The WORD today reminds me of the warning to those who lack faith.

Yesterday, we saw the importance and power of faith. Now we see the opposite.

In the gospel, Jesus was not able to do many things in his own town because of the people’s lack of faith. His power and love has not changed. He is still powerful and he can do great things. However, It was the attitude of the people that’s different. This lack of faith of the people prevented him from doing great things.

Our lack of faith limits God's power on us.

When we realize we lack faith, and worse, when we sin because of that lack of faith, we must quickly turn back to God. We must be humble and be truly sorry, and ask God’s forgiveness. Kapag nagkasala, Dapat kapalan na natin ang mukha natin at wag mahiya, kasi pag nahiya tayong bumalik at lumapit sa kanya, lalo tayong mapapalayo.

God loves us. God is powerful. He can and he will forgive us. We just need to be humble, repent, and ask for His forgiveness.

How is my faith in God? Does my faith falter when situations are challenging? Do I doubt God’s love and power when the world tells me my situation is helpless? How can I improve my faith? What situations did God prove his love and power, even if situation seems impossible? What is he telling me today?

May we always remember these things, and always remember that we need faith in order to experience God’s love and power. May we be sensitive enough to realize when we are starting to lack faith, and be quick to do something about it, before it’s too late.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to know you more. Thank you for the warning that should be my inspiration to develop my faith and relationship with you. Sorry for being like the people who question you. Sorry for doubting you when the situation seems impossible. Sorry for not having strong faith in you. Help me be a child you would be proud of. Help me be a child that would bring a smile on your face. May I glorify you by living right, by having faith developed from a good personal relationship with you. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2021/02/gods-discipline.html

Daily Readings

Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 325

Reading I

Heb 12:4-7, 11-15

Brothers and sisters:
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children:

   My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord
       or lose heart when reproved by him;
   for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines;
       he scourges every son he acknowledges.

Endure your trials as “discipline”;
God treats you as his sons.
For what "son” is there whom his father does not discipline?
At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain,
yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness
to those who are trained by it.

So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.
Make straight paths for your feet,
that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.

Strive for peace with everyone,
and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God,
that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble,
through which many may become defiled.

Responsorial Psalm

103:1-2, 13-14, 17-18a

R.   (see 17) The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
   and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
   and forget not all his benefits.
R.   The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
As a father has compassion on his children,
   so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him,
For he knows how we are formed;
   he remembers that we are dust.
R.   The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
But the kindness of the LORD is from eternity
   to eternity toward those who fear him,
And his justice toward children’s children
   among those who keep his covenant.
R.   The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

Alleluia

Jn 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mk 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.
When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished.
They said, “Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?”
And they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house.”
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,
apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.

My Simple Reflection

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Lack Of Faith