In The Background

The WORD today reminds me that God recognizes what we do for Him, even if we work silently in the background. 

The world recognizes loud people. People who brag their accomplishments are recognized and looked up to. However, those work and accomplish things silently and in the background often remains there. They are not noticed and recognized. This is usually how the world reacts. Good thing God does not work that way. 

In the gospel, we see Jesus telling people how great John the Baptist is. Among those born of women, no one is greater than John. Wow. Lakas! That's how important and special John was. That's how God recognizes work we do for Him. John worked in the background, silently preparing the way for Jesus. He did not want attention to himself, but humbled himself and focused people on Jesus. The world did not really reward him, he did not have a lot of followers and did not get attention and recognition for his work for God. But God saw his love and work, and recognized and rewarded him for it.

God sees what we do for Him silently in the background. 

We need not worry about affirmation and recognition of others for the work we do for God. As we see with John, the world did not recognize and affirm him. Still, God who sees everything, rewards and recognizes everything. The lack of affirmation from others should not discourage us. We should not look for those things. We just need to focus on God, do his work, and have faith that he sees everything. And will reward us. 

Do I seek human praise and affirmation to what I do for God? Do I give more importance to human recognition or to the approval of God? How can I improve my attitude? 

May we be willing to work for God silently, regardless of how the world sees or treats us. 

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 look for affirmation from others. Sorry for wanting others to see and recognize my good works for you. Help me be like John the Baptist. Help me just focus on you. Give me a heart that would be willing to work silently for you. I know you see everything and you know everything. I have faith that even if the world does not see and recognize it, you do, and that is what's important. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2015/12/gracious-and-merciful.html

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Thursday of the Second Week of Advent

Lectionary: 184

Reading I

Is 41:13-20

I am the LORD, your God,
    who grasp your right hand;
It is I who say to you, “Fear not,
    I will help you.”
Fear not, O worm Jacob,
    O maggot Israel;
I will help you, says the LORD;
    your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
I will make of you a threshing sledge,
    sharp, new, and double-edged,
To thresh the mountains and crush them,
    to make the hills like chaff.
When you winnow them, the wind shall carry them off
    and the storm shall scatter them.
But you shall rejoice in the LORD,
    and glory in the Holy One of Israel.

The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain,
    their tongues are parched with thirst.
I, the LORD, will answer them;
    I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
I will open up rivers on the bare heights,
    and fountains in the broad valleys;
I will turn the desert into a marshland,
    and the dry ground into springs of water.
I will plant in the desert the cedar,
    acacia, myrtle, and olive;
I will set in the wasteland the cypress,
    together with the plane tree and the pine,
That all may see and know,
    observe and understand,
That the hand of the LORD has done this,
    the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Responsorial Psalm

145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13ab

R.    (8)  The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
    and I will bless your name forever and ever.
The LORD is good to all
    and compassionate toward all his works.
R.    The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
    and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
    and speak of your might.
R.    The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.
Let them make known to men your might
    and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
    and your dominion endures through all generations.
R.    The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.

Alleluia

See Is 45:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let the clouds rain down the Just One,
and the earth bring forth a Savior.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mt 11:11-15

Jesus said to the crowds:
“Amen, I say to you,
among those born of women
there has been none greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 
From the days of John the Baptist until now,
the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence,
and the violent are taking it by force. 
All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. 
And if you are willing to accept it,
he is Elijah, the one who is to come. 
Whoever has ears ought to hear.”