The WORD today reminds me that 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 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 cause 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. This is what we see in the
second reading, that we should not conform in this world, but be transformed
for God.
In
the second reading, we saw that Paul lived this. He suffered for Christ.
However, he did not stop. He continued to serve Christ. And encouraged others
to do the same. Because that’s what happens when we really follow Him.
Do I follow God? In what way? Do I experience challenges
as I follow Him? Do I remain faithful to him despite these challenges? What is
he reminding me today?
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 Sunday.
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.
Change me and make me more like you, Lord. As I do so use me to bring glory to
you. Amen.
Blessed Sunday!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
For reflection on Mama Mary’s Nativity:
September 8 2019
« September
7 | September
9 »
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 129
Lectionary: 129
Reading
1 WIS 9:13-18B
Who
can know God’s counsel,
or who can conceive what the LORD intends?
For the deliberations of mortals are timid,
and unsure are our plans.
For the corruptible body burdens the soul
and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.
And scarce do we guess the things on earth,
and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty;
but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?
Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom
and sent your holy spirit from on high?
And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.
or who can conceive what the LORD intends?
For the deliberations of mortals are timid,
and unsure are our plans.
For the corruptible body burdens the soul
and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.
And scarce do we guess the things on earth,
and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty;
but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?
Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom
and sent your holy spirit from on high?
And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.
Responsorial
Psalm PS
90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 AND 17
R.
(1) In every age, O Lord, you
have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Reading
2 PHMN 9-10, 12-17
I,
Paul, an old man,
and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus,
urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,
whose father I have become in my imprisonment;
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
I should have liked to retain him for myself,
so that he might serve me on your behalf
in my imprisonment for the gospel,
but I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.
Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while,
that you might have him back forever,
no longer as a slave
but more than a slave, a brother,
beloved especially to me, but even more so to you,
as a man and in the Lord.
So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus,
urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,
whose father I have become in my imprisonment;
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
I should have liked to retain him for myself,
so that he might serve me on your behalf
in my imprisonment for the gospel,
but I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.
Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while,
that you might have him back forever,
no longer as a slave
but more than a slave, a brother,
beloved especially to me, but even more so to you,
as a man and in the Lord.
So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
Alleluia PS
119:135
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
and teach me your laws.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
and teach me your laws.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK
14:25-33
Great
crowds were traveling with Jesus,
and he turned and addressed them,
“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters,
and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion?
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’
Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?
But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.
In the same way,
anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.”
and he turned and addressed them,
“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters,
and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion?
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’
Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?
But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.
In the same way,
anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.”
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