Irreplaceable

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/051413.cfm) reminds us that no one is irreplaceable as we work for God’s kingdom.

One of the hit songs of artist Beyonce Knowles is Irreplaceable, and it talks about not being irreplaceable. “Don’t you ever for a second get to thinking you’re irreplaceable…” No matter who you are or what you do or how great you are, you are replaceable. Same as true in the office. No matter how great you are with what you do, nobody is indispensable. There would eventually be someone who will replace you with what you’re doing.

As we serve God, we are reminded of this as well. No one is irreplaceable. In the first reading, we see how Judas was replaced. Yes, he may have been part of the original 12, but he chose to live a different life. And we see that he is not irreplaceable. God gave them someone else to take Judas’ place. We are reminded that no matter what we have done, or have been doing for God, we should not be complacent. We should not think that God owes us, or God needs us. Yes, he needs people to work for Him, but he will not tolerate arrogant people or people who sin. He can and will equip people whose hearts are willing to be used by Him.

Should we be scared? Of course not. but we are challenged and reminded in the gospel that we should keep God’s commandment and remain in his love as we serve Him.

Do I think I am irreplaceable in my career? In my business? In my service to God? What is God telling me today? Are there things , people, or habits that are irreplaceable in my life? Are there things, people, habits I am holding on to or find to let go? Should I let go? Do I realize that if only I ask, God can and will replace it with something or someone that he wants for me? Do I realize that as I serve God, I am replaceable, and should therefore strive to live a life in his love?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for waking me up and for reminding me how much you love me, and how special I am to you. Thank you for reminding me everyday. Lord, I pray that I do not take your love for granted and I do not abuse your love. I pray that I always remember that as I serve you and as I live my life on earth, nothing and no one is irreplaceable… and help me live my life remaining in your love. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

Take Courage

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/051313.cfm). 

 gives us strength as we live our lives serving God. 

An excerpt of the gospel says...

In the world you will have trouble,

but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

We have many times before that Christ is not the ruler of the world. In fact, the world hated Him... And as Christ's followers, the world will hate us as well. However, today, Christ reminds us that even if He does not rule the world, he has conquered the world. His power is greater than the ruler of the world. 

In serving Him, there are a lot of challenges. However, let us take courage and remember Christ's loving power. We are reminded to focus on Him and continue to serve Him despite life's challenges. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for reminding me how powerful and loving you are. Thank you for always being there as we serve you. Lord, i pray that you give me a heart that will continue to focus on you and that will continue to serve you even if, and especially when these challenges come into my life... For you are greater than these challenges. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Our Turn

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/051213-ascension.cfm) reminds me that I have a role to play to proclaim God's kingdom. 

As Christ Ascended into heaven, he gave the task of proclaiming God's kingdom to his disciples. It is the end of Christ's public life and ministry, and the start of the disciples' turn to do so. 

We are the body of Christ. 

St Teresa of Avila said this. 

Christ Has No Body

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Big task? Yes... But doable. 

We are reminded that we have a role. We have a part. That as Christ ascended, it is our turn. 

As we are asked to do it, it may make us feel unworthy. Yes, we are. We are sinners. We fall from time to time. However, we need to focus on what God is asking us to do, not on our inadequacies or unworthiness. It does not mean it is okay to sin, but after each fall, we should continue to humbly go back to God, confess, repent, and continue working for Him. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for making your love more alive and real in my life, specially through my mom. As we  celebrate mother's day, I pray that my mom and all mothers feel how much they are loved and appreciated. May you refresh them and give them strength to continue loving their children and their family. And as i experience that love, may i also spread that love to others, especially as you commanded us as you went back to God the Father. I know i an unworthy to be your hands, feet and eyes in this world, but i humbly ask that you bless my work so that you may be glorified and other people can feel and see how great you are. Amen. 

Blessed day! Happy mother's day!

In Christ, 

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/05/of-letting-go-ascension-2013.html

In His Time

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/051113.cfm) reminds me that things will happen in God's perfect time. 

In the gospel, Jesus told the disciples that the time will come when he will talk to them plainly, not in parables or figures of speech. The disciples were probably anxious and waiting for that time to arrive. But until then, they are patiently waiting and serving Christ. 

In our lives, we wait for a lot of things. We pray for a lot of things. We want things to happen now. Jesus is telling us to ve patient and have faith in Him, that in his perfect time, it will happen the way God wants it to be. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for reminding me that i should be patient. Lord, right now im praying for a lot of things. I want a lot of things to happen already. I am impatient. I pray that you give me faith and a heart that would ve willing to trust in you. May i continue to love and serve you while waiting for your perfect time. Amen. 

God bless!

In Christ,

-g-

Count on His Word

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/051013.cfm) reminds me that we can count on God’s word.

In the movie Gerry Maguire, there is a scene where he was asking a young star to sign him as the sports agent. He was talking to the dad, and it seems they had an understanding that he would represent the athlete. When He was asking them to sign the contract, the dad told him that his word is stronger than oak, so Gerry Maguire went away trusting the word of the dad. Well, eventually the dad signed up his son to a different agent who offered  him more.

Good news! When God says something, we can count on his word! Why? Because the bible says that “God is not man, that he should lie (Numbers 23:19).”

In today’s WORD, we see him telling Paul that Paul should continue to preach because no one will attach him or harm him. so Paul did. Eventually there were people who rose up against Paul. However, God was true to his word and no harm came upon Paul. He did not even have to explain and defend himself. That’s how true God is to his word. So when he says in the gospel that we may grief now, but our grief will eventually become joy and that when we see him again, our hearts would have joy that no one could take away, we better believe it!

What is God saying to me today? What is God telling me? Whatever it is, we better believe! If he’s saying he has great plans for us, we are sure he does! If he says he loves us, we are sure he really does. IF he says he will protect us, rest assured he definitely will. Things may not happen the way we want it to, but we can be sure God is definitely true to his word.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for your Word that I can always trust on, I can always rely on. Lord I pray that I always have that faith in your word, even if the world tells me not to. I know I may not understand everything that’s happening, and I may not see the entirety of your plans in my life, but I know in faith that your word will come true because your word never fails. Amen.

Blessed Friday!

In Christ,

-g-

Of Letting Go (Ascension 2013)

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/050913-ascension.cfm) reminds us that as we let go, God gives us something great.

There is an old song titled “The trouble with hello is goodbye”, and basically it tells that as we welcome and say hello to someone in our lives, with it comes the fact that eventually, we will have to say goodbye. It’s hard to let go. We sometimes get attached to people and even things that we do not find it easy to let something or someone go. However, sometimes, we have no choice. We eventually have to say goodbye to people and things, because we cannot hold on to anything forever.

This is probably what the disciples felt. How great those three years with Christ must have been… then he resurrected after being put to death. What a glorious feeling. However, we see today that Christ has to go back to the Father and would have to leave the disciples in this earth. However, with Christ leaving them, God gave them something great as well – the Holy Spirit. As a human being, Christ was limited by time and space. He can be in just one place at a specific time. But with the Holy Spirit, God is with all of us all the time. What a great reminder that as God takes away something, he has great plans and will give us something great as well, if not greater than what we originally have.

In our lives, this is true as well. We need to let go to receive a great, or greater blessing. We have to let go of our sins and habits for us to experience the joy of having Christ in our lives. We have to let go of our want to being in control of our lives so we can experience God’s great plans for us. We have to let go of that unhealthy relationship for us to be ready to experience God’s perfect one for us. Letting go is not easy, but we just need to have faith that as we do so in faith, God will not disappoint and his great plans will come to fruition in our lives.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for loving me and sending me your Holy Spirit to be with me as you go to the Father. Lord, I pray that I always be open and allow myself to let you take control. I pray for a heart that is ready and willing to let go of things I am holding on to, no matter how valuable they may seem or how happy they may make me, and in an act of faith, surrender to you these things, people and habits. As I do so, I know that you will give me something greater, because me letting go of what I currently have is the only way for you to give me what great plans you have for me. Amen

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Full Already?

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/050813.cfm) reminds us that we can only take so much in life.

A glass can only take so much. If we continue pouring something in the glass when it is already filled up, whatever it is being poured will be wasted.

This is true to our lives as well.

In the first reading, we see Paul teach the Athenians about the real God, not the one they are worshipping. They should be glad that they now know the truth, that they already know who to worship and give their lives to. However, this is not the case. They did not accept Paul’s message, at least most of them. Was it information overload to what Paul preached to them? Probably. Was it them being scared of moving out of their comfort zone as they worship their god? Maybe. However, maybe their hearts are like a filled up glass. It is already full of things, too comfortable to want to know the truth. They are already happy and contented with whatever they know that they do not have space anymore to receive Paul’s message. They cannot take in the truth that Paul is preaching them.

In our lives, we sometimes are like that. We are already full. Our schedules are already full. We are too busy with what we are doing, with the concerns of the world, that we do not have time for God. We may be too focused on our careers or business that we do not have space for him.

How should we act? Jesus tells us in the gospel.

He said that he has a lot more to tell the disciples but they cannot bear it now. Why is that? Does it mean their hearts are already full with other things? Or they cannot comprehend what God has to give them? Well, probably Christ has  a lot he would like to teach his disciples. His wisdom is infinite. His love never ends. And as human beings we can only take so much, even if our hearts are not full of other things.

So what should we do? Should we be frustrated and just settle for what we can take?

I don’t think so. I believe Jesus is telling us to always, always seek him. to consistently be open and make space for him. We cannot understand everything in one sitting. We cannot experience his love in one weekend. Just because we attended a retreat means we will always be happy. Just because we served in a retreat means we will always be full of God’s love and peace. We have to consistently choose him everyday. We have to consistently choose to fill our lives with his love, we have to consistently choose to serve him, we have to consistently choose to know more about him through prayer, scripture and the sacraments.

As the song goes… little by little, everyday. We should always choose to make space for him and ask him to fill our lives with his love, peace and joy.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for your WORD. Lord, I ask that you help me rid my life of anything and everything that is not of you. Help me clean my heart as I make space for you. I pray that I would always choose you – to allow you to fill me with your love, and to choose to love and serve you everyday, in little and big ways. Lord I pray that you continue to be patient with me, and may I allow myself to be molded by your love to be the person I was created to be. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-