Immediately Follow

The WORD today reminds me that I should immediately follow God when he calls me. 

People react differently when being summoned. Whatever the situation is, wether it is a superior calling regarding work, or your parents telling you to do something, the reaction differs. Some would take their time and wait until the person is mad before heeding the call. Others wait two to three times of being called before following. While others follow and respond to at once. This is similar to how we react with our faith. And God reminds us to respond and follow immediately. 

As we celebrate the Feast of St Andrew, we see how he was. We should be inspired and encouraged with how he reacted when Jesus called him. They left whatever they were doing and immediately followed Jesus. No questions. No planning. They just left everything and followed him. They had faith in Him. And they held on to that faith. 

We should immediately respond and follow when God calls us. 

We should not ignore his call. We should not wait multiple times before we respond. We should immediately follow Him. We should respond to Him. We should learn how to trust in Him. Things may not be perfect. The situation may be ugly. We may still be doing and taking care of things. But we should be ready to follow Him. We should be ready to leave everything behind for him. 

May we be inspired by St Andrew and be ready and willing to immediately respond and follow God as he calls 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 do not immediately follow you. Sorry for the times I prioritize doing my things over following you. Sorry for waiting until I have free time before I do things for you. Help me be like St Andrew. Help me have that faith in you that would be willing to drop everything for you. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2021/11/faith-from-hearing.html

Daily Readings

• NOVEMBER 29, 2022
• November 30, 2022
• DECEMBER 1, 2022

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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.

Childlike

The WORD today reminds me that God wants me to have childlike faith in Him. 

Young children usually obey their parents. When they are asked to be quiet, to do or not to do something, they don't usually ask why. Sometimes they do, but even if they don't fully understand the explanation of their parents, they still obey. They still follow. They respect their parents. Hindi sila pasaway na gagawin ang gusto nila. This attitude is what God wants us to have. This is what God wants us to be - childlike. 

In the gospel, Jesus said that God did not reveal things to the wise and learned of the world. Instead, he revealed them to the childlike.

What is being childlike? A childlike attitude puts full faith and trust in the parents  

Kapag bata, walang choice eh. The child needs to rely on the parents to walk, stand up, eat, etc. Ganun nalang yung dependency nya sa magulang. Ganun nalang yung tiwala nya sa magulang. Complete faith.

A childish attitude is the opposite. 

It is when a person wants to have things their way. Kapag hindi nakuha ang gusto, magdadabog o magagalit. Gusto laging masunod. The focus is on the self.

This is why God blessed the childlike. He blessed those who relied on Him, instead of relying on their own personal achievements. He blessed those who know that they are nothing and everything that they have is from God, not those who think highly of themselves because of their accomplishments and credentials. And in the gospel, Jesus said that God revealed himself to the childlike and not to the learned. Because the childlike have open hearts ready to welcome Him and will not argue with him or push him away.

God wants us to have that childlike faith – faith that will humble ourselves and totally rely on and trust in Him, knowing that He is the only one who loves us enough to die for us and save us from our sin, and that everything happening will lead to a full life in Him.

Now, more than ever, it is important to be childlike. We have concerns on this pandemic and the disasters. We have problems. However,  we are still asked to be calm and have faith in God. We are still asked to help out others. So we need to have childlike faith, even if things doesn’t make sense or we don’t see how things will get better. God knows and we just have to trust in Him. 

Are you childlike or childish? Are you proud of your own accomplishments and credentials that you forget the source of all those? Do you get mad at God when things don’t go your way, or when you don’t understand everything that is happening? Do you have full faith in God, confidently walking with him even if you can only see until the next step, knowing that He will be there every step of the way? Do you believe the psalmist when he says that God will not abandon his people, including you?

May we be sensitive to how we react to God, and work on having and pray for a childlike faith and attitude towards God.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live and to experience your love. Thank you for reminding me the importance of being childlike and not childish. Lord, sorry for the many times I act childish. Sorry for getting mad at you when things do not go my way. Sorry for wanting things my way. Sorry for not having faith in you. Increase my faith. May I always trust in you, especially when things are challenging. A lot of times, I do not understand what is happening and how all these could turn into something great. But Lord, i have faith that you can see, and that as long as I cooperate in your plan, things will turn out great. May I develop that childlike faith as I live my life in service of you. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

• NOVEMBER 28, 2022
• November 29, 2022
• NOVEMBER 30, 2022

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Tuesday of the First Week of Advent

Lectionary: 176

Reading 1 

IS 11:1-10

On that day,
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
A Spirit of counsel and of strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
But he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.

On that day,
The root of Jesse,
set up as a signal for the nations,
The Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious.

Responsorial Psalm 

PS 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

R. (see 7)  Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment. 
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
He shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save. 
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

 

 

Alleluia 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, our Lord shall come with power;
he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel 

LK 10:21-24

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,
“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike. 
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 
All things have been handed over to me by my Father. 
No one knows who the Son is except the Father,
and who the Father is except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

Turning to the disciples in private he said,
“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 
For I say to you,
many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,
but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

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 27, 2022
• November 28, 2022
• NOVEMBER 29, 2022

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Monday of the First Week of Advent

Lectionary: 175

Reading 1 

Is 4:2-6

On that day,
The branch of the LORD will be luster and glory,
and the fruit of the earth will be honor and splendor
for the survivors of Israel.
He who remains in Zion
and he who is left in Jerusalem
Will be called holy:
every one marked down for life in Jerusalem.
When the LORD washes away
the filth of the daughters of Zion,
And purges Jerusalem's blood from her midst
with a blast of searing judgment,
Then will the LORD create,
over the whole site of Mount Zion
and over her place of assembly,
A smoking cloud by day
and a light of flaming fire by night.
For over all, the LORD's glory will be shelter and protection:
shade from the parching heat of day,
refuge and cover from storm and rain.

Responsorial Psalm 

Ps 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."