Not Giving Up On You

The WORD today reminds me that Jesus will never give up on me.

Almost everything in life should be learned. Even the simplest things. When we were kids, we did not know how to walk. It took multiple attempts and multiple failures before we were able to walk and run. Even eating. It was a slow process of learning how to eat. How to chew. Our parents never gave up on us. That is why we should never give up at once when we do not succeed.

Jesus never gives up on us.

In the gospel, the people brought a blind man to Jesus. It is interesting to see that Jesus took him away. He did not immediately heal him. He did not just touch him, like the people begged him to. He took him away outside the village. Away from the people. He wanted to have this intimate and personal experience with the man, away from the crowd, the spectators. When they were alone, he put spittle in the man's eyes and his hands. And when he still could not see clear, Jesus did not give up on him. He did not get mad. Instead, he did it a second time until the man saw clearly.

God will never give up on you. God will never be frustrated at you.

Usually, when Jesus heals, immediate results follow. Healing of sick people. Cleansing from demons. Even raising up from the dead. However, it was a different case with this blind man. Probably he did not have enough faith in Jesus. Probably his focus was not all on Jesus. Probably he just had a lot of concerns, fears and worries even when he was with Jesus. But Jesus did not give up on him. Nag effort ulit si Jesus para sa kanya. And that's what he will do to and for us, especially when we are hard to deal with. God will never let us go. God will be patient with us. God will be with us. Until we are better. Until we come to our senses.

Do I have faith that God will never give up on me? What is my reaction when I do not understand things that are happening? How does God remind me that he will not give up on me?

May we always remember that God will never give up on us, no matter what the situation is. And may this lead us to come to him whatever state we may be in.

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 that you will never give up on me. Lord, sorry for the times I give up on myself. Sorry for being too hard on myself. And sorry for not coming to you for help. Help me be like the blind man. Help me humble myself and come to you. As I do, i know you will mold me and transform me to be pleasing to you. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

February 19 2020

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Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 337

Reading 1 JAS 1:19-27

Know this, my dear brothers and sisters:
everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger
for anger does not accomplish
the righteousness of God.
Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess
and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you
and is able to save your souls.

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer,
he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror.
He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets
what he looked like.
But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres,
and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts;
such a one shall be blessed in what he does.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue
but deceives his heart, his religion is vain.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this:
to care for orphans and widows in their affliction
and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Responsorial Psalm PS 15:2-3A, 3BC-4AB, 5

R. (1b)  Who shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord?
He who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. Who shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord?
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
By whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the Lord.
R. Who shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord?
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. Who shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord?

Alleluia EPH 1:17-18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to his call.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 8:22-26

When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida,
people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.
He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.
Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked,
“Do you see anything?”
Looking up the man replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.”
Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly;
his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly.
Then he sent him home and said, “Do not even go into the village.”