The WORD today reminds me that nothing can separate us from God’s love – except ourselves.
There are relationships wherein you constantly strive to please the other person. You act your best, put your best foot forward everytime, and try to be the best version of yourself. Though this is good, sometimes others can find this tiring. You are constantly trying to prove yourself worthy of the other person’s love and do your best not to show anything negative for fear of the other person losing interest in you. However, God is not like this. God’s love is nothing like this. Unlike people whose love and affection we need to get and retain, God’s love is permanent. God’s love is not for us to gain, but ours to lose.
Nothing can separate you from God’s love.
In the second reading, we see that nothing can really separate us from God’s love. Anguish, distress, famine, nakedness, peril or the sword will not separate us from God’s love. Nothing. Not death, nor life, nor angels, not principalities, not present or future things, no power, height and depth and no any other creature can separate us from God’s love. Nothing can separate us from His love. No one can separate us from his love. No sin is greater than his love and forgiveness. We cannot do anything that can take his love away from us.
The first reading and the gospel show us how loving God is. They show us how God wants us and wants to take care of us. The first reading is a reminder to come to God to be filled. The gospel is a reminder that Jesus fills us even with our physical needs. God really takes care of us. He is ready. We just need to come to him.
A gift will only be transferred is the one receiving the gift accepts it. No matter how loving and generous the giver is, if the receiver do not want to accept the gift, he will not be able to enjoy it. His love is God’s gift to us, and we will choose if we will receive it or not. We have the decision to remain in his love or not. God will not force himself on us. God will not force us to love him and accept his love.
Do I realize how much God loves me? Do I feel his love in my life? What is he telling me today?
May we be strengthened to know that nothing and no one can take God’s love away from us, and be aware that it is still our decision to accept him and his love for us.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to experience your love. Thank you for your great love – so great that nothing and no one can take it away from me. Lord, you know I love you and I want your love. Sorry for the times I do not show it. Sorry for the times I sin and tell you I don’t want it. Help me humble myself before you. Help me choose you and your love instead of choosing my own will. May my life and actions tell you that I love you and that I want to remain in your love – because you know I do. Amen.
Blessed Sunday!
In Christ,
-g-
August 02, 2020
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time; St. Peter Julian Eymard
FIRST READING
Thus says the LORD:
All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk! Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy? Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare. Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David.
All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk! Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy? Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare. Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The eyes of all look hopefully to you, and you give them their food in due season; you open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
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. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The eyes of all look hopefully to you, and you give them their food in due season; you open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
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. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
SECOND READING
Brothers and sisters:
What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
ALLELUIA
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over — twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.
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