Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Do Not Forget


The WORD today reminds me that I should not forget everything that God has done for me

Human beings have limited memory. They say that we only use a very small percentage of our brain. That is why we don’t get to retain all the information and knowledge we come across. However, there are things that we should never forget – like the goodness of God in our lives.

In the first reading, we see the people complaining to God and Moses. They focused on their current situation and seemingly forgot all the good God has done to them. They forgot the miracles and all the help God has given them and just focused on their current concerns, on their wants. They want God to give them their demands, to make their lives comfortable – as if God was at their disposal. This made God punish them, and when they eventually came to their senses, God told Moses how to save the people

Hindi dapat kalimutan ang lahat ng nagawa ng Diyos para sa iyo.

A lot of times, we too are like them. We forget all the good God has done in our lives. We forget all his blessings and provisions. We forget the miracles he performed in our lives. Unfortunately like the people, it takes a lot of pain for us to come to our senses and go back to God. Our stubbornness a lot of times causes us much pain that we could have avoided in the first place if we just listened to and remained in God

Good thing God is so good, and no matter how stubborn and hard headed we become, as long as we repent and come back to Him, he will forgive us and help us. No matter how much we sin and hurt him,  no matter how much we complain, he can forgive. He will help and still come to our rescue when we repent and come to Him.

What are the things God gave me? How has he proven his love for and protection over me? What are the blessings in my life? What are the seemingly impossible situations God helped me with? Are these enough for me to remain in Him? Do I still trust his love and power amidst this covid-19 crisis? What is he reminding me today?

May we never forget God's goodness and all his blessings in our lives, and may we always be humble and come back to him when we need to, knowing how gentle and loving he is.

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 gift of life. Thank you for being patient and loving. Lord, I am sorry for the times I am like the Israelites. Sorry for turning my back on you, for complaining and forgetting all you have done for me. Help me to live my life for you, help me to focus on you and remember your goodness, especially when challenges come my way. And help me remember how gentle and loving you are, so I will always be humble and come back to you when I fall. I trust in your love and power. You are loving. You are powerful. You are faithful. You will help us with this. Amen.



Blessed Day!



In Christ,

-g-



Ps

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March 31, 2020

5th Week of Lent - Tuesday; St. Guy of Pomposa


FIRST READING


From Mount Hor the children of Israel set out on the Red Sea road, to bypass the land of Edom. But with their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!”

In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died. Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you. Pray the LORD to take the serpents away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses, “Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and whoever looks at it after being bitten will live.” Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. 


RESPONSORIAL PSALM


R. (2) O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

O LORD, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you. Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me; in the day when I call, answer me speedily.

R. O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

The nations shall revere your name, O LORD, and all the kings of the earth your glory, When the LORD has rebuilt Zion and appeared in his glory; When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute, and not despised their prayer.

R. O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

Let this be written for the generation to come, and let his future creatures praise the LORD: “The LORD looked down from his holy height, from heaven he beheld the earth, To hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die.”

R. O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.


VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live for ever.


GOSPEL


Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning. I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.” They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.


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Monday, March 30, 2020

Saved


The WORD today reminds me of the saving power and love of God.


In the first reading, we see how wicked people abuse their power. Nowadays, this is still very rampant. Even in the health crisis we are experiencing, we see rampant abuses of power and position. We hear of customs holding medical supplies instead of expediting their release. We see business people taking advantage of the need for masks and gloves by selling stocks at ridiculously high prices. People in power and authority abuse their position to get what they want. They prey on helpless people who in the sense of the world cannot do anything against them. A lot really feel that cannot do anything about it and just let themselves be abused, even if it is against their will. However, we know some are like Susanna who will be willing to die and suffer the consequences of going against powerful people in the world instead of going against God.

God’s power is greater than that of the devil.


It seemed like a hopeless case. People believed the lies of the leaders, but God stirred up the holy spirit of Daniel and eventually Susanna was spared and the two wicked people were punished. God cannot be controlled by the powers of the devil in the world. even if the situation may seem hopeless, God can still and will always make a way for those who trust in Him – saving them from sin and from evil, be it in this world and the next.


However, God is not only good to those who have faith in Him. He saves not only those who trusts in him. We see in the gospel that he saves even those guilty. His goodness is greater than our sins – no matter how grave our sins are, God is able and willing to forgive us. He just asks us one thing in return – to go and sin no more.


No matter what situation we may be in - be it in a seemingly hopeless situation we cannot go out and do anything about, or in a situation where we are at fault but deeply repentant, God can save us. He will save us. His power and love are greater than our sins. We just have to come to him and trust in Him. 


Do I have faith in God? Do I realize that God’s love and power are greater than anything in this world? Do I call on to him? Do I trust him, especially when the situation may seem challenging? What is God reminding me today? Am I frustrated with the way our government is handling the crisis? Am I doing something in my on little way to help others, or do I just complain? Do I still have faith in God’s power and goodness?


May we be inspired to know how loving, forgiving and redeeming our God is, and may it lead us to come to him in humility and faith. 



Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for the reminder, Lord. I am sorry for the times I turn my back on you. Sorry for the times I feel I cannot or you cannot do anything about the situation. Sorry for succumbing to the enemy. Lord, I ask that you help me surrender to you. Help me submit to your will. Help me trust in your power. As I experience your love, your power and your forgiveness, may I live my life pleasing to you. Help me do my part to help our brothers and sisters, and help me to continue to trust in you. I know you will help us get through this. Amen.



Blessed Week!



In Christ,

-g-



Ps

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March 30, 2020

5th Week of Lent - Monday; St. John Climacus


FIRST READING


In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim, who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah; her pious parents had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses. Joakim was very rich; he had a garden near his house, and the Jews had recourse to him often because he was the most respected of them all.

That year, two elders of the people were appointed judges, of whom the Lord said, “Wickedness has come out of Babylon: from the elders who were to govern the people as judges.” These men, to whom all brought their cases, frequented the house of Joakim. When the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband’s garden for a walk. When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk, they began to lust for her. They suppressed their consciences; they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven, and did not keep in mind just judgments.

One day, while they were waiting for the right moment, she entered the garden as usual, with two maids only. She decided to bathe, for the weather was warm. Nobody else was there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were watching her. “Bring me oil and soap,” she said to the maids, “and shut the garden doors while I bathe.”

As soon as the maids had left, the two old men got up and hurried to her. “Look,” they said, “the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us; give in to our desire, and lie with us. If you refuse, we will testify against you that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you.”

“I am completely trapped,” Susanna groaned. “If I yield, it will be my death; if I refuse, I cannot escape your power. Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord.” Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her, as one of them ran to open the garden doors. When the people in the house heard the cries from the garden, they rushed in by the side gate to see what had happened to her. At the accusations by the old men, the servants felt very much ashamed, for never had any such thing been said about Susanna.

When the people came to her husband Joakim the next day, the two wicked elders also came, fully determined to put Susanna to death. Before all the people they ordered: “Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim.” When she was sent for, she came with her parents, children and all her relatives. All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping.

In the midst of the people the two elders rose up and laid their hands on her head. Through tears she looked up to heaven, for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly. The elders made this accusation: “As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman entered with two girls and shut the doors of the garden, dismissing the girls. A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her. When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime, we ran toward them. We saw them lying together, but the man we could not hold, because he was stronger than we; he opened the doors and ran off. Then we seized her and asked who the young man was, but she refused to tell us. We testify to this.” The assembly believed them, since they were elders and judges of the people, and they condemned her to death.

But Susanna cried aloud: “O eternal God, you know what is hidden and are aware of all things before they come to be: you know that they have testified falsely against me. Here I am about to die, though I have done none of the things with which these wicked men have charged me.”

The Lord heard her prayer. As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel, and he cried aloud: “I will have no part in the death of this woman.” All the people turned and asked him, “What is this you are saying?” He stood in their midst and continued, “Are you such fools, O children of Israel! To condemn a woman of Israel without examination and without clear evidence? Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her.”

Then all the people returned in haste. To Daniel the elders said, ACome, sit with us and inform us, since God has given you the prestige of old age.” But he replied, “Separate these two far from each other that I may examine them.”

After they were separated one from the other, he called one of them and said: “How you have grown evil with age! Now have your past sins come to term: passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent, and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says, ‘The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.’ Now, then, if you were a witness, tell me under what tree you saw them together.” “Under a mastic tree,” he answered. Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you your head, for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him and split you in two.” Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought. Daniel said to him, “Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you, lust has subverted your conscience. This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel, and in their fear they yielded to you; but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness. Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together.” “Under an oak,” he said. Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you also your head, for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two so as to make an end of you both.”

The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those who hope in him. They rose up against the two elders, for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury. According to the law of Moses, they inflicted on them the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor: they put them to death. Thus was innocent blood spared that day.

or:




The assembly condemned Susanna to death.

But Susanna cried aloud: “O eternal God, you know what is hidden and are aware of all things before they come to be: you know that they have testified falsely against me. Here I am about to die, though I have done none of the things with which these wicked men have charged me.”

The Lord heard her prayer. As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel, and he cried aloud: “I will have no part in the death of this woman.” All the people turned and asked him, “What is this you are saying?” He stood in their midst and continued, “Are you such fools, O children of Israel! To condemn a woman of Israel without examination and without clear evidence? Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her.”

Then all the people returned in haste. To Daniel the elders said, “Come, sit with us and inform us, since God has given you the prestige of old age.” But he replied, “Separate these two far from each other that I may examine them.”

After they were separated one from the other, he called one of them and said: “How you have grown evil with age! Now have your past sins come to term: passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent, and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says, ‘The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.’ Now, then, if you were a witness, tell me under what tree you saw them together.” “Under a mastic tree,” he answered. Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you your head, for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him and split you in two.” Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought. Daniel said to him, “Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you, lust has subverted your conscience. This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel, and in their fear they yielded to you; but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness. Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together.” “Under an oak,” he said. Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you also your head,” for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two so as to make an end of you both.”

The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those who hope in him. They rose up against the two elders, for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury. According to the law of Moses, they inflicted on them the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor: they put them to death. Thus was innocent blood spared that day.


RESPONSORIAL PSALM


R. (4ab) Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.

R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.

He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff that give me courage.

R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.

You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.

Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.

R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.


VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL


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


GOSPEL


Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

or:




Jesus spoke to them again, saying,
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You testify on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified.” Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone. And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father who sent me. Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two men can be verified. I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me.” So they said to him, “Where is your father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words while teaching in the treasury in the temple area. But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.




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Sunday, March 29, 2020

Nothing Is Impossible


The WORD today reminds me that nothing is impossible with God.

Years back, Adidas used the tagline Impossible is Nothing. It was a very inspirational and motivational campaign, reminding people that anything is possible. Reminding us that records and human limitations are meant to be broken. Reminding us that we can do great things. And in the way this is true for worldly things, this is true in the spiritual realm as well.

Nothing is impossible with God.

Matthew 19:26 says that all things are possible with God. In other words, nothing is impossible with God. In the gospel, we see that this is true. Lazarus died. He has been buried for four days. However, Jesus power is greater than death. Time, space and logic cannot limit God's power. Even after 4 days, God brought Lazarus back to life. Even after 4 days, there was no smell and he came out alive from the tomb.

Nothing can limit God's power.

No matter what we are going through right now, no matter how impossible the situation may seem,  no matter how helpless or hopeless we may feel, we should remember this. Nothing is impossible with God. God's power is infinite. We may not immediately believe like Martha and Mary when they said there would be a smell after being dead for dour days, but God has faith in us also. He gives us opportunities. He gives us reminders. He wants us to experience him, his greatness and his power in our lives. Therefore we should have faith in Him, his power, and his love for us.

Do I believe that nothing is impossible for God? Do I live this? Do I call on God, especially during impossible situations, or do I just feel helpless and hopeless? What is God telling me today? With the covit19 crisis we are in, do I believe that nothing is still impossible with God? Do I trust in him and believe he is more powerful than this virus? Was I moved and inspired by Pope Francis? 

May we be inspired to have faith in God, no matter what the situation may be.

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 lose faith. Sorry for the times I let the situation bring me down. Sorry for thinking you cannot do anything for me. Help me have faith. Increase my faith. May I always remember your love and power. May it give me renewed energy and vigor as I live for you. Lord, it’s the third Sunday of online mass. I miss you. And I still have faith in you. I know you will get us through this. Amen. 



Blessed Sunday!



In Christ,

-g-





March 29, 2020

5th Sunday of Lent; St. Jonas and St. Barachisius


FIRST READING


Thus says the LORD God:
O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the LORD. I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD.


RESPONSORIAL PSALM


R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication.

R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

If you, O LORD, mark iniquities, LORD, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered.

R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word. More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the LORD.

R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

For with the LORD is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption; and he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.

R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.


SECOND READING


Brothers and sisters:
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the One who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit dwelling in you.


VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL


I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; whoever believes in me will never die.


GOSPEL


Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill. So the sisters sent word to Jesus saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” He said this, and then told them, “Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.” So the disciples said to him, “Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved.” But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep. So then Jesus said to them clearly, “Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him.” So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go to die with him.”

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, “The teacher is here and is asking for you.” As soon as she heard this, she rose quickly and went to him. For Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still where Martha had met him. So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her, presuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.” And Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.” But some of them said, “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?”

So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” And when he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”

Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him.

or:




The sisters of Lazarus sent word to Jesus, saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

He became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.” And Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.” But some of them said, “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?”

So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” And when he had said this, He cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”

Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him.


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Saturday, March 28, 2020

Call on Him


The WORD Today reminds me that God wants me to call on Him.

There was a popular movie in the 90’s with the tagline: “Who you ‘gonna caaaaall….?” If you watched the movie, you probably know the answer – Ghostbusters! They were the only group of people called when there were ghosts and monsters. They were the first, and only group people called during times of need. And the way people remember this movie, God also wants us to remember this in real life.

God wants us to always call on him and just trust in Him.

In the first reading, we see Jeremiah calling on God to save him from those who plot evil on him. He called on God and is faithful to God. He knows the evil plan of people but he still continued to serve God. He knows God will come to his rescue and not just protect him, but punish those who seek to harm him. The psalmist echoes this as he takes his refuge in God while faced with challenges and evil. In the gospel, we see how the chief priests and Pharisees plotted evil against Jesus. But Jesus remained firm, continued to call on God as he worked for his kingdom. And God took care of Him. 


God does not disappoint.


We know that God does not leave those who call on him. We see how he protected those who call on him and those who had faith in him. We know that nothing is impossible for God, no matter how we see the situation. Whatever we are faced with, no matter how seemingly impossible the situation is, no matter how powerful the people who persecute us may appear to be, may we just call on God and trust in Him.


What is my relationship with God? Is he the first one I turn to in times of need? What do I do when I have problems? Do I call on God, or do I just rely on myself and on other people? What can I do to improve my relationship with Him so He would always be the first one I call? With what is happening with covid, who do I call? Who do I trust to save us?


May we always call on God whatever situation we may be in. 


Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to rest and refresh ourselves. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times you are not first on the list of who I call during times of trouble. Sorry that prayer is not the first thing I do. Help me have firm faith in you that you may always be the first, and only one I will call, not just in times of trouble, but everytime. Help me work on a personal snd intimate relationship with you. With the corona situation, I call on you. I trust you. And I know you will get us through this. One day at a time. Amen.



Blessed Weekend!



In Christ,

-g-



Ps

See related reflection:






March 28, 2020

4th Week of Lent - Saturday; St. Tutilo 


FIRST READING


I knew their plot because the LORD informed me; at that time you, O LORD, showed me their doings.

Yet I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter, had not realized that they were hatching plots against me: “Let us destroy the tree in its vigor; let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will be spoken no more.”

But, you, O LORD of hosts, O just Judge, searcher of mind and heart, Let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause!


RESPONSORIAL PSALM


R. (2a) O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.

O LORD, my God, in you I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and rescue me, Lest I become like the lion’s prey, to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me.

R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.

Do me justice, O LORD, because I am just, and because of the innocence that is mine. Let the malice of the wicked come to an end, but sustain the just, O searcher of heart and soul, O just God.

R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.

A shield before me is God, who saves the upright of heart; A just judge is God, a God who punishes day by day.

R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.


VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL


Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.


GOSPEL


Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, “This is truly the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?” The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.” So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, “Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” They answered and said to him, “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” 



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Friday, March 27, 2020

Not Yet Time


The WORD today reminds me that God’s time will always prevail.

I met a lady who worked for Development Organizations. She used to work for an International Agency and got assignments in different parts of the country, dangerous parts of the country. She told me she escaped several harmful events such as bombings, shootings, and even kidnapping. Some of her colleagues were affected, but not her. She always escaped such situations. This reminded me how powerful God's timing is.

No matter what situation you are in, God's plans and his time will still prevail.

In the gospel today, we see that the Jews were already trying to arrest Jesus. They were powerful at that time. However, Jesus was still speaking openly and can be seen in public but no one arrested him. Why? Because it was not yet time.

So they tried to arrest him,
but no one laid a hand upon him,
because his hour had not yet come.

Before, I used to think why Judas had to lead them to Jesus. However, I think they all knew who Jesus was and no one needed to tell them. They could have easily arrested him as he was speaking and preaching openly. But now I am reminded of the answer. It was not yet time. God has not yet allowed it.

In our lives, we want a lot of things to happen. Career promotion, booming business, financial independence, a good love-life. Sometimes, or oftentimes, the timing is different from what we want. Today, we are reminded that it might not yet be God's appointed time for our prayers to be answered the way we want it to. So let us just have faith and continue to love and serve God.

What things am I praying for? How do I react when I do not get them? Am I willing to wait for God's time to come or do i force things myself? What is God telling me today?

May we continue to have faith in God - his plans, his power, and his timing, especially when they do not coincide with ours.

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to love. Thank you for another Friday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I get impatient. Sorry for wanting things done my way, my time. Sorry for not trusting in you enough. Lord, grant me patience and faith to wait for your perfect time, and humility to keep on serving you as I wait. I know you have great plans for me, and I will wait in faith. I also ask that you use me mightily for your purpose and your glory. Lord, I have faith that things will get better, in your perfect time. Help us get through this.  Amen.




Blessed Day!



In Christ,

-g-





March 27, 2020

4th Week of Lent - Friday; St. John of Egypt


FIRST READING


The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright: “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD. To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, Because his life is not like that of others, and different are his ways. He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.” These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them, and they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls’ reward.


RESPONSORIAL PSALM


R. (19a) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

The LORD confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. When the just cry out, the LORD hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them.

R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. Many are the troubles of the just man, but out of them all the LORD delivers him.

R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

He watches over all his bones; not one of them shall be broken. The LORD redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.

R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.


VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL


One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.


GOSPEL


Jesus moved about within Galilee;
he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.

But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.

Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.


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Thursday, March 26, 2020

Pray For Others


The WORD today reminds me that I should always pray for others as well.

There are people who request prayers from others. Some feel that other people are more mature in faith. Others feel that the prayers of others are stronger. Others simply ask for help in praying. We may think this is unnecessary or useless, but the first reading tells us otherwise.

Praying for others can be powerful.

In the first reading, we see how great an intercessor Moses was. God relented of the punishment he wanted to inflict on the stubborn people. The people most probably did not know what God was planning to do, and how Moses interceed, or came in between God and them. Moses prayed to God on their behalf, and because of Moses’ good relationship with God, God changed his mind.

The prayer of Moses basically saved the people from extinction. Yes, it may be because Moses was special. It may be because Moses had a great and personal relationship with God, that's why God listened. But I believe that in our own little way, we can do this for others too.

However, simply praying for others is not enough. There is another important thing. It is important to have a good relationship with God as we pray for others, as we intercede for others. And one way of having this is to love right. To live pleasing to God. In the bible it says that “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:16)”  we should live this and do our best to have this, so in our own little way, we can have more confidence when we pray to God for others.

Do I pray for others? Do other people ask me to pray for them? How do I take it? Do I really believe that my prayers are powerful? Do I maintain an intimate relationship with God? Do I faithfully pray for others, even when God does not seem to respond? With the covid situation, do I feel useless and powerless to help others, or do I realize that I can actually pray for others? Do I pray for others with what we are going through?

May we never forget to pray for others, and live a life pleasing to God as we do so.

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love you and to build my relationship with you. Sorry for the times I take this for granted. Sorry for not having the will and the desire to work on my relationship with you. Sorry for not praying for others. Help me have faith in you. Help me believe in the power of prayer. And help me do my best to have a strong and intimate relationship with you as I pray for others...and I have faith that you will hear me. Lord, I have faith you will get us through this. Amen. 



Blessed Day!



In Christ,

-g-



Ps

See related reflection:







March 26, 2020

4th Week of Lent - Thursday; St. Margaret Clitherow 


FIRST READING


The LORD said to Moses,
“Go down at once to your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved. They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them, making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it, sacrificing to it and crying out, ‘This is your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!’ The LORD said to Moses, “I see how stiff-necked this people is. Let me alone, then, that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them. Then I will make of you a great nation.”

But Moses implored the LORD, his God, saying, “Why, O LORD, should your wrath blaze up against your own people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with so strong a hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent he brought them out, that he might kill them in the mountains and exterminate them from the face of the earth’? Let your blazing wrath die down; relent in punishing your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and how you swore to them by your own self, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised, I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.’“ So the LORD relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.


RESPONSORIAL PSALM


R. (4a) Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Our fathers made a calf in Horeb and adored a molten image; They exchanged their glory for the image of a grass-eating bullock.

R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

They forgot the God who had saved them, who had done great deeds in Egypt, Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham, terrible things at the Red Sea.

R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Then he spoke of exterminating them, but Moses, his chosen one, Withstood him in the breach to turn back his destructive wrath.

R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.


VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL


God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.


GOSPEL


Jesus said to the Jews:
“If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life.

“I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”




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