Immediately Follow

The WORD today reminds me that we should immediately leave everything behind as we follow Christ.

There are different reactions to being called. Some wait it out until the caller gives up. Some wait until the other person calls again or gets mad before following. Some wait until such time there is no more option aside from following. And there are some who immediately respond to the call. This is how God wants us to act - to immediately act.

The gospel shows us Levi, a sinful man, immediately leaving everything behind and following Jesus.

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post.

He said to him, “Follow me.

And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.

God does not judge us without first giving us opportunities to right our wrongs. He gave Levi a chance, even if he was a sinful man, to follow Jesus. His sinful situation did not prevent him from being called to God’s kingdom. However, Levi needs to leave everything behind – his past life, his sins and bad habits, his lifestyle, so he can really follow Christ. He cannot be an effective follower of Christ if he will not leave things behind, if he will occasionaly go back to his old life and sin. Also, he needs to do it immediately, not plan it. He has to decide, with God’s grace, to leave his dark past and focus on the present and hope for he bright future with Christ

This is what is giving us right now. The opportunity to repent. The opportunity to follow him. This season of Lent, we are called to reflect, to repent, and to follow God moving forward. And we should do it immediately. Jesus is calling each one of us. Jesus is asking us to come and follow Him.

How do I respond to God’s call, especially this lent, to repent and follow him? What prevents me from acting like levi? What is God asking me today?

May we heed His call to immediately follow Him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for this weekend. Lord, I thank you for never giving up on me, for never judging me. Thank you for the opportunities you give me to change my ways. sorry for all my excuses. Sorry for not following you. Sorry for not responding to your call. Lord, I ask that I be ready when you call me. May I wholeheartedly leave everything behind and follow you all the days of my life. Amen.

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2017/03/doctor.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2018/02/reward-of-god.html

Daily Readings

February 29 2020

«

 February 28  |  March 1 »

Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Lectionary: 222

Reading 1 IS 58:9B-14

Thus says the LORD:
If you remove from your midst oppression,
false accusation and malicious speech;
If you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
Then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday;
Then the LORD will guide you always
and give you plenty even on the parched land.
He will renew your strength,
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring whose water never fails.
The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake,
and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up;
“Repairer of the breach,” they shall call you,
“Restorer of ruined homesteads.”

If you hold back your foot on the sabbath
from following your own pursuits on my holy day;
If you call the sabbath a delight,
and the LORD’s holy day honorable;
If you honor it by not following your ways,
seeking your own interests, or speaking with maliceB
Then you shall delight in the LORD,
and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;
I will nourish you with the heritage of Jacob, your father,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Responsorial Psalm PS 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (11ab)  Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.
Incline your ear, O LORD; answer me,
for I am afflicted and poor.
Keep my life, for I am devoted to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God.
R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for to you I call all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.
R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.

Verse Before The Gospel EZ 33:11

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord,
but rather in his conversion, that he may live.

Gospel LK 5:27-32

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.”
And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house,
and a large crowd of tax collectors
and others were at table with them.
The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying,
“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

Good Fast

The WORD today reminds me what kind of fasting God wants from me.

Fasting and abstinence are usual during lent. We fast and abstain on ash wednesday, and we abstain every friday of lent. When we hear the word fasting, we usually think of not eating food. Sometimes, aside from food and drinks, we fast from other things we like or are comfortable with - like social media, favorite hobbies, or even shopping. These may be different things, but they have one thing in common - detachment. When we fast, we detach ourselves from worldly things, and we deny ourselves of the comfort and pleasure we can have. We become one with Jesus in suffering, and we offer it to God.

This is the essence of fasting Jesus wants from us. God wants us to deny ourselves of the comfort we have. This is negative in nature - denying ourselves. However, it does not end there. There should be something positive as well. We are also asked to share this comfort to others and not just withhold it from ourselves for a bit. God wants others to benefit from our fasting. The first reading tells us this:

This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own

Clear. Simple. Fast from being comfortable, step out of our comfort zone and help others. There are a lot who need help. We should be Jesus to others. We should share God’s love and his blessings to others. This makes fasting more meaningful - not only to ourselves but moreao to others.

Fasting is not always negative in nature, not just sacrifice and denying ourselves. It is also deliberately doing good to others.

What do I plan to give up this lent? What are the sacrifices I have in mind? Am I considering something positive - to give something to others? To be a blessing and share God’s provisions to others?

May we be challenged and may we be willing to step up to that challenge of doing good fast for God.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I forget this. Sorry for just fasting from comfortable things and not thinking of others. Sorry for not focusing on you as I fast. Help me do this. Help me step up and rise to the challenge. I want to. Lord, I pray that you help me make a good fast. May I be ready and willing to step out of my comfort zone and do good to others, to be your ambassador to others. May you use me to make your love more real and more alive. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

February 28 2020

« 

February 27  |  February 29 »

Friday after Ash Wednesday
Lectionary: 221

Reading 1 IS 58:1-9A

Thus says the Lord GOD:
Cry out full-throated and unsparingly,
lift up your voice like a trumpet blast;
Tell my people their wickedness,
and the house of Jacob their sins.
They seek me day after day,
and desire to know my ways,
Like a nation that has done what is just
and not abandoned the law of their God;
They ask me to declare what is due them,
pleased to gain access to God.
“Why do we fast, and you do not see it?
afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?”

Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits,
and drive all your laborers.
Yes, your fast ends in quarreling and fighting,
striking with wicked claw.
Would that today you might fast
so as to make your voice heard on high!
Is this the manner of fasting I wish,
of keeping a day of penance:
That a man bow his head like a reed
and lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Do you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD?
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!

Responsorial Psalm PS 51:3-4, 5-6AB, 18-19

R. (19b) A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

Verse Before The Gospel AM 5:14

Seek good and not evil so that you may live,
and the Lord will be with you.

Gospel MT 9:14-15

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said,
“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn
as long as the bridegroom is with them?
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast.”

Choose God Daily

The WORD today reminds me that I should choose God daily. 

Yesterday, we celebrated Ash Wednesday. We ushered in the Season of Lent. Probably most of us did fasting and abstinence. God was pleased. But it should not end there. Lent is not a one day event. Lent is a season. Love offerings and sacrifices should not be done just for one day. They should be done daily.

We make a lot of small decisions everyday: what to eat, what to wear, where to eat, what task to do, how to do it, etc. However, we sometimes do not realize that these small decisions are part of a “bigger decision” of following God. The gospel tells us that if we want to follow Jesus, we must do so everyday.

Our little everyday decisions contribute to our decision to follow Jesus daily.

They say that your thoughts become your words, and your words become your actions, and your actions become your habits, then your habits eventually determine your character. This has a lot of sense into it, and following it, we are reminded that we should start our decision to follow God with our thoughts, for they eventually shape us. We should start our decision to follow God through our simple everyday decisions for they contribute and eventually determine the kind of life we are living.

No decision is too small that it is trivial.

What we wear shows if we are following God and treating our body with the dignity it deserves as the temple of the holy spirit. What we eat shows if we follow God, if we nourish our bodies properly and keep it healthy so we can continue to serve God. How we react during situations of stress or even traffic shows if we are following God. How we treat others shows if we are following God.

Following God is not a one time, major decision. It is a conscious, everyday decision, just as Jesus said in the gospel. The first reading and the psalm reminds us again of the benefits of following God. As we take our spiritual journey this Lent, let us make the most out of this opportunity.

Do I follow and serve God? In what way? Do I choose God daily? Do I realize that my seemingly trivial and everyday decisions account for the life I live? How can I choose God with my actions?

May we make everyday decisions to love God, to serve Him through others, and to do our love offerings or sacrifices for him. Daily.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to experience your love. Thank you for the reminder of how you want me to live and how I can follow you. Lord, sorry for the times I ignore these things. Sorry for not giving you the importance you deserve. Help me live pleasing to you. Be with me and guide me as I live my life. Be with me in a special way this Lent, that I may do daily my love offering and sacrifice for you. May I grow closer to you as i choose you daily. May I praise and glorify you through my acts, through my life. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

February 27 2020

« February 26  |  February 28 »

Thursday after Ash Wednesday
Lectionary: 220

Reading 1 DT 30:15-20

Moses said to the people:
“Today I have set before you
life and prosperity, death and doom.
If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin on you today,
loving him, and walking in his ways,
and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees,
you will live and grow numerous,
and the LORD, your God,
will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.
If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen,
but are led astray and adore and serve other gods,
I tell you now that you will certainly perish;
you will not have a long life
on the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and occupy.
I call heaven and earth today to witness against you:
I have set before you life and death,
the blessing and the curse.
Choose life, then,
that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God,
heeding his voice, and holding fast to him.
For that will mean life for you,
a long life for you to live on the land that the LORD swore
he would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6

R. (40:5a)  Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Verse Before The Gospel MT 4:17

Repent, says the Lord;
the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Gospel LK 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples:
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected
by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

Then he said to all,
 “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
yet lose or forfeit himself?”

Return to Him

The WORD today reminds me that I should maximize lent and return to God.

Today, we usher in the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, is a day where we Catholics do fasting and abstinence. The readings show us how God values fasting. It is one of the spiritual disciplines we do in order to get closer to God and show him how much we love him, as well as how much we are sorry for our sins

When we fast, we detach ourselves from the comforts of this world and take time to be one with God in his suffering for our sins. We reject the pleasures of this world, even the food we need, and depend fully on God to get us through the day. We offer the pain and suffering and discomfort from lack of food, and allow God to give us strength. We try to show God that our love for him and the desire to be one with him and to be more like him is greater than our desire to be comfortable

The gospel is pretty straightforward. It reminds us that we should not fast for others to see. It will either be God, or others, who will reward us for fasting. This is true for prayer and almsgiving as well. We should fast, pray, give alms and abstain for the right intentions - for God, and not to be seen and praised by others.

Pope Francis, in his Lenten message five years ago, suggests what we can give up: Indifference. We sometimes get so busy with life that we just focus on ourselves and our loved ones, and forget about others. Or when life is good, we just enjoy and stay in our comfort zones and ignore the needs and pains of others. Manila Archbishop Chito Tagle also encourages the people to give to the church the money they will be saving from fasting , which the church will use to feed the poor. This is real fasting – focusing on others and giving to others.

Last year, Pope Francis called us to conversion. He reminds us to live pleasing to God, following God’s ways, and sharing our blessings with others. Returning to God. Sharing him with others.

Am I ready to fast and abstain today? This holy week, what am I ready to give up for Christ? How can I be closer to God this Lent?

As we usher in the season of Lent, may we be inspired to fast, abstain, pray more, partake the sacraments, and focus to help others.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the Season of Lent which reminds us to go back to you.  Thank you for your love that is always ready to welcome me back into your arms. Thank you for sending Godly people to remind me of your love and your message. Lord, as we usher in the season of lent, help me be ready and willing to fast and abstain. Lead me Lord and tell me what you want me to give up this lent. Help me also to become extra sensitive to the needs of others, and spend more time in prayer and partake in the sacraments. This season, may I be one with you in suffering and detachment from this world, not because I want pain, but because I want to go back and grow even more closer to you, and more in love with you, just like Jesus and Mary. Amen.

Blessed Lent!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related readings:

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-lenten-message-conversion.html

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/wondering-what-to-give-up-for-lent-try-indifference-pope-says-78643/

Daily Readings

February 26 2020

« February 25  |  February 27 »

Ash Wednesday
Lectionary: 219

Reading 1 JL 2:12-18

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent
and leave behind him a blessing,
Offerings and libations
for the LORD, your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion!
proclaim a fast,
call an assembly;
Gather the people,
notify the congregation;
Assemble the elders,
gather the children
and the infants at the breast;
Let the bridegroom quit his room
and the bride her chamber.
Between the porch and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep,
And say, “Spare, O LORD, your people,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
with the nations ruling over them!
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”

Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land
and took pity on his people.

Responsorial Psalm PS 51:3-4, 5-6AB, 12-13, 14 AND 17

R. (see 3a)  Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Reading 2 2 COR 5:20—6:2

Brothers and sisters:
We are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Working together, then,
we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says:

In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.

Verse Before The Gospel PS 95:8

If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.

Gospel MT 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

Great in His Eyes

The WORD today reminds me how to be great in God's eyes.

A few years back, there was a movie about the life of Muhammad Ali, whom many considered one of, if not the world’s greatest boxer, although today Floyd Mayweather insists he is the greatest. The theme song of the Ali movie is titled “The World’s Greatest”. He won many fights, he was a well-respected boxer in the ring, and his skills are superior… that’s why he is a great fighter.

This is probably true in the sense of the world, but not with God.

God’s standards are usually opposite as those of the world’s. The greatest in God’s eyes are not the strong and mighty, but the dependent and childlike.

In the gospel, Jesus told his disciples how to be first, how to be great, in God's eyes. He told them that a child is great in God’s eyes, and they should welcome and be like children. That they should humble themselves like the children. Back then, children together with women were the least in the society, so women and of course children are naturally humble because of their situation.

Why is a child great? Because of his humility and nothingness. He knows he cannot do anything on his own, so he is fully dependent on his parents. Children do not only rely, but also obey their parents – even when they do not understand what the parents are asking them to do. The same way, God wants us to be like that, to know and remember that we really cannot do anything on our own… that we should be fully dependent and obedient on God, our father. This is something difficult, especially for successful and independent people who think they can do anything and can exist on their own.

If we know and accept our nothingness, and fully depend on God, then we are great. For it is when we humbly ask for His grace and guidance that we can be filled with everything God wants to give us. And when we are filled with God, then we are certainly great, for God is in us

In the  first reading, we are reminded why we should humble ourselves before God. We are reminded why we should trust God. God expects us to be humble. To know our place before him. God wants us to know we are nothing without him. Then he will bless and extol us.

What is my definition of greatness? Do I want to be great? What are the things I plan to do to be great? Do I acknowledge and believe God’s definition of greatness? What is he telling me today? 

May we be reminded of what it takes to be great in God’s eyes, and do our best to be one.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for your reminder. Thank you for sending people in my life who remind me how much you love me and how special I am to you. Lord, I am sorry for the times I put you out of the picture, when I just rely on myself and do things on my own. Sorry for the times I focus too much on myself, how I can be great in the eyes of the world. Help me have the childlike attitude and faith that will always rely on you as I live. Help me submit to your will all the time. Help me humble myself. Help me live like your child so I can be pleasing and great in your eyes. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

February 25 2020

« 

February 24  |  February 26 »

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 342

Reading 1 JAS 4:1-10

Beloved:
Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from?
Is it not from your passions that make war within your members?
You covet but do not possess.
You kill and envy but you cannot obtain;
you fight and wage war.
You do not possess because you do not ask.
You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly,
to spend it on your passions.
Adulterers!
Do you not know that to be a lover of the world means enmity with God?
Therefore, whoever wants to be a lover of the world  
makes himself an enemy of God.
Or do you suppose that the Scripture speaks without meaning when it says,
The spirit that he has made to dwell in us tends toward jealousy? 
But he bestows a greater grace; therefore, it says:
God resists the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.

So submit yourselves to God.
Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners,
and purify your hearts, you of two minds.
Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep.
Let your laughter be turned into mourning
and your joy into dejection.
Humble yourselves before the Lord
and he will exalt you.

Responsorial Psalm PS 55:7-8, 9-10A, 10B-11A, 23

R. (23a)  Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.
And I say, “Had I but wings like a dove,
I would fly away and be at rest.
Far away I would flee;
I would lodge in the wilderness.”
R. Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.
“I would wait for him who saves me
from the violent storm and the tempest.”
Engulf them, O Lord; divide their counsels.
R. Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.
In the city I see violence and strife,
day and night they prowl about upon its walls.
R. Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.
Cast your care upon the LORD,
and he will support you;
never will he permit the just man to be disturbed.
R. Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.

Alleluia GAL 6:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 9:30-37

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,
but he did not wish anyone to know about it.
He was teaching his disciples and telling them,
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men
and they will kill him,
and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.”
But they did not understand the saying,
and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,
he began to ask them,
“What were you arguing about on the way?”
But they remained silent.
For they had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
“If anyone wishes to be first,  
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”
Taking a child, he placed it in their midst,  
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.”

Yes, He Can!

The WORD today reminds me how powerful God is. We also see how powerful faith is, and that we should ask for it.

The gospel tells of a story of a boy possessed by a powerful demon – so powerful that the disciples could not drive it out. The boy’s father was losing hope, feeling helpless on the situation. See an excerpt of the conversation between the boy’s father and Jesus.

“‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.”

Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”

As human beings, we are sometimes limited by what we see. We tend to think “realistically”, based on our situation or on what is actually happening. We focus on what is obvious and what we think is possible based on what happened previously or what our senses can perceive and do. However, unfortunately, sometimes we think God is in the same boat with us – that he is limited by time and space, that his power is not real anymore, that he cannot do things except those what we think is possible and normal. We sometimes base our faith on what we think is possible instead on what God can do. We say we have faith in God, but at the back of our minds, we are thinking of alternative ways because we don’t think God will really come to help us out.

God is very powerful. However, Faith is important for God to do miracles.

It has been mentioned that faith can move mountains, and the lack of faith of people caused him not to do many miracles in his own town. And in the gospel, we are reminded that anything is possible to one who has faith. We may not immediately have that strong a faith, and it’s okay. As we can see, the boy’s father cried out to Jesus. I do believe, help my unbelief. Yes, I believe but not entirely. Naniniwala naman ako, Lord, pero kulang pa. I have faith in you – your love and your power, but sometimes the power of the world, the temptations and distractions of the world, is just so overwhelming. God, help me. Increase my faith.

God hears us. Jesus heard the prayer of the man, and healed the son. God has faith in us as well. He filled up what was missing. He added to the lack of faith of the man and healed the boy. We need not be perfect, we just need to be humble and sometimes, that is enough for God.

How often do we act like the father? How often do we feel helpless in situations, that we think God cannot do anything about it? How often do we say we trust in God, but are not sure of it ourselves? How often do we say we have faith but deep in our hearts, we are still troubled and we do not know if God can really help us out? Do we ask for faith from God, and do what we can to increase our faith?

May we always remember how powerful God is, and may we be humble enough to admit that we lack faith, and pray that God help our unbelief and increase our faith in Him. May we really remember and live this – nothing is impossible to those who have faith.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for the weekend. Thank you for a new week. Thank you for your great love and great power.  Thank you for this beautiful reminder as I start the week – that nothing is impossible to those who have faith. Lord, sorry for not having a strong faith in you. Sorry for letting the world overwhelm me. Sorry for being weak. Father God, I pray that you help my unbelief. I pray that you increase my faith. There are a lot of things I am thinking – things about my career, my finances, my family, and my service to you. Lord, I pray that you increase my faith and help me just trust in you as I live. I know you have great plans for me, and I know you will not disappoint me. May I always be open and allow you to pleasantly surprise me as I live for you. Amen.

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/02/of-faith-and-humility.html

Daily Readings

February 24 2020

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February 23  |  February 25 »

Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 341

Reading 1 JAS 3:13-18

Beloved:
Who among you is wise and understanding?
Let him show his works by a good life  
in the humility that comes from wisdom.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts,
do not boast and be false to the truth.
Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above
but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,
there is disorder and every foul practice.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,
then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without inconstancy or insincerity.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
for those who cultivate peace.

Responsorial Psalm PS 19:8, 9, 10, 15

R. (9a)  The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

Alleluia 2 TM 1:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 9:14-29

As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John
and approached the other disciples,
they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.
Immediately on seeing him,
the whole crowd was utterly amazed.
They ran up to him and greeted him.
He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”
Someone from the crowd answered him,
“Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit.
Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down;
he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid.
I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.”
He said to them in reply,
“O faithless generation, how long will I be with you?
How long will I endure you?  Bring him to me.”
They brought the boy to him.
And when he saw him,
the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions.
As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around  
and foam at the mouth.
Then he questioned his father,
“How long has this been happening to him?”
He replied, “Since childhood.
It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him.
But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
Jesus said to him,
“‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.”
Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”
Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering,
rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it,
“Mute and deaf spirit, I command you:
come out of him and never enter him again!”
Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out.
He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!”
But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.
When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private,
“Why could we not drive the spirit out?”
He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”