The WORD today reminds me that God asks us to go and proclaim him, no
matter how imperfect we are.
People usually train to prepare
for something. Big presentations. Contests in school. Athletic meets and
competitions. Tests. We do our best to train, prepare, and be better - so we
would be more confident in what we are supposed to do. Being unprepared do not
give confidence. You usually fail or don't do good when you are not prepared.
Good thing God does not act this way.
In the gospel, we see Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene
and instructing her to tell the others. He appeared to others and told them to
tell the disciples. However, the disciples did not believe. Yes, you can't
blame them. It is hard to think Jesus will really rise from the dead, they saw
him die. So when Jesus appeared to them, he rebuked them for their unbelief and
hardness of heart. Makulit, ayaw maniwala. May trust issues. But Jesus did not stop there. He saw
more in them. Despite their unbelief, he still had faith in them. He saw what
they are capable of. And he will make that happen.
Kahit may trust issues ka, hindi ka titigilan mg Diyos
hanggang maniwala ka sa kanya.
Jesus told his disciples in the
gospel to go and proclaim the gospel to every creature. They did. And In the
first reading, we see Peter and John doing this, despite threats from church
leaders at that time. From unbelievers, they became firm in faith, proclaiming
God to others despite the danger in their lives. Jesus believed in them and did
not stop until they believed in Him and realized what they are capable of.
In the same way God told his disciples to proclaim him,
he too is telling this to us today
God does not need us to be like his disciples and
become full time missionaries. They say that actions speak louder than words,
and the best way to proclaim Jesus and the gospel is by how we live our lives.
We proclaim him where we are, whatever we do, by the way we live our lives.
They say that we have different mission fields in life.
We need not go to other countries to proclaim Jesus. We proclaim him in our
families, in our workplace, in our school, and in the different people we meet
and encounter. We proclaim him not just by telling people about him and the
gospel, but by how we live our lives. If we live honest – treating people
right, respecting the rules and the leaders, being good to others in need,
being joyful despite all the problems, then people will see Jesus. They will
experience Jesus love, peace, hope and faithfulness, which is just as powerful,
if not more powerful, than telling them of the life of Jesus and the love of
God?
Do I proclaim God through my life? How? In what way? Do
I realize I can proclaim God by how I live? What can I do to make his love more
real and more alive in this world? In this crisis situation we are in, do I find ways to proclaim God? How can I proclaim him to others right now?
May we be willing to be living proofs of God in this
world.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for
another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another
reminder. Lord, sorry for not doing this. Sorry for not proclaiming you through
my life. Sorry for being hard headed and for having a hard heart. Sorry for not
believing in you. Lord, help me live for you. Help me live right. Help me
live in a way pleasing to you. As I try to do so, I ask that you move in me and
through me, so that people would know and experience you through me. Change me
and transform me so I can make you more real and more alive in this world, especially today. May i proclaim you amidst all the challenges, problems and negativity we are experiencing. Amen.
Blessed Weekend!
In Christ,
-g-
April 18,
2020
Easter
Saturday; Blessed Marie of the Incarnation
FIRST
READING
Observing the
boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men,
the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed, and they recognized them as the
companions of Jesus. Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing
there with them, they could say nothing in reply. So they ordered them to leave
the Sanhedrin, and conferred with one another, saying, “What are we to do with
these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign was done
through them, and we cannot deny it. But so that it may not be spread any
further among the people, let us give them a stern warning never again to speak
to anyone in this name.”
So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” After threatening them further, they released them, finding no way to punish them, on account of the people who were all praising God for what had happened.
So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” After threatening them further, they released them, finding no way to punish them, on account of the people who were all praising God for what had happened.
RESPONSORIAL
PSALM
R. I will
give thanks to you, for you have answered me. or R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. The joyful shout of victory in the tents of the just.
R. I praise you, Lord, for you have answered me. or R. Alleluia.
“The right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD has struck with power.” I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. Though the LORD has indeed chastised me, yet he has not delivered me to death.
R. I praise you, Lord, for you have answered me. or R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice; I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD; the just shall enter it. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior.
R. I praise you, Lord, for you have answered me. or R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. The joyful shout of victory in the tents of the just.
R. I praise you, Lord, for you have answered me. or R. Alleluia.
“The right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD has struck with power.” I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. Though the LORD has indeed chastised me, yet he has not delivered me to death.
R. I praise you, Lord, for you have answered me. or R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice; I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD; the just shall enter it. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior.
R. I praise you, Lord, for you have answered me. or R. Alleluia.
ALLELUIA
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
When Jesus had
risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told his companions who
were mourning and weeping. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen
by her, they did not believe.
After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country. They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either.
But later, as the Eleven were at table, Jesus appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”
After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country. They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either.
But later, as the Eleven were at table, Jesus appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”
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