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Thursday, September 2, 2021

Still Obey


The WORD today reminds me that I should still obey God despite my concerns, doubts, and worries. 

Almost all of us are subject to authority - be it at work, in school, in business, in our family, and in other aspects of our life. And sometimes, we do not agree with the decisions or orders of people in authority. However, we often find ourselves obeying them - either out of fear, respect or obligation. This is what Jesus wants from us.

God wants us to obey him despite our doubts, apprehensions and concerns. 

In the gospel, we see Jesus preaching, and eventually making miracles. He told Simon to lower his nets so he can get some fish. at first, Simon was apprehensive, saying that they worked all night and caught nothing. Probably he was thinking who is this guy, he is not even a fisherman. And it shows, because he asked me to just lower my nets, but this is not a spot where we usually catch fish. but he did not let these thoughts win. He eventually obeyed the carpenter – we have worked hard all night but caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets. Beucase of his faith and obedience, he was blessed

God rewards those who obey him. 

A lot of times, we experience what Simon did. However, not all of us get past the initial apprehension phase. We are all carrying problems, burdens and concerns. There may be times we feel what Simon felt – working hard all our lives and still accomplishing nothing, still the same problems, concerns and worries. Tired. Frustrated. However, we should not let these things overpower us. We should not let these things prevent God from working in our lives.

Had Simon told Jesus that he was too tired from working all night, even if Jesus had the power to bless him, Simon won’t be blessed because he did not cooperate and refused God's blessings.If Simon gave in to the temptation to say “Hey, we worked all night and did what you are telling us to do, and we got nothing. So please, give me a break” or something like that, he would really not catch anything. We need to do our part so we can experience God's blessings. 

God’s wisdom is beyond our understanding, and his goodness is never ending.

We don’t need to understand why he is asking us to do things, or it does not need to make sense what he is asking us to do. Sometimes, he just wants us to obey, have faith and be humble. Then he can bless us.

This pandemic, we may be feeling like Simon. God is telling us something, but we have concerns. How can I give and share to others while I myself am uncertain of my future? How can I be a blessing if I have worries myself? But his wisdom is perfect. He can bless our actions. He can bless us. We just need to have faith and obey him despite of everything worrying us. 

What are my concerns in life? How do I react to these concerns? Do I let these things take control of my life? Do I stress myself and worry? Or do I have faith in God despite all these? Do I believe his word when he says to he calm and trust in Him? 

May we always be humble, have faith in and obey God, regardless of our doubts, fears and concerns. 

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for giving me another day to live. Thank you for the inspiration. Lord, I ask for the gift of faith. I ask for the gift of humility. Lord, there are a lot of times I get tired or frustrated in life. My efforts seem to get me nowhere. Same probems, same concerns, same everything. But Lord, may these things not make me lose focus on you, may these things not make me lose my faith in you. Lord, I pray that I always be humble and obedient to you. may my faith always be bigger than my concerns. And may I always be ready and willing to obey, despite of all that are preventing me from it. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,
-g-

Ps
See related reflections:


Daily Readings

Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 434

Reading I

Col 1:9-14

Brothers and sisters:
From the day we heard about you, we do not cease praying for you
and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will
through all spiritual wisdom and understanding
to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,
so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit
and growing in the knowledge of God,
strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might,
for all endurance and patience,
with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share
in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.
He delivered us from the power of darkness
and transferred us to the Kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Responsorial Psalm

98:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

R.    (2) The Lord has made known his salvation.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
    in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
    toward the house of Israel.
R.    The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
    break into song; sing praise.
R.    The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
    with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
    sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R.    The Lord has made known his salvation.

Alleluia

Mt 4:19

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come after me, says the Lord,
and I will make you fishers of men.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon said in reply,
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them. 
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men.”
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.


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