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Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Family of God


The WORD today reminds me what I should do to tell God I want to be a part of his family. 

Life is unfair, both in good ways and in bad. Some people are born at an advantage - to a good family, financially abundant, healthy, with all the needed connections, etc. however, others are born at a disadvantage - with sickness, financial problems, etc. This may be the situation in the world, but not in our spiritual life. 

We can all be part of God's family if we want to. 

In the gospel, Jesus said that his mother and his brothers are not just in the worldly sense, but more so in the faith aspect. Jesus considers his mother and brothers, his family, those who do the will of God the Father. This means that even if we are born at a disadvantage in this world, we can still be part of God's family if we want to. If we do God's commandments. 

Doing God's commandments welcomes us in God's family. We are all welcomed. It is just up to us if we really want to be a part of it. When we do God's commandments and live in his ways, then we are telling him we want to be part of his family. We are telling him that we love him. We are telling him that we are willing to surrender and be governed by Him. We are telling him that we subject ourselves in his will and he can do to us what he wants to do. 

Surrendering to God makes it easy for Him to bless us according to his plans and to his will. Opening up ourselves and our lives to him makes it easier for God to give us all he wants to. Doing these things make it easier for us to enjoy the benefits that come with being God's children. 

This was what Moses did in the first reading. Last week we saw his story. He had concerns when God asked him to do things. However, he eventually trusted in God. He eventually surrendered. And we saw how mightily God used him. We saw how he was blessed and was part of God’s family, and blessed him mightily. 

We are all part of God’s family. And especially during this pandemic, we are asked to help each other out. We have more than we need to survive, so we should share to other members of God’s family. This is why he blesses us - so we can share to others and thus remind others of his love and provisions.

How is my life? Do I feel that I am very blessed, or do I feel I am at a disadvantage? What am I doing about the situation? Am I sharing my blessings to others? Am I working hard to improve my situation? Do I want to be part of God’s family? Am I doing what God wants? How can I tell God I want to be part of his family?

We may not be in the best situation in this world, but we can in our spiritual life. May we be willing to surrender to God, do his will, and let him treat us as his children. 

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 chance to be part of your family. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I let the world dictate how my life would be. Sorry for thinking I cannot do anything about my situation. Sorry for not doing what I can to be part of your family. Lord, help me do my part. I humble myself and allow you to take control. I allow you to use me for your purpose and your glory. I will do my best to always do your will. Because Lord you know that I want to be part of your family. You know I love you. And I will do my best to tell you that and to prove that to you every day. In my own little way, help me to spread your love to other members of your family. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,
-g-

Ps
See related reflection:


July 20, 2021
Tuesday of Week 16; St. Apollinarius

FIRST READING

Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD swept the sea with a strong east wind throughout the night and so turned it into dry land. When the water was thus divided, the children of Israel marched into the midst of the sea on dry land, with the water like a wall to their right and to their left. 

The Egyptians followed in pursuit; all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and charioteers went after them right into the midst of the sea. In the night watch just before dawn the LORD cast through the column of the fiery cloud upon the Egyptian force a glance that threw it into a panic; and he so clogged their chariot wheels that they could hardly drive. With that the Egyptians sounded the retreat before Israel, because the LORD was fighting for them against the Egyptians. 

Then the LORD told Moses, AStretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and their charioteers.” So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea flowed back to its normal depth. The Egyptians were fleeing head on toward the sea, when the LORD hurled them into its midst. As the water flowed back, it covered the chariots and the charioteers of Pharaoh’s whole army that had followed the children of Israel into the sea. Not a single one of them escaped. But the children of Israel had marched on dry land through the midst of the sea, with the water like a wall to their right and to their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day from the power of the Egyptians. When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore and beheld the great power that the LORD had shown against the Egyptians, they feared the LORD and believed in him and in his servant Moses. 

Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD: 

I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

R. (1b) Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory. 

At the breath of your anger the waters piled up, the flowing waters stood like a mound, the flood waters congealed in the midst of the sea. The enemy boasted, “I will pursue and overtake them; I will divide the spoils and have my fill of them; I will draw my sword; my hand shall despoil them!” 

R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory. 

When your wind blew, the sea covered them; like lead they sank in the mighty waters. When you stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them! 

R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory. 

And you brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your inheritanceB the place where you made your seat, O LORD, the sanctuary, O LORD, which your hands established. 

R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

ALLELUIA

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

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