Active Faith

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070714.cfm) inspires me to have an active faith like the official and the woman in the gospel.

Sometimes, people mistake being lazy with having faith. Having faith does not allow us to just sit and wait on God to do things for us. Yes, sometimes that is true, especially with regards to things we cannot do anything about. However, we should also act and do something about the things we can control. We should also do our part and not just wait for God to do things for us.

In the gospel, we see this at work in the lives of the official and the woman. Both of them were in a tough situation. They both face uncertainty. They both need a miracle… and they both have faith. However, they did not wait for God to come to them. They did not wait for a miracle to just happen because of their faith. They did what they could. The official came to Jesus and asked him to heal his daughter. That was tough, leaving your dead daughter having faith that this Jesus could bring her back to life. And the woman with hemorrhages came to Jesus, did what she could to touch his cloak, having faith that it would heal her. She did not just wait on the side and hope one day Jesus would pass by her and heal her. She did her part.

Their faith was active. Their faith was translated into action. Their faith was rewarded.

We too are facing situations that are tough. Sometimes we feel that it is only our faith that keeps us sane, that enables us to get by. However, we are reminded not to just wait on the sidelines. We should continue to pray and have faith, and wait for God’s time to come. However, we should also act – especially on things we can do, on things we can control. No matter how big or small what we can do is, what is important is we do our best and we do what we can while having faith.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week to live for you. Lord, I am sorry for the times I use my faith as an excuse for laziness. Sorry for just waiting and not doing my part. Lord, give me the wisdom to know the things I can do and change, versus the things I just have to wait in faith for. May I continue to do my best and do my part as I have faith in you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Rest

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070614.cfm) reminds me that if we need rest, we should come to Jesus.

All of us get tired. That’s why we need sleep – to rest and recharge our bodies. We can’t act like robots and continue working until we can, until we have something left to do. We are human beings who need ample time of rest to recharge our body and give us energy to keep doing what we do.

In the gospel, we see Jesus inviting us to come to him so he can give us rest. All of us get tired, so his call is pretty applicable and relevant until now..

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest

What would happen if we do come to him? Surely we will not magically feel at peace and have renewed strength. That’s not the rest he is talking about. Our problems of course will not go away. The rest he will give us is having the right perspective – knowing that everything in this world is temporary, and only one thing is important – God. This will give us rest – rest from everything worldly that stresses and tires us out, and gives us strength with the perspective that our relationship with God and how we live our lives is the real important thing, and that is not so hard to work on.

May we come to Jesus.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday to spend time with you and the ones I love. Lord, thank you for always reminding me what is important is this life. I am sorry for being focused on the world that it stresses me out, that it tires me. I forget that everything here is temporary – fame, power, money, influence. Only one thing is eternal, and that is you, Lord. So may I just focus on you as I live my life here on earth. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Time For Everything

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070514.cfm) reminds me that there is a proper time for everything.

When I was new to corporate life, I was blessed to be part of a good team. People were friendly, even our manager at that time. I felt at ease and comfortable with my team. However, i was surprised when I attended my first team meeting/conference call. I saw the other side of my teammates and my boss – serious and professional. They taught me that indeed, there is a time for everything – a time to be friendly, casual and warm, and a time to be serious, professional and to mean business.

This is what Jesus is telling us in the gospel. When the disciples of John, who always fast, asked why his disciples don’t fast, his reply was:

“Can the wedding guests mourn
as long as the bridegroom is with them?
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast.

There is a time for everything. And he is reminding us that this applies until now. There is a time to be happy, have fun, and celebrate God’s goodness and love, but there is also a time to be serious, to be sorry for our sins and confess, and to fast. There should be a time to spend time with family, work, self and with loved ones, but also a time for God – of loving, praising and serving Him. There is a time to pray and wait for God’s plans to come true in our lives, and a time to enjoy it and thank him for it. Too much of one is not good. There should always be a balance.

May we remember how important it is to know the proper time for everything.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Lord, I ask that you give me the knowledge to know the right time for doing things. May I always strive to have a balanced life for you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Follow Him?

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070414.cfm) makes me think if I will readily follow God when he calls me to.

In the gospel, we see Jesus calling Matthew, who was a tax collector sitting at his post. When Jesus called him, Matthew immediately got up and followed Jesus. no last minute tasks, no excuses, no questions. then, not only did he follow Jesus, but also welcomed him into his home – signifying that he really wanted to change and welcome Jesus into his life. Of course we know he became one of the four evangelists who wrote the gospel.

Makes me think what about me? What is my reaction if Jesus called me today? Am I ready to change my ways completely and follow him, and do his will? Do I have last minute errands to do before I follow Jesus? or would I pretend not to hear him call me?

God wants all of us to follow him. All of us. And he sends reminders for us to do so. May we be sensitive to those, and as we hear him, may we be ready to follow him – in little and big ways.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for the weekend coming up. Lord, I am sorry for not being ready to follow you. sorry for pretending not to hear you, or putting off following you. May I have the heart like Matthew to drop everything and leave everything behind- all my sins, my shortcomings, my issues and worldly problems - to follow you, to glorify you as I live my life. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

No Room for Doubt

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070314.cfm) reminds me that with a strong faith in Jesus, there will be no room for doubt.

Today we celebrate the feast of St Thomas, and the gospel is about him. We all know the story, that’s why we call him doubting Thomas. He did not believe when others told him Jesus has risen from the dead, and said that unless he puts his hand on Jesus side, he will not believe. Then when Jesus appeared and Thomas was with the disciples, he said what we say everytime we hear mass – My Lord, and my God!

Why do we have a feast day for him? he doubted God, why should we celebrate him? Well, probably because at one point or another, we too doubted God. And he is there to remind us that even if we are like that, even if we doubt, we can eventually be saints and do great works for God, as long as we allow him to.

It’s okay to doubt – from time to time. God can take it. However, we should not get used to it. In the first reading Paul tells us that Christ should be the capstone of our community, of our relationships, and our lives.  “…with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together…”  And if we really put him in the center, there is no reason for us to doubt, whatever the situation may be, whatever other people may say.

May we be inspired by St Thomas’ change of heart and improvement of faith, and be encouraged as we believe in God even if we have not yet seen him, as said by Jesus: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed”

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 another opportunity to use and develop my faith. Lord, sorry for the times I doubt you, your love and your power. Sorry for being impatient and doubting your plans and timing for me. Lord, may my faith improve as I wait on you and as I serve you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Truth Hurts the Worldly

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070214.cfm) reminds me that the truth hurts those who are worldly.

In the gospel, we see another amazing story of Jesus’ power! There were two demoniacs who were “untouchables” so the people just got used to letting them be, staying as far away from them to they could continue to “live in peace.” However, they were no match for Jesus’ power, so they asked Jesus to just command them to go to the herd of swine (for they needed another body to dwell in). When he did, they went to the swine and drowned in the sea. When the people heard this, they met Jesus but surprisingly, not to welcome him nor celebrate his love to the two men and power over the demons. They met him to ask him to stay away from them, because they were afraid he might again command demons to enter into a swine and cause damage and loss to their properties. Yes, they were more concerned about their worldly possessions, the animals, so the truth, God’s love and power, hurt them.

Nowadays, we see people still acting like this – when we see powerful people exploiting and abusing the helpless ones for their own personal gains. We see this when those in power, instead of helping the weak ones, actually abuse their powers over them. We see this when people would do anything to gain worldly riches, power and fame, at the sake of others who could not do anything about it. We see this when people choose their own comfort, to sleep, go out with friends and have a good time, instead of helping others in need, instead of doing church work.

Jesus message is as alive and applicable today as it was thousands of years ago. May we heed his call.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to experience you and to feel your love and power. Lord, sorry for the times I act like those people. Sorry for prioritizing other things over you. Sorry for being afraid or lazy to step out of my comfort zone to do things for you. Help me change my heart, Lord. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Calm in the Storm

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070114.cfm) shows us literally what calm in the storm is!

IT is ironic that the disciples of Jesus, who were mostly fishermen, came to Jesus and woke him up, a carpenter, when there was a storm in the sea. This shows that at this point, even if maybe not yet fully, they have faith in Jesus and they know he is something else. However, it is surprising how Jesus reacted. We would have expected Jesus to assure them that everything’s going to be alright, but he did not. instead, he said: “Why  are you terrified, O you of little faith?”

This is Jesus telling us not to be afraid. That even if he was sleeping, it does not mean that he already abandoned the disciples. He did not say “good thing you woke me up so I can calm the sea.” Even if he was physically sleeping, his love and power still protects his disciples.  He does not need to be awake to protect them.

This is what is Jesus is telling us today. Do not be afraid. Things may be rough, there may be a storm in your life, but do not panic. You may think I am sleeping because I am silent, but do not doubt my love and power. Do not be afraid. Be calm. Have faith in me.

May we be inspired by the story today, and may it strengthen our faith in God.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to experience your love. Lord, I am sorry for being so worried and for panicking when I experience storms in my life. May my faith continue to improve. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-