How to Pray

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/030717.cfm) reminds me how to pray, and how powerful and complete the Lord's prayer is. 

The first reading reminds us how powerful God’s word is. His word accomplishes the mission God wants for it, and the gospel shows us Jesus teaching us how to pray. It is a simple prayer, one of the first prayers we usually memorize. Unfortunately, because we have known this prayer since we were kids, we sometimes fail to see the beauty and depth of this prayer who Jesus himself taught us. 

Sharing with you a way I learned how to see this prayer in a different light – with a foundation verse and some things to ponder upon as we pray each part of it.

Our Father who art in heaven, hollowed by thy name

So the LORD passed before him and proclaimed: The LORD, the LORD, a God gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love and fidelity, continuing his love for a thousand generations, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin; yet not declaring the guilty guiltless, but bringing punishment for their parents’ wickedness on children and children’s children to the third and fourth generation! (Exodus 34: 6-7 -http://www.usccb.org/bible/exodus/34)

--- We remember our God. We remember what our God is like. We remember what God has done for us. We remember how blessed we are having such a great God. We are blessed that we can call him our God, our Father. We should be thankful and be full of awe as we pray, as we worship our God.

thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven

But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides (Matthew 6:33 -http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/6)

--- Out of love for him, we pray that we would have the heart to seek and obey God’s will in our lives. We pray for faith, knowing that as we seek His will, he will bless us and give us the things that we need in this world, as we serve and glorify him with our lives. We also pray for others, that they also seek and obey God's will in their lives.

Give us this day our daily bread

so you might know that it is not by bread alone* that people live, but by all that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD. (Deuteronomy 8:3b –http://www.usccb.org/bible/deuteronomy/8)

--- We pray to God daily to sustain us, not just physically, but more importantly, spiritually. We remember that in this life, we need more than just physical food. Yes, man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. We ask for spiritual nourishment as well. We need his word, we need to get to know him more, so we would be able to truly live, to truly serve and glorify Him. 

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. (1 John 1:9 -http://www.usccb.org/bible/1john/1)

--- The gospel says we should forgive so we would be forgiven. We also pray for humility that we would recognize our sins. We are far from perfect, and we ask God for forgiveness. We humbly come to him for forgiveness. We have faith that as we do, God forgives us and cleanses us. We also pray that we would feel God’s love and be moved to forgive others who have wronged us. We also pray for those who have sinned against us, that as we forgive them and as God changes us, they also welcome God and allow Him to change their lives.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 -http://www.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/10)

--- In faith, we call on Him to save and protect us. We have faith that he will not give us what we can’t bear. We have faith that God will be with us as we fight our battles, as we win over the enemy. We also pray for others who are undergoing challenges, that they may remain faithful to God, and realize that God will always be with us as we become victorious in Him.

May we see the Lord’s prayer in a new perspective and make it our own, personal prayer.

Am I taking enough time for prayer? Do I know how important prayer is? What is God telling me today about my prayer life?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to experience your love. Thank you for reminding me how important and powerful prayer is. Thank you for the Lord’s prayer that is a simple, yet complete prayer. Sorry for taking this for granted. Sorry for not going deep and understanding the prayer. Sorry for not having a heart for prayer. Help me look past the normalcy of this prayer and make me see the beauty and completeness of this. Help me make this my own personal prayer to tell you how much I love you, how much I am sorry for my sins, how I long for you, how I praise you, and how I surrender my life to you. Amen. 

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March 7, 2017
Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
Lectionary: 225

Reading 1 Is 55:10-11

Thus says the LORD:
Just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
And do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
Giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
So shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
It shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19

R. (18b) From all their distress God rescues the just.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.

Verse Before the Gospel Mt 4:4b

One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Gospel Mt 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
"In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

"This is how you are to pray:

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

"If you forgive men their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men,

neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."

Who is my Brother?

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/030617.cfm) reminds me of who my brother is, who the little ones are, and what I should do for them. 

Sharing with you a story (see http://lorisprayercloset.blogspot.com/2010/12/shoemakers-dream.html ) that is related to the gospel..

One of the most beautiful of all Christmas stories was told by the American poet, Edwin Markham, about a cobbler, a godly man who made shoes in the old days. One night the cobbler dreamed that the next day Jesus was coming to visit him. The dream seemed so real that he got up very early the next morning and hurried to the woods, where he gathered green boughs to decorate his shop for the arrival of so great a Guest.

He waited all morning, but to his disappointment, his shop remained quiet, except for an old man who limped up to the door asking to come in for a few minutes of warmth. While the man was resting, the cobbler noticed that the old fellow's shoes were worn through. Touched, the cobbler took a new pair from his shelves and saw to it that the stranger was wearing them as he went on his way. 

Throughout the afternoon the cobbler waited, but his only visitor was an elderly woman. He had seen her struggling under a heavy load of firewood, and he invited her, too, into his shop to rest. Then he discovered that for two days she had had nothing to eat; he saw to it that she had a nourishing meal before she went on her way. 

As night began to fall, the cobbler heard a child crying outside his door. The child was lost and afraid. The cobbler went out, soothed the youngster's tears and, with the little hand in his, took the child home. 

When he returned, the cobbler was sad. He was convinced that while he had been away he had missed the visit of his Lord. Now he lived through the moments as he had imagined them: the knock, the latch lifted, the radiant face, the offered cup. He would have kissed the hands where the nails had been, washed the feet where the spikes had entered. Then the Lord would have sat and talked to him. 

In his anguish, the cobbler cried out, "Why is it, Lord, that Your feet delay. Have you forgotten that this was the day?" Then, soft in the silence a voice he heard:

"Lift up your heart for I kept My word.
Three times I came to your friendly door;
Three times My shadow was on your floor.
I was the man with the bruised feet.
I was the woman you gave food to eat,
I was the child on the homeless street."

God visits us in ways we do not expect. 

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God loves to surprise us. He visits us in and through the simplest of things. Like the visitation in the story and in the gospel, God is alive and present in other people, the people we see and interact with everyday, and especially the least - the people we sometimes or oftentimes ignore. 

We are asked to continue serving others. “Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it unto me.” In the first reading, we see that God does not want us to bear hatred to others. God wants us to love and treat others right, and that we should love others as we love ourselves. This further explains the importance of the gospel, and validates that God indeed is in others, so we should love others as we love God. Love for God should be demonstrated to others. 

Who are the people that need help that I often ignore? What can I do to help them? Why am I not helping them? What is God telling me through the people around me? How can I be “Christ” to others?

May we remember that God is alive and present in others, and may it move us to love and serve others as live our love for God. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Lord, sorry for the times I ignore others. Sorry for the times I focus on myself and what I want, what I need. Sorry for saying I love you and I want to serve you, but do not live it in others. Help me live right. Lord, it’s another week. Another opportunity to work for you and to praise you with my life. Lord, I ask that I be sensitive to you. Help me know the people you want me to serve, and give me a heart that would be willing to step out of my comfort zone and serve others as I serve you. Help me live my love for you through them. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

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March 6, 2017
Monday of the First Week of Lent
Lectionary: 224

Reading 1 Lv 19:1-2, 11-18

The LORD said to Moses,
"Speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and tell them:
Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.

"You shall not steal.
You shall not lie or speak falsely to one another.
You shall not swear falsely by my name,
thus profaning the name of your God.
I am the LORD.

"You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor.
You shall not withhold overnight the wages of your day laborer.
You shall not curse the deaf,
or put a stumbling block in front of the blind,
but you shall fear your God.
I am the LORD.

"You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment.
Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty,
but judge your fellow men justly.
You shall not go about spreading slander among your kin;
nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor's life is at stake.
I am the LORD.

"You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart.
Though you may have to reprove him,
do not incur sin because of him.
Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
I am the LORD."

Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15

R. (John 6:63b) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Verse Before the Gospel 2 Cor 6:2b

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.

Gospel Mt 25:31-46

Jesus said to his disciples:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him,
he will sit upon his glorious throne,
and all the nations will be assembled before him.
And he will separate them one from another,
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right,
'Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.'
Then the righteous will answer him and say,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'
And the king will say to them in reply,
'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Then he will say to those on his left,
'Depart from me, you accursed,
into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
a stranger and you gave me no welcome,
naked and you gave me no clothing,
ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'
Then they will answer and say,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,
and not minister to your needs?'
He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you,
what you did not do for one of these least ones,
you did not do for me.'
And these will go off to eternal punishment,
but the righteous to eternal life."

WORD as Sword

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/030517.cfm) reminds me how important it is to know God's WORD so I can use it against the enemy. 

There is a story of a man who was having troubles with sins of the flesh. He talked to a priest during confession, and asked what he should do to avoid sin. The priest told him that when temptations come, he should not entertain them, so he would not be led into sin. The man said, “Father I don’t entertain them, they entertain me!”

Everyone gets tempted. Even Jesus, as we see in the gospel. He is like us in every way, except sin. Jesus shows us that it is what we do with temptation that sets us apart. We have the option to give in to temptation, like  Adam and Eve in the first reading, or be like Jesus who fought it with God’s help. Temptation brings us to a crossroad, and gives us a chance to choose what we want to be - a sinner or a saint. 

When we fast, when we are weak, just like how we are right now with our lenten sacrifices, it is when it is easiest for the devil to tempt us. It is when we are most vulnerable. That is why the devil tempted Jesus while he was fasting. And Jesus showed us how we should fight it. He showed us what we need. This is the period where we need to hold on to God all the more.

Knowing God's word gives us a powerful weapon against the enemy. 

When Jesus was tempted, he used God’s WORD. In Ephesians’ Spiritual Armor, the sword of the spirit is the Word of God. We also know that the Word of God is powerful and effective, sharper than any two edged sword. This shows we need to be familiarized and to continuously grow in knowledge and love of God’s word so we can have an armor when we are faced with the devil’s temptations. Not only that, we need to really know what it means so we would not fall in one of the devil's trap. In the third temptation, the devil quoted a bible verse. But knowing what it really means, and being able to distinguish the reason and purpose of things should guide us as we are faced with such temptations. 

May we be reminded of the importance and power of God's word, and be inspired to immerse ourselves with it. 

What temptations do the enemy always use on me? How do I respond? Do I call unto God to help me fight these temptations, or do I entertain them and be led to sin? Am I growing in knowledge and love of God’s word that would enable me to fight the enemy better?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for your Word that is powerful. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, I am sorry for not making the most out of your word. Sorry for not spending time basking in it, in not spending time reading and understanding it. Help me live right. Lord, I ask that you give me a heart that would long to know you, that would devote quality time to study your word. May I always come to you in prayer and call on you for strength when faced with temptations. May I act and respond like Jesus, especially when faced with temptations.  Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2015/01/sword-of-word.html 

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/03/sword-of-word.html 

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March 5, 2017
First Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 22

Reading 1 Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7

The LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground
and blew into his nostrils the breath of life,
and so man became a living being.

Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east,
and placed there the man whom he had formed.
Out of the ground the LORD God made various trees grow
that were delightful to look at and good for food,
with the tree of life in the middle of the garden
and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the animals
that the LORD God had made.
The serpent asked the woman,
"Did God really tell you not to eat
from any of the trees in the garden?"
The woman answered the serpent:
"We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden;
it is only about the fruit of the tree
in the middle of the garden that God said,
'You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.'"
But the serpent said to the woman:
"You certainly will not die!
No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it
your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods
who know what is good and what is evil."
The woman saw that the tree was good for food,
pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom.
So she took some of its fruit and ate it;
and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her,
and he ate it.
Then the eyes of both of them were opened,
and they realized that they were naked;
so they sewed fig leaves together
and made loincloths for themselves.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17

R. (cf. 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
"Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight."
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Reading 2 Rom 5:12-19

Brothers and sisters:
Through one man sin entered the world,
and through sin, death,
and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned—
for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world,
though sin is not accounted when there is no law.
But death reigned from Adam to Moses,
even over those who did not sin
after the pattern of the trespass of Adam,
who is the type of the one who was to come.
But the gift is not like the transgression.
For if by the transgression of the one, the many died,
how much more did the grace of God
and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ
overflow for the many.
And the gift is not like the result of the one who sinned.
For after one sin there was the judgment that brought condemnation;
but the gift, after many transgressions, brought acquittal.
For if, by the transgression of the one,
death came to reign through that one,
how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace
and of the gift of justification
come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, just as through one transgression
condemnation came upon all,
so, through one righteous act,
acquittal and life came to all.
For just as through the disobedience of the one man
the many were made sinners,
so, through the obedience of the one,
the many will be made righteous.

Verse Before the Gospel Mt 4:4b

One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Gospel Mt 4:1-11

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert
to be tempted by the devil.
He fasted for forty days and forty nights,
and afterwards he was hungry.
The tempter approached and said to him,
"If you are the Son of God,
command that these stones become loaves of bread."
He said in reply,
"It is written:
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth
from the mouth of God."

Then the devil took him to the holy city,
and made him stand on the parapet of the temple,
and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.
For it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you
and with their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone."
Jesus answered him,
"Again it is written,
You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test."
Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain,
and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,
and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you,
if you will prostrate yourself and worship me."
At this, Jesus said to him,
"Get away, Satan!
It is written:
The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve."

Then the devil left him and, behold,

angels came and ministered to him.

Doctor

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/030417.cfm) reminds me that God is a doctor who would never stop coming to me until I get healed. 

Jesus said in the gospel that healthy people do not need a physician, sick people do. Come to think of it, this is true. Doctors are there to help and heal sick people until they are healthy again to take care of themselves. This is how Jesus acts. Jesus looks for sinners not to condemn them, but to save and make them whole, until they can continue to take care of themselves and prepare to be brought back to God’s arms.

When we sin, God does not love us less but rather, he loves us more.

In the gospel, we see that Jesus did not go to the house of the self righteous people who think they do not need Him. He went to the house of a sinner, Levi, a tax collector. Other people were there, including scribes and Pharisees which were the religious at that time. But he went to Levi’s house, he loved him more, because Levi was humble and was willing to be healed by him.

God’s love for us makes us better, makes us whole, and heals us. Like a doctor, he will stay with us until we are well enough to take care of ourselves. As God touches our lives, we should be moved like the psalmist and pray that God would continue to teach us his ways. And God does, as we see in the first reading what he wants us to do, how he wants us to live, and with the blessings that come with us. He also promises us that as we try to live for Him, as we do our best, he will continue to be there to guide and help us. We just have to be like Levi who obeyed him. Who followed him. Who was willing to immediately change and surrender so God can work in him. 

May we be humble enough to accept that we need him, and allow him to heal and restore us until we can slowly take care of ourselves and stay close to Him. May we also react like Levi and immediately follow God when he calls us. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for all the blessings. Lord, I am sorry for all my sins, for living a life away from you. Sorry for being contented with just knowing what you want me to do and not to follow you.  Seek me, Lord. And as you find me, I ask that you never let go of me. I humbly submit to you and allow you to heal me and to love me. And as I experience your love, help me live right, so I can share you to others as well. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/01/follow-him_14.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/02/leave-everything-behind.html

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March 4, 2017
Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Lectionary: 222

Reading 1 Is 58:9b-14

Thus says the LORD:
If you remove from your midst oppression,
false accusation and malicious speech;
If you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
Then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday;
Then the LORD will guide you always
and give you plenty even on the parched land.
He will renew your strength,
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring whose water never fails.
The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake,
and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up;
"Repairer of the breach," they shall call you,
"Restorer of ruined homesteads."

If you hold back your foot on the sabbath
from following your own pursuits on my holy day;
If you call the sabbath a delight,
and the LORD's holy day honorable;
If you honor it by not following your ways,
seeking your own interests, or speaking with maliceB
Then you shall delight in the LORD,
and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;
I will nourish you with the heritage of Jacob, your father,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (11ab) Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.
Incline your ear, O LORD; answer me,
for I am afflicted and poor.
Keep my life, for I am devoted to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God.
R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for to you I call all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.
R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.

Verse Before the Gospel Ez 33:11

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord,
but rather in his conversion, that he may live.

Gospel Lk 5:27-32

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, "Follow me."
And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house,
and a large crowd of tax collectors
and others were at table with them.
The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying,
"Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"
Jesus said to them in reply,
"Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners."

Good Fast

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/030317.cfm) reminds me what kind of fasting God wants from me. 

When we hear the word fasting, we usually think of not eating food. Sometimes, aside from food and drinks, we fast from other things we like or are comfortable with - like social media, favorite hobbies, or even shopping. These may be different things, but they have one thing in common - detachment. When we fast, we detach ourselves from worldly things, and we deny ourselves of the comfort and pleasure we can have. We become one with Jesus in suffering, snd we offer it to God. 

This is the essence of fasting Jesus wants from us. God wants us to deny ourselves of the comfort we have. As we do so, we are asked to share this comfort to others and not just withhold it from ourselves for a bit. God wants others to benefit from our fasting. 

This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own

Clear. Simple. Fast from being comfortable, step out of our comfort zone and help others. There are a lot who need help. 

Fasting is not always negative in nature, not just sacrifice and denying ourselves. It is also deliberately doing good to others. 

May we be challenged and may we be willing to step up to that challenge of doing good fast for God. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I forget this. Sorry for just fasting from comfortable things and not thinking of others. Sorry for not focusing on you as I fast. Help me do this. Help me step up and rise to the challenge. I want to. Lord, I pray that you help me make a good fast. May I be ready and willing to step out of my comfort zone and do good to others, to be your ambassador to others. May you use me to make your love more real and more alive. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2016/02/good-fast.html

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March 3, 2017
Friday after Ash Wednesday
Lectionary: 221

Reading 1 Is 58:1-9a

Thus says the Lord GOD:
Cry out full-throated and unsparingly,
lift up your voice like a trumpet blast;
Tell my people their wickedness,
and the house of Jacob their sins.
They seek me day after day,
and desire to know my ways,
Like a nation that has done what is just
and not abandoned the law of their God;
They ask me to declare what is due them,
pleased to gain access to God.
"Why do we fast, and you do not see it?
afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?"

Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits,
and drive all your laborers.
Yes, your fast ends in quarreling and fighting,
striking with wicked claw.
Would that today you might fast
so as to make your voice heard on high!
Is this the manner of fasting I wish,
of keeping a day of penance:
That a man bow his head like a reed
and lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Do you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD?
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!

Responsorial Psalm Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19

R. (19b) A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
"Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight."
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

Alleluia see am 5:14

Seek good and not evil so that you may live,
and the Lord will be with you.

Gospel mt 9:14-15

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said,
"Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,
but your disciples do not fast?"
Jesus answered them, "Can the wedding guests mourn
as long as the bridegroom is with them?
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,

and then they will fast."

Choose Daily

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/030217.cfm) reminds me that I should choose daily between life and death. 

We are on the second day of lent. Yesterday was a day of both fasting and abstinence. While it is true that as catholics, we are required to abstain just every Fridays, and to fast only on ash Wednesday and good Friday, it does not mean that's all we should do. We should do more. God expects more. God deserves more. 

Choosing God is a daily decision. 

In the gospel, we are reminded to take up our cross daily. Daily. Not one time big time. Not once a year. Not once a month. Not once a week. Daily. In small decisions. In big decisions. Daily decisions. As they say, we are the summation of the choices we make in life. And it is in those daily choices, daily decisions to follow God, to do his will, do we become children of God. These daily choices make us more like God...or not. 

The first reading reminds us why we should follow him daily. Why we should choose him daily. Choosing him is choosing life. Choosing to reject him is choosing death. Same with the gospel, what would it mean to gain the whole world and lose one's soul? As we choose him daily, we are choosing life - both in this world and in the next. 

May we be reminded that God does not expect us to do things for him just when we want to. Choosing him is an everyday decision. 

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, sorry for not always choosing you. Sorry for being satisfied with choosing you, loving you, and serving you once in a while or when I feel like it. Help me choose you daily. Help me love you and serve you every day. I choose life eternal with you, and I want to show it through my actions. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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March 2, 2017
Thursday after Ash Wednesday
Lectionary: 220

Reading 1 Dt 30:15-20

Moses said to the people:
"Today I have set before you
life and prosperity, death and doom.
If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin on you today,
loving him, and walking in his ways,
and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees,
you will live and grow numerous,
and the LORD, your God,
will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.
If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen,
but are led astray and adore and serve other gods,
I tell you now that you will certainly perish;
you will not have a long life
on the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and occupy.
I call heaven and earth today to witness against you:
I have set before you life and death,
the blessing and the curse.
Choose life, then,
that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God,
heeding his voice, and holding fast to him.
For that will mean life for you,
a long life for you to live on the land that the LORD swore
he would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."

Responsorial Psalm Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

R. (40:5a) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Verse Before the Gospel Mt 4:17

Repent, says the Lord;
the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Gospel Lk 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples:
"The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected
by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised."

Then he said to all,
"If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
yet lose or forfeit himself?"

Return and Get Closer

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/030117.cfm) reminds me that I should maximize the opportunity this Lent to return to God and get closer to Him. 

Today, we usher in the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, is a day where we Catholics do fasting and abstinence. The readings show us how God values fasting. It is one of the spiritual disciplines we do in order to get closer to God and show him how much we love him, as well as how much we are sorry for our sins.

When we fast, we detach ourselves from the comforts of this world and take time to be one with God in his suffering for our sins. We reject the pleasures of this world, even the food we need, and depend fully on God to get us through the day. We offer the pain and suffering and discomfort from lack of food, and allow God to give us strength. We try to show God that our love for him and the desire to be one with him and to be more like him is greater than our desire to be comfortable.

The gospel is pretty straightforward. It reminds us that we should not fast for others to see. It will either be God, or others, who will reward us for fasting. This is true for prayer and almsgiving as well. We should fast, pray, give alms and abstain for the right intentions - for God, and not to be seen and praised by others. 

Pope Francis, in his Lenten message two years ago, suggests what we can give up: Indifference. We sometimes get so busy with life that we just focus on ourselves and our loved ones, and forget about others. Or when life is good, we just enjoy and stay in our comfort zones and ignore the needs and pains of others. Manila Archbishop Chito Tagle also encourages the people to give to the church the money they will be saving from fasting , which the church will use to feed the poor. This is real fasting – focusing on others and giving to others.

As we usher in the season of Lent, may we be inspired to fast, abstain, pray more, partake the sacraments, and focus to help others. 

Am I ready to fast and abstain today? This holy week, what am I ready to give up for Christ?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the Season of Lent which reminds us to go back to you.  Thank you for your love that is always ready to welcome me back into your arms. Thank you for sending Godly people to remind me of your love and your message. Lord, as we usher in the season of lent, help me be ready and willing to fast and abstain. Lead me Lord and tell me what you want me to give up this lent. Help me also to become extra sensitive to the needs of others, and spend more time in prayer and partake in the sacraments. This season, may I be one with you in suffering and detachment from this world, not because I want pain, but because I want to go back and grow even more closer to you, and more in love with you, just like Jesus and Mary. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reading:

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/wondering-what-to-give-up-for-lent-try-indifference-pope-says-78643/

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March 1, 2017
Ash Wednesday
Lectionary: 219

Reading 1 Jl 2:12-18

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent
and leave behind him a blessing,
Offerings and libations
for the LORD, your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion!
proclaim a fast,
call an assembly;
Gather the people,
notify the congregation;
Assemble the elders,
gather the children
and the infants at the breast;
Let the bridegroom quit his room
and the bride her chamber.
Between the porch and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep,
And say, "Spare, O LORD, your people,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
with the nations ruling over them!
Why should they say among the peoples,
'Where is their God?'"

Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land
and took pity on his people.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17

R. (see 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
"Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight."
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Reading 2 2 Cor 5:20—6:2

Brothers and sisters:
We are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Working together, then,
we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says:

In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.

Verse Before the Gospel see ps 95:8

If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.

Gospel Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."