Prepare the Way

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120714.cfm) reminds me that we should prepare the way for God to enter our hearts and lives.

When we are expecting special visitors, we do our best to prepare our house. We clean and organize things. We throw away things we do not need anymore to avoid clutter. We put things in order. And once those basic things are finished, we polish the new and improved place.

This is also what we should do as we prepare for Christmas.

The first reading (which the gospel quotes) shows Isaiah reminding us to prepare the way for God.

A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;
the rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

In the gospel, we see John was the one Isaiah was referring to.

John the Baptist appeared in the desert
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins

In the same way that John prepared the way for Jesus, we too are called to do our part and prepare the way for Jesus to enter our lives and our hearts.

Most people have already started (while others are finished) with their Christmas shopping. We start exploring what gifts to buy special people in our lives. Some have also sorted their things for donation or disposal. People have begun budgeting their finances to prepare for Christmas shopping. Some are starting to plan and organize Christmas gatherings. These things keep us busy. And it is good to note that this early, we should not forget the reason for all these things. The reason for the season. We may be lost in the busyness of Christmas things that we forget what Christmas is about.

In the same way we prepare for things, we too should prepare our hearts for Jesus. We should try to attend mass more. Go to confession and receive the Eucharist to prepare our hearts. Forgive others who may have hurt us, and start forgiving those who caused us pain. Start giving more to others, with all the avenues available to help out the less fortunate. Spend more time with those who have problems and are lost. These are some things we can also start doing to remind us of the real reason for Christmas.

May we be reminded to prepare the way for Jesus to enter our lives and our hearts.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to rest and spend more time with you. Lord, help me prepare my heart for you. Help me to be focused and not be lost in the busyness this season brings. May I never forget to prepare my heart to receive you as well. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g

Ps

See related reflections:

http://www.mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/12/prepare-way.html

http://www.mysimplereflection.blogspor.com/2011/12/prepare-way.html

Worker

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120614.cfm) reminds me that we are called to be workers for God.

God needs us to help him in building his kingdom on earth. God needs warm bodies to reach out to others, to make others feel His love for them. The gospel tells us:

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”

God needs workers for his kingdom.

Life on earth should not just be about us. It should not be just about what we want to do or to happen. We should not forget who gave us life in the first place. We should not forget who loved us first, who saved us, and who continues to bless us.

As we are blessed, as we are filled with God’s love, we are also called to pass it to others. We are blessed not for us to keep it, but bless others as well. We experience God not just for us to treasure the moment, but share him with others. We have a relationship with God not just for ourselves, but for others to have the same relationship as well.

It is easy to just focus on oneself, on the people you love, on what you want. But God reminds us that we should also be workers for him. No matter where we are and what we do, we are called to be workers for God’s kingdom.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to rest. Thank you for another opportunity to feel your love. Thank you for the reminder of what you want and need me to do. Help me be a willing worker for your kingdom. May I be willing to step out of my comfort zone and do things for your kingdom as well. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Back At You

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120514.cfm) makes me think of what will happen if God’s goodness would be based on our own goodness.

The movie flywheel is about a man who before his conversion was a shrewd car salesman. In one of the scenes, a pastor was buying a car from him. Like he always does, he gave him a  not-so-honest deal, making money for himself and putting the buyer on a disadvantage. But since the pastor did not know this, he was so happy with the deal and said a prayer: “Lord, I ask you that you treat Jay just like he treated me today in this deal”

What if God were to treat us this way?

The gospel today is similar in the sense that Jesus used the personal faith of the blind men.

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out,
“Son of David, have pity on us!”
When he entered the house,
the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them,
“Do you believe that I can do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they said to him.
Then he touched their eyes and said,
“Let it be done for you according to your faith.”

It is easy to profess our faith. It is easy to say we love God. It is easy to appear good to others. It is possible, like Jay in the movie, to appear to be doing good even if they really are not. However, even if other people do not know what is really inside, God knows. God sees what other people cannot see. God sees our deepest, darkest secrets. God knows our intentions. God knows how much we love him. God knows our faith.

God is infinitely good, and he treats us not the way we deserve to be treated. He is full of grace, and it is this grace, which translates to our undeserved blessings, that we experience in our lives. God will not force us to change before he loves and blesses us. But as we experience his love and blessings, we should be moved to improve and be better ourselves.

May we not be contented with what other people think of us. May our image or reputation be not as important as the real deal inside of us, the reality in our lives that only God can see.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another weekend coming up. Thank you for all your blessings that I do not deserve. Lord, only you know me. Only you know what is really inside my heart. And I thank you that even if you see all of what is inside, your love for me does not change. Thank you for your great love, for your genuine love for me despite of all my shortcomings, of my deepest darkest secrets. I know how important faith is, and I know how you see the real me, so I ask that you help me improve my faith, to strengthen my spiritual life, even if other people would not see it. May I not look for recognition or a good reputation among others, but work to have a good heart inside that follows you, that serves you, that loves you. Amen.

Blessed Friday!

In Christ,

-g-

PS,

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/12/god-sees-inside.html

Built Strong

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120414.cfm) reminds me that we should build our house on a strong foundation.

The gospel says that a house built on a rock cannot be destroyed by rain, flood, and wind… Having a strong foundation enables us to withstand these challenges that could destroy others - like a house built on sand.

Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
And it collapsed and was completely ruined

Who is our foundation? Who is the rock upon we should build our house? The first reading says that the Lord is an eternal Rock. Is it important to trust in Him? the psalm says that it is blessed to come in the name of the Lord… How do we build our foundation? The gospel says we should listen AND ACT upon God’s words. It is not enough to recognize God. Satan recognizes God as well – but he does not follow God. We should recognize God and follow His ways. Hindi pwedeng puro realizations. Hindi pwedeng puro lip service. We should act, follow God’s will in our lives.

May we work towards building our house on a rock, a solid foundation.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to know more about you. Thank you for another day to experience your love. Thank you for reminding me how important it is and how wise it is to build my life on you. And I pray that you help me have a heart that would live it, that would devote time for you, that would be willing to surrender to you, and act on your will. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2011/12/house-on-rock.html

All In Package

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120314.cfm) reminds me that God knows all our needs

Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee,
went up on the mountain, and sat down there.
Great crowds came to him,
having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute,
and many others.
They placed them at his feet, and he cured them.
…..

“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
for they have been with me now for three days
and have nothing to eat.
I do not want to send them away hungry,
for fear they may collapse on the way.”
…..

They all ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full

In the gospel, we see how great and powerful Jesus is. We see how loving he is. He is thinking not only of our souls, but our bodies as well.

Healing all who came to him shows how powerful Jesus is. His healing hand is for all. But he did not stop there. He was not contented showing God’s power by healing people. He also know they have worldly concerns – food. He knows they need food as well, so he gave them food.

God gives us all in package – filling our heavenly and earthly needs.

We should be reminded that God knows and will continue to take care of our worldly concerns as well. He is not just concerned about our souls. He knows our worldly concerns and will provide for them also.

Jesus hears the prayers of our hearts. They may be simple or complicated. They may be spiritual in nature, or worldly concerns. God knows it, and he knows the perfect time to provide for these things.

May we find comfort in the fact that our God knows all our concerns and will provide for all.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for being a complete provider. Thank you for thinking and providing for not only my spiritual needs and concerns, but also of the worldly. I pray that I may always trust in your wisdom, your love, and your timing as you provide for me. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Child’s Faith

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120214.cfm) reminds me that God wants us to be childlike – to have faith like a child.

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,
“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learnedyou have revealed them to the childlike

What is being childlike? A childlike attitude puts full faith and trust in the parents 

Kapag bata, walang choice eh. The child needs to rely on the parents to walk, stand up, eat, etc. Ganun nalang yung dependency nya sa magulang. Ganun nalang yung tiwala nya sa magulang. Complete faith.

A childish attitude is the opposite.

It is when a person wants to have things their way. Kapag hindi nakuha ang gusto, magdadabog o magagalit. Gusto laging masunod. The focus is on the self.

This is why God blessed the childlike. He blessed those who relied on Him, instead of relying on their own personal achievements. He blessed those who know that they are nothing and everything they have came from God, not those who think highly of themselves because of their accomplishments and credentials.

God wants us to have that childlike faith, that will humble and totally rely and trust on Him, knowing that He is the only one who loves us enough to die for us and save us from our sin, and that everything happening will lead to a full life in Him.

Are you childlike or childish? Are you proud of your own accomplishments and credentials that you forget the source of all those? Do you get mad at God when things doesn’t go your way, or when you don’t understand everything that is happening? Do you have full faith in God, confidently walking with him even if you can only see until the next step, knowing that He will be there every step of the way?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to experience and live your love. Thank you for reminding me the importance of being childlike and not childish. Lord, as I live my life, help me develop a childlike faith. May I always trust in you, especially when things are challenging. A lot of times, I do not understand what is happening and how all these could turn into something great. But Lord, i have faith that you can see, and that as long as I cooperate in your plan, things will turn out great. May I develop that childlike faith as I live my life in service of you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/07/are-you-childlike.htm

Faith in the WORD

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120114.cfm) reminds me that we should have faith in God’s WORD.

Nowadays, we need proof for us to believe things. Talk is easy, and is often abused. In bazaars, sales and promos, what they advertise is usually not the whole picture. There are hidden terms and conditions. That’s why we don’t easily trust based on word alone. However, there is one being whose word we can trust. In the gospel, we are reminded who:

Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word and my servant will be healed.
For I too am a man subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes;
and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes;
and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
“Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.

We can trust in Jesus’ word.

In the gospel, Jesus was willing to go to the house of the centurion, who was not only a good master but a faithful child of God as well. After travelling to see Jesus and asking for healing for his servant, the centurion showed great faith when he was willing to believe in Jesus’ words alone. And Jesus honored that faith.

Today, Jesus still speaks to us through his WORD. The bible is still relevant and true. God reminds us that he has great plans for us. God reminds us that he loves us so much. God reminds us that he will be there to support and strengthen us as we face life’s challenges. God reminds us that He is a healer. These are promises, these are words, that we should hang on to. Like the centurion, may we have enough faith to know and trust in God’s word.

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 week. Thank you for your word, Lord. Sometimes, in this world, it gets very difficult to trust others’ word. I know you are different, Lord. Help me soak on your word and increase my faith so I may trust you wholeheartedly. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-