Of Seeds and Blooming

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/092014.cfm) reminds me that God continues to plant seeds in our hearts, it is just dependent on us if we will nourish it or not.

In the gospel, Jesus explains to his disciples the meaning of the parable. And that explanation is true to us as well. What Jesus meant more than 2000 years ago is still true today. God sows seeds, a lot of them in our hearts. That’s what he does. As he does so, he has great plans for those seeds. He wants those seeds to bloom. Al those seeds have the capacity to bloom. Walang fake seeds na isinama si God. But what he cannot control is how we will take care of those seeds. Even if those seeds have the ability  to bloom, it is up to us, the soil, if we will allow it or not.

God planted seeds of greatness in our hearts. All those seeds are capable of blooming, of becoming great. It just depends on us how we will treat those seeds.

If we constantly reject God, his word and his plans, then we hinder his great plans to bloom in our lives. If we constantly say no to his call to serve, in big and small ways, then we reject the blessings he wants to give us. But if we cooperate and take care of what he is giving us, if we say yes to his call and his plans all the time, then we will surely see his great plans come into fruition in our lives.

Our beloved Pope Francis sums it: “Every time we give in to selfishness and say “No” to God, we spoil his loving plan for us.”

May we be willing soils and take care of God’s planted seeds in us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for the seeds of greatness and the seeds of faith you continuously give me. Lord, I pray that I always be willing to cooperate with you. may I always say yes to you, even if I don’t feel like it, even if I’d rather say no. as I do so, I know you will do great things to me and through me, all for your greater glory. Amen.

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

ps

see related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/07/planted-seeds.html

Do Your Part

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091914.cfm) reminds me how important it is for us to do our part in life.

In one of the recent championship speeches of a basketball team, it was nice to see them acknowledge the efforts and parts of other people. They mentioned the water boys, towel boys, the practice players and the role players in the team. Not all are superstars, but all have a role in a team. It may be as simple as cleaning the basketball court so players will not slip and get injured, to giving the superstars a hard time in practice to prepare them for the actual game.

This is what God wants us to do. To just do our role well.

In the gospel, we see that the ladies spent for Jesus and his group. They provided out of their own pocket. They did not think that since he is the messiah, he can take care of himself. They spent their resources to help Jesus out, to help build his kingdom. They may not be able to preach and proclaim like others, but they helped in whatever way they can. And God does not belittle their part.

God's plan will not stop if we choose not to cooperate. There will be people to help Jesus out if the ladies did not want to give. God could have easily sent manna from heaven for Jesus. But God is so generous and good that he wants us to experience more his love and blessings. As we do our part, as we share and serve God, it is actually us who are getting more blessed. It is us being more aware of God's love, blessings and power in our lives. It is us, not God, who benefits from what we do.

May we be inspired to serve God and do our part, no matter how simple it may seem.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Friday! Lord, I pray that I have a heart like the ladies. May I be generous in sharing what I have to others. MAy i be ready and willing to do my part, no matter how small it may seem, to build up God's kingdom. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

More for More

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091814.cfm) reminds me that the more we experience love, the more we give love

Jesus tells us in today’s gospel that those who felt great love and mercy gives more love and mercy to others. The gospel says: 

Two people were in debt to a certain creditor;

one owed five hundred day’s wages and the other owed fifty.

Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both.

Which of them will love him more?”

Simon said in reply,

“The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.”

He said to him, “You have judged rightly.

...

So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven

because she has shown great love.

But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”

God loves everyone equally. He loves us despite of our sins and shortcomings. However, naturally, those who are aware of our shortcomings and sins and who experience God’s love and forgiveness tend to love God more, tend to love others more. In the gospel, it does not necessarily mean that the Pharisees had less sin. Maybe they were just unaware of their sins, or too proud to admit they had sins too – thus they did not feel the need to be forgiven, and did not feel the impact of God’s love In their lives, because they felt that they were okay on their own.

All of us sin. In the first reading, we see that David, although was greatly blessed by God, still sinned against God. However, God is a God of love. God is love. And he will always be ready to forgive us our sins as long as we humbly come to him. And if we are aware of our situation and we allow God to love us and we experience his love, it will cause us to love more, because we experienced first hand God’s love and mercy in our lives.

May we be aware of our sins and our need for repentance… and as we ask God’s forgiveness, may we allow Him to love us as well and be moved by his love and forgiveness, and pass it on to others.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day. I especially thank you for the love you gave my parents – thank you for blessing their marriage for 29 years, and thank you for the love you let them experience, the source of the love that they give to our family. I thank you for blessing them and giving them to us. Lord, may we all allow you to love us, and as we experience your love, may it move us to pass that love to others, especially those who need it, and even to those who don’t deserve it. Amen.

Blessed Sunday! 

In Christ,

-g-

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/06/more-for-more.html

Love

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091714.cfm) reminds me that God is love.

The first reading is all about love. It is one of the most used readings in weddings. This may make it sound like a cliché, but it's true when you take a deeper look at it.

Love is patient, love is kind.

It is not jealous, love is not pompous,

it is not inflated, it is not rude,

it does not seek its own interests,

it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,

it does not rejoice over wrongdoing

but rejoices with the truth.

It bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.

And if you change the word "love" with "God", then it really becomes more true. Yes, we all know that God is all that, and more.

The reading also states that the other gifts are incomplete without love. Even with faith, hope, and love, the greatest is love. This reminds us that love should be the foundation of everything. That our actions should be rooted in love. That our intention should always be love.

God is love, and as his children, we are also reminded to do and be the same. May we spread God's love in our lives.

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 chance to experience your love. Lord, I pray that I may be able to share and spread your love, as a testament of the love I have been receiving in my life. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Just Because

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091614.cfm) reminds me that God does good to us even without us asking for it.

I am a believer or “just because” gifts. You don’t need an occasion to give gifts. It is actually what makes it more special. You don’t need an occasion to give flowers or simple gifts to your loved ones. Gifts should be given not out of duty for an occasion, but out of love. This is what Jesus did to the woman in the gospel.

a man who had died was being carried out,
the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.
A large crowd from the city was with her.
When the Lord saw her,he was moved with pity for her and said to her,
“Do not weep.”
He stepped forward and touched the coffin;
at this the bearers halted,
and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”
The dead man sat up and began to speak,
and Jesus gave him to his mother.

Most probably, Jesus did not know who the woman was. The woman probably did not know who Jesus was, and did not ask him to help her. Jesus just knows she is a widow, and after losing her only son, she now is considered very little in society (because women at that time get their identity from their husbands and their sons). That’s why Jesus had pity on her. That is why Jesus healed the son and gave her back to her mother.

Just because.

God does to us as well. There are a lot of things we do not pray for. There are a lot of things we certainly do not deserve. Blessings abound, to the point that we don’t consider them blessings anymore. The mere fact we have work, can read and write, can eat – these are some blessings we sometimes take for granted, just because God has always given us these, and because we see these in others as well. But it is our of God’s love and goodness that we have these. Looking in our lives, we see other specific blessings – things we unexpectedly get, things we do not deserve, favors that go our way.. these things are reminders of God’s love and blessings, not because we ask for them or deserve them, but just because God loves us so much.

May we be more conscious and aware of God’s “just because” blessings and gifts in our lives. And may it lead us to thank him and love him more.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another Tuesday. Thank you for my work, Lord. I thank you for my everyday blessings, especially those I do not deserve and pray for. Thank you for your great love for me, Lord. I am sorry for not being grateful and not appreciating these things. May I always be sensitive and may these things make me love you more. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Of Suffering and Doing Good

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091514.cfm) reminds me that suffering is part of our lives as followers of God.

Suffering, together with pain, is part of life. That’s a given. As with problems, they say that you only run out of it when you’re dead. However, there are different reasons for suffering. Not all suffering is good.

The bible tells us that it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than to suffer for doing evil (1 Peter 3:17). Makes sense, right? In the same way that a righteous person can suffer for doing God’s work and living his ways, a wicked person can also suffer for doing good.  An evil person can suffer as a punishment for the evil and crime he has committed, in the same way a faithful missionary can suffer and be imprisoned by doing God’s work.

God sees our suffering.

As we commemorate our Lady of Sorrows today, we are reminded that God sees them. He knows our suffering. In the first reading, we see that there are sufferings and divisions even among believers. But a good comes out of it – real believers will be known. The psalmist encourages us to proclaim the death of our Lord until he comes again. Death and suffering go together, but it brings with it hope and new life. And in the gospel, Mary receives a warning of pain and suffering – that a sword will pierce in her. But this too brings new life and hope – for it will reveal the real heart situation of people.

Jesus death caused suffering and pain to those who love him, but God turned it into hope and a source of happiness, when it became the start of a new life in Him.

May we remain firm in God, and be faithful to him, despite the sufferings in our lives and around us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live, for another week to work. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you Lord for the reminder that you see my sufferings. I ask that you help me. Enable me to focus on you all throughout. Give me strength to face the challenges in life. May I be faithful to you despite all the suffering around me. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Lift God Up

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091414.cfm) reminds me that we should always lift God up in our lives.

In the first reading, we see the story of the bronze serpent who heals those bitten by serpents. In the gospel, we are reminded of Jesus being lifted up and healing, curing and saving people, more than the serpent in the first reading. In the second reading, we see that God greatly exalted Jesus and lifted him up. As we celebrate the feast of the Holy Cross, we are reminded that God deserves to be lifted high, and that we should lift him up in our lives.

God has been good to us, even if we do not deserve it. Though sometimes we easily forget God’s goodness and blessings in our lives, as the psalmist warns us.

Jesus is an example of how we can lift God high in our lives. To lift God up, we should humble ourselves before Him. Jesus dis this. He was God, but took human form because he loves God the Father. He gave up everything, even being one with God – when he bore our sins on the cross. He lived a simple life being carpenter’s son and not a son of a king. He preached about God’s kingdom. He healed the sick and brought glory to God. He stepped out of his comfort zone and emptied himself and allowed God to be exalted.

What about us? Are we full of ourselves – our worldly achievements, power, possessions, that we don’t give space to God? Are we hanging on to these worldly things that prevent us from fully following God? Are we willing to empty ourselves with all that we have, and lift God up in our lives?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for your great love and all your blessings. Thank you for reminding me that you don’t look at my credentials or accomplishments, rather, you look at my heart. Lord, I ask that you help me empty myself so I may be humble and willing to lift you up in my life. Help me step out of my comfort zone and trust you as I do things for and with you. As I do, I know you will do great things so your name would be lifted up and glorified. Amen.

Have a blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/03/high-and-lifted-up.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/04/high-and-lifted-up.html
http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/09/he-emptied-himself.html