The WORD today reminds me that God is consistently inviting me to come and experience Him.
There are a lot of things that is not easily believable. There are situations, events and people that are out of the ordinary, and would make you think twice. Minsan hindi nakakapaniwala ang kwento. We think it is a joke, or that it is impossible...until we see for ourselves and then we believe. We believe because we have seen it and because we have experienced it. This is what happened to the gospel.
In the gospel, Nathaniel was surprised when Philip told him that Jesus from Nazareth is the one whom Moses wrote about. Nazareth was a small and insignificant town, and he was surprised that anything good can come out from Nazareth. But Philip told him to come and see for himself who Jesus is. And he eventually believed
There are times where we act like Nathaniel. When people tell us how great and loving God is, we are hesitant. When we are overwhelmed with problems with health, finances or relationships and people tell us God is all powerful, we are hesitant and feel he cannot do anything with our situation. God invites us today like Philip invited Nathaniel – to come and see Jesus
Only when we experience firsthand what God can do will we believe his love, goodness and power.
However, we cannot experience these, or at least get to acknowledge it, if we will not allow him to. If we will stay on our own and not be willing to come and see Him, we will not be able to experience him. if we will close ourselves to him, even if he comes to us unceasingly, we will not be aware that it is his love, his guidance, and his provisions that see us through.
Do I believe God’s love and God’s power? What are the problems, things and concerns that overwhelm me right now? Do I believe God can do something about it, or do I doubt his love and power? What is preventing me from fully trusting in God?
May we find it in our hearts to open up ourselves and come to Jesus so we can experience firsthand his love, power and goodness.
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 another weekend. Lord, thank you for the reminder. Thank you for always coming after me. Thank you for chasing me. Sorry for the times I am hesitant to come to you and believe what you can do. Sorry for being hard headed. Help me open up my heart and myself to receive and experience you. help me take the first step to come to you and see all you have done and all you can still do in my life. As I experience you, may I be moved to always stay in you and share you to others. Amen
In Christ,
-g-
August 24, 2020
Saint Bartholomew, Apostle - Feast
FIRST READING
The angel spoke to me, saying,
“Come here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal. It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west. The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
“Come here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal. It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west. The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
The LORD is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
The LORD is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
ALLELUIA
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
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