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Sunday, April 18, 2021

Faith Amidst Questions


The WORD today reminds me that I should stick to God and have faith especially when I have a lot of questions and I do not understand what is happening. 

Children do not know anything when they come into the world. They have to learn everything. They are taught how to walk, to run, to crawl, etc. However, they do not get it in one try. It takes time. Effort. Practice. But they keep on trying. They just do what their parents ask them to do. They trust their parents. And eventually, they learn these things. This is how we should act towards God. 

We should not give up and instead, hold on to God, especially when we do not understand what is happening in life. 

The apostles did not understand what Jesus was telling them when he was still with them. Yet, they continued to follow him. they continued to spend time with him. They were rewarded in the gospel when Jesus rose from the dead and opened their minds to understand the scriptures. How rewarding it must have been to understand the Scriptures and what Jesus has been teaching them! Though they did not understand things when Jesus was with them, they did not let go of their faith. They did their best. They trusted in Jesus. And eventually they were rewarded. 

When God uses us, when things finally makes sense, he will also use us in a great way. We see in the first reading that Peter, the one who went away and denied Jesus three times, testified for Jesus. He proclaimed Jesus to a lot of people. After understanding the scripture, God used him mightily. And he was able to glorify God. 

I am reminded to be patient when I do not understand things that are happening in life. That I should be patient when I do not understand everything I read in the bible. I am encouraged to be like the apostles, who continued to spend time with him even if they did not understand everything he was teaching. I need to continuously spend time with God in prayer and continue to build the relationship with Him, having faith that in the right time, he too will open my mind to understand the scriptures and to understand his purpose, plan, and wisdom. 

How do I react when I don’t understand the bible? What do I do when I can’t seem to understand God? Do I give up on him and walk away, or do I continue to spend time with him, knowing in faith that in his perfect time, he would reveal things to me?

May we be patient and continue to hold on to and have faith in him, especially when we do not understand things in life. 

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday! Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I give up. Sorry for being impatient and not trusting in you enough. Sorry for the times I want things done my way, my time. Help me act like the apostles. Help me be patient. Give me faith in you. May I continue to love and trust you no matter what. Help me do my best and hold on to you. I know that in your perfect time, things will make sense and you will use me mightily. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,
-g-


April 18, 2021
3rd Sunday of Easter; Blessed Marie of the Incarnation

FIRST READING

Peter said to the people:
“The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence when he had decided to release him. You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses. Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did; but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer. Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.”

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

R. Lord, let your face shine on us. or R. Alleluia. 

When I call, answer me, O my just God, you who relieve me when I am in distress; have pity on me, and hear my prayer! 

R. Lord, let your face shine on us. or R. Alleluia. 

Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one; the LORD will hear me when I call upon him. 

R. Lord, let your face shine on us. or R. Alleluia. 

O LORD, let the light of your countenance shine upon us! You put gladness into my heart. 

R. Lord, let your face shine on us. or R. Alleluia. 

As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep, for you alone, O LORD, bring security to my dwelling. 

R. Lord, let your face shine on us. or R. Alleluia.

SECOND READING

My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world. The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. Those who say, “I know him,” but do not keep his commandments are liars, and the truth is not in them. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him.

ALLELUIA

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us; make our hearts burn while you speak to us. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread. 

While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them. 

He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

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