Monday, February 28, 2022

What Must I Do?


The WORD today reminds me that I should be detached from everything in this world so I can follow him wholeheartedly. 

The gospel today shows us a man asking Jesus.. “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life…” Well, he certainly knew who Jesus was and was humble enough to ask Jesus what he needs to do. Jesus tells him the basics – follow the commandments. The man, like pretty much like all of us, says he is trying to do these things. Then Jesus says something harder for him.: “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."

God knows when we can still give more. God pushes us to the limit so we can improve and be more like Him. 

We can see by his answer that the man was looking for something. The man knows he must do something else. When Jesus said he must follow the commandments, which he already does, he knew he must do something else. Alam nya, kasi hindi nya sinabing “yey, ok na ako, thanks!.” Jesus also saw what the man needed to do. Jesus looked at him and loved him, and told him what he needs to do. Yes, Jesus loved the man, even if Jesus knew the man was not yet ready to give up everything for Him.

Good news – if we can say that we have been doing (or at least have been trying to do) the commandments that Jesus told the man, we are on the right path. We are halfway there!

Bad news – is it not enough. There is still something lacking. Jesus wants us to be detached from material things.

Jesus is not telling us getting rich is bad. Jesus is not telling us material wealth is bad. Of course it is nice to be rich – especially if you would share your blessings to those who need it. What’s bad is the attachment to material things – money, power, fame, etc. It becomes dangerous if accumulating such becomes the goal in life – when these things become the gods ruling our lives, and we lose sight of eternity with God. When we give too much importance to material things, then we lose the focus on God. 

Only when we are detached from material things can we truly focus on God and can wholly follow Him.

What am I clinging on right now? Do I want to follow God and have eternal life? What is preventing me from fully following God? Material things? A bad habit? An unhealthy relationship? Do I feel that I cannot let go of these things? Do I believe in God when he says he loves me, like he loved the man in the gospel? Do I pray to God to give me the desire to let go, and ask him to help me all the way?

May we pray that God help us and grant us the desire to follow him and let go of anything that is preventing us from fully following Him.

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another week. Thank you for the gospel that reminds me that you love me and you want me to be saved. Sorry for the times I cannot detach myself from this world. Sorry for giving importance to things of this world. Lord, I ask that you help me have the desire in my heart – to follow you and to rid myself of anything that is hindering me from fully following you. Help me learn how to let go of the enjoyable and fun things in life if they hinder me from fully following you. I pray for faith – in you, your love, and your power in my life. May I live aware of what I should do to glorify you. This I ask in Jesus name, Amen.

Blessed Week!

In Christ,
-g-



Daily Readings

Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 347

Reading I

1 Pt 1:3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you
who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith,
to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.
In this you rejoice, although now for a little while
you may have to suffer through various trials,
so that the genuineness of your faith,
more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire,
may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Although you have not seen him you love him;
even though you do not see him now yet you believe in him,
you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
as you attain the goal of faith, the salvation of your souls.

Responsorial Psalm 

111:1-2, 5-6, 9 and 10c

R.        (5)  The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
            in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
            exquisite in all their delights.
R.        The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
He has given food to those who fear him;
            he will forever be mindful of his covenant.
He has made known to his people the power of his works,
            giving them the inheritance of the nations.
R.        The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
He has sent deliverance to his people;
            he has ratified his covenant forever;
            holy and awesome is his name.
            His praise endures forever.
R.        The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

Alleluia

2 Cor 8:9

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mk 10:17-27

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,
knelt down before him, and asked him,
“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother.”
He replied and said to him,
“Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
“You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
At that statement, his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
“How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the Kingdom of God!”
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
“Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
 “Then who can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For men it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God.”

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Sunday, February 27, 2022

My Fruit


The WORD today reminds me to be conscious of my fruit. 

A mango tree bears mango, a coconut tree bears coconut. Looking at a tree will not only give you what fruit it will bear, but also what quality. A strong, mighty and leafy mango tree would usually give good fruit. A good tree bears good fruit, a rotten tree bears bad fruit.

A fruit gets its quality from what's inside the tree. 

Jesus warns us to look past the superficial level – to look beyond the seemingly harmless appearance and see what is inside. Jesus wants is to look deep into our hearts and see beyond what other people see, beyond what we project, beyond what we say. Jesus is asking us to examine our lives and see what is inside of us, because eventually it will come out and bear fruit. What is inside would manifest outside. Goodness or evil inside would translate into good fruit or bad fruit. The first reading also reminds us of this. The fruit of the tree is due to the care it had, and that what one speaks is what's inside. 

We all bear fruit.

Jesus sees what is inside of us. He sees way past our actions, our image and reputation and what we say or project to other people. Kahit sabihin mo, or ipakita mo sa ibang tao, alam ni God ano yung nasa loob ng puso mo. Minsan, kahit hindi mo alam, kahit hindi ka aware, alam ni God. God knows. That’s why it is important to always pray and ask his guidance as he reveal what is really in our hearts.

Am I seeking God’s will in my actions? Are my words consistent with my actions? What fruits am I bearing in my life?  Do I bear good fruit? Or do I bear bad fruits? What can I do so that I will always bear good fruit for God? 

May we be inspired and do our best to bear good fruit for God.

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for reminding me that I should bear good fruit. Lord, Sorry for the times I don't give it much thought. Sorry for the times I get contented with a good reputation and image, and not a good fruit. Lord, I ask that as I live my life, You help me to be always aware of my intentions, of what is inside my heart. I pray that I always seek your guidance and seek and obey your will above all so that I can glorify you. May my actions always be consistent with my words. May my life be my love letter to you. May my life bear good fruit for your glory. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,
-g-


Daily Readings

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 84

Reading I

Sir 27:4-7

When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear;
so do one’s faults when one speaks.
As the test of what the potter molds is in the furnace,
so in tribulation is the test of the just.
The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had;
so too does one’s speech disclose the bent of one’s mind.
Praise no one before he speaks,
for it is then that people are tested.

Responsorial Psalm 

Ps 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16

R (cf. 2a) Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
            to sing praise to your name, Most High,
To proclaim your kindness at dawn
            and your faithfulness throughout the night.
R Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
The just one shall flourish like the palm tree,
            like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow.
They that are planted in the house of the LORD
            shall flourish in the courts of our God.
R Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
They shall bear fruit even in old age;
            vigorous and sturdy shall they be,
Declaring how just is the LORD,
            my rock, in whom there is no wrong.
R Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

Reading II

1 Cor 15:54-58

Brothers and sisters:
When this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility
and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality,
then the word that is written shall come about:
            Death is swallowed up in victory.
                        Where, O death, is your victory?
                        Where, O death, is your sting?
The sting of death is sin,
and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters,
be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord,
knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Alleluia

Phil 2:15d, 16a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights in the world
as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 6:39-45

Jesus told his disciples a parable,
“Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained,
every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
You hypocrite!  Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.

“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”


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Saturday, February 26, 2022

Pray


The WORD today reminds me how important and powerful prayer is. 

When we have problems, we often hear from or tell others to pray. Magdasal ka lang. Ipagdadasal kita. Idaan mo nalang yan sa dasal. Sometimes, we just pray because we don't know what to do anymore. Sometimes we pray because we cannot do anything anymore. But in the first reading we are reminded that we should pray because it is important and powerful. And we should pray always, if we are feeling down, if we have problems, and if we are happy. 

Prayer is powerful. 

Prayer is our hotline to God. And it is important and powerful to pray. God hears our prayers. And will always be generous to his praying and trusting children. The more we pray, the more we talk to God, the more God can talk to us as well. And in prayer, we just don't talk to God. He talks to us. And as he does that, he slowly changes us and transforms us to be more and more like him. 

What is interesting is the verse that says that the fervent prayer of a righteous person is powerful. It further explained it by citing Elijah as an example. Wow. So we should aspire to be righteous. We should work on always being right with God, on being at peace with God. We should work on being one with God. This is because as we pray, we are becoming righteous. We are being filled with God. And as we are filled with God, our prayers become God's prayers. We become more sensitive to what God wants us to pray for. And if we are praying these things, God will grant them. 

How do I see prayer? Do I always pray? When? Do I pray only when I am sad and have problems, or do I pray with thanksgiving when I am happy and everything is going well? How can I improve my prayer life and my relationship with God?

May we be inspired by the power of prayer and make the most out of this gift. 


Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for this weekend. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I don't pray. Sorry for the times I get too tired or too lazy to pray. Remind me of the power, importance and beauty of prayer. May I feel your love and presence through prayer. May I develop a desire for prayer.  And as I pray, I ask that you move me, fill me, and transform me to become more like you. Amen. 

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,
-g-

Ps
See related reflection:


Daily Readings

Saturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 346

Reading I

Jas 5:13-20

Beloved:
Is anyone among you suffering?
He should pray.
Is anyone in good spirits?
He should sing a song of praise.
Is anyone among you sick?
He should summon the presbyters of the Church,
and they should pray over him
and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
The prayer of faith will save the sick person,
and the Lord will raise him up.
If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another
and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.
Elijah was a man like us;
yet he prayed earnestly that it might not rain,
and for three years and six months it did not rain upon the land.
Then Elijah prayed again, and the sky gave rain
and the earth produced its fruit.

My brothers and sisters,
if anyone among you should stray from the truth
and someone bring him back,
he should know that whoever brings back a sinner
from the error of his way will save his soul from death  
and will cover a multitude of sins.

Responsorial Psalm 

141:1-2, 3 and 8

R.        (2a)  Let my prayer come like incense before you.
O LORD, to you I call; hasten to me;
            hearken to my voice when I call upon you.
Let my prayer come like incense before you;
            the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice.
R.        Let my prayer come like incense before you.
O LORD, set a watch before my mouth,
            a guard at the door of my lips.
For toward you, O God, my LORD, my eyes are turned;
            in you I take refuge; strip me not of life.
R.        Let my prayer come like incense before you.

Alleluia

See Mt 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mk 10:13-16

People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,
“Let the children come to me; do not prevent them,
for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Amen, I say to you,
whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child
will not enter it.”
Then he embraced the children and blessed them,
placing his hands on them.

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