According to your Faith

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120718.cfm) reminds me to work on my faith and personal relationship with God. 

We Filipinos love basketball. We love to watch games. And when we do, we almost always have something to say, either about the players or coaches. We say that a particular player lack speed, or power, or shooting. Or this and that can be improved. Same with coaches. We have something to say about them. However, that's it. We can just give our inputs or comments, but most cannot do what they are able to do. We cannot play or coach at the same level as they are. This should remind us to look up to them and give them the credit due them. It is similar to what Jesus said in the gospel. 

Your personal faith is important to God. Not that of other people. 

In the gospel, two blind men came to Jesus for healing. And when Jesus asked them if they believed, they said yes. Then Jesus told them that they will be healed according to their faith. Not according to God’d power or according to the faith of others. But according to their faith. To their own personal faith in Jesus and his power. Well, they were healed, so they really had faith in Jesus power. How about us?

If God would ask us if we had faith in him, what would he tell him? If he asked if we really believe that he could do things we pray for, or if he could really answer our prayers, can we honestly say yes? Can we honestly say we believe in him, his love, and his power - despite the situation we are in?

This should encourage us to work on our faith and relationship with God. Only if we have an intimate relationship with God can we build our faith. And we can build our relationship with him by working on it. By getting to know him more. By reading his word, attending mass, and praying. This season, as we prepare for Christmas, is a good time to work on our faith and relationship with him so we can have a more meaningful celebration. 

How is my faith? How is my relationship with God? Do I have faith that God can answer my prayers? Do I sincerely believe he can and will help me with what I am praying for? How can I improve my faith and relationship with God?

May we do our best to work on our relationship with God so our faith can increase. 

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 lack faith. And sorry for not doing my best to build my relationship with you. Help me do my part. Increase my faith as I do my best to build and strengthen my relationship with you. Help me make my faith greater than my fears and problems. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2015/12/two-blind-men.html

Daily Readings

December 7, 2018

Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 179

Reading 1 IS 29:17-24

Thus says the Lord GOD:
But a very little while,
and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard,
and the orchard be regarded as a forest!
On that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book;
And out of gloom and darkness,
the eyes of the blind shall see.
The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD,
and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant will be no more
and the arrogant will have gone;
All who are alert to do evil will be cut off,
those whose mere word condemns a man,
Who ensnare his defender at the gate,
and leave the just man with an empty claim.
Therefore thus says the LORD,
the God of the house of Jacob,
who redeemed Abraham:
Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of,
nor shall his face grow pale.
When his children see
the work of my hands in his midst,
They shall keep my name holy;
they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob,
and be in awe of the God of Israel.
Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding,
and those who find fault shall receive instruction.

Responsorial Psalm PS 27:1, 4, 13-14

R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Alleluia 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, our Lord shall come with power;
he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 9:27-31

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out,
"Son of David, have pity on us!"
When he entered the house,
the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them,
"Do you believe that I can do this?"
"Yes, Lord," they said to him.
Then he touched their eyes and said,
"Let it be done for you according to your faith."
And their eyes were opened.
Jesus warned them sternly,
"See that no one knows about this."
But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

House on a Rock

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120618.cfm) reminds me that I should anchor my life on God. 

In Tagalog, we have a saying: "Para kang nakasandal sa bato o pader". This means that one usually do not worry of there is someone powerful backing the person up. Someone powerful to rely and lean on, someone you know will have your back. This is very nice to have. And the readings today reminds me that we can have this in God. 

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

All of us are in this earth for a brief moment only. This is a temporary stage for us. We are just travelling, But as we travel, we are actually building our house – our permanent home, whether in heaven or not. The things we do in this world, the choices we make in this life, and the actions live our lives by, would determine how we want our eternal home to be. We are building a home. We are building a foundation. We are starting in this life.

As we build our eternal home, it is good to ask who is our foundation? Who is the rock upon we are building our house? The first reading tells us that it is to God that we should build our foundation. The strong and eternal rock, so it is indeed wise to build our foundation on him.  The gospel further says that we should listen AND ACT upon God’s words. It is not enough to recognize God. Satan recognizes God as well – but he does not follow God. We should recognize God and follow His ways. Hindi pwedeng puro realizations. Hindi pwedeng puro lip service. We should act and follow God’s will in our lives.

Do do I rely on in life? Do I rely on worldly power and connections, or do I rely on God? What is my foundation in this life? Do I listen to the word of God? Do I act on the word on God? How can I strengthen my foundation in life?

May we be wise and use this life to work towards building our house on a rock, a solid foundation.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another reminder. Lord, I thank you for your strong love. Thank you for your power. And I thank you for the opportunity to make the most of this life. Lord, sorry for focusing on other things. Sorry for building my foundation on other things. Help me be a wise builder and build the foundation of my house, of my life, on you. Help me make good choices in life. Help me make the right choices in life. May I always choose you, in the little and big things, Lord. May I use this life wisely to build my eternal home in heaven with you. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2016/12/act-on-it.html

Daily Readings

December 6, 2018

Thursday of the First Week of Advent
Lectionary: 178

Reading 1 IS 26:1-6

On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah:

"A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.
A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you."

Trust in the LORD forever!
For the LORD is an eternal Rock.
He humbles those in high places,
and the lofty city he brings down;
He tumbles it to the ground,
levels it with the dust.
It is trampled underfoot by the needy,
by the footsteps of the poor.

Responsorial Psalm PS 118:1 AND 8-9, 19-21, 25-27A

R. (26a) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This gate is the LORD's;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia IS 55:6

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call him while he is near.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 7:21, 24-27

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,'
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

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

Complete

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120518.cfm) reminds me that God thinks of our complete nourishment- physical and spiritual. 

The gospel tells us one of the more famous gospels – Jesus feeding a lot of people. We see Jesus feeding the people not just physically when he multiplied food for them, but first, spiritually which was the primary food he gave them even before the physical food. Then when it was late and dark already, Christ gave them physical food for their bodies.

God loves us so much that he gives us not only spiritual nourishment, but also physical nourishment. 

Love is the reason for this season. Love is the reason why we are celebrating Christmas - God sent his only Son to save us from our sins. Love should also be our primary reason for living – to spread God’s love to each other. The first reading reminds us that God saved us, and a good way to thank him is by passing that saving love to others. And one way of loving one another is to care and share what we have with one another – which what other people said about the gospel, that the miracle is not Jesus multiplying food, but the real miracle is the hearts of the people were changed and the shared food with each other because of love.

Do I come to God for nourishment of not only my body, but more importantly, my soul? How can I nourish more my soul as I prepare for Christmas? Do I graciously share my blessings to others, especially this season? How can I give more to others? 

May we be inspired to not only nourish our bodies, but more importantly, our spirit. May we allow God to transform us and expand our hearts so we can share more and love more – to make him more alive here.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder that you norish not only our body but our spirit as well. Lord, I ask that you be with me in a special way today. Help me always be reminded to nourish not only my body, but more importantly, my spirit. Lord, it is easy to know and be reminded when my body is weak, when I am hungry, but not as easy to detect spiritual hunger…so I ask you Lord that you disturb me, wake me up and give me warnings when my spirit is running low, when I am spiritually hungry. And Lord, may I be sensitive and respond to it. In the same way, give me the heart that would be ready and willing to share what I have to help and nourish others as well. Amen

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

December 5, 2018

Wednesday of the First Week of Advent
Lectionary: 177

Reading 1 IS 25:6-10A

On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
A feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
The web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.

On that day it will be said:
"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.

Responsorial Psalm PS 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6

R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
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. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
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. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
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. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

Alleluia 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, the Lord comes to save his people;
blessed are those prepared to meet him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 15:29-37

At that time:
Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee,
went up on the mountain, and sat down there.
Great crowds came to him,
having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute,
and many others.
They placed them at his feet, and he cured them.
The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking,
the deformed made whole,
the lame walking,
and the blind able to see,
and they glorified the God of Israel.

Jesus summoned his disciples and said,
"My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
for they have been with me now for three days
and have nothing to eat.
I do not want to send them away hungry,
for fear they may collapse on the way."
The disciples said to him,
"Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place
to satisfy such a crowd?"
Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"
"Seven," they replied, "and a few fish."
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then he took the seven loaves and the fish,
gave thanks, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full.

Childlike

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120418.cfm) reminds me that God wants me to have childlike faith in Him. 

Young children usually obey their parents. When they are asked to be quiet, to do or not to do something, they don't usually ask why. Sometimes they do, but even if they don't fully understand the explanation of their parents, they still obey. They still follow. They respect their parents. Hindi sila pasaway na gagawin ang gusto nila. This attitude is what God wants us to have. This is what God wants us to be - childlike. 

In the gospel, Jesus said that God did not reveal things to the wise and learned of the world. Instead, he revealed them to the childlike.

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

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

A childish attitude is the opposite. 

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

This is why God blessed the childlike. He blessed those who relied on Him, instead of relying on their own personal achievements. He blessed those who know that they are nothing and everything that they have is from God, not those who think highly of themselves because of their accomplishments and credentials. And in the gospel, Jesus said that God revealed himself to the childlike and not to the learned. Because the childlike have open hearts ready to welcome Him and will not argue with him or push him away. 

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

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

May we be sensitive to how we react to God, and work on having and pray for a childlike faith and attitude towards God.

Father God,

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

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

December 4, 2018

Tuesday of the First Week of Advent
Lectionary: 176

Reading 1IS 11:1-10

On that day,
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
A Spirit of counsel and of strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
But he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land's afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra's den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.

On that day,
The root of Jesse,
set up as a signal for the nations,
The Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious.

Responsorial Psalm PS 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

R. (see 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
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. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
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. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
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. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Alleluia 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, our Lord shall come with power;
he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 10:21-24

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,
"I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows who the Son is except the Father,
and who the Father is except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him."

Turning to the disciples in private he said,
"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
For I say to you,
many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,
but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it."

Great Faith

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120318.cfm) reminds me that I should have great faith in God. 

In the gospel, we see a servant who was very sick. Other masters would just wait for the person to die. However, we see a centurion with great faith, not to mention genuine kindness towards others, even towards his servants who were basically treated as traded goods at that time. By God’s grace and power, what the devil intended for death and destruction, was turned into something great and glorious for God, through the centurion and Jesus. Amidst the worldly situation, the centurion had unwavering faith in Christ’s power over sickness and death, and we see his faith being rewarded. His faith is so great that we repeat his words everytime we celebrate the Holy Mass – “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed”

The condition for a miracle is difficulty. A condition for a great miracle is impossibility

As we see Jesus showing us how powerful and loving God is, we are encouraged to be like the centurion. The centurion who genuinely cared for others, even his servants, and showed great unwavering faith in God, especially during very difficult and seemingly impossible situations. God is powerful. No worldly situation can stop his power and prevent him from doing his will. This is something we should remember, especially as we face life’s seemingly impossible challenges. We should just have faith in God and his power, no matter what the situation may be. 

Is my faith based on the situations in life, or is my faith in God constant and unwavering? Do I let sickness overcome me, or do I have faith in the power of God over sickness? Who is the one person that comes into my mind as I read the gospel? Do I realize that God can use my faith to heal that person, no matter how impossible we may think the situation may be?

May we be ready inspired and always be reminded to have great faith in God. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Lord, I thank you for your message today. Thank you for reminding me how loving and powerful you are. Sorry for the times I do not have faith in you. Sorry for the times my faith gets affected by the situations in life. I ask that you help me have faith like the centurion. May I have faith in your word, may I have faith in your power no matter what the situation may be. Remind me, Lord, that nothing is impossible for you, and that you can use my faith to heal others. May you always be glorified. Amen.

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

December 3, 2018

Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest
Lectionary: 175

Reading 1 IS 2:1-5

This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,
saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In days to come,
The mountain of the LORD's house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
"Come, let us climb the LORD's mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
That he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths."
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
One nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.

O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the LORD!

Responsorial Psalm PS 122:1-2, 3-4B, 4CD-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my relatives and friends
I will say, "Peace be within you!"
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Alleluia SEE PS 80:4

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come and save us, LORD our God;
let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 8:5-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum,
a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,
"Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully."
He said to him, "I will come and cure him."
The centurion said in reply,
"Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word and my servant will be healed.
For I too am a man subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes;
and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes;
and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
"Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven."

Ready and Prepare

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120218.cfm) reminds me that we should be ready and prepared for God's coming. 

The readings for the past few days have been talking about the judgment, about Christ’s second coming. Today, we are again reminded to be ready and prepared - not just for the second coming that we do not know when will come, but also for something we know when – Christmas. As we usher in the happiest season of the year, as we usher in advent, and as we read the gospel, we are reminded to prepare and be ready - to meet God and to commemorate Christ’s birth.

We should prepare our hearts for Christmas.

We now officially start the advent season, and this first Sunday of advent should set us in the mood not of Christmas as the world sees  – with all the lights, parties, gifts and food, but to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming that we commemorate on Christmas day.

Some say that this season, Christmas season, is not just happy, but a very busy, and sometimes can be stressful. There are a lot of things going on – from the yearend reports and quotas, the get together and parties, relatives and friends coming home to and from the province or abroad, the bazaars and gift shopping, and of course, the extra special traffic we expect even during the wee hours of the morning. Yes, it can be stressful. It can be busy. And unfortunately sometimes with all of these, we forget the reason for the season. We forget what Christmas is all about. 

Christmas is about Christ. It is about God's love for us made concrete through Jesus. 

Looking at our lives and at our hearts, a lot of us can say that we are not ready to welcome Jesus. We are not yet prepared. There are a lot of issues, concerns and even sins that make our hearts unworthy of God’s visitation. There are a lot of things going on in our lives. Good thing we have 4 weeks to prepare. We have 4 weeks to clean our hearts. We have 4 weeks to remember him and focus on him. We are reminded to hear mass more often, to partake of the sacraments, to pray more, read the bible more, and to love others more as we prepare our hearts for Christ.

How do I feel about Christ’s second coming? What is the essence of Christmas for me? How do I feel about Christmas? Am I ready for Christmas and his second coming? What can I do to prepare myself for him?

May we take this opportunity and make the most out of the time we have to prepare for Christ’s visitation, so that when he comes, we will be ready.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to experience your love. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for forgetting you. Sorry for being distracted. Help me do it right this hear. Lord, my heart is not clean. I am not ready for you. There are a lot of things distracting me. There are a lot of things on my mind. I have a lot of excuses. But i will do my best to prepare for you in this season of advent. Be with me in this journey. May this be a special one, a memorable one. May I get to know you more and experience you more as I prepare. May this be about you. Only you. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

December 2, 2018

First Sunday of Advent
Lectionary: 3

Reading 1 JER 33:14-16

The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will fulfill the promise
I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
In those days, in that time,
I will raise up for David a just shoot ;
he shall do what is right and just in the land.
In those days Judah shall be safe
and Jerusalem shall dwell secure;
this is what they shall call her:
“The LORD our justice.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14

R. (1b) To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and for you I wait all the day.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Reading 2 1 THES 3:12—4:2

Brothers and sisters:
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.

Finally, brothers and sisters,
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God
and as you are conducting yourselves
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Alleluia PS 85:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Show us, Lord, your love;
and grant us your salvation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 21:25-28, 34-36

Jesus said to his disciples:
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Vigilant

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120118.cfm) reminds me that I should be vigilant and ready for God's calling. 

How easy it is to be tangled up with the demands and troubles of our daily lives. It's easy to be distracted from the things that really matter. We give up a lot of things for work, business, or things needed to make a living. We sacrifice our time with family, friends, and even time to rest for ourselves. Sadly, we may also tend to sacrifice time for God. 

We should make a living so we can live, not live to make a living.

Jesus warns us about this in the gospel. It is very easy to be distracted with the things of this world, so we should be extra vigilant. We should always be ready and prepared for his second coming. We should not allow the enemy to distract us from doing what we should, to distract us from serving our one true God. Our focus should remain on God, not on things of the world. These things, no matter how innocent and harmless they seem, should not prevent us from serving God, from working for God. 

Given this, it will not be always easy. When you are working for God, you are not of the world, and the world will hate you like it did Jesus. However, we should remember what the first reading reminds us - that Jesus will come again. He will come again soon. The world is temporary, with it the powers and things of the world. Until we meet Christ again, life will not always be easy. However, we should have faith in Christ, and follow what Jesus said

Am I ready to meet God? Am I preparing myself for his coming? How can I prepare myself more for him? 

May we always be vigilant and live ready always for God's second coming. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the many times I ignore you. Sorry for letting myself get distracted by things of this world. Sorry for letting myself be tricked by the enemy to focus on this world and not on you. Help me remember what is important. Help me always be vigilant. Help me be wise and know where to put you in my life. May I always live knowing your place in my heart. May I always be ready for your second coming. Amen.

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

December 1, 2018

Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 508

Reading 1 RV 22:1-7

John said:
An angel showed me the river of life-giving water,
sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God
and of the Lamb down the middle of the street,
On either side of the river grew the tree of life
that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month;
the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations.
Nothing accursed will be found anymore.
The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it,
and his servants will worship him.
They will look upon his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun,
for the Lord God shall give them light,
and they shall reign forever and ever.

And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true,
and the Lord, the God of prophetic spirits,
sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon.”
“Behold, I am coming soon.”
Blessed is the one who keeps the prophetic message of this book.

Responsorial Psalm PS 95:1-2, 3-5, 6-7AB

R. (1 Cor 16: 22b, see Rev. 22: 20c) Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
For the LORD is a great God,
and a great king above all gods;
In his hands are the depths of the earth,
and the tops of the mountains are his.
His is the sea, for he has made it,
and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

Alleluia LK 21:36

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 21:34-36

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man.”