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-
February 25 2020
«
Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 342
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
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