The WORD today reminds me that no one can go against God.
I believe that everything that happens in this world is because of God, or if not directly because of him, happened with God’s permission. I am reminded of Job, the faithful servant who experienced probably every bad thing that can happen to a person. He was a loving servant, and he had blessings. However, everything was taken away from him except his life. When the devil wanted to try Job, he had to ask God’s permission to inflict pain and suffering. God agreed, knowing that Job is faithful – he just told the devil that he can do anything except to take Job’s life.
No one can fight God. No one can go against his plans and his timing.
In the gospel, we see again an account of Jesus driving away people in the temple. Of course, this insulted the religious authorities at that time – the Chief Priests, Scribes and Pharisees. They were insulted and challenged that they wanted to put Jesus to death. However, they could not do it because it was not yet God’s time for it. It was not yet in God’s plans to put Jesus to death. No matter how powerful they may be, they cannot go against God. This should remind us to have faith and trust in God, for other people, no matter how powerful they may be in this world, cannot stop God’s plans for you.
Sometimes we get intimidated with worldly power. Sometimes we get frustrated on how people in power act and use their power. A lot of times, it is unfair. Even during this pandemic. People in power and authority do not always use their position in the proper way. We see a lot of abuse. And of negligence. And sometimes, we think that these people in power can hinder God from fulfilling his purpose and plans for us. Sometimes we feel that powerful people are the ones stopping our promotion, our career growth, our healing as a nation, or our plans for God’s kingdom. They may have worldly power over these things, but we should remember that they do not have power over God. They can only do what God allows them to do. They can only influence things in the level approved and allowed by God. They cannot stop God’s plans from being fulfilled in our lives.
No matter what our concerns are with people with worldly power, be it in the government and how they respond to this pandemic, to corporate power who has influence on career growth, or people in this world who has power over business or other things - we are reminded that they are not more powerful than God. God is still God. We should always remember that God and his plans will always come into fruition, so we should continue to trust in God. And while we wait for his plans to be fulfilled, we should continue to love and serve him and do what we can for him in this world.
What are my concerns and fears in life? Am I afraid that people in this world are more powerful than God? Do I fear the power of other people? What is God telling me today?
May we be comforted by the fact that no one, no matter how powerful and influential they may be, can stop God’s plans from being fulfilled.
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 the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I get stressed with things of this world. Sorry for the times I get intimidated by people in power and authority. Sorry for the times I think that they are stopping your great plans from being fulfilled in my life. Sorry for forgetting that no one is more powerful than you. Help me to always be reminded of this. Nothing will happen without your permission, so I will continue to focus on you, continue to love you and continue to serve you for I have faith that in your perfect time, your great plans will come true in my life. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflections:
Friday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 501
Judas and his brothers said,
“Now that our enemies have been crushed,
let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it.”
So the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion.
Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month,
that is, the month of Chislev,
in the year one hundred and forty-eight,
they arose and offered sacrifice according to the law
on the new altar of burnt offerings that they had made.
On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had defiled it,
on that very day it was reconsecrated
with songs, harps, flutes, and cymbals.
All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven,
who had given them success.
For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar
and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices
of deliverance and praise.
They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns and shields;
they repaired the gates and the priests’ chambers
and furnished them with doors.
There was great joy among the people
now that the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed.
Then Judas and his brothers and the entire congregation of Israel
decreed that the days of the dedication of the altar
should be observed with joy and gladness
on the anniversary every year for eight days,
from the twenty-fifth day of the month Chislev.
R. (13b) We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
“Blessed may you be, O LORD,
God of Israel our father,
from eternity to eternity.”
R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
“Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory.
For all in heaven and on earth is yours.”
R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
“Yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty;
you are exalted as head over all.
Riches and honor are from you.”
R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
“You have dominion over all,
In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.”
R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out
those who were selling things, saying to them,
“It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer,
but you have made it a den of thieves.”
And every day he was teaching in the temple area.
The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile,
were seeking to put him to death,
but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose
because all the people were hanging on his words.
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