The WORD today reminds me how important and powerful time alone with God
is.
They
say that the environment has a big
influence on what you become. Behavior is affected by the
environment you are in. if you are in a conducive environment and are always
with intelligent and diligent people, you tend to be like them. You get and
learn their attitude and behavior. If you are always with church friends who
take their faith and spiritual growth seriously, you will most probably put a
premium on your faith. You would be influenced by them. However, this can also
affect in a negative way. when you are with people who don’t give importance to
their faith, you may also become affected. This is probably the reason why in
the gospel, Jesus took the man by himself away from the people before healing
him.
Alone time with God is important, and powerful.
Probably
there were people in the crowd who were doubting Jesus. Probably they did not
believe in his love and power. Probably their intention from bringing him the
man was not for his healing, but to see if Jesus has power. Probably the man’s
faith would be affected if he stayed with the people. Or probably, what's
important to Jesus is not what others think, but what the man thinks. so Jesus
took him by himself away from them.
Personal relationship with God is very important.
No
matter what other people may say or think, no matter what the situation may be,
it is important to have faith in God. And this can be strengthened if we have a
deep and personal relationship with him. and this relationship will be
developed just like any other relationship – if we spend time alone, if we give
importance, if we get to know him better.
In life,
people will have different opinion. Some will encourage you, and some will
dishearten you. it is because of this that it is important to have our own
personal relationship with God. No matter what other people may say, we should
be firm in faith, focusing on Him and his love and trusting his plans.
How
is my relationship with God? How am I strengthening it? Do I spend time alone
with Him to strengthen my relationship with him? Do I give him importance in my
life?
May
we be encouraged to work on our personal relationship with God, and regularly
spend time alone with him.
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
on the importance of having a personal relationship with you. Sorry for the
times I ignore the importance of this. Sorry for the times I am too lazy to
work on and develop my personal relationship with you. I want a deep personal
relationship with you. help me work on it. I promise to make the effort to
build and strengthen it, and I ask you to bless my effort. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
February 14 2020
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13 | February
15 »
Memorial of Saints Cyril, monk, and Methodius, bishop
Lectionary: 333
Lectionary: 333
Reading
1 1 KGS 11:29-32; 12:19
Jeroboam
left Jerusalem,
and the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road.
The two were alone in the area,
and the prophet was wearing a new cloak.
Ahijah took off his new cloak,
tore it into twelve pieces, and said to Jeroboam:
and the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road.
The two were alone in the area,
and the prophet was wearing a new cloak.
Ahijah took off his new cloak,
tore it into twelve pieces, and said to Jeroboam:
“Take
ten pieces for yourself;
the LORD, the God of Israel, says:
‘I will tear away the kingdom from Solomon’s grasp
and will give you ten of the tribes.
One tribe shall remain to him for the sake of David my servant,
and of Jerusalem,
the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.’”
the LORD, the God of Israel, says:
‘I will tear away the kingdom from Solomon’s grasp
and will give you ten of the tribes.
One tribe shall remain to him for the sake of David my servant,
and of Jerusalem,
the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.’”
Israel
went into rebellion against David’s house to this day.
Responsorial
Psalm PS 81:10-11AB, 12-13, 14-15
R.
(11a and 9a) I am the Lord, your God: hear
my voice.
“There shall be no strange god among you
nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt.”
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
“My people heard not my voice,
and Israel obeyed me not;
So I gave them up to the hardness of their hearts;
they walked according to their own counsels.”
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
“If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
Quickly would I humble their enemies;
against their foes I would turn my hand.”
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
“There shall be no strange god among you
nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt.”
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
“My people heard not my voice,
and Israel obeyed me not;
So I gave them up to the hardness of their hearts;
they walked according to their own counsels.”
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
“If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
Quickly would I humble their enemies;
against their foes I would turn my hand.”
R. I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
Alleluia ACTS
16:14B
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MK
7:31-37
Jesus
left the district of Tyre
and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,
into the district of the Decapolis.
And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment
and begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him off by himself away from the crowd.
He put his finger into the man’s ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
“Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”)
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly.
He ordered them not to tell anyone.
But the more he ordered them not to,
the more they proclaimed it.
They were exceedingly astonished and they said,
“He has done all things well.
He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,
into the district of the Decapolis.
And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment
and begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him off by himself away from the crowd.
He put his finger into the man’s ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
“Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”)
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly.
He ordered them not to tell anyone.
But the more he ordered them not to,
the more they proclaimed it.
They were exceedingly astonished and they said,
“He has done all things well.
He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
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