
As soon as they had been brought outside, he was told:
"Flee for your life!
Don't look back or stop anywhere on the Plain.
Get off to the hills at once, or you will be swept away."
"Oh, no, my lord!" Lot replied,
"You have already thought enough of your servant
to do me the great kindness of intervening to save my life.
But I cannot flee to the hills to keep the disaster from overtaking me,
and so I shall die.
Look, this town ahead is near enough to escape to.
It's only a small place.
Let me flee there–it's a small place, is it not?–
that my life may be saved."
"Well, then," he replied,
"I will also grant you the favor you now ask.
I will not overthrow the town you speak of.
Hurry, escape there!
I cannot do anything until you arrive there."
That is why the town is called Zoar.
The sun was just rising over the earth as Lot arrived in Zoar;
at the same time the LORD rained down sulphurous fire
upon Sodom and Gomorrah
from the LORD out of heaven.
He overthrew those cities and the whole Plain,
together with the inhabitants of the cities
and the produce of the soil.
But Lot's wife looked back, and she was turned into a pillar of salt.
Early the next morning Abraham went to the place
where he had stood in the LORD's presence.
As he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah
and the whole region of the Plain,
he saw dense smoke over the land rising like fumes from a furnace.
Thus it came to pass: when God destroyed the Cities of the Plain,
he was mindful of Abraham by sending Lot away from the upheaval
by which God overthrew the cities where Lot had been living.
Responsorial
Psalm PS
26:2-3, 9-10, 11-12
R.(3a) O Lord, your mercy is before my
eyes.
Search me, O LORD, and try me;
test my soul and my heart.
For your mercy is before my eyes,
and I walk in your truth.
R. O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.
Gather not my soul with those of sinners,
nor with men of blood my life.
On their hands are crimes,
and their right hands are full of bribes.
R. O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.
But I walk in integrity;
redeem me, and have mercy on me.
My foot stands on level ground;
in the assemblies I will bless the LORD.
R. O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.
Search me, O LORD, and try me;
test my soul and my heart.
For your mercy is before my eyes,
and I walk in your truth.
R. O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.
Gather not my soul with those of sinners,
nor with men of blood my life.
On their hands are crimes,
and their right hands are full of bribes.
R. O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.
But I walk in integrity;
redeem me, and have mercy on me.
My foot stands on level ground;
in the assemblies I will bless the LORD.
R. O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.
Alleluia PS
130:5
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT
8:23-27
As
Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,
so that the boat was being swamped by waves;
but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying,
"Lord, save us! We are perishing!"
He said to them, "Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?"
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, "What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?"
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,
so that the boat was being swamped by waves;
but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying,
"Lord, save us! We are perishing!"
He said to them, "Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?"
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, "What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?"
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