Follow Him

The gospel today says what Jesus asks of us when we want to follow him. “Come and you will see” When John’s disciples asked where Jesus is staying, they probably wanted to know where so they would know where to go if they decide to look for him, if they’re ready to follow him already. However, instead of giving an outright answer, Jesus told them to go with him and see for themselves. Jesus sometimes really answers not in the way we expect or want him to. He answers our questions his way, not ours, but his way is always better. He wants the disciples to have a more intimate experience with him, so he asked them to follow him. That’s what he wants from us as well. When we say we want to follow him, we wants us to go out of our way to follow him, to live with him, to be with him. The way the disciples transformed by constantly being with him, we too will be transformed only if we constantly spend time with Jesus, if we really follow him.

The first reading tells us that it’s either we are of God, or of the devil. Of course, we all want to be of God, we try to be of God. However, being human, we always have the tendency to sin. That’s why it’s important to constantly strive to follow God, to be with him, and allow him to change and transform us. As we are transformed, let us also bring others to Him, like Andrew, who brought Peter to Jesus, and John the Baptist who happily brought others, even his own disciples, to Jesus.

God bless!

I Do Not Know

It took a while before something struck me in the readings today. Why? I do not know. Maybe that’s why the gospel struck me.

I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel."

John the Baptist did not know Jesus, yet he prepared the way for him. He did not know a lot of things, yet he still served God, doing what God asked Him to do, without questioning Him.  He was happy knowing He is doing God’s work, and the situation around him did not get into him, did not stop him. Nevermind if he did not know the Messiah. Nevermind if he should decrease for the Messiah to increase. Nevermind if his disciples left him to follow Jesus. What’s important is John the Baptist was serving God, doing God’s work. Sana tayo din ganun. Kahit madaming bagay and hindi natin ma control, sana tuloy tuloy lang tayo sa pag serve kay God. =)

The Promise

The first reading today reminds us of God’s promise: eternal life.

As we start the year, go “back to reality” after a Christmas break and work on our resolutions in life, it is worthwhile to take note of God’s promise. It will put things in perspective. Eternal life – which means that life here is not eternal, it is temporary. As we start the year to work, study, start a new phase in life, or do whatever we do, we should take note that everything in this world is temporary, and we should also work towards attaining God’s promise.

John the Baptist, in the gospel, shows how we should work towards the promise. He knew who he was, he knew who Jesus was and he knew his role. He knows how great Jesus is, and how little he is. He did not want attention to himself. He worked to prepare the way for Jesus, preparing himself in the process.

May we always remember God’s promise, and work towards attaining that promise.

Have a blessed day!

Blessed 2012!

It’s a new day, it’s a new year! We’re now on the first day of the new year 2012, and it’s so inspiring and comforting to know the message of God. There were two things that struck me in today’s readings – Blessing and Faith.

Ang galing, it’s the start of the year, and the readings are full of reminders of blessings! In the first reading, God tells Moses that he wants to, and will bless the Israelites. The psalm is us asking for God’s blessings. The second reading is the story of a great blessing – God sending his only son to save us from our sins, to make us children, heirs of God. The gospel also recounts this birth of Jesus, and it’s just great to think how blessed we really are to have a great God who sent his one and only son for us. Astig din siguro yung naramdaman nung mga nandun, especially nung mga shepherds – to have the once in a lifetime privilege of being physically there when Jesus was born. These readings remind me that God had been blessing me, and will continue to bless me this 2012.

Second thing that struck me was in the gospel. When the shepherds told them what has been told to them about the child, “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” She did not understand yet everything that is happening. She said “yes” to God’s plan without fully understanding it. Now there are testimonies about how special her child is. Pero di pa nya naiintindihan gaano ka special, hindi nya naiintindihan lahat. It must have been weird, being told by an angel that you will bear God’s son, and seeing your old cousin being pregnant, pero nung ikaw yung nanganak, sa stable… God’s son ba talaga yun? Then these shepherds come and tell them what has been told to them. Parang ang labo siguro for Mary. However, she did not question, she did not doubt, even if God’s ways are not what she was expecting. She kept all these things in her heart… She prayed and reflected, especially when she did not understand.

As I start the year, there are a lot of things I don’t understand yet. There are a lot of unanswered questions. However, I pray that I be like Mary, trusting fully in God and his great, perfect plan for me. It is important to continue to reflect, pray and seek answers, knowing that God has the best in store for me, Plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me a future full of hope (Jeremiah 29:11. Minsan, kahit iba yung plano ni God, kahit iba yung paraan nya, kailangan lang talaga ang tiwala sa kanya. I just need to have complete faith in Him – something I pray for and will work for this 2012.

This story reminds me that even if God’s ways are not our ways, it is still the best, it is still better than what we have imagined, better than what we want for ourselves.

Happy New Year! Have a blessed, faith filled 2012!

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The Parable of the Three Trees

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and  dreamed of what they wanted to become when they  grew up. 

The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I  want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold  and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most  beautiful treasure chest in the world!" 

The second little tree looked out at the small stream  trickling by on it's way to the ocean. "I want to be  traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings.  I'll be the strongest ship in the world!" 

The third little tree looked down into the valley below  where busy men and women worked in a busy town.  "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to  grow so tall that when people stop to look at me,  they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I  will be the tallest tree in the world." 

Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the  little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters  climbed the mountain. 

The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said,  "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a  swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell. "Now I  shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold  wonderful treasure!" The first tree said. 

The second woodcutter looked at the second tree  and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me."  With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell. 

"Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second  tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!" 

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last  woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and  tall and pointed bravely to heaven. 

But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind  of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop  of his shining axe, the third tree fell. 

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought  her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned  the tree into a feedbox for animals. 

The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold,  nor with treasure. She was coated with saw dust and  filled with hay for hungry farm animals. 

The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took  her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made  that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and  sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and  too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river; instead  she was taken to a little lake. 

The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut  her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard.  "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All  I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point  to God..." 

Many many days and night passed. The three trees  nearly forgot their dreams. 

But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree  as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the  feedbox. 

"I wish I could make a cradle for him." her husband  whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled  as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy  wood. "This manger is beautiful" she said. 

And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the  greatest treasure in the world. 

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded  into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as  the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon  a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree  shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to  carry so many passengers safely through with the wind  and the rain. 

The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out  his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as  quickly as it had begun. 

And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the  king of heaven and earth. 

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her  beam were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She  flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering  crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands  to her. 

She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. 

But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the  earth tremble with joy beneath her, the third tree knew  that God's love had changed everything. 

It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. 

That was better than being the tallest tree in the world. 

 So next time you feel down because you didn't get what   you want, just sit tight and be happy because God is   thinking of something better to give you ........... Author Unkown

http://www.focusongod.com/essay115.htm

In the Beginning…

The readings today remind me to look back, to reflect. The first reading says that “it is the last hour…” There is a warning, but there also is encouragement and affirmation. In here God reminds us that “we have the anointing, and we know the truth.” Despite all the things that are happening in our world today, we are encouraged to take a moment and realize that our one true God does not change, and his love never fades.

The gospel reminds me to look back on the year that was. 2011. There were a lot of challenges, a lot of trials, frustrations… but there are more blessings, affirmation, and love that God made me feel, especially though my family and friends. Amidst all the celebration this Christmas, then this new year, God encourages us to look back and see where it all starts, what is the root of all of this. God. His love made concrete by Him sending his only Son to be human like us to save us from our sins. That for me is what God wants to remind me as I end this year. God’s love.

As we all close this year, may we always be reminded of God’s love, and may we be like John, who prepared the way for Jesus, who brought Christ to others and brought others to Christ.

God bless!

Waiting in Expectant Faith

Faith is very important, especially as we serve God, as we live our lives. This is what the readings today remind me.

In the first reading, Abraham had faith in God, that despite his old age and Sarah being sterile, God can still give him a son, and his descendants will be as numerous as the stars. Alam nyang hindi stir, hindi OA si God. Then it doesn’t stop there. When God asked Isaac to be sacrificed up to him, Abraham obeyed. Hassle diba, after giving you a son in your old age, you’ll feel so happy because God was true to his promise and he will now have an heir. Tapos ipapa sacrifice. Labo, diba? However, Abraham still obeyed and had faith.

Then in the gospel, we see people having faith. Simeon had faith. We met him in the gospel yesterday. He has been waiting for the Messiah, and he had faith that what has been told him will come true. Then Anna, who worshipped night and day in the temple, had faith in the messiah as well. And I am sure Joseph and Mary had faith as well, that while Jesus was growing up, God’s promise would come true.

All of them were waiting in expectant faith. Abraham, kahit matanda na, waited that God’s promise will be fulfilled, and when God asked Isaac to be sacrificed, Abraham had expectant faith as well that God could raise him up even if he takes him. Simeon and Anna had expectant faith, staying in the temple and worshiping God. It may have not been easy, matagal din sila naghintay, but it was worth it. Joseph and Mary had expectant faith that God’s promises will come true through Jesus. Expectant Faith.

How about us? Do we wait with expectant faith? Do we have faith, that despite all possible natural and physical situations, God’s word will come true? Do we believe that God’s power is limitless, or do we doubt when we feel it is logically impossible? Do we patiently wait for God’s promises to come true in our lives, or are we too impatient and take matters in our own hands? How can we improve our faith?

This season, though Christmas day is over, may we continue to have expectant faith that God’s promises will come true. May we continue to prepare ourselves for his coming, having expectant faith that he indeed will come, and all will be worth it.

God bless!

Do You Recognize God?

In the gospel today, a righteous and devout man named Simeon recognized Jesus when he saw the baby in the temple. Jesus earthly parents were amazed when Simeon recognized Jesus and blessed God. IT must have felt good, having affirmation that your earthly son will indeed bring salvation, and at the same time, scary for Mary, having heard Simeon’s prophecy that a sword will pierce her heart.

How amazing is it to be like Simeon. How great it is to recognize God in the simplest of things. He saw God in a small baby. We too can see these things – if we consistently live in Him. If we consistently try to be in a state of grace, living a righteous life.

This season, the season of celebration, merrymaking and gift giving, may we not forget to pray. May we never forget to small baby who came to save us. May we never forget to give back to the little ones, to the less fortunate ones. Amidst all the grandeur of this season, may we never fail to see God in the simplest of things.

God bless!