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Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Not Exempted


The WORD today reminds me that following God does not exempt me from other responsibilities in life. 

I had friends back when I was in college who were very keen on spiritual activities. They were doing bible study sessions multiple times a week, which would sometimes extend until late at night. This is something good, yearning for God and wanting to spend time with people knowing more about him and talking about him. however, some of their classmates were telling me that these people became remiss in their responsibilities in school – not doing their part on group projects and not being 100% in class because they sleep late at nigh due to bible study sessions. It was sad that their actions do not reflect a good testament to the faith.

Following God does not exempt us from other rules and responsibilities in life. 

In the gospel, Jesus tells us that he expects us to give to Caesar what is due Caesar, and to God what is God’s. We cannot serve the country and say we do not need to serve God anymore, since we are serving the country. Likewise, we cannot say we do not need to serve others anymore if we are serving God. These things go hand in hand. 

Serving others and doing our responsibilities are necessary to strengthen and proclaim our faith to others. 

We need to give proper attention to the different aspects in our lives. We cannot say it is okay to be mediocre in our studies or career or business because we are doing extra-curricular work serving God. Serving God is not an excuse for mediocrity. We need not excel in every aspect of our lives, but we should try. We should give our best in everything – in our service to God, in our work, in our relationships with other people – parents, family, significant other, etc.  This is a good testament of our faith. This is what God wants.

Do I serve God? In what way? Do I use my service as an excuse for mediocre performance in other aspects of and responsibilities in my life? How can I concretize my love and service for God? Do I give God my best in all the areas and aspects of my life? Is my life a great testament to the faith?

May we always do our best, in serving God and in fulfilling our responsibilities, so we can give a good testament to our faith. 

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for giving me another day to live. Thank you Lord for reminding me how you want me to live. Thank you for being patient with me. Lord, sorry for the times I am not able to do this. Sorry for being contented with just one. Sorry for not giving you the best in everything. Sorry for using you as an excuse for mediocrity. Help me live the way you want me to. Lord, as I live my life today, I pray that I give my best in everything that I do. May I do my best not because I want recognition or praise, but because as I offer my life to you, I want to give you the best in all aspects of it, because you deserve the best that I can give. I will give my best because I want my actions and my life to be a positive testament of my faith and of how great you are. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,
-g-

Ps
See related reflection:

June 01, 2021
Tuesday of Week 9; St. Justin

FIRST READING

On the night of Pentecost, after I had buried the dead, I, Tobit, went into my courtyard to sleep next to the courtyard wall. My face was uncovered because of the heat. I did not know there were birds perched on the wall above me, till their warm droppings settled in my eyes, causing cataracts. I went to see some doctors for a cure but the more they anointed my eyes with various salves, the worse the cataracts became, until I could see no more. For four years I was deprived of eyesight, and all my kinsmen were grieved at my condition. Ahiqar, however, took care of me for two years, until he left for Elymais. 

At that time, my wife Anna worked for hire at weaving cloth, the kind of work women do. When she sent back the goods to their owners, they would pay her. Late in winter on the seventh of Dystrus, she finished the cloth and sent it back to the owners. They paid her the full salary and also gave her a young goat for the table. On entering my house the goat began to bleat. 

I called to my wife and said: “Where did this goat come from? Perhaps it was stolen! Give it back to its owners; we have no right to eat stolen food!” She said to me, “It was given to me as a bonus over and above my wages.” Yet I would not believe her, and told her to give it back to its owners. I became very angry with her over this. So she retorted: “Where are your charitable deeds now? Where are your virtuous acts? See! Your true character is finally showing itself!”

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

R. The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia. 

Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands. His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. 

R. The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia. 

An evil report he shall not fear; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear till he looks down upon his foes. 

R. The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia. 

Lavishly he gives to the poor; his generosity shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory. 

R. The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

ALLELUIA

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to his call. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech. They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They replied to him, “Caesar’s.” So Jesus said to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” They were utterly amazed at him.


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