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.
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.
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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