Come To Jesus

The WORD today reminds me of the importance of coming to Jesus. 

In this world, a lot of things can weigh us down. Focusing too much on studies, career, business and worldly achievements or accomplishments will weigh us down. The quest for fame, power and fortune will burn us out. These things of the world are temporary, and as long as long as we focus on these, we will never be satisfied and will just be tired because thirst for worldly things will never be quenched. There will always be someone more beautiful, more successful, more intelligent, more powerful, and more famous than you. IF we will focus on these things, no matter how hard we work, we will never attain the fullness of life, and it will only weigh us down.

The gospel tells us what we should do.

We should always come to Jesus.

In the gospel, He says that all who are tired and burdened come to him. He will give us rest. How can we rest? Will he give us what we want? Money, fame, power, achievements. Will we have all that when we come to Jesus? No – but we will have something much more than those.

Coming to Him is not the only thing he is asking from us. With coming to him comes the need to surrender to him. 

It is not enough to come to him. We should also submit ourselves to him. We should also surrender to Him. Yes, the famous saying, Let go and let God. As we come to him, as we submit our self to him, we will slowly be transformed to be more and more like him. As we surrender our personal desires, we allow God to empty us, only then will he be able to fill up with everything that is of his. Then as we are transformed, we see that all the material things in the world should not be the focus of our lives, thus not be burdened with these things anymore.

Nowadays, there are a lot of things that can weigh us down. Watching the news is really exhausting. We see high ranking officials declaring we have flattened the curve since april, even if numbers are actually getting high. Then, for whatever reason, he retracts the statement. We see news that police / military will go house to house and get people with symptoms to be put in isolation facilities. Then eventually someone clears things up. Not exactly encouraging news. This is why we should focus on Jesus. This is why we should come to Jesus. Amidst everything, we should come to him and surrender to him. We let him assure us of his plans, and that we just need to do our best and trust in Him.

What is weighing me down right now? What is my biggest concern? Am I willing to come to God for help? Am I willing to submit myself, including all my desires, to Him? Am I willing to empty myself out so he can fill me with everything that is of his? Am i ready to let go and let God? What prevents me from coming to him? 

May we realize the importance of coming to Jesus, and have the will and resolve to do so. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you Lord for consistently reminding me that you are always thinking of me and my concerns. Thank you for always calling me to you, and for always being ready to accept me with open arms. Lord, sorry for being stubborn. Sorry for focusing on worldly things. Sorry for not focusing on you. I ask that you help me build my faith in you. I know Lord that as I surrender to your will, I will be transformed and that you will take care of everything. You always do, Lord. You have never failed to bless me with things more than I need and more than I deserve. May I always seek your will in my life, and have faith that you will continue to provide and take care of me. I surrender to you and trust you. Help me continue to do so, amidst everything that is happening. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

July 16, 2020

Thursday of Week 15; Our Lady of Mount Carmel

FIRST READING

Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19

The way of the just is smooth; the path of the just you make level. Yes, for your way and your judgments, O LORD, we look to you; Your name and your title are the desire of our souls. My soul yearns for you in the night, yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you; When your judgment dawns upon the earth, the world’s inhabitants learn justice. O LORD, you mete out peace to us, for it is you who have accomplished all we have done. 

O LORD, oppressed by your punishment, we cried out in anguish under your chastising. As a woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pains, so were we in your presence, O LORD. We conceived and writhed in pain, giving birth to wind; Salvation we have not achieved for the earth, the inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth. But your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise; awake and sing, you who lie in the dust. For your dew is a dew of light, and the land of shades gives birth.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 102:13-14ab and 15, 16-18, 19-21

R. (20b) From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth. 

You, O LORD, abide forever, and your name through all generations. You will arise and have mercy on Zion, for it is time to pity her. For her stones are dear to your servants, and her dust moves them to pity. 

R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth. 

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. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth. 

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. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.

ALLELUIA

Matthew 11:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said:

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”