No Small Task

The WORD today reminds me that there is no small task as I work for God.

They say life is unfair. And in a lot of ways, this is true. There are a lot of powerful and influential people who abuse what they have. However, there are more poor, simple, and exploited people. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. The poor, because of their situation, do not usually get good education. Their environment is not conducive for learning. This is the reason why they do not get the necessary experience and qualifications, plus they don't have the connections needed for most important positions in society. They are not given opportunities to succeed. They are usually given just small, menial tasks and roles. However, this is not the same with God.

There is no small task as we work for God. And as we work for him, all are on equal footing. 

In the first reading, we see that the apostles needed help with admin tasks - such as feeding the people and taking care of their physical needs. As leaders, their focus were on the spiritual aspect so they were not able to do other admin tasks that needed to be done. Because of this, they asked the people to choose leaders with good standing and filled with the Spirit and wisdom. Their task was administrative in nature, not the spiritual one like the apostles, but they needed to be spiritually strong and mature. This shows that as we work for God, no task is trivial. God expects the same spiritual preparation for us whether we are leading praise and worship or taking out the trash in His name. This is because a strong spiritual foundation will enable us to see him in everything we do - however little or big the world classifies it.  

We all have different talents. We all have different gifts. And sometimes we look down on ourselves when we realize or when we feel we don't have the gift of others. We sometimes feel we are so normal and will not be able to offer much for God. However, we are reminded today that this is not true. Whatever we can do for God is important. And he expects our best as we do it. He expects us to prepare spiritually and live right no matter how small we think our service to him is. 

Do I serve God? In what way? Do I compare my service to God with that of other people? Do I realize that there is no small task or small service as I serve God? 

May we be inspired to do everything the best way we can for God. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I look down on myself. Sorry for feeling small, for thinking I have nothing to offer you. Sorry for failing to see the goodness and the gifts you have given me. Help me live in a way pleasing to you. Help me prepare spiritually for any task. May I do my best in whatever task you give me. May I give you my all, my best service in everything. Amen. 

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2020/04/work-for-christ.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2015/04/founded-on-faith.html

Daily Readings

• APRIL 29, 2022
• April 30, 2022
• MAY 1, 2022

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Saturday of the Second Week of Easter

Lectionary: 272

Reading I 

Acts 6:1-7

As the number of disciples continued to grow,
the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews
because their widows
were being neglected in the daily distribution.
So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,
“It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.
Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men,
filled with the Spirit and wisdom,
whom we shall appoint to this task,
whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer
and to the ministry of the word.”
The proposal was acceptable to the whole community,
so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit,
also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
They presented these men to the Apostles
who prayed and laid hands on them.
The word of God continued to spread,
and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly;
even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

Responsorial Psalm

33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19

R.        (22)  Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
            praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
            with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
R.        Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
            and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
            of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R.        Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
            upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
            and preserve them in spite of famine.
R.        Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ is risen, who made all things;
he has shown mercy on all people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Jn 6:16-21

When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea,
embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum.
It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.
When they had rowed about three or four miles,
they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat,
and they began to be afraid.
But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.”
They wanted to take him into the boat,
but the boat immediately arrived at the shore
to which they were heading.

God With Me

The WORD today reminds me that if God is with me, nothing can be against me. 

Gamaliel in the first reading tells us a very insightful thought. Human effort is not enough to sustain groups. It should be blessed by God to be able to continue and flourish. God should be present and should be the center for a group to flourish and survive. The Apostles who experienced Jesus as they were proclaiming God's kingdom were the very early fathers of our church. Their acts and service to God lived on, and until now that group they were referring to in the first reading, the group that believes in God, still exists. We still exist, more than 2000 years from the time of the Apostles, so we know this has God's blessings, and that God is truly in our midst. 

If God is with you, nothing can destroy you. 

The first reading also says that fake groups not founded on God were eventually destroyed. They died a natural death. Needless to say, groups with God in the center can withstand anything. They can withstand everything. This should inspire us and strengthen us. If God is really in us, in our midst, then we would always be safe. 

We need not experience something like the gospel. No miracle is needed. No physical presence of Jesus is needed. These are not needed for us to know that God is alive in us. History shows he is. And if we do our part, we will make God's presence more alive and more real in this world. In the same way that Jesus took what the boy had, the little that he had, and used it mightily, God too will take whatever little we are able to give and use it mightily for his kingdom and glory. 

Do I believe God is with me? Do I believe in the power of having God by my side? What are bothering me today? How do I feel about the covid pandemic? What is God telling me? How can I make God alive, especially during this pandemic?

May we be willing to offer what little we can, and have faith that God can use it to make him more alive and real in our lives, so indeed people can see God is truly in our midst. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend coming up. Thank you for all the blessings. Lord, sorry for the times I doubt your love, power and protection. Sorry for letting myself be overwhelmed. And sorry for keeping things to myself. Lord, help me be willing to share like the boy. I may not have a lot, but your touch can change everything. I don't have great talents lord, but i offer myself and I have faith that you will take the little i have and use it mightily to glorify your name. Use me to make you more alive and more real in our midst. I also ask that you increase my faith and remind me that as long as you are with me, nothing can go against, that I will always have your protection. I know you will get us through this pandemic. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

• APRIL 28, 2022
• April 29, 2022
• APRIL 30, 2022

• Readings for the Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor of the Church

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Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

Lectionary: 271

Reading I

Acts 5:34-42

A Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel,
a teacher of the law, respected by all the people,
stood up, ordered the Apostles to be put outside for a short time,
and said to the Sanhedrin, “Fellow children of Israel,
be careful what you are about to do to these men.
Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important,
and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed,
and all those who were loyal to him
were disbanded and came to nothing.
After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census.
He also drew people after him,
but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered.
So now I tell you,
have nothing to do with these men, and let them go.
For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin,
it will destroy itself.
But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them;
you may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
They were persuaded by him.
After recalling the Apostles, they had them flogged,
ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus,
and dismissed them.
So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin,
rejoicing that they had been found worthy
to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes,
they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Christ, Jesus.

Responsorial Psalm

27:1, 4, 13-14

R.        (see 4abc)  One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
            whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
            of whom should I be afraid?
R.        One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
One thing I ask of the LORD
            this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
            all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
            and contemplate his temple.
R.        One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
            in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
            be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R.        One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

Alleluia

Mt 4:4b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Jn 6:1-15

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”
He said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
“Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little.”
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?”
Jesus said, “Have the people recline.”
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.
So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
“Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted.”
So they collected them,
and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments
from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
“This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.”
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.