Faith from Hearing

The WORD today reminds me how important it is to talk about God.

They say that a good way to study is to read aloud. They say it is similar to studying twice, because if you read aloud, you not only read it, but hear it as well. Hearing something, aside from reading it, has a great impact on the memory retention and on understanding things. This is similar to what God is telling me today in the readings.

A lot of us ask for faith. Today, we see one concrete action how we can have faith.

Faith comes from hearing the WORD of God.

In the first reading, we see the importance of responding to God’s call to preach his word. No one will be saved if no one responds to God’s call to preach. Someone should preach, should talk about God, for people to hear about God. Hearing about God eventually leads to believe in him, and call on him. in the latter part of the reading, we see how faith is attained – from hearing the WORD of God. This goes for both the doer and receiver. OF course, the receiver hears the word of God which can be the entry point of God in his life. Then the doer actually hears what he is saying, so he is doubly blessed as well.

In the gospel, we see people who were saved because of hearing God’s word - one of which is the feast day we are celebrating today. Jesus called them, they heard his voice, and followed his call. This is how powerful hearing God’s word is. This is why we are all sent to spread his word.

We need not be missionaries to do this. Wherever God placed us, we can proclaim him. We can preach about him by the words we speak, by the way we live our lives, by the way we treat others, and by how well we do our work.

This pandemic, it is more important to hear God’s word. It is important to talk to and about him. We have a lot of problems. A lot of frustrations. A lot of bad news. And it is easy to forget him. It is easy to forget the good. It is easy to despair and lose hope and faith. That is why we should talk about him and keep him alive despite all that is happening. In our own little way, we should keep him alive in our hearts and our lives. 

How important is God’s word for me? Do I spend time learning about him? Do I spend time knowing Him? Do I share him and his word to other people? What is he telling me today? 

May we be reminded of the importance of talking about God, and the power of hearing about it. May not only our faith increase, but that of others as well.

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 time off. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, help me remember this. Help me remember the importance of talking about you and of hearing you. May I be willing to proclaim you to others. and I ask that you use me and my words to brings faith to myself and others. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

• NOVEMBER 29, 2021
• November 30, 2021
• DECEMBER 1, 2021

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Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle

Lectionary: 684

Reading I

Rom 10:9-18

Brothers and sisters:
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
For one believes with the heart and so is justified,
and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
The Scripture says,
No one who believes in him will be put to shame.
There is no distinction between Jew and Greek;
the same Lord is Lord of all,
enriching all who call upon him.
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone to preach?
And how can people preach unless they are sent?
As it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!
But not everyone has heeded the good news;
for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?
Thus faith comes from what is heard,
and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.
But I ask, did they not hear?
Certainly they did; for

    Their voice has gone forth to all the earth,
        and their words to the ends of the world.

Responsorial Psalm

19:8, 9, 10, 11

R.    (10)  The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R.    (John 6:63)  Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
    refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
    giving wisdom to the simple.
R.    The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R.    Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
    enlightening the eye.
R.    The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R.    Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
    enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
    all of them just.
R.    The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R.    Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
They are more precious than gold,
    than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
    or honey from the comb.
R.    The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R.    Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

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

Mt 4:18-22

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father 
and followed him.

Faith in His Word

The WORD today reminds me that I should have faith in God's powerful words. 

A lot of people lie. A lot, if not all. There are also a lot of people who cannot keep their words. We are exposed to such leaders in the government. They are unable to fulfill their promises in one way or another. Some have valid excuses, and some lie or do not intend to keep their word right from the start. This is why people do not easily believe words. We are afraid that others cannot and will not keep their word. Good thing this does not apply to God. 

God keeps his word. Always.

The bible says that God is not a man, that he should lie. God keeps his word always. No matter what the situation looks like, he keeps his word. His word can and will be done. This is why we should have faith in his words, like the centurion in the gospel. The centurion who had such strong faith in the mere words of Jesus. Strong, genuine faith that we repeat his words every mass - Lord. i am not worthy to have you enter my roof, but only say the word and my servant (soul) will be healed. This is how much he trusts God and his word. He does not need actions or validations to have faith. Just the mere words of Jesus are enough for him. 

However, we do not always act like this. There are a lot of times we do not feel the same. When situations are tough, we do not believe that nothing is impossible for God. When our problems are overwhelming and there is seemingly no way of our situation improving, we forget that God has great plans for us. We sometimes let how we feel or how the world makes us feel dictate our faith in God. We forget that he created everything and has power over anything and everything.

We should have faith like the centurion no matter what situation we may be in. We may have very big problems, but God is bigger. We may have huge concerns but God is more powerful. We just have to remember this. 

What are my concerns right now? How do I feel about these? Do I know that God is more powerful than any of these? Do I know that God loves me so much? What is he reminding me today?

May we learn to have faith in God and his words, no matter what the situation or others make us feel. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for the reminder to have faith in your words. Lord, sorry for the times I don't have faith in you. Sorry for the times I let the situation get the better of me. Sorry for letting my problems and how others make me feel make me doubt your love, your power, your word. Help me have faith in your words like the centurion. Help me believe in the power of your words, no matter what I may feel. Increase my faith in you. Amen. 

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

https://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2018/12/great-faith.html

Daily Readings

• NOVEMBER 28, 2021
• November 29, 2021
• NOVEMBER 30, 2021

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Monday of the First Week of Advent

Lectionary: 175

Reading I

Is 2:1-5

This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,
    saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

    In days to come,
The mountain of the LORD’s house
    shall be established as the highest mountain
    and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
    many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,
    to the house of the God of Jacob,
That he may instruct us in his ways,
    and we may walk in his paths.”
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
    and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
    and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks;
One nation shall not raise the sword against another,
    nor shall they train for war again.

O house of Jacob, come,
    let us walk in the light of the LORD!

Responsorial Psalm

122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9

R.    Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
    “We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
    within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R.    Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city 
    with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up, 
    the tribes of the LORD.
R.    Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel, 
    to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats, 
    seats for the house of David. 
R.    Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! 
    May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls, 
    prosperity in your buildings. 
R.    Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my relatives and friends
    I will say, “Peace be within you!"
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
    I will pray for your good.
R.    Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Alleluia

See Ps 80:4

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come and save us, LORD our God;
let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mt 8:5-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum,
a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,
“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”  
He said to him, “I will come and cure him.”  
The centurion said in reply,
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word and my servant will be healed.
For I too am a man subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes;
and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes;
and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
“Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. 
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”

Be Ready and Prepare

The WORD today reminds me that we should be ready and prepared for God's coming. 

The readings for the past few days have been talking about the judgment, about Christ’s second coming. Today, we are again reminded to be ready and prepared - not just for the second coming that we do not know when will come, but also for something we know when – Christmas. As we usher in the happiest season of the year, as we usher in advent, and as we read the gospel, we are reminded to prepare and be ready - to meet God and to commemorate Christ’s birth.

The gospel reminds us to be prepared, for we do not know when Christ will come again. We should be watchful. We do not know when we will die. We do not know when we will be judged. As he said in the gospel, he will come when we least expect it, when we are busy living our lives, when things are normal. This is why we should always be prepared. And as a reminder and opportunity, we can start preparing for this season. 

We should prepare our hearts for Christmas

We now officially start the advent season, and this first Sunday of advent should set us in the mood not of Christmas as the world sees  – with all the lights, parties, gifts and food, but to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming that we commemorate on Christmas day.

Some say that this season, Christmas season, is not just happy, but a very busy, and sometimes can be stressful. It may still be different this year because of the pandemic, but usually, there are a lot of things going on – from the yearend reports and quotas, the get together and parties, relatives and friends coming home to and from the province or abroad, the bazaars and gift shopping, and of course, the extra special traffic we expect even during the wee hours of the morning. Yes, it can be stressful. It can be busy. And unfortunately sometimes with all of these, we forget the reason for the season. We forget what Christmas is all about. 

Christmas is about Christ. It is about God's love for us made concrete through Jesus.

Looking at our lives and at our hearts, a lot of us can say that we are not ready to welcome Jesus. We are not yet prepared. There are a lot of issues, concerns and even sins that make our hearts unworthy of God’s visitation. There are a lot of things going on in our lives. Good thing we have 4 weeks to prepare. We have 4 weeks to clean our hearts. We have 4 weeks to remember him and focus on him. We are reminded to hear mass more often, to partake of the sacraments, to pray more, read the bible more, and to love others more as we prepare our hearts for Christ. For we might miss this opportunity to prepare not just for Christmas, but for Christ’s coming.

They say Christmas this year will again be very different. Probably yes with the pandemic. It may be different from what we know and are used to. But it may be for the better. The first Christmas was simple but happy and meaningful. We may not have gatherings and parties. We may not have gifts and travels. But we should make the most out of this time. Time with family. Time with important people. Most importantly, time with God. Let us make this extra meaningful with grateful hearts. 

How do I feel about Christ’s second coming? What is the essence of Christmas for me? How do I feel about Christmas? Am I ready for Christmas and his second coming? What can I do to prepare myself for him?

May we take this opportunity and make the most out of the time we have to prepare for Christ’s visitation, so that when he comes, we will be ready.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to experience your love. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for forgetting you. Sorry for being distracted. Help me do it right this hear. Lord, my heart is not clean. I am not ready for you. There are a lot of things distracting me. There are a lot of things on my mind. I have a lot of excuses. But i will do my best to prepare for you in this season of advent. Be with me in this journey. May this be a special one, a memorable one. May I get to know you more and experience you more as I prepare. May this be about you. Only you. Amen

Blessed Sunday and Advent Season!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

• NOVEMBER 27, 2021
• November 28, 2021
• NOVEMBER 29, 2021

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First Sunday of Advent

Lectionary: 3

Reading I

Jer 33:14-16

The days are coming, says the LORD, 
    when I will fulfill the promise 
    I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
In those days, in that time, 
    I will raise up for David a just shoot ; 
    he shall do what is right and just in the land.
In those days Judah shall be safe 
    and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; 
    this is what they shall call her: 
    “The LORD our justice.”

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14

R. (1b)  To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
   teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
   for you are God my savior,
   and for you I wait all the day. 
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Good and upright is the LORD;
   thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
   and teaches the humble his way. 
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
   toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
   and his covenant, for their instruction. 
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Reading II

1 Thes 3:12—4:2

Brothers and sisters:
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all,
just as we have for you, 
so as to strengthen your hearts, 
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father 
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.  Amen.

Finally, brothers and sisters, 
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us 
how you should conduct yourselves to please God
and as you are conducting yourselves
    you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Alleluia

Ps 85:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, Lord, your love;
and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 21:25-28, 34-36

Jesus said to his disciples:
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, 
and on earth nations will be in dismay, 
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright 
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, 
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man 
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen, 
stand erect and raise your heads 
because your redemption is at hand.

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy 
from carousing and drunkenness 
and the anxieties of daily life, 
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times 
and pray that you have the strength 
to escape the tribulations that are imminent 
and to stand before the Son of Man.”