Be Prepared

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082814.cfm) reminds us to always be prepared as we wait for God’s coming.

I am reminded by the lyrics of the song “Be Prepared” from The Lion King. Of course, the purpose and intention of Scar is very different, some lines could actually fit into what Jesus may say to his followers.

So prepare for a chance of a lifetime

Be prepared for sensational news

A shining new era

Is tiptoeing nearer

And where do we feature?

Just listen to teacher

I know it sounds sordid

But you'll be rewarded

When at last I am given my dues!

And injustice deliciously squared

Be prepared!

In the gospel, Jesus encourages us to do right while waiting on the master’s coming. It is easy to get distracted by the world, and we can be fooled into thinking that the master will take his time or will not come back at all. This can lead us to living a life not pleasing to the master. They say that the strongest lie of the devil is to make us think that there is still time, that we can continue living in a worldly manner first and enjoy the world, because there will still be time to repent. The master may not come yet, but before we know it, we may be too engrossed in that lie and just realize that it’s our time to face the master and we have no time to repent anymore.

Although it is not easy to live a life pleasing to God, it is possible. Paul writes in the first reading, and reminds us today, that we “are not lacking in any spiritual gift as we wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you firm to the end.” Yet again, God reminds us that we have what we need to remain faithful to Him. it is now our choice if we would choose to live that life.

Like the psalm, may we praise God’s name forever by living a life pleasing to Him all the time.

Do I know and accept that Christ will come again? Am I prepared for Christ’s coming? Am I trying to prepare, or am I deceived in the enemy’s lie that there is still time, and that I may first enjoy the world? Am I living a life pleasing to God? Do I go to confession when I fall?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for your Word that reminds us to be prepared. Lord, mahirap. There are a lot of distractions in this world. The enemy’s lie is very powerful. Pero Lord, I know that they are nothing compared to your great power and great love for me. Help me focus on that love and power, Lord, and not be distracted by this world. May I live a life pleasing to you, because you deserve it, because you deserve my best attitude, because I love you. Amen.

Have a blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2011/11/be-pepared.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2011/11/end-will-come.html

Work for Nourishment

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082714.cfm) reminds me that God wants us to work to be nourished.

Most of us need to work to survive. That's a fact. We need to work to be able to eat, pay our bills, and have a comfortable life. However, it is interesting and surprising to know that even God wants us to work. He is that concerned and involved in our lives. The first reading says that “if anyone is unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.”

God does not want free riders and wants us to work for food. But this not just the worldly food to sustain our bodies. Yes, it is true we need to work to have physical food, but this also applies to spiritual food. We also need to work to develop our faith. We also need to work to have our souls nourished. We have to do our part – read the bible, pray, maximize the sacraments – so our souls would be nourished as well.

In as much as God wants us to work to be spiritually nourished, we should not stop there.  We should work not only for ourselves and our own nourishment. He wants us to work for his kingdom too – to do his work, spread his love, and build his kingdom. If we are unwilling to work for Him, then we definitely would not taste the fruits of his kingdom.

Am I willing to work for my spiritual nourishment or do I expect God to just feed me? Am I ready to work for God’s kingdom and reach out to others? Am I ready to get my hands dirty? Or am I just praying to reap the fruits, to eat, without working for it? Am I ready to work for God even if it is not easy to?

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 the reminder Lord that you want me to work for my nourishment. Help me move and act to work for it. And as I find nourishment for myself, my body and my soul, may I be ready and willing to work for you to build your kingdom. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Stand Firm

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082614.cfm) reminds me that God wants us to stand firm for Him.

I remember watching a Filipino movie “She’s Dating the Gangster” with my girlfriend a few weeks back, and one of the scenes there was the leading man, Kenji, was expecting to meet his ex girlfriend. She told him she will meet him in their usual spot, so he waited there. There were bullies making him go away, and he even got a beating. But despite that, he remained firm. He stood his ground and waited there.

This is how God wants us to live our lives.

The first reading shows us Paul telling the Thessalonians to be firm in faith. Despite everything they may hear, they are encouraged to be firm, put the focus on God, and continue loving him and serving Him. in the gospel, we see Jesus denouncing evil deeds done by scribes and Pharisees. God does not tolerate evil, and sees the evil and hardened hearts of these people.

God wants us to be firm in our faith.

We may face difficulties and uncertainties in life.  We may see evil people prosper and become powerful and influential. These things may lead us into thinking twice about following the faith, about standing firm in faith. However, God reminds us today what he wants from us. No matter what happens, or what other people may do, we should remain firm. God will not let anything happen that we cannot handle by his grace, and his reward for us being firm will be eternal. His never ending love, goodness, and protection should be enough to help us stand firm in faith.

May we heed God’s call to stand firm in faith, no matter what, for we know that the psalmist’s words will come true – “The Lord comes to judge the earth”

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 work week. As I start working this week, I ask that you help me stand firm. May nothing and no one keep me from following you and standing up for you. I know that as I try to do so, you will continue to send your love and protection over men. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/08/men-of-great-faith.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/04/even-if.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/08/from-inside-out.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/09/from-inside-out.html

Proclaim Always

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082514.cfm) reminds me that we should always proclaim God’s goodness through our lives.

Situations affect our mood. When things go well and there are no conflicts, we are happy. It is easy to be optimistic and positive. It is easy to serve and proclaim God. However, when situations change, when we are faced with problems, difficulties and challenges, we feel otherwise. We don’t feel like serving God. We don’t feel like sharing him. We just want to focus on the problem, or we are paralyzed by the situation. God does not want this .

Whatever the situation is, we should always proclaim and share God.

In the first reading, we see that Paul exhorts the Thessalonians  to persevere in faith. There may be sufferings and difficulties they are experiencing, but they should remain faithful and loyal to God. In the gospel, Jesus warns us not to be like the scribes and Pharisees who are hypocrites – fake proclaimers of the faith. Lip service is not enough, God wants us to act and live our faith, no matter how simple our witnessing to Him may be.

I am always reminded by the line in the movie Facing the Giants. “If we win, we praise Him, if we lose, we still praise Him. Either way, we’re giving God the glory”

God is not asking us to praise Him only when it’s happy and things are easy. We may not feel like it, and it may be difficult, but we should still praise Him in difficult times. Situations may make us feel that our praise and witnessing to Him during these times is less effective, because we are carrying concerns. However, it is actually more powerful. When we praise God in the storm, we are actually letting God live in us. Human will and power are not enough to do this in tough times, so when we do, it is probably God living in us, enabling us to praise and serve Him despite all that is happening.

No matter how the situation may be, may we heed the psalmist’s call to “Proclaim God’s marvellous deeds to all the nations”

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another day to rest. Lord, help me be consistent in praising and proclaiming you It is so easy to do these things when I am happy and when things go my way, but really difficult to do it when I am stressed, tired and challenged. Help me Lord to be consistent in loving and praising you, for I know that this will give you joy and glory. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/09/sacrifice-of-praise.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/02/commit.html

Who Is He?

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/082414.cfm) reminds me to always put things in perspective so I can see who God really is.

There is a Filipino saying that goes “sometimes, a fly that lands on a carabao feels itself to be higher than a carabao.” Sometimes, people are like this. We forget who God really is in our lives. We forget all his provisions, blessings, power and love in our lives. We think that because we have achieved a lot in this life, we are bigger than Him and don’t need Him anymore.

We should put things in perspective.

In the first reading, we are reminded of God’s power. He can basically do anything he pleases. And in the second reading we are reminded that we have not done anything to God that would make us deserving of his blessings. God does not owe us anything. Well, we are reminded who God really is.

In the gospel, we see Jesus asking the disciples who they say he is. He affirmed Peter when he said that it was God who revealed to him who Jesus really was. This is also the answer we would give Jesus if we have things in perspective. He should be our Messiah. We should remember that without him, we are nothing. We should always be dependent on Him, no matter how much we have achieved in this life. All things, all blessings came from him, and we really cannot take credit for anything. God has been so good and gracious to us, that’s why we are able to achieve things. There is nothing that happened or will happen, that God does not know. Everything has his blessing and permission.

May we be a Christian in the true essence of it. CHRISTian. Without CHRIST, I am nothing. Let us be one with the psalmist in praying: Lord, your love is eternal. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Lord, thank you for another Sunday. I pray that I would always have things in perspective. May I always realize how little I am and how big and great you are. May I always be dependent on you. May my life be rooted in you. For I know the truth, that I cannot do anything on my own, and everything I have is from you. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Glory Through Consistency

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/082314.cfm) reminds me that we should be consistent with what we say so the glory of God can be more alive in us.

The first reading and the psalm both remind us of God’s glory. The first reading describes God’s glory.

and there I saw the glory of the God of Israel
coming from the east.
I heard a sound like the roaring of many waters,
and the earth shone with his glory.

…

but spirit lifted me up and brought me to the inner court.
And I saw that the temple was filled with the glory of the LORD

And the psalm reminds us that God’s glory is not a concept so far and so abstract. God’s glory is in us, in our land. “The glory of God will dwell in our land”

Still an abstract concept? How can we be sure God’s glory is in us? How can we feel God’s glory?

I believe that in the gospel, Jesus teaches us a practical and doable way on making it happen, on making it real. Live a life consistent with the gospel values. Jesus reminds us to practice what we preach. We should have integrity – to do what you say, and say what you do. If we tell others we love God, then we should live it. Lip service is not enough. Our lives should be a testimony of our faith. As we do this, as we live like this, as we humble ourselves before God, we will know that God will exalt us. And as he does it, we will know and feel God’s glory in our lives. We will feel God’s love in our lives. We will feel God’s power in our lives. Not only us, but the people around us. And that’s how we can make God’s glory more alive and more real in our lives.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another day to love and serve you. Lord, may I be challenged today. Help me live a life consistent with your values. May I give you more than lip service. May I praise you not just with my lips, but with my heart and my life as well. Lord, I lift up all those celebrating their birthday today, especially my sister Kat. May you always guide, bless and protect her, and may her life always be a testament of her love for you, and your love for her. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

PS,

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/01/consistency-is-key.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2011/12/consistency-is-key.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/10/consistent-ka-ba.html

High But Simple

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/082214.cfm) reminds me that God has high standards when it comes to us loving him.

The gospel tells us in simple words the greatest commandment of God.
“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment
This is how we should love God. Simple right?  But not that easy. He wants us to love him with all we’ve got. With all we have. Why is he asking for too much? Why not be happy with what we can give? We have a lot happening in our lives and we cannot give him our all, right? Well, he expects a lot from us because he loves us. It is true that he gave us everything – we came into the world with nothing, so we really can’t take credit for what we have. Everything we have it from God.

God is not a conditional God. His love is without conditions. He will love you no matter if you love him or not. He asks us to love him with our all NOT because he gave us everything, but because HE WANTS to GIVE US so much MORE. He wants to give us an abundant life, he wants to give us eternal life. And we cannot have that if we do not love him with our all – if we are focused on accumulating worldly riches. Only when we love God with everything we have, can he give us what we really deserve – because only then will we be ready to receive it.
May we be ready and open to loving God with all we have.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for reminding me how high your standards are – not because you need our love, but because we need yours. Lord, you won’t get anything if we love you, you’re God already. On the other hand, we will get a lot if we love you, especially if we love you with all we have. Change my heart, Lord, make it yours, and make it yearn for you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related song

http://youtu.be/U8mr839-TVs

  

pps

see related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/03/with-all.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/06/high-standards.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/03/still-simple.html