He Calls You

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/011215.cfm) reminds me that Jesus calls me to follow Him.

Not a lot of people have initiatives. Some volunteer to do something, but usually we wait for something or someone to invite us before we do something or join something. God knows this, and today, he is calling us. He is reminding us that he calls each and everyone of us to follow Him.

In the first reading, we see that God sent Jesus to us directly. No more prophets, he gave us his only begotten Son. And in the gospel, we see this son of God calling us not only to repent and believe in God, but also to follow Him. God wants us to follow Jesus so he can show us what it means to live for God. He wants to show us how we can believe and experience God. He wants to guide us how we can repent and prepare for God.

Jesus calls us to follow Him, but he will not force us.

Jesus is just waiting for us to respond to his call to follow him. He will not force himself to us. He will not make us his slaves and force us to do whatever he wants. He wants what is good for us, but it is up to us if we will choose to follow him or not.

May we take this invitation to follow Jesus and his ways. May we heed his call to get to know God more – by praying, attending mass and reading the bible. May we follow his message to repent by going to confession and living right.

Father God,

Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for another reminder that you want me to follow you. Lord, I am sorry for the times I choose myself and my own happiness over following you. Help me make the decision everyday to surrender and follow you as I live my life. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

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January 12, 2015

Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 305

Reading 1 Heb 1:1-6

Brothers and sisters:

In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways

to our ancestors through the prophets;

in these last days, he spoke to us through the Son,

whom he made heir of all things

and through whom he created the universe,

who is the refulgence of his glory,

the very imprint of his being,

and who sustains all things by his mighty word.

When he had accomplished purification from sins,

he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

as far superior to the angels

as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

For to which of the angels did God ever say:

You are my Son; this day I have begotten you?

Or again:

I will be a father to him, and he shall be a Son to me?

And again, when he leads the first born into the world, he says:

Let all the angels of God worship him.

Responsorial Psalm PS 97:1 and 2b, 6 and 7c, 9R. (see 7c)

Let all his angels worship him.

The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;

let the many isles be glad.

Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.

R. Let all his angels worship him.

The heavens proclaim his justice,

and all peoples see his glory.

Let all his angels worship him.

R. Let all his angels worship him.

Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,

exalted far above all gods.

R. Let all his angels worship him.

Alleluia Mk 1:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Kingdom of God is at hand:

repent and believe in the Gospel.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 1:14-20

After John had been arrested,

Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:

“This is the time of fulfillment.

The Kingdom of God is at hand.

Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,

he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;

they were fishermen.

Jesus said to them,

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Then they left their nets and followed him.

He walked along a little farther

and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.

They too were in a boat mending their nets.

Then he called them.

So they left their father Zebedee in the boat

along with the hired men and followed him

New Start

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/011115.cfm) reminds me that God gives us a new start to do things right

The new year brings something that a lot of people make the most of – a fresh start. Yes, it’s true that we can start or end things everyday, there is a psychological difference if we do it on a new year. A lot of people make resolutions, a lot quit a bad habit, a lot start good ones, and a lot make the most out of the opportunity to do something new, to do something fresh. A new year, a fresh start. This is what Jesus’ baptism reminds us.

Jesus baptism ushers in a new chapter of his life. It ushered in the start of his public ministry – his doing and preaching God’s message to others. It’s a new chapter, It’s a new start for Jesus. And we are reminded today that we too are given this opportunity by God to start things new, to do things right, to get right with him.

As Jesus was being baptized, God’s voice was heard. “You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased.” And just as God told this to Jesus, he too can say this to us, if we act like Jesus. The second reading tells how – that as God’s children, we should love God and obey his commandments. We can see Jesus living this. Jesus is a king, yet he humbled himself and had himself baptized by John. He was humble and obedient to God.

May we take this opportunity and start living right with God. Let us humble ourselves and submit to God, and allow Him to use us, love us, and love through us.

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, thank you for the opportunity to start fresh and start new. Help me make the most of this and do things right, live in a way pleasing to you. Help me to be like Jesus – humble and obedient to you. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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January 11, 2015

The Baptism of the Lord

Lectionary: 21

Reading 1 Is 42:1-4, 6-7

Thus says the LORD:

Here is my servant whom I uphold,

my chosen one with whom I am pleased,

upon whom I have put my spirit;

he shall bring forth justice to the nations,

not crying out, not shouting,

not making his voice heard in the street.

a bruised reed he shall not break,

and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,

until he establishes justice on the earth;

the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,

I have grasped you by the hand;

I formed you, and set you

as a covenant of the people,

a light for the nations,

to open the eyes of the blind,

to bring out prisoners from confinement,

and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10.R. (11b) The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Give to the LORD, you sons of God,

give to the LORD glory and praise,

Give to the LORD the glory due his name;

adore the LORD in holy attire.

R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

The voice of the LORD is over the waters,

the LORD, over vast waters.

The voice of the LORD is mighty;

the voice of the LORD is majestic.

R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

The God of glory thunders,

and in his temple all say, “Glory!”

The LORD is enthroned above the flood;

the LORD is enthroned as king forever.

R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Reading 2 1 Jn 5:1-9

Beloved: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,

and everyone who loves the Father

loves also the one begotten by him.

In this way we know that we love the children of God

when we love God and obey his commandments.

For the love of God is this,

that we keep his commandments.

And his commandments are not burdensome,

for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.

And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.

Who indeed is the victor over the world

but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,

not by water alone, but by water and blood.

The Spirit is the one who testifies,

and the Spirit is truth.

So there are three that testify,

the Spirit, the water, and the blood,

and the three are of one accord.

If we accept human testimony,

the testimony of God is surely greater.

Now the testimony of God is this,

that he has testified on behalf of his Son.

Alleluia

cf. Mk 9:7 R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The heavens were opened and the voice of the Father thundered:

This is my beloved Son, listen to him.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 1:7-11

This is what John the Baptist proclaimed:

“One mightier than I is coming after me.

I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.

I have baptized you with water;

he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee

and was baptized in the Jordan by John.

On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open

and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.

And a voice came from the heavens,

“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Point to Him

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/011015.cfm) reminds me that we should always be pointing our lives to Christ.

Everyone loves God. Everyone wants to be successful. Everyone wants to be accomplished. Everyone wants to be respected and looked upon highly. We pray to God for worldly success and accomplishments, however, when we actually get these, some forget who gave us these things in the first place. Some get too engrossed by their achievements or by the praises of other people that they forget who got them there in the first place.

God loves us and wants the best for us, but we should not forget him when things are going so well in our lives.

In the gospel we see who did not forget God. John had a lot of followers already. He got respect. But he did not let these things get on his head. He did not forget his mission in life and why he was doing things in the first place. And when told about a man who might be challenging his popularity and followers, he responded in a humble way – “He must increase, I must decrease”

IT is good to be reminded of this humility and focus on God despite all the worldly achievements. May we never be too proud of what we have accomplished, and remember to point to God when we get praises for good work or achievements, may our live always be about pleasing God, doing his work, his will, and glorifying him – just like John.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for being with me through the first working week of the year. Lord, help me to not lose sight of you. As I pray for blessings and guidance in life, I also pray that you keep my eyes on you. May I not forget who gave me these blessings and who allowed success to come in my life. May my work, my success, and my life glorify you. May I reflect your greatness and show people how great and loving you are. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

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January 10, 2015

Saturday after Epiphany

Lectionary: 217

Reading 1 1 Jn 5:14-21

Beloved:

We have this confidence in him

that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask,

we know that what we have asked him for is ours.

If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly,

he should pray to God and he will give him life.

This is only for those whose sin is not deadly.

There is such a thing as deadly sin,

about which I do not say that you should pray.

All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.

We know that anyone begotten by God does not sin;

but the one begotten by God he protects,

and the Evil One cannot touch him.

We know that we belong to God,

and the whole world is under the power of the Evil One.

We also know that the Son of God has come

and has given us discernment to know the one who is true.

And we are in the one who is true,

in his Son Jesus Christ.

He is the true God and eternal life.

Children, be on your guard against idols.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9bR. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Sing to the LORD a new song

of praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Israel be glad in their maker,

let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.

R. The Lord takes delight in his people.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Let them praise his name in the festive dance,

let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.

For the LORD loves his people,

and he adorns the lowly with victory.

R. The Lord takes delight in his people.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Let the faithful exult in glory;

let them sing for joy upon their couches;

Let the high praises of God be in their throats.

This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.

R. The Lord takes delight in his people.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Alleluia

Mt 4:16R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,

on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death

light has arisen.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 3:22-30

Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea,

where he spent some time with them baptizing.

John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim,

because there was an abundance of water there,

and people came to be baptized,

for John had not yet been imprisoned.

Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew

about ceremonial washings.

So they came to John and said to him,

“Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan,

to whom you testified,

here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.”

John answered and said,

“No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.

You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ,

but that I was sent before him.

The one who has the bride is the bridegroom;

the best man, who stands and listens for him,

rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.

So this joy of mine has been made complete.

He must increase; I must decrease.”

Reaching Out

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/010915.cfm) reminds me how personal Jesus is that he reaches out to each one of us.

In the gospel, we see Jesus healing a leper. Aside from Jesus healing him, what got into me is that he stretched out his hand and touched the leper. He did not heal from a distance. He was and still is a personal God.

Lepers are unclean at that time, so no one touches them so as not to be unclean as well. But Jesus broke this. He makes all things new. His touching the leper did not make him unclean, but healed and cleaned the leper. It is a good reminder that no matter how unclean or dirty you are, it will not stop Jesus from reaching out to you. He will still heal you if you allow him.

May we always remember how merciful, loving and powerful Jesus is, and may we have faith like the leper who believed God can heal us no matter what our situation is.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for the reminder how merciful, loving, personal and powerful you are. Thank you for not judging me. Help me have faith in you like the leper, that despite the situation he is in, had full faith in you. Help me also to be like you to others. May I be personal as I try to help out and reach out to others, and not be contented with helping from a distance. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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January 9, 2015

Friday after Epiphany

Lectionary: 216

Reading 1 1 Jn 5:5-13

Beloved:Who indeed is the victor over the world

but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ,

not by water alone, but by water and Blood.

The Spirit is the one who testifies,

and the Spirit is truth.

So there are three who testify,

the Spirit, the water, and the Blood,

and the three are of one accord.

If we accept human testimony,

the testimony of God is surely greater.

Now the testimony of God is this,

that he has testified on behalf of his Son.

Whoever believes in the Son of God

has this testimony within himself.

Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar

by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son.

And this is the testimony:

God gave us eternal life,

and this life is in his Son.

Whoever possesses the Son has life;

whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.

I write these things to you so that you may know

that you have eternal life,

you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20R. (12a) Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;

praise your God, O Zion.

For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;

he has blessed your children within you.

R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

or:

R. Alleluia.

He has granted peace in your borders;

with the best of wheat he fills you.

He sends forth his command to the earth;

swiftly runs his word!

R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

or:

R. Alleluia.

He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,

his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.

He has not done thus for any other nation;

his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.

R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Alleluia See Mt 4:23R.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom

and cured every disease among the people.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 5:12-16

It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was;

and when he saw Jesus,

he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said,

“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”

Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said,

“I do will it. Be made clean.”

And the leprosy left him immediately.

Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but

“Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing

what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”

The report about him spread all the more,

and great crowds assembled to listen to him

and to be cured of their ailments,

but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

Application

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/010815.cfm) reminds me how we can apply loving God in our lives.

We all say that we love God. We profess it. We know we do. However, it does not always translate into action. Sometimes, profession remains just that a profession of love. God wants more than that.

Profession should always be translated into action.

When we say we love God, we should not be contented with just saying and knowing it. We should live it.

In the gospel, people were amazed by Jesus. They spoke highly of him. But it should not end there. It should be translated into action, else Jesus’ mission would not be fulfilled. The psalmist proclaims that every nation will adore God. How do we do it? The first reading tells us how. We should love one another. We should love our brother.

They say God is in everyone. He created us all, and he is in us all. So if we say we love God, we should also love all his creations – including annoying and seemingly unlovable people in our lives. His words are straight – “if anyone says I love God but hates his brother is a liar”

May we always remember that profession of faith is not enough, we should apply this love and translate it into action.

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 reminding me how much you love me, and that I should apply and live my love for you. Help me see you in others, especially those unlovable people in my life. May I be able to look past beyond the surface and see you deep in their lives, and may it  enable me to love you in them. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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January 8, 2015

Thursday after Epiphany

Lectionary: 215

Reading 1 1 Jn 4:19–5:4

Beloved, we love God because

he first loved us.

If anyone says, “I love God,”

but hates his brother, he is a liar;

for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen

cannot love God whom he has not seen.

This is the commandment we have from him:

Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,

and everyone who loves the Father

loves also the one begotten by him.

In this way we know that we love the children of God

when we love God and obey his commandments.

For the love of God is this,

that we keep his commandments.

And his commandments are not burdensome,

for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.

And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.

Responsorial Psalm PS 72:1-2, 14 and 15bc, 17

R. (see 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

O God, with your judgment endow the king,

and with your justice, the king’s son;

He shall govern your people with justice

and your afflicted ones with judgment.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

From fraud and violence he shall redeem them,

and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

May they be prayed for continually;

day by day shall they bless him.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

May his name be blessed forever;

as long as the sun his name shall remain.

In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;

all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Alleluia Lk 4:18R.

Alleluia, alleluia.

The Lord has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor

and to proclaim liberty to captives.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 4:14-22

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,

and news of him spread throughout the whole region.

He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,

and went according to his custom

into the synagogue on the sabbath day.

He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring glad tidings to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,

and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.

He said to them,

“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

And all spoke highly of him

and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.

Perfect Love

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/010715.cfm) reminds me that perfect love casts out fear.

There is a story of a 7 year old boy riding an airplane alone. He was seated on the window side and was looking outside, admiring the beauty of the sky when the plane experienced turbulence. It was shaking hard that people started panicking. Some were already crying, and some prayed the rosary together – despite the announcement of the Captain of the plane that there is nothing to worry about. However, even if people were panicking, the boy remained calm and continued to marvel at what he is seeing outside. Finally, his seatmate asked him – why are you so calm? Are you not scared we are going to crash? To this the boy replied: “I am not afraid. My dad is the captain – I trust him”

Trust is founded in love. And perfect love casts out fear.

In the first reading, we see that perfect love casts out fear. And we are told how to attain this – to love one another and allow God to perfect his love in us. In the gospel, we see that the disciples are yet to have this perfect love in Jesus. Their hearts were hardened and they do not understand yet a lot of things, so we see fear in them. Their initial reaction upon seeing a man was fear, and they have fear in their hardened hearts – fear to ask Jesus things so they could understand things around them.

If we fear, we don’t trust God.

We have a lot of things we are concerned about. Plans, career, finances, health and relationships. We do not know what will happen in life. We are uncertain of a lot of things.  This can cause us to fear, for we only see what’s in front of us. We imagine and think of the problems, but we don’t imagine and expect the graces God will give us, so we fear. If we love God, and if we allow Him to love us, we will not fear. We will learn how to trust in him, and we know that he loves us so much, so he will always be there to guide and protect us.

Today, God is telling us like Jesus told the disciples – “Courage, it is I, do not be afraid.” It may be cliché, but it’s true: It We do not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future – Jesus. May we be like that boy. Unfazed with all the chaos around him and staying firm and calm because of his love to the captain.

What are my worries and concerns as I start this year? What are they based on? Am I over analyzing things and treating them as problems before they become real? What is God telling me today?

Father God.

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for a beautiful reminder of how much you love me and how much you will protect me. Sorry for the times I let fear and doubt get in the way of love. Sorry for worrying too much and ignoring your love, your power, your protection, and all the previous times you came to my rescue. Help me have that faith in you. Consume me and slowly make my love perfect, just like you are perfect. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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http://usccb.org/bible/readings/010715.cfm

January 7, 2015

Wednesday after Epiphany

Lectionary: 214

Reading 1 1 Jn 4:11-18

Beloved, if God so loved us,

we also must love one another.

No one has ever seen God.

Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,

and his love is brought to perfection in us.

This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,

that he has given us of his Spirit.

Moreover, we have seen and testify

that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.

Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,

God remains in him and he in God.

We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.

God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.

In this is love brought to perfection among us,

that we have confidence on the day of judgment

because as he is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love,

but perfect love drives out fear

because fear has to do with punishment,

and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.

Responsorial Psalm PS 72:1-2, 10, 12-13

R. (see 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

O God, with your judgment endow the king,

and with your justice, the king’s son;

He shall govern your people with justice

and your afflicted ones with judgment.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;

the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,

and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.

He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;

the lives of the poor he shall save.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Alleluia See 1 Tm 3:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Glory to you, O Christ, proclaimed to the Gentiles.

Glory to you, O Christ, believed in throughout the world.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 6:45-52

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied,

Jesus made his disciples get into the boat

and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,

while he dismissed the crowd.

And when he had taken leave of them,

he went off to the mountain to pray.

When it was evening,

the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore.

Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing,

for the wind was against them.

About the fourth watch of the night,

he came toward them walking on the sea.

He meant to pass by them.

But when they saw him walking on the sea,

they thought it was a ghost and cried out.

They had all seen him and were terrified.

But at once he spoke with them,

“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”

He got into the boat with them and the wind died down.

They were completely astounded.

They had not understood the incident of the loaves.

On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.