Happily Preparing

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/121414.cfm) reminds me that we should be happy when we are preparing for God’s coming.

Attitude is important. They say that a mother’s overall disposition while pregnant affects the baby. When people cook, they say that the mood of the person cooking affects the food being prepared. Same is true with God – he sees the attitude of our hearts and wants us to be happy while preparing for him and doing things for him.

The readings tell us that God wants us to be happy. In the first reading, we see Isaiah say:

I rejoice heartily in the LORD,
in my God is the joy of my soul

The second reading then shows us St Paul reminding the Thessalonians to always be happy, because that’s what God wants for us.

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus

Then the psalm reminds us what should be the reason for us being happy.

R/ (Is 61:10b) My soul rejoices in my God.

In the gospel, we see John doing his role in the salvation history. He was sent to prepare the way for Christ. He is not the star, but he was happily pointing everyone to Jesus. He knows his role, and he knows who he is serving. That’s why he is happy doing his role, because his joy is from God, in doing God’s task for him.

God wants us to be happy for a reason. He wants us to be real happy, to have real joy, because we can only have this if we are really founded on Him. If he is our rock, our foundation, then no matter what the situation is, no matter what we do for him, we will be happy.

As we continue to prepare for Christmas this year, may we have this attitude. May we be happy as we prepare, not stressed out thinking of all the gifts we are to buy, or the traffic, or the expenses. Let us remember the real reason for this season. May we be happy knowing that our true love, our master, our rock, is the real reason for this season, and that we are preparing our lives to be the best version of ourselves as our way of thanking him for all the love he has been giving us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to rest. Thank you for another week to be reminded of the importance of preparing for you. Lord, help me have a happy heart while preparing for you this season. May I do all things for you out of love, and may you be pleased with my effort to prepare my heart and my life. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Awesome Elijah

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/121314.cfm) reminds me how awesome the prophet Elihah is.

The first reading shows us some cool facts about Elijah:

How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!
Whose glory is equal to yours?
You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire,
in a chariot with fiery horses.
You were destined, it is written, in time to come
to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD,
To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons,
and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob

How interesting! How cool is that?! Elijah taken in a whirlwind of fire in a chariot with fiery horses! Wild! And how awesome Elijah’s role is, to re-establish people and prepare them for Christ’s coming. During that time, it was believed that Elijah would come back before the Messiah comes. And in the gospel, Jesus tells us that it’s true. However, he did not come in a way they wanted to or they expected him to. He came in the person of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus. By baptizing and proclaiming the message, he prepared the people for Christ’s coming. That’s how he re-established the people with God.

This is again an example that God’s ways are not always our ways. As Elijah came in the person of John the Baptist, the Messiah came in Jesus, a carpenter’s son born in a stable – not the mighty king and ruler they were expecting. It reminds us that even if things does not fit the way we expect them to be, God’s purpose will still be accomplished. We should not close our minds and expect God to behave in the way we expect him to be.

Another thing is that God uses us in ways we don’t expect, if only we allow him. We may not know the implications or effects of the things that we do for Him, but we still do it anyway. He needs us to. He used John to prepare the way for Christ, and after 2000 years, he still needs people who will do that. In our own little way, we can. As we prepare ourselves, we should also be open and let God use us, we should also do our part to help others prepare for Christ’s coming.

As we approach Christmas, preparation has been the theme for a number of days now because it is important. God is continuously inviting us. He’s just waiting for our reply.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another reminder of how generous and rewarding you are. Thank you for showing me how awesome Elijah is, because it shows how generous you are in rewarding people who serve you. Lord, like Elijah, help me prepare for you. Help me prepare for Christmas. And help me take it one step further, to prepare not just myself, but in my own little way, help prepare it for others as well. May  the way I live my life prepare others for you. Amen.

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2011/12/awesome-elijah.html

Servant

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/121214.cfm) reminds me how God exalts his servant

A servant always submits to the master. During Jesus’ time, servants were not consulted, or asked about their opinions or their feelings. They were just told what to do, and they obeyed it, no matter what. They were surrendered to their master. This is the attitude God wants from us.

This is what Mama Mary did.

Mary’s heart of God’s servant made her say  yes to God. It became the start of God using her intensely for His purpose.

Mary was surprised when the angel visited her, much more when the angel addressed her as “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” She was even more surprised when the angel told her God’s plan. Yes, she asked a question, but eventually said yes. She may not know what she’s getting herself into. She probably knew the consequences of saying “yes” during that time, being pregnant outside marriage is a grave offense. She would be stoned for it. But she still said yes to God’s plan. She trusted in God so much, that even if there were doubts, even if there were questions, even if there were possible consequences of her yes, she still gave it to God. She was so surrendered to God, her master, that even if there were some doubts, she just said yes.

We also see how aside from God, she also serves others. When she found out that Elizabeth was pregnant, she went out of her way and travelled not just to visit, but to serve her as well. She herself was pregnant at this time. Imagine, there probably were a lot of thoughts in her head this time, but she did not stop serving God through others.

God rewards his servants. He used Mama Mary in a great way, and in the psalm we see how exalted Mary is:

R. (15:9d) You are the highest honor of our race.
Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God,
above all the women on earth;
and blessed be the LORD God,
the creator of heaven and earth.
R. You are the highest honor of our race.
Your deed of hope will never be forgotten
by those who tell of the might of God.
R. You are the highest honor of our race.

May we be ready and willing to surrender and serve God, the way Mama Mary did.

Father God,

Thank you today. Thank you for another weekend coming up. Thank you for all the blessings. Thank you for all the love. Lord, sorry for the times I make up excuses not to serve you. Sorry for the times I justify my not serving you by saying that I am in a tough situation, or that I will serve you, I will help you, once things are better or when I have more time or more money. Lord, give me a heart like Mama Mary who did not wait for the perfect opportunity or situation to serve you. May I always be ready and willing to say yes to you, to love and serve you through others. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

I Will Help You

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/121114.cfm) reminds me that God will always be there to help me. 

They say that knowledge is power. I believe this is true. Not knowing things make us afraid. When we are afraid, we feel helpless. Today, God, the one who created everything and knows everything, tells us we should not be afraid. 

I am the LORD, your God,

who grasp your right hand;

It is I who say to you,

“Fear not, I will help you.”

Fear not, O worm Jacob,

O maggot Israel;

I will help you, says the LORD;

your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

God does not only tell us that we should not be afraid. That alone is enough, but he takes it a step further and tells us that he will help us. He will be there to guide and support us. He will be there to bless us. 

Taking a close look at our lives, we will see that a lot of times, he has been there for us. We worry too much. We think too much. We get afraid for no reason. We over react. Today, we are reminded not to. 

God will always be there to help us. We need not be afraid of life's challenges. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for all the blessings. Thank you for always being there to help me. I pray for faith in you. May i always be ready and willing to surrender to you. May i hold on to your word when you say i should not be afraid and that you will help me. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Divine Rest

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/121014.cfm) reminds me that we should get divine rest when we are tired.

All of us feel tired from time to time - be it from working, studying, serving, or whatever we do. It's normal to feel tired. And the readings remind us what to do, where we can get rest, and strength to carry on. 

The first reading says:

The LORD is the eternal God,
creator of the ends of the earth.
…He gives strength to the fainting; 
for the weak he makes vigor abound.
Though young men faint and grow weary,
and youths stagger and fall,They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength,
they will soar as with eagles' wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint.

And in the gospel, Jesus himself invites us to come to him:

Jesus said to the crowds:"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

God can give us rest if we come to Him, and we can do great things if we allow ourselves to be used be him, to be refreshed by Him.

Jesus is inviting us to come to Him because he will give us rest. He will not solve our problems then and there. He will not make all our concerns and fears disappear. Rather, he will help us put things in perspective. He will help us feel the love of God, and that it is what matters most. He will help us realize that things and concerns of this world is not as important as we think it is, because everything will eventually disappear. What’s important is how we prepare for eternity with Him. He will carry our burdens and share the pain we are experiencing. Then, despite all our problems, fears and concerns, we will find rest, we will find true peace, knowing that God loves us so much and that He is always there to help us.

Coming to Christ alone is not enough. We have to subject ourselves to Him. He is not an ATM we can get money to get by, then go our way and forget about him. When we come to him, we should do so in humility, allowing him to change us, to mold us, to make us into the persons he wants us to be, the persons we are destined to be. Then, we can find the rest and strength only He can give.

Tired? You know what to do.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, as the year comes to a close, things get busier. Year end deadlines. Project requirements. Quotas. Reports. Plus Christmas shopping, gifts, gatherings. Things can get tiring. Thank you for reminding me of what I should do when I am tired. Help me surrender to you, and allow you to refresh me so I can continue living for you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2011/12/tired.html

Important

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120914.cfm) reminds me that no matter how little I see myself, God sees me as important.

Self-esteem is a very big problem. Sometimes, the people we think that are confident, beautiful, or successful are the ones who have great self-esteem issues. They do not see their worth, or their importance, that’s why some try to cover it with achieving things, or appearing beautiful or confident. Self-esteem issues can also ruin relationships. One cannot trust another person if he or she is very unsure about the self.

The gospel today should help us feel better about ourselves. God thinks highly of us.

“What is your opinion?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills
and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost

Every creation of God is important. Everyone. And our importance is not based on how we see ourselves, or our achievements in life. We are important because God created us. We are important and God loves us.

God sees us not for what we are right now, but for what we can be. He made us with great potential. All our concerns, problems, and issues does not change that. Despite all these things, God still sees the beautiful and wonderful creation he made in us, and we are invited to just surrender to him, to come to him as he looks for us, and allow him to use and mold us.

God will go the extra mile for you. No matter where you are, no matter how far you may feel from him, no matter how little or insignificant you may feel, God will search for you and go looking for you. He will find you. However, he won’ force you to come with him. He will just wait and hope you will go with him.

May we find the heart to surrender to God when he comes looking for us, and allow him to mold us to be the great creation we were intended to be.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to experience your love. Lord, sorry for letting my concerns and the issues of the world get the best of me. Help me focus on you, Lord. Help me see myself the way you see me – beautiful, full of potential, capable of doing good, destined for greatness. I surrender Lord and allow you to use my for whatever purpose you have for me. I know you have great plans for me, and I will do my best to just cooperate with you as you work in and through me. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Fiat 2014

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120814.cfm) reminds me that we should always say yes to God

When I was new to the community, my shepherd would always tell me that whenever I am asked to do things, to serve, or to take on responsibility, the answer should always be yes. “Yes lang ng yes”. Always say yes, even if you don’t know how you would do it. Just say yes even if you have concerns. Just say yes even if you doubt if you can do it.

This is what Mama Mary did.

Mary’s Fiat, her “yes” to God was the start of her powerful life of service to God. It became the start of God using her intensely for His purpose.

Mary was surprised when the angel visited her, much more when the angel addressed her as “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” She was even more surprised when the angel told her God’s plan. Yes, she asked a question, but eventually said yes. She may not know what she’s getting herself into. She probably knew the consequences of saying “yes” during that time, being pregnant outside marriage is a grave offense. She would be stoned for it. But she still said yes to God’s plan. She trusted in God so much, that even if there were doubts, even if there were questions, even if there were possible consequences of her yes, she still gave it to God. That’s faith. That’s grace.

Saying Yes is a sign of great faith in God.

As we commemorate and celebrate Mary’s Immaculate Conception today, may we also rejoice, not just because Mary was conceived without original sin , but because God loves us so much. In the first reading we see how sin entered to this world. But Mama Mary changed that. God wanted Jesus’ earthly mother to be pure, because God wants to show us what we can become when we come to Him. Jesus died to save us from our sin, a sin that he, or his mother, did not have. That’s pure love. And the bible tells us that we are new creations if we are in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). The second reading affirms that “God has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.”

As we participate in the celebration of the holy mass today (being one of three holy days of obligation in the Philippines, the other two being Christmas (Dec 25) and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God,(January 1)), may we rejoice with and for Mary. May we feel extra blessed because Mary, our mother, was so special to God and to Jesus. Let us ask for God’s grace so we could be like Mary, who consistently said Yes to God and gave her life for God. Let us also remember the words of Pope Francis: “Every time we give in to selfishness and say no to God, we spoil his loving plan for us.”

Do I always give my “fiat” to God, even if I don’t fully understand what He is asking of me? What is hindering me from always saying “yes” to God’s call? Do I trust God completely with my life, knowing that He loves me so much? Do I have faith that like the angel said in the gospel, nothing is impossible with God?

Father God,

Thank you today. Thank you for another day, for another week. Lord, for loving me so much. Thank you for giving me what I do not deserve. Thank you for Mama Mary, Jesus’ earthly mother, for you used her to bring salvation to us. Thank you for her example. Sorry for the times I make up excuses to say no to you. Sorry for the times I let my fear and concerns win over my faith in you. I ask that you help me be like her. May we open up ourselves and our lives and allow you to use us for your purpose, for your glory. Lord, we know how powerful a spoken word is, and we ask that we always give our “yes” to you, so you can use us for your purpose too. May I live my life like Mary, submitting my will to yours, and trusting in you completely. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-