The WORD today reminds me I should take up my cross and follow Jesus.
There
are a lot of organizations in school that students can choose from. These
organizations recruit members and organize activities for them. However, not
all those who sign up and register as members become active and participate.
Some would just sign up for the sake of signing up but not become involved with
the org. Technically, they can declare that they are members of the org, even
if they are not involved. This works in the world, but not with God.
Real
followers of God are very involved. They are willing to experience pain for
Him.
In
the gospel, Jesus said that whoever wants to follow God must deny himself and
take up his cross. Hindi lang basta basta sumunod sa Diyos. Merely Saying that
you are a follower of God is not enough. We should be ready to walk the talk.
We should be ready to suffer for God. Not because he wants us to suffer or he
enjoys seeing us in pain, but because we should be ready to experience what he
experienced in this world. Taking up our cross. Bearing our share of pain and
suffering for Christ. He suffered in this world because he was not of this
world. As his followers, we should be ready to experience this as well.
We
should also learn how to deny ourselves. Denying ourselves of what we want.
Denying ourselves of what is easy and enjoyable. Denying ourselves of our own
desires, of our own will...and submitting to God. Submitting to God our dreams.
Our desires. Our plans. Denying ourselves, humbling ourselves, and proclaiming
that God, his will, his plans, are high in our life.
Do
I love God? Do I follow him? In what way? Am I ready to face challenges in his
name? How can I live my faith in and love for him?
May
we take time to reflect what it means for us to follow God, and may we be ready
and willing to do what it takes.
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 the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I
am not willing to suffer for you. Sorry for the times I am not willing to deny
myself for you. Help me humble myself. Help me always be ready and willing to
deny myself and carry my cross as I follow you. As I do so, use me to bring
glory to you. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
August 9 2019
Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 411
Lectionary: 411
Reading
1 DT 4:32-40
Moses
said to the people:
"Ask now of the days of old, before your time,
ever since God created man upon the earth;
ask from one end of the sky to the other:
Did anything so great ever happen before?
Was it ever heard of?
Did a people ever hear the voice of God
speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live?
Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself
from the midst of another nation,
by testings, by signs and wonders, by war,
with his strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors,
all of which the LORD, your God,
did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
All this you were allowed to see
that you might know the LORD is God and there is no other.
Out of the heavens he let you hear his voice to discipline you;
on earth he let you see his great fire,
and you heard him speaking out of the fire.
For love of your fathers he chose their descendants
and personally led you out of Egypt by his great power,
driving out of your way nations greater and mightier than you,
so as to bring you in
and to make their land your heritage, as it is today.
This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart,
that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below,
and that there is no other.
You must keep his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today,
that you and your children after you may prosper,
and that you may have long life on the land
which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever."
"Ask now of the days of old, before your time,
ever since God created man upon the earth;
ask from one end of the sky to the other:
Did anything so great ever happen before?
Was it ever heard of?
Did a people ever hear the voice of God
speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live?
Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself
from the midst of another nation,
by testings, by signs and wonders, by war,
with his strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors,
all of which the LORD, your God,
did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
All this you were allowed to see
that you might know the LORD is God and there is no other.
Out of the heavens he let you hear his voice to discipline you;
on earth he let you see his great fire,
and you heard him speaking out of the fire.
For love of your fathers he chose their descendants
and personally led you out of Egypt by his great power,
driving out of your way nations greater and mightier than you,
so as to bring you in
and to make their land your heritage, as it is today.
This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart,
that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below,
and that there is no other.
You must keep his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today,
that you and your children after you may prosper,
and that you may have long life on the land
which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever."
Responsorial
Psalm PS
77:12-13, 14-15, 16 AND 21
R.(12a) I remember the deeds of
the Lord.
I remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I remember your wonders of old.
And I meditate on your works;
your exploits I ponder.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.
O God, your way is holy;
what great god is there like our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
among the peoples you have made known your power.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.
With your strong arm you redeemed your people,
the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
You led your people like a flock
under the care of Moses and Aaron.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.
I remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I remember your wonders of old.
And I meditate on your works;
your exploits I ponder.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.
O God, your way is holy;
what great god is there like our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
among the peoples you have made known your power.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.
With your strong arm you redeemed your people,
the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
You led your people like a flock
under the care of Moses and Aaron.
R. I remember the deeds of the Lord.
Alleluia MT
5:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness;
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness;
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT 16:24-28
Jesus
said to his disciples,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,
and then he will repay each according to his conduct.
Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here
who will not taste death
until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,
and then he will repay each according to his conduct.
Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here
who will not taste death
until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
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