Perform the Works

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040717.cfm) reminds me that doing God's work glorifies Him and makes him happy. 

Parents usually like obedient children. They take pride in their attitude and humility in obeying their parents or people in authority. This is probably similar to what God feels for us when we obey him, when we humble ourselves and do his work. 

Natutuwa ang Diyos kung susunod ka sa kanya. 

In the gospel, we see Jesus asking the people to believe him because he is doing God's work. He said that he won't be surprised if they won't believe him if he does not do God's work, but since he does God's work, they should believe him. This reminds us that doing God's work is important. It distinguishes us from others. It tells God we love him. It proclaims God's kingdom in this world. 

We need not do missionary work to do this. We just need to live godly lives wherever we are. Whatever we do, we can do God's work. We can proclaim his kingdom whatever we do. If we treat others right, if we respect others, if we live right, then we are proclaiming God's kingdom and performing his works. 

May we always remember to proclaim God and perform his works everyday. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder and the challenge. Lord, sorry for not doing this. Sorry for not doing your work. Sorry for being busy with concerns of the world. Give me the will and the desire to do your work. Help me live for you. May my actions glorify you and proclaim your kingdom. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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April 7, 2017
Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 255

Reading 1 Jer 20:10-13

I hear the whisperings of many:
"Terror on every side!
Denounce! let us denounce him!"
All those who were my friends
are on the watch for any misstep of mine.
"Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,
and take our vengeance on him."
But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion:
my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.
In their failure they will be put to utter shame,
to lasting, unforgettable confusion.
O LORD of hosts, you who test the just,
who probe mind and heart,
Let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause.
Sing to the LORD,
praise the LORD,
For he has rescued the life of the poor
from the power of the wicked!

Responsorial Psalm Ps 18:2-3a, 3bc-4, 5-6, 7

R. (see 7) In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
and I am safe from my enemies.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
The breakers of death surged round about me,
the destroying floods overwhelmed me;
The cords of the nether world enmeshed me,
the snares of death overtook me.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
In my distress I called upon the LORD
and cried out to my God;
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.

Verse Before the Gospel See Jn 6:63c, 68c

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.

Gospel Jn 10:31-42

The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus.
Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father.
For which of these are you trying to stone me?"
The Jews answered him,
"We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy.
You, a man, are making yourself God."
Jesus answered them,
"Is it not written in your law, 'I said, 'You are gods"'?
If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came,
and Scripture cannot be set aside,
can you say that the one
whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world
blasphemes because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?
If I do not perform my Father's works, do not believe me;
but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me,
believe the works, so that you may realize and understand
that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."
Then they tried again to arrest him;
but he escaped from their power.

He went back across the Jordan
to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained.
Many came to him and said,
"John performed no sign,
but everything John said about this man was true."
And many there began to believe in him.

Faithful

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040617.cfm) reminds me that God keeps his word forever. 

In the first reading, God made a covenant to Abram. God told Abram that he shall now be called Abraham, and that he will be the father of nations. Probably this was not too easy for Abraham to believe. Why? Because when this happened, he was ninety-nine years old! To be told that he will be the father of nations was probably something he would not take seriously. 

Good thing God really keeps his word!

We see in the gospel that indeed, God kept his word. The Jews have high regard for their father Abraham. Though they cannot see and understand who Jesus is because they are blinded by their hardened hearts, we still see that God kept his covenant to Abraham – that he became the father of nations. That he became great. 

God keeps our covenant to us. He will keep his word – that he will take care of us, that he has great plans for us, that he will protect us, that he will love us. No matter what we are facing right now, God’s covenant still holds true. 

However, we need to keep our part of the covenant as well. Does this mean that God will only keep his part if we keep ours? Probably not… but if we wont keep our part, it’s like us saying we don’t want God to keep his part. IF we wont submit to his will, it will be hard for him to make his great plans for us come true. If we run away from him, it will be hard for him to protect us. IF we do not take care of ourself and others, it will be hard for God to take care of us. If we continue to sin and harden our hearts towards him, it will be hard for him to make his love alive in our lives, because we don’t allow God to love us.

The psalmist is right – the Lord remembers his covenant forever… he is faithful, so should we.

May we always remember that God keeps his covenant, and be encouraged to hold our end as well. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for reminding me that you will always be faithful to your covenant. I am sorry for the many times I broke my word to other people. I am sorry for the many times I broke my promises to you, Lord. Sorry for the times I lose faith in you, or when I lose hope because of the situation. Help me have faith in your power and goodness. I also ask that you help me to be faithful to my word. Help me keep my promises – to other people and most especially, to you. Help me submit myself to your wlll. Help me be focused on you and on serving and loving you, and not to be distracted with the lies the world tells me. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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April 6, 2017
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 254

Reading 1 Gn 17:3-9

When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him:
"My covenant with you is this:
you are to become the father of a host of nations.
No longer shall you be called Abram;
your name shall be Abraham,
for I am making you the father of a host of nations.
I will render you exceedingly fertile;
I will make nations of you;
kings shall stem from you.
I will maintain my covenant with you
and your descendants after you
throughout the ages as an everlasting pact,
to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
I will give to you
and to your descendants after you
the land in which you are now staying,
the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession;
and I will be their God."

God also said to Abraham:
"On your part, you and your descendants after you
must keep my covenant throughout the ages."

Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations –
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Verse Before the Gospel Ps 95:8

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

Gospel Jn 8:51-59

Jesus said to the Jews:
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever keeps my word will never see death."
So the Jews said to him,
"Now we are sure that you are possessed.
Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say,
'Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.'
Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died?
Or the prophets, who died?
Who do you make yourself out to be?"
Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing;
but it is my Father who glorifies me,
of whom you say, 'He is our God.'
You do not know him, but I know him.
And if I should say that I do not know him,
I would be like you a liar.
But I do know him and I keep his word.
Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day;
he saw it and was glad."
So the Jews said to him,
"You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
before Abraham came to be, I AM."
So they picked up stones to throw at him;

but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.

Faith in Hot Times

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040517.cfm) reminds me that I should have faith in God, even in difficult situations. 

In the movie "Facing the Giants" one of the moving scenes I like was when the team was in the locker room and their leader was exhorting them - "if we win, we praise Him. If we lose, we still praise him. Either way, we're giving God the glory". No matter what happens, they resolved to praise God and offer him whatever the outcome of the game. This is what God wants from us. 

God wants us to have faith in him, no matter what situation we are in. 

The first reading tells us an amazing story! Imagine three men (with cool names: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) being thrown to a furnace so hot, with their hands tied. Seems like there's no escape. All odds are against them. However, they did not falter in faith. They remained faithful to God, no matter if God saves them or not. They resolved to put their faith in God, regardless of the situation and regardless of how God would respond. Thats how great their faith is. That's how much they trust God. 

If our God, whom we serve,

can save us from the white-hot furnace

and from your hands,

O king, may he save us!

But even if he will not, know, O king,

that we will not serve your god or

worship the golden statue that you set up.” 

That's faith, and surrender. And God rewarded them by saving them. 

They had firm faith in God. They did not bargain. However, we sometimes do. Lord, grant me this prayer request and I will go to mass every Friday. Lord, may I pass this important interview, and I will give 10% of my salary to the church. Lord, please give me my ideal girlfriend and I will stop playing around. We have conditions. We want to get what we want first before doing what God wants. This is the opposite of how the men acted, of how God wants us to act. 

The three men decided to serve God no matter what happens. May we also resolve to. May we choose and decide to follow, serve, and love God no matter what the situation is, and even if he does not grant us our deepest desires and prayer requests. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another interesting and inspiring story. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for the inspiration. Thank you for your great love for me. Thank you for your great power. Lord, sorry for the times my faith falters. Sorry for the times I do not trust you. Sorry for the times I compromise my faith and my values. Help me love pleasing to you. Lord, may I be like the three men in the first reading who decided to stand up for you regardless if you hear their prayer or not, even if it can cost them their lives. Help me have faith like theirs. Help me live that faith in you. Strengthen me and prepare me until the time I can confidently do the same for you.  Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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April 5, 2017
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 253

Reading 1 Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95

King Nebuchadnezzar said:
"Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
that you will not serve my god,
or worship the golden statue that I set up?
Be ready now to fall down and worship the statue I had made,
whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet,
flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe,
and all the other musical instruments;
otherwise, you shall be instantly cast into the white-hot furnace;
and who is the God who can deliver you out of my hands?"
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar,
"There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you
in this matter.
If our God, whom we serve,
can save us from the white-hot furnace
and from your hands, O king, may he save us!
But even if he will not, know, O king,
that we will not serve your god
or worship the golden statue that you set up."

King Nebuchadnezzar's face became livid with utter rage
against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual
and had some of the strongest men in his army
bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
and cast them into the white-hot furnace.

Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles,
"Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?"
"Assuredly, O king," they answered.
"But," he replied, "I see four men unfettered and unhurt,
walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God."
Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed,
"Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
who sent his angel to deliver the servants who trusted in him;
they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies
rather than serve or worship any god
except their own God."

Responsorial Psalm Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56

R. (52b) Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages."
R. Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
R. Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."
R. Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim;
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."
R. Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever."
R. Glory and praise for ever!

Verse Before the Gospel See Lk 8:15

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.

Gospel Jn 8:31-42

Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him,
"If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham
and have never been enslaved to anyone.
How can you say, 'You will become free'?"
Jesus answered them, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
A slave does not remain in a household forever,
but a son always remains.
So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free.
I know that you are descendants of Abraham.
But you are trying to kill me,
because my word has no room among you.
I tell you what I have seen in the Father's presence;
then do what you have heard from the Father."

They answered and said to him, "Our father is Abraham."
Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children,
you would be doing the works of Abraham.
But now you are trying to kill me,
a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God;
Abraham did not do this.
You are doing the works of your father!"
So they said to him, "We were not born of fornication.
We have one Father, God."
Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me,
for I came from God and am here;

I did not come on my own, but he sent me."

Do Not Forget

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040417.cfm) reminds me that I should not forget all that God has done for me. 

Human beings have limited memory. They say that we only use a very small percentage of our brain. That is why we don’t get to retain all the information and knowledge we come across. However,  there are things that we should never forget – like the goodness of God in our lives.

In the first reading, we see the people complaining to God and Moses. They focused on their current situation and seemingly forgot all the good God has done to them. They forgot the miracles and all the help God has given them and just focused on their concerns, on their wants. They want God to give them their demands, to make their lives comfortable – as if God was at their disposal. This made God punish them, and when they eventually came to their senses, God told Moses how to save the people.

Hindi dapat kalimutan ang lahat ng nagawa ng Diyos para sa iyo. 

A lot of times, we too are like them. We forget all the good God has done in our lives. We forget all his blessings and provisions. Unfortunately like the people, it takes a lot of pain for us to come to our senses and go back to God. Our stubbornness a lot of times causes us much pain that we could have avoided in the first place if we just listened to God.

Good thing God is so good, and no matter how stubborn and hard headed we become, as long as we repent and come to Him, he will forgive us and help us. No matter how much we sin and hurt him,  no matter how much we complain, he can forgive. He will help snd still come to our rescue when we repent and come to Him. 

May we never forget God's goodness and all his blessings in our lives, and may we always be humble and come back to him when we need to, knowing how gentle and loving he is. 

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 being patient and loving. Lord, I am sorry for the times I am like the Israelites. Sorry for turning my back on you, for complaining and forgetting all you have done for me. Help me to live my life for you, help me to focus on you and remember your goodness, especially when challenges come my way. And help me remember how gentle and loving you are, so I will always be humble and come back to you when I fall. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2015/09/lifted-high.html

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April 4, 2017
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 252

Reading 1 Nm 21:4-9

From Mount Hor the children of Israel set out on the Red Sea road,
to bypass the land of Edom.
But with their patience worn out by the journey,
the people complained against God and Moses,
"Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert,
where there is no food or water?
We are disgusted with this wretched food!"

In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents,
which bit the people so that many of them died.
Then the people came to Moses and said,
"We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you.
Pray the LORD to take the serpents away from us."
So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses,
"Make a saraph and mount it on a pole,
and whoever looks at it after being bitten will live."
Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole,
and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent
looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 102:2-3, 16-18, 19-21

R. (2) O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.
O LORD, hear my prayer,
and let my cry come to you.
Hide not your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me;
in the day when I call, answer me speedily.
R. O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
R. O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
"The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die."
R. O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

Verse Before the Gospel

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;
all who come to him will live for ever.

Gospel Jn 8:21-30

Jesus said to the Pharisees:
"I am going away and you will look for me,
but you will die in your sin.
Where I am going you cannot come."
So the Jews said,
"He is not going to kill himself, is he,
because he said, 'Where I am going you cannot come'?"
He said to them, "You belong to what is below,
I belong to what is above.
You belong to this world,
but I do not belong to this world.
That is why I told you that you will die in your sins.
For if you do not believe that I AM,
you will die in your sins."
So they said to him, "Who are you?"
Jesus said to them, "What I told you from the beginning.
I have much to say about you in condemnation.
But the one who sent me is true,
and what I heard from him I tell the world."
They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father.
So Jesus said to them,
"When you lift up the Son of Man,
then you will realize that I AM,
and that I do nothing on my own,
but I say only what the Father taught me.
The one who sent me is with me.
He has not left me alone,
because I always do what is pleasing to him."

Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.

Saved

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040317.cfm) reminds me of the saving power and love of God. 

In the first reading, we see how wicked people abuse their power. Nowadays, this is still rampant. People in power and authority abuse their position to get what they want. They prey on helpless people who in the sense of the world cannot do anything against them. A lot really feel that cannot do anything about it and just let themselves be abused, even if it is against their will. However, we know some are like Susanna who will be willing to die and suffer the consequences of  going against powerful people in the world.

God’s power is greater than that of the devil.

It seemed like a hopeless case, people believed the lies of the leaders, but God stirred up the holy spirit of Daniel and eventually Susanna was spared and the two wicked people were punished. God cannot be controlled by the powers of the devil in the world. even if the situation may seem hopeless, God can still and will always make a way for those who trust in Him – saving them from sin and from evil, be it in this world and the next.

However, God is not only good to those who have faith in Him. He saves not only those who trusts in him. We see in the gospel that he saves even those guilty. His goodness is greater than our sins – no matter how grave our sins are, God is able and willing to forgive us. He just asks us one thing in return – to go and sin no more. 

No matter what situation we may be in - be it in a seemingly hopeless situation we cannot go out and do anything about, or in a situation where we are at fault but deeply repentant, God can save us. He will save us. His power and love are greater than our sins. We just have to come to him and trust in Him.

May we be inspired to know how loving, forgiving and redeeming our God is, and may it lead us to come to him in humility snd faith. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for the reminder, Lord. I am sorry for the times I turn my back on you. Sorry for the times I feel I cannot or you cannot do anything about the situation. Sorry for succumbing to the enemy. Lord, I ask that you help me surrender to you. Help me submit to your will. Help me trust in your power. As I experience your love, your power and your forgiveness, may I live my life pleasing to you. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2016/03/cry-for-help.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/04/god-saves.html

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April 3, 2017
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 251

Reading 1 Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62

In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim,
who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna,
the daughter of Hilkiah;
her pious parents had trained their daughter
according to the law of Moses.
Joakim was very rich;
he had a garden near his house,
and the Jews had recourse to him often
because he was the most respected of them all.

That year, two elders of the people were appointed judges,
of whom the Lord said, "Wickedness has come out of Babylon:
from the elders who were to govern the people as judges."
These men, to whom all brought their cases,
frequented the house of Joakim.
When the people left at noon,
Susanna used to enter her husband's garden for a walk.
When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk,
they began to lust for her.
They suppressed their consciences;
they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven,
and did not keep in mind just judgments.

One day, while they were waiting for the right moment,
she entered the garden as usual, with two maids only.
She decided to bathe, for the weather was warm.
Nobody else was there except the two elders,
who had hidden themselves and were watching her.
"Bring me oil and soap," she said to the maids,
"and shut the garden doors while I bathe."

As soon as the maids had left,
the two old men got up and hurried to her.
"Look," they said, "the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us;
give in to our desire, and lie with us.
If you refuse, we will testify against you
that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you."

"I am completely trapped," Susanna groaned.
"If I yield, it will be my death;
if I refuse, I cannot escape your power.
Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt
than to sin before the Lord."
Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her,
as one of them ran to open the garden doors.
When the people in the house heard the cries from the garden,
they rushed in by the side gate to see what had happened to her.
At the accusations by the old men,
the servants felt very much ashamed,
for never had any such thing been said about Susanna.

When the people came to her husband Joakim the next day,
the two wicked elders also came,
fully determined to put Susanna to death.
Before all the people they ordered:
"Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah,
the wife of Joakim."
When she was sent for,
she came with her parents, children and all her relatives.
All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping.

In the midst of the people the two elders rose up
and laid their hands on her head.
Through tears she looked up to heaven,
for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly.
The elders made this accusation:
"As we were walking in the garden alone,
this woman entered with two girls
and shut the doors of the garden, dismissing the girls.
A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her.
When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime,
we ran toward them.
We saw them lying together,
but the man we could not hold, because he was stronger than we;
he opened the doors and ran off.
Then we seized her and asked who the young man was,
but she refused to tell us.
We testify to this."
The assembly believed them,
since they were elders and judges of the people,
and they condemned her to death.

But Susanna cried aloud:
"O eternal God, you know what is hidden
and are aware of all things before they come to be:
you know that they have testified falsely against me.
Here I am about to die,
though I have done none of the things
with which these wicked men have charged me."

The Lord heard her prayer.
As she was being led to execution,
God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,
and he cried aloud:
"I will have no part in the death of this woman."
All the people turned and asked him, "What is this you are saying?"
He stood in their midst and continued,
"Are you such fools, O children of Israel!
To condemn a woman of Israel without examination
and without clear evidence?
Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her."

Then all the people returned in haste.
To Daniel the elders said,
"Come, sit with us and inform us,
since God has given you the prestige of old age."
But he replied,
"Separate these two far from each other that I may examine them."

After they were separated one from the other,
he called one of them and said:
"How you have grown evil with age!
Now have your past sins come to term:
passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent,
and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says,
'The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.'
Now, then, if you were a witness,
tell me under what tree you saw them together."
"Under a mastic tree," he answered.
Daniel replied, "Your fine lie has cost you your head,
for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him
and split you in two."
Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought.
Daniel said to him,
"Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you,
lust has subverted your conscience.
This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel,
and in their fear they yielded to you;
but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness.
Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together."
"Under an oak," he said.
Daniel replied, "Your fine lie has cost you also your head,
for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two
so as to make an end of you both."

The whole assembly cried aloud,
blessing God who saves those who hope in him.
They rose up against the two elders,
for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury.
According to the law of Moses,
they inflicted on them
the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor:
they put them to death.
Thus was innocent blood spared that day.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R. (4ab) Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.

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 Jn 8:1-11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,
and all the people started coming to him,
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman
who had been caught in adultery
and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him,
"Teacher, this woman was caught
in the very act of committing adultery.
Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.
So what do you say?"
They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him,
he straightened up and said to them,
"Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her."
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
"Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?"
She replied, "No one, sir."
Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more."

Nothing is Impossible

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040217.cfm) reminds me that nothing is impossible for God. 

A few years back, Adidas used the tagline Impossible is Nothing. It was a very inspirational and motivational campaign, reminding people that anything is possible. Reminding us that records and human limitations are meant to be broken. Reminding us that we can do great things. And in the way this is true for worldly things, this is true in the spiritual realm as well. 

Nothing is impossible with God. 

Matthew 19:26 says that all things are possible with God. In other words, nothing is impossible with God. In the gospel, we see that this is true. Lazarus died. He has been buried for four days. However, Jesus power is greater than death. Time, space and logic cannot limit God's power. Even after 4 days, God brought Lazarus back to life. Even after 4 days, there was no smell and he came out alive from the tomb. 

Nothing can limit God's power. 

No matter what we are going through right now, no matter how impossible the situation may seem,  no matter how helpless or hopeless we may feel, we should remember this. Nothing is impossible with God. God's power is infinite. Therefore we should have faith in Him, his power, and his love for us. 

May we be inspired to have faith in God, no matter what the situation may be. 

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 the times I lose faith. Sorry for the times I let the situation bring me down. Sorry for thinking you cannot do anything for me. Help me have faith. Increase my faith. May I always remember your love and power. May it give me renewed energy and vigor as I live for you. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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April 2, 2017
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 34

Reading 1 Ez 37:12-14

Thus says the Lord GOD:
O my people, I will open your graves
and have you rise from them,
and bring you back to the land of Israel.
Then you shall know that I am the LORD,
when I open your graves and have you rise from them,
O my people!
I will put my spirit in you that you may live,
and I will settle you upon your land;
thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

R. (7) With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
More than sentinels wait for the dawn,
let Israel wait for the LORD.
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

Reading 2 Rom 8:8-11

Brothers and sisters:
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh;
on the contrary, you are in the spirit,
if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
But if Christ is in you,
although the body is dead because of sin,
the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit dwelling in you.

Verse Before the Gospel Jn 11:25a, 26

I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will never die.

Gospel Jn 11:1-45

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany,
the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil
and dried his feet with her hair;
it was her brother Lazarus who was ill.
So the sisters sent word to him saying,
"Master, the one you love is ill."
hen Jesus heard this he said,
"This illness is not to end in death,
but is for the glory of God,
that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
So when he heard that he was ill,
he remained for two days in the place where he was.
Then after this he said to his disciples,
"Let us go back to Judea."
The disciples said to him,
"Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you,
and you want to go back there?"
Jesus answered,
"Are there not twelve hours in a day?
If one walks during the day, he does not stumble,
because he sees the light of this world.
But if one walks at night, he stumbles,
because the light is not in him."
He said this, and then told them,
"Our friend Lazarus is asleep,
but I am going to awaken him."
So the disciples said to him,
"Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved."
But Jesus was talking about his death,
while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep.
So then Jesus said to them clearly,
"Lazarus has died.
And I am glad for you that I was not there,
that you may believe.
Let us go to him."
So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples,
"Let us also go to die with him."

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus
had already been in the tomb for four days.
Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away.
And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary
to comfort them about their brother.
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming,
she went to meet him;
but Mary sat at home.
Martha said to Jesus,
"Lord, if you had been here,
my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask of God,
God will give you."
Jesus said to her,
"Your brother will rise."
Martha said to him,
"I know he will rise,
in the resurrection on the last day."
Jesus told her,
"I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?"
She said to him, "Yes, Lord.
I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,
the one who is coming into the world."

When she had said this,
she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying,
"The teacher is here and is asking for you."
As soon as she heard this,
she rose quickly and went to him.
For Jesus had not yet come into the village,
but was still where Martha had met him.
So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her
saw Mary get up quickly and go out,
they followed her,
presuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him,
she fell at his feet and said to him,
"Lord, if you had been here,
my brother would not have died."
When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping,
he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said,
"Where have you laid him?"
They said to him, "Sir, come and see."
And Jesus wept.
So the Jews said, "See how he loved him."
But some of them said,
"Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man
have done something so that this man would not have died?"

So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb.
It was a cave, and a stone lay across it.
Jesus said, "Take away the stone."
Martha, the dead man's sister, said to him,
"Lord, by now there will be a stench;
he has been dead for four days."
Jesus said to her,
"Did I not tell you that if you believe
you will see the glory of God?"
So they took away the stone.
And Jesus raised his eyes and said,
"Father, I thank you for hearing me.
I know that you always hear me;
but because of the crowd here I have said this,
that they may believe that you sent me."
And when he had said this,
He cried out in a loud voice,
"Lazarus, come out!"
The dead man came out,
tied hand and foot with burial bands,
and his face was wrapped in a cloth.
So Jesus said to them,
"Untie him and let him go."

Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary
and seen what he had done began to believe in him.

Call on God

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040117.cfm) reminds me that I should always call on God. 

There was a popular movie in the 90’s with the tagline: “Who you ‘gonna caaaaall….?” If you watched the movie, you probably know the answer – Ghostbusters! They were the only group of people called when there were ghosts and monsters. They were the first, and only group people called during times of need. And the way people remember this movie, God also wants us to remember this in real life.

God wants us to call on him and just trust in Him.

In the first reading, we see Jeremiah calling on God to save him from those who plot evil on him. He called on God and is faithful to God. He knows the evil plan of people but he still continued to serve God. He knows God will come to his rescue and not just protect him, but punish those who seek to harm him. The psalmist echoes this as he takes his refuge in God while faced with challenges and evil. In the gospel, we see how the chief priests and Pharisees plotted evil against Jesus. But Jesus remained firm, continued to call on God as he worked for his kingdom. And God took care of Him. 

God does not disappoint.

We know that God do not leave those who call on him. We see how he protected those who call on him and those who had faith in him. We know that nothing is impossible for God, no matter how we see the situation. Whatever we are faced with, no matter how seemingly impossible the situation is, no matter how powerful the people who persecute us may appear to be, may we just call on God and trust in Him.

May we always call on God whatever situation we may be in. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to rest and refresh ourselves. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times you are not first on the list of who I call during times of trouble. Sorry that prayer is not the first thing I do. Help me have firm faith in you that you may always be the first, and only one I will call, not just in times of trouble, but everytime. Help me work on a personal snd intimate relationship with you. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

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April 1, 2017
Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 249

Reading 1 Jer 11:18-20

I knew their plot because the LORD informed me;
at that time you, O LORD, showed me their doings.

Yet I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter,
had not realized that they were hatching plots against me:
"Let us destroy the tree in its vigor;
let us cut him off from the land of the living,
so that his name will be spoken no more."

But, you, O LORD of hosts, O just Judge,
searcher of mind and heart,
Let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause!

Responsorial Psalm Ps 7:2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12

R. (2a) O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
O LORD, my God, in you I take refuge;
save me from all my pursuers and rescue me,
Lest I become like the lion's prey,
to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me.
R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
Do me justice, O LORD, because I am just,
and because of the innocence that is mine.
Let the malice of the wicked come to an end,
but sustain the just,
O searcher of heart and soul, O just God.
R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
A shield before me is God,
who saves the upright of heart;
A just judge is God,
a God who punishes day by day.
R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.

Verse Before the Gospel See Lk 8:15

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.

Gospel Jn 7:40-53

Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said,
"This is truly the Prophet."
Others said, "This is the Christ."
But others said, "The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he?
Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David's family
and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?"
So a division occurred in the crowd because of him.
Some of them even wanted to arrest him,
but no one laid hands on him.

So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees,
who asked them, "Why did you not bring him?"
The guards answered, "Never before has anyone spoken like this man."
So the Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived?
Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?
But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed."
Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them,
"Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him
and finds out what he is doing?"
They answered and said to him,
"You are not from Galilee also, are you?
Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee."

Then each went to his own house.