God First

The WORD today reminds me that God wants me to put him first. 

Family is very important, especially to us Filipinos. Unlike other cultures, we give so much importance to family, and we take care of our family, especially in old age. However, we are reminded in today’s gospel that nothing should come in between us and God.

Nothing should come between you and God.

Jesus is the price of peace, but the gospel seems to contradict that at first glance. Jesus told them that he did not bring peace, rather the sword - dividing family members. But looking at it closely, it is not an intentional division, but rather, he reminds us that he wants us to put him first in everything. 

Nothing should be more important that God in our lives. Nothing should hinder us from loving and worshipping God. 

A division may occur among friends, among those we love, and even among family members, as we try to follow God. We should love our family and respect them. However, this should not matter as much as God matters to us. This is just a reminder that we should not let attachment come in between our faith, and nothing should separate us from God.

The gospel further says why we should put Jesus first. Whoever receives him receives the one who sent him - God the Father. Whoever puts him first puts God first. Whoever welcomes him welcomes God. As we follow his commandments, we are following God, and He is always more important than anyone. 

Is anyone or anything more important than God in my life? What is God telling me today? Who is first in my life? 

God’s ways are not always easy, but it always worth it. May we be encouraged to stand firm, and avoid division by doing our best to bring our loved ones to Christ as well.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for another opportunity to love and to experience you. Sorry for the times I let other things or other people come before you. sorry for giving importance to others instead of putting you first in my life all the time. Lord, I pray for strength to stand firm, to stand for you no matter what happens. May I always put you first. May I always choose you first.  Help and equip me as well so  I may bring others, especially those whom I love in live, closer to you. Lord, I lift up to you our country and the whole world. Continue to be with us as we battle it out during this pandemic. We continue to trust in your healing love. Amen.

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

July 12, 2021

Monday of Week 15; St. John Gaulbert

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FIRST READING

Exodus 1:8-14, 22

A new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to power in Egypt. He said to his subjects, “Look how numerous and powerful the people of the children of Israel are growing, more so than we ourselves! Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase; otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemies to fight against us, and so leave our country.” 

Accordingly, taskmasters were set over the children of Israel to oppress them with forced labor. Thus they had to build for Pharaoh the supply cities of Pithom and Raamses. Yet the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread. The Egyptians, then, dreaded the children of Israel and reduced them to cruel slavery, making life bitter for them with hard work in mortar and brick and all kinds of field workBthe whole cruel fate of slaves. 

Pharaoh then commanded all his subjects, “Throw into the river every boy that is born to the Hebrews, but you may let all the girls live.”

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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8

R. (8a) Our help is in the name of the Lord. 

Had not the LORD been with us– let Israel say, had not the LORD been with us– When men rose up against us, then would they have swallowed us alive, When their fury was inflamed against us. 

R. Our help is in the name of the Lord. 

Then would the waters have overwhelmed us; The torrent would have swept over us; over us then would have swept the raging waters. Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave us a prey to their teeth. 

R. Our help is in the name of the Lord. 

We were rescued like a bird from the fowlers’ snare; Broken was the snare, and we were freed. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 

R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

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ALLELUIA

Matthew 5:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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GOSPEL

Matthew 10:34C11:1

Jesus said to his Apostles:
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household. 

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple– amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” 

When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.