No Faith

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/020514.cfm) reminds me that having no faith in God limits his power over us.

Yesterday, we see the importance and power of faith. Today, we see the effects of not having faith in God. The people in his native place knew Jesus – from the time he was born, when he was growing up, and they even knew his parents. So for them, seeing him as Christ is very difficult. For them, Jesus was an ordinary person, one just like them. This lack of faith, this hardness of heart, limited what God can do to them.

“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”

If we do not have faith in Jesus, if we do not come to him, we cannot receive his graces and healing. He will not and cannot force himself to us, so he will just continue loving us, and wait until we love him back, until we humbly come to him, until we ask for his healing, his mercy, his forgiveness. Only then can we really experience in a personal and intimate way God in our lives.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for all the blessings. Lord, I pray for faith. Increase my faith. Help me trust in you more. May I be humble and come to you for healing, for love, for forgiveness. As I do so, I know you will reward me for my faith. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Just Have Faith

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/020414.cfm) reminds me how powerful faith is.

The gospel today tells us of two stories of faith and healing and miracles. The first one was the woman with hemorrhage She had great faith in Jesus, that she knew that even a touch on his cloak would save and heal her. Probably this is what most of us Filipinos feel and think, when we touch the image of Christ. We do not say that the image itself has power, same as the woman not saying that the cloak itself has power. It is Jesus, whom the cloak (and image) represents who has power and who we have faith into, that heals us. And the woman was brave, admitting that she was the one who touched Jesus, though she doesn’t know how Jesus would react upon her admitting it. Jesus affirmed her and said that “Daughter…your faith has saved you…be cured..”

The second story is about Jairus daughter. Jesus was on the way to heal her when they were told she is dead. We feel like this a lot of times, when we are told situation is hopeless and we cannot do anything about it anymore. Jesus is telling us today what He told Jairus. Do not listen to them. “Do not be afraid; just have faith” Simple words. Powerful words. Jesus is asking us, like he asked Jairus, to not mind other people telling us bad things, or making us feel down. Do not let the world bring you down. Do not be afraid of what is happening. Just focus on me. Have faith in me. And as we do so, we will surely be pleasantly surprised like Jairus when the seemingly hopeless situation would be turned around by God’s grace, power, and love.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder how important and powerful faith is. Lord, I am sorry for the times I doubt. Sorry for the times I give in to the temptation and power of the world. Sorry for the times I let the situation bring me down and doubt you. Lord, I pray that you give me faith – faith that would heal, faith that would work miracles, faith that would just focus on you in the midst of all that is happening around me. May you be happy with my faith, as I wait for the day you will tell me “my Child your faith has saved you…” Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

A Different Calling

  

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/020314.cfm) reminds me that God calls each of us  to work for him in different ways

For the past weeks, we have seen how Jesus called his apostles, and even the four closest to him. They asked them to follow him and they did. However, in today’s gospel, we see a different situation. The man healed wanted to follow Jesus, but he did not allow him to. “But Jesus did not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.”” Yes, Jesus did not call or allow everyone to follow him. Like the man, he wants others to proclaim Jesus in their own homes and families too.

The same is true with us. Not all are called to religious life. Not all are called to be missionaries in different communities and countries. Most of us, lay people, are called to evangelize in our own homes, families, and offices. We do not need to be hardcore and do missionary and evangelization work all the time. Most of us just need to spread God’s love to others, share what Jesus has done in our lives, and live according to the gospel values – in that way, we will be able to do our part and proclaim Jesus in our own simple capacity.

May we be willing to share Jesus and tell of his wonderful deeds in our lives, even if just to our families and friends.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another week. Thank you for reminding me that you are pleased with the simple things I d o for you. Lord, I pray that I may be like the man in the gospel, ready and willing to follow you, but still ready to share you to others close to me, for I know that even my little act of sharing you to others will bring them closer to you, and you will be magnified and glorified. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

No Easy Victory

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/020214.cfm) reminds me that there is no easy victory as we work for God.

In basketball and in any other sport, a victory is more sweet and precious if achieved over a closely fought game with a competitive opponent, rather than a blowout game over a weak opponent. Indeed, challenges makes something more memorable. This is what God teaches us in the gospel.

When Jesus was presented to the temple, Mary was told that a sword will pierce her heart. She probably did not understand what it meant, but later on we see how difficult it was for Mary to see her Son suffer and die. Of course Jesus experienced challenges in his life as well. However, we should take comfort in the first reading, that God will be with us as we experience these challenges. His eyes are gazed on us, watching over us as we are being purified and tested, and making sure we will only be subjected to what we can handle. (See story Refiner and Purifier of Silver)

As we live our lives and as we work for God, we experience challenges as well. However, may we be inspired and encouraged by the fact that God’s eyes is always on us as we go through these things. Even if we don’t feel it, his eyes are always on us, making sure that we are subjected to only what we can handle, and after the pain of us being purified and refined, we will become a stronger and better person and worker of God.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the challenges you give me, for they strengthen me and make me a better person. Sorry for the times I think you are not there as I go through these things. May I always remember that you are always there, watching over me, and protecting me, for your word says that “God is faithful, he won’t let you be tried beyond your own strength. And with each trial, he will provide a way out so you may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13)”  amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2011/12/refiner-and-purifier-of-silver.html

No Faith?

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/020114.cfm) makes me think and reflect on what my state is as I come to Jesus.

In the gospel, we see fishermen terribly afraid in a storm, running to a carpenter for help. Interesting, right? Jesus asked them why they were terrified, and if they did not have faith. Note that he did not ask them why he woke him up and why they came to him. Probably, he wanted to come to Jesus. That's the right thing to do. But how we come to Jesus is important to him as well. Do we come to him terrified, feeling hopeless and helpless? Do we come to him doubting his love and power, or do we come to him calmly, full of faith, knowing that he is a God who never disappoint?

Sharing a story about mother Teresa. May her faith and relationship to Jesus inspire us and may we be willing to work to have that faith and relationship with him as well.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for reminding me how much you love me and how powerful you are. Thank you that even if I come to you terrified and seemingly lacking in faith, you still help me. Lord, help me build my faith and relationship with you. May i always come to you calmly and full of faith in your love, power and goodness. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/01/confidence-in-god.html

Just Plant

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/013114.cfm) reminds me that as we work in God's vineyard, we should just continue to plant seeds of goodness.

When I was in school, one of the sure projects each batch had was to plant mongo seeds in a cup (or pot) and let it grow. Students were given similar mongo seeds to plant, water, and take care of to make it grow. After the specified time, student were asked to bring the seeds to school. Even though they were given same seeds, they ended up differently. Some looked healthy, some looked dry, while some did not survive at all. The teacher then explains that a lot of things affect the growth of the seeds - air, sunshine, soil, water, etc.

This is true with our faith as well. We have the same source, God, but we end up differently. A lot of things affect our growth, and some are beyond our control. But God just asks us to plant seeds, something we can all do. Share God to others. Tell of what he has done in our lives. Love others, especially the unlovable, the way we are loved by God.  Be fair and just with our dealings with others, even if we have the option not to. We just need to do our best, knowing that we cannot control a lot of things, so we just lift the rest to God.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to rest and spend time with people important to me. Lord, I pray that I be a faithful sower. May i just do my best to plant seeds for your kingdom, and just trust in you, knowing that you will be the one to make the seeds grow and bear fruit for your kingdom. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

No Secrets

  

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/013014.cfm) reminds me that there are no secrets with God

In the latest movie of Spiderman (The Amazing Spider Man), there was a scene where Peter Parker’s Aunt May told him – Secrets have a cost, they’re not free. Not now, not ever. In the gospel, we see this said in a different way “there is nothing hidden except to be made visible, nothing is secret except to come to light” we really cannot hide anything, especially from God.

There are things we consider trivial, or sins that we think are too small that nobody gets affected, or probably even a bad habit we can’t let go, thus makes us live double lives. Even if we are successful in hiding these things, the time will come when it will eventually come out. Probably not the sin/bad habit itself, but the manifestations of it will eventually come out. Being secretly angry at someone may not seem harmful to anyone, but as you harbour that anger, it eventually consumes you and will eventually come out as you deal with others, especially with people close to you. Same is true for addiction to pornography. Probably It may seem harmless, especially if no one knows and no one gets affected, but there are studies that show that as one gets deeper into pornography addiction, one’s mind unknowingly gets affected – the way one sees women or men, the expectations on a partner, etc. these things eventually manifest and affect people as well.

May we humbly come to Jesus for healing and ask him to clean and purify us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for reminding me how much you love me, how much you want me to be a clean person. Lord, I am sorry for the times I think that my sins or secrets are not harmful. Sorry for thinking that I can get away with these things. Lord, I humbly come to you and ask you to clean me, to purify me. I know that only you can do that, and I ask that you help me renew myself so I can live a clean life pleasing to you. amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-