Nothing is Impossible

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040719-yeara.cfm) reminds me that nothing is impossible with 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. 

Do I believe that nothing is impossible for God? Do I live this? Do I call on God, especially during impossible situations, or do I just feel helpless and hopeless? What is God telling me today? 

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-

Daily Readings

April 7 2019 - Year A

Fifth Sunday of Lent – Year A Readings
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 Him

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040619.cfm) reminds me that God wants me to call on Him.

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-

Daily Readings

April 6 2019

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.

God’s Time

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040519.cfm) reminds me that God’s time will always prevail. 

I met a lady who worked for Development Organizations. She used to work for an International Agency and got assignments in different parts of the country, dangerous parts of the country. She told me she escaped several harmful events such as bombings, shootings, and even kidnapping. Some of her colleagues were affected, but not her. She always escaped such situations. This reminded me how powerful God's timing is.

No matter what situation you are in, God's plans and his time will still prevail.

In the gospel today, we see that the Jews were already trying to arrest Jesus. They were powerful at that time. However, Jesus was still speaking openly and can be seen in public but no one arrested him. Why? Because it was not yet time.

So they tried to arrest him,

but no one laid a hand upon him,

because his hour had not yet come.

Before, I used to think why Judas had to lead them to Jesus. However, They all knew who Jesus was, no one needed to tell them. They could have easily arrested him as he was speaking and preaching openly. But now I am reminded of the answer. It was not yet time. God has not yet allowed it.

In our lives, we want a lot of things to happen. Career promotion, booming business, financial independence, a good love-life. Sometimes, or oftentimes, the timing is different from what we want. Today, we are reminded that it might not yet be God's appointed time for our prayers to be answered the way we want it to. So let us just have faith and continue to love and serve God. 

What things am I praying for? How do I react when I do not get them? Am I willing to wait for God's time to come or do i force things myself? What is God telling me today?

May we continue to have faith in God - his plans, his power, and his timing, especially when they do not coincide with ours. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to love. Thank you for another Friday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I get impatient. Sorry for wanting things done my way, my time. Sorry for not trusting in you enough. Lord, grant me patience and faith to wait for your perfect time, and humility to keep on serving you as I wait. I know you have great plans for me, and I will wait in faith. I also ask that you use me mightily for your purpose and your glory. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

April 5 2019

Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 248

Reading 1 WIS 2:1A, 12-22

The wicked said among themselves,
thinking not aright:
"Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us;
he sets himself against our doings,
Reproaches us for transgressions of the law
and charges us with violations of our training.
He professes to have knowledge of God
and styles himself a child of the LORD.
To us he is the censure of our thoughts;
merely to see him is a hardship for us,
Because his life is not like that of others,
and different are his ways.
He judges us debased;
he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure.
He calls blest the destiny of the just
and boasts that God is his Father.
Let us see whether his words be true;
let us find out what will happen to him.
For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him
and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
With revilement and torture let us put him to the test
that we may have proof of his gentleness
and try his patience.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
for according to his own words, God will take care of him."
These were their thoughts, but they erred;
for their wickedness blinded them,
and they knew not the hidden counsels of God;
neither did they count on a recompense of holiness
nor discern the innocent souls' reward.

Responsorial Psalm PS 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 AND 23

R. (19a)  The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
He watches over all his bones;
not one of them shall be broken.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

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 JN 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Jesus moved about within Galilee;
he did not wish to travel in Judea,
because the Jews were trying to kill him.
But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.

But when his brothers had gone up to the feast,
he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.

Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said,
"Is he not the one they are trying to kill?
And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him.
Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ?
But we know where he is from.
When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from."
So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said,
"You know me and also know where I am from.
Yet I did not come on my own,
but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.
I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me."
So they tried to arrest him,
but no one laid a hand upon him,
because his hour had not yet come. 

Pray for Others

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040419.cfm) reminds me that I should always pray for others as well.

There are people who request prayers from others. Some feel that other people are more mature in faith. Others feel that the prayers of others are stronger. Others simply ask for help in praying. We may think this is unnecessary or useless, but the first reading tells us otherwise. 

Praying for others can be powerful. 

In the first reading, we see how great an intercessor Moses was. God relented of the punishment he wanted to inflict on the stubborn people. The people most probably did not know what God was planning to do, and how Moses interceed, or came in between God and them. Moses prayed to God on their behalf, and because of God’s good relationship with Moses, God changed his mind. 

Yes, it may be because Moses was special. It may be because Moses had a great and personal relationship with God, that's why God listened. But I believe that in our own little way, we can do this for others too. 

It is important to have a good relationship with God as we pray for others, as we intercede for others. And one way of having this is to love right. To live pleasing to God. In the bible it says that “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:16)”  we should live this and do our best to have this, so in our own little way, we can have more confidence when we pray to God for others. 

Do I pray for others? Do other people ask me to pray for them? How do I take it? Do I really believe that my prayers are powerful? Do I maintain an intimate relationship with God? Do I faithfully pray for others, even when God does not seem to respond? 

May we never forget to pray for others, and live a life pleasing to God as we do so. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love you and to build my relationship with you. Sorry for the times I take this for granted. Sorry for not having the will and the desire to work on my relationship with you. Sorry for not praying for others. Help me have faith in you. Help me believe in the power of prayer. And help me do my best to have a strong and intimate relationship with you as I pray for others...and I have faith that you will hear me. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

April 4 2019

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 247

Reading 1 EX 32:7-14

The LORD said to Moses,
"Go down at once to your people
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt,
for they have become depraved.
They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them,
making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it,
sacrificing to it and crying out,
'This is your God, O Israel,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt!'
The LORD said to Moses,
"I see how stiff-necked this people is.
Let me alone, then,
that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them.
Then I will make of you a great nation."

But Moses implored the LORD, his God, saying,
"Why, O LORD, should your wrath blaze up against your own people,
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt
with such great power and with so strong a hand?
Why should the Egyptians say,
'With evil intent he brought them out,
that he might kill them in the mountains
and exterminate them from the face of the earth'?
Let your blazing wrath die down;
relent in punishing your people.
Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel,
and how you swore to them by your own self, saying,
'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky;
and all this land that I promised,
I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.'"
So the LORD relented in the punishment
he had threatened to inflict on his people.

Responsorial Psalm PS 106:19-20, 21-22, 23

R. (4a)  Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Our fathers made a calf in Horeb
and adored a molten image;
They exchanged their glory
for the image of a grass-eating bullock.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They forgot the God who had saved them,
who had done great deeds in Egypt,
Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham,
terrible things at the Red Sea.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Then he spoke of exterminating them,
but Moses, his chosen one,
Withstood him in the breach
to turn back his destructive wrath.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Verse Before The Gospel JN 3:16

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

Gospel JN 5:31-47

Jesus said to the Jews:
"If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true.
But there is another who testifies on my behalf,
and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true.
You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth.
I do not accept human testimony,
but I say this so that you may be saved.
He was a burning and shining lamp,
and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light.
But I have testimony greater than John's.
The works that the Father gave me to accomplish,
these works that I perform testify on my behalf
that the Father has sent me.
Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf.
But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form,
and you do not have his word remaining in you,
because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent.
You search the Scriptures,
because you think you have eternal life through them;
even they testify on my behalf.
But you do not want to come to me to have life.

"I do not accept human praise;
moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you.
I came in the name of my Father,
but you do not accept me;
yet if another comes in his own name,
you will accept him.
How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another
and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?
Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father:
the one who will accuse you is Moses,
in whom you have placed your hope.
For if you had believed Moses,
you would have believed me,
because he wrote about me.
But if you do not believe his writings,
how will you believe my words?"

He Will Never Forget

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040319.cfm) reminds me that that God will never forget me.

They say that a mother will really never forget her child. She carried the baby for 9 months, and had to go through tough times not just carrying the baby, but also bringing the baby into this world. They also say that a mother’s love for the child is so great, due of course to the fact that she carried the baby, brought her into this world, and because the baby is a reminder and a living proof of God’s love and blessing to them. Just as mothers love their children very much, God's love for us is greater. 

Mahal na mahal ka ng Diyos, kahit minsan parang hindi mo nararamdaman. 

God loves us so much, we know that. However, we do not always feel God’s love and presence in our lives. Minsan, parang ang daming problema, minsan ang bigat ng mga nangyayari, minsan parang lagi nalang nananalo yung masasama. During these times, we may feel that God has abandoned us, or that God is busy doing something else or taking care of someone else. However, today’s first reading says otherwise. Sabi ng Diyos: I will never forget you. Kahit na mahirap, kahit na mabigat ang dinadala natin, God is reminding us that He is there always, that he does not take his eyes off us. I believe sometimes God is just letting us grow. He wants to see how we handle things, and where we put him in our lives – kung sa kanya ba tayo lalapit sa mga ganitong pagkakataon, or sa iba.

Hindi ka kakalimutan ng Diyos. 

As we are assured of God’s presence and his watchful eyes always looking after us, the gospel reminds us to do our part as well. Jesus said that: “I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent me” We are reminded to seek God’s will, especially when it does not coincide with ours. It may not always be easy, but seeking and doing God’s equips us more, makes it easier to fight the battle, because we know we are doing what He wants.

Are there times that I feel God is not watching over me? When? Do I believe God as he tells me today that He will never forget him? What can I do to make his presence more alive in my life? What can I do to make his presence more alive in this world? What can I do to have more faith in his word?

May we always remember that God will never forget us and his love is unchanging.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another reminder that you will never forget me. Lord, sorry for the times I think and feel otherwise. Sorry for the times I turn by back on you because I feel you’re not there. Sorry for thinking that you do not love me or have forgotten about me just because life is challenging. Help me remain faithful and loyal to you, Lord. I will continue to hold on to you as I live and fight the battles in life. I know you are and you will always be there, watching over and protecting me. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

April 3 2019

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 246

Reading 1 IS 49:8-15

Thus says the LORD:
In a time of favor I answer you,
on the day of salvation I help you;
and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people,
To restore the land
and allot the desolate heritages,
Saying to the prisoners: Come out!
To those in darkness: Show yourselves!
Along the ways they shall find pasture,
on every bare height shall their pastures be.
They shall not hunger or thirst,
nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them;
For he who pities them leads them
and guides them beside springs of water.
I will cut a road through all my mountains,
and make my highways level.
See, some shall come from afar,
others from the north and the west,
and some from the land of Syene.
Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth,
break forth into song, you mountains.
For the LORD comforts his people
and shows mercy to his afflicted.

But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me;
my Lord has forgotten me."
Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you.

Responsorial Psalm PS 145:8-9, 13CD-14, 17-18

R. (8a)  The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.

Verse Before The Gospel JN 11:25A, 26

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

GospelJN 5:17-30

Jesus answered the Jews:
"My Father is at work until now, so I am at work."
For this reason they tried all the more to kill him,
because he not only broke the sabbath
but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.

Jesus answered and said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own,
but only what he sees the Father doing;
for what he does, the Son will do also.
For the Father loves the Son
and shows him everything that he himself does,
and he will show him greater works than these,
so that you may be amazed.
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life,
so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes.
Nor does the Father judge anyone,
but he has given all judgment to the Son,
so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
Whoever does not honor the Son
does not honor the Father who sent him.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word
and believes in the one who sent me
has eternal life and will not come to condemnation,
but has passed from death to life.
Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here
when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God,
and those who hear will live.
For just as the Father has life in himself,
so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself.
And he gave him power to exercise judgment,
because he is the Son of Man.
Do not be amazed at this,
because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs
will hear his voice and will come out,
those who have done good deeds
to the resurrection of life,
but those who have done wicked deeds
to the resurrection of condemnation.

"I cannot do anything on my own;
I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just,
because I do not seek my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.

Never Hopeless

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040219.cfm) reminds me that with God at my side, there will never be a hopeless situation. 

There are times in life that we feel hopeless. Sometimes we feel we are trapped. We feel we cannot do anything with the situation. We feel that no matter how hard we try, we just cannot get out of it. This is probably how the man felt in the gospel. Good thing Jesus came to his life. 

The gospel shows that Jesus healed a man who has been suffering for thirty-eight years! How great his love for us is, as shown through the man. The man was helpless, even though he was trying his best to be healed. During that time, It was believed that when the water in the pool stirs up, those who would be able to go there would be healed. Syempre madaming tao, and being ill for a long time, mahina na sya. Kaya nauunahan sya lagi. He probably felt hopeless. He probably felt nothing can change. But he was wrong. 

Having Jesus in our life changes the situation. 

Jesus saw his faith and healed him by just his word. As the man responded and did what Jesus told him, he was healed. This is how great God is! This is how powerful yet merciful He is. If we have him in our life, nothing is hopeless. If we have him, we should not be afraid. We should have faith that he will be with us, help us, and equip us with everything that we need.  

As we are healed, we should also remember to do our part and stay in Him. God is merciful, but he is also a God of justice. Kapag pasaway tayo, yari tayo. Jesus told the man in the gospel ”Look, you are well, do not sin no more, so that nothing worse may happen to you” we should continue living right. We should continue doing what he wants us to do. 

What situation am I in right now? Do I feel helpless and hopeless? How many times have God saved me from a seemingly impossible situation? What is he reminding me today?

May we always remember how powerful and loving God is, and that having him in our life changes everything. May this lead us to have more faith in Him. 

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 feel hopeless. Sorry for the times I forget you. Sorry for the times I am overwhelmed by the situation. Help me remember your love. Help me remember your goodness. Help me remember your power. I know that having you in my life changes everything. May I live having this in mind. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

https://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2015/03/stay-clean.html

Daily Readings

April 2 2019

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 245

Reading 1 EZ 47:1-9, 12

The angel brought me, Ezekiel,
back to the entrance of the temple of the LORD,
and I saw water flowing out
from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east,
for the façade of the temple was toward the east;
the water flowed down from the right side of the temple,
south of the altar.
He led me outside by the north gate,
and around to the outer gate facing the east,
where I saw water trickling from the right side.
Then when he had walked off to the east
with a measuring cord in his hand,
he measured off a thousand cubits
and had me wade through the water,
which was ankle-deep.
He measured off another thousand
and once more had me wade through the water,
which was now knee-deep.
Again he measured off a thousand and had me wade;
the water was up to my waist.
Once more he measured off a thousand,
but there was now a river through which I could not wade;
for the water had risen so high it had become a river
that could not be crossed except by swimming.
He asked me, "Have you seen this, son of man?"
Then he brought me to the bank of the river, where he had me sit.
Along the bank of the river I saw very many trees on both sides.
He said to me,
"This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah,
and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh.
Wherever the river flows,
every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live,
and there shall be abundant fish,
for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh.
Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow;
their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail.
Every month they shall bear fresh fruit,
for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary.
Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine."

Responsorial Psalm PS 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

R. (8)  The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. 
God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.
R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. 
There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
God will help it at the break of dawn.
R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. 
The LORD of hosts is with us;
our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Come! behold the deeds of the LORD,
the astounding things he has wrought on earth.
R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. 

Verse Before The Gospel PS 51:12A, 14A

A clean heart create for me, O God;
give me back the joy of your salvation.

Gospel JN 5:1-16

There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate
a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes.
In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled.
One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.
When Jesus saw him lying there
and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him,
"Do you want to be well?"
The sick man answered him,
"Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool
when the water is stirred up;
while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me."
Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your mat, and walk."
Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.

Now that day was a sabbath.
So the Jews said to the man who was cured,
"It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat."
He answered them, "The man who made me well told me,
'Take up your mat and walk.'"
They asked him,
"Who is the man who told you, 'Take it up and walk'?"
The man who was healed did not know who it was,
for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there.
After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him,
"Look, you are well; do not sin any more,
so that nothing worse may happen to you."
The man went and told the Jews
that Jesus was the one who had made him well.
Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus
because he did this on a sabbath.

Great Faith

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040119.cfm) reminds me why I should have great faith in God. 

They say that success can drown people. People who have achieved much and who are important in society often think so highly of themselves. They want things done their way, their time. They are used to being the boss, the one in command, the one people follow. And it is irritating to see people drowning in success and power. Good thing the royal official in the gospel was not like this. 

In the gospel we see the story of the royal official asking Jesus to come to his house to heal his son. We already see his faith, traveling just to see Jesus and asking him to heal his son. We also see his humility. He initially wanted Jesus to come with him and heal his son. However, he did not get this. Instead, Jesus just told him to go home and his son will live. We would think that as a mighty leader, he would act out, grumble, or force Jesus to come to him. But no. He was humble enough to accept what Jesus said, even if it was different from what he wanted and expected. Also, we see how great his faith is when he believed Jesus who told him to go home because his son will live. 

Wow. What a faith! So Inspiring. 

Nowadays, it's hard to believe someone just on the basis of words spoken. We want a written document. We want proof. We want to be sure. 

That's something we do not need with Jesus. We can count on his word. When he says he has great plans for us, he definitely has. When he says he will heal us, he definitely will. When he says his love endures forever, it definitely does. When he says we can do anything through him, we definitely can. 

We can trust God's word. 

We may be in a similar situation with the royal official. There is probably something we are praying for. Situation may be tough. Let us come to God in faith, and believe him when he answers us, especially when, like the royal official, we do not get the answer we want, or we do not see yet the confirmation of our prayers. 

What am I praying for right now? What is God's answer to me? Do I believe his word - the bible? Or do I first want to see or experience a proof or sign from him before I believe?

May we always have faith in God, no matter how he answers us, especially if his answer is different from what we are expecting. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for all the blessings. Thank you for the beautiful reminder and inspiration. Lord, sorry for the times I do not trust in you enough. Sorry for wanting things answered my way. Sorry for not having a strong faith in you. I pray that you help me have faith like the royal official. May I always have faith in you and your Word and your plans for me, even if I may not yet see or feel it in my life. Continue to surprise me, and use me to build your kingdom. Amen.

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

April 1 2019

Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 244

Reading 1 IS 65:17-21

Thus says the LORD:
Lo, I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
The things of the past shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness
in what I create;
For I create Jerusalem to be a joy
and its people to be a delight;
I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and exult in my people.
No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there,
or the sound of crying;
No longer shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not round out his full lifetime;
He dies a mere youth who reaches but a hundred years,
and he who fails of a hundred shall be thought accursed.
They shall live in the houses they build,
and eat the fruit of the vineyards they plant.

Responsorial Psalm PS 30:2 AND 4, 5-6, 11-12A AND 13B

R. (2a)  I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O LORD, you brought me up from the nether world;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
"Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper."
You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

Verse Before The Gospel AM 5:14

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

Gospel JN 4:43-54

At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee.
For Jesus himself testified
that a prophet has no honor in his native place.
When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him,
since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast;
for they themselves had gone to the feast.

Then he returned to Cana in Galilee,
where he had made the water wine.
Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum.
When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea,
he went to him and asked him to come down
and heal his son, who was near death.
Jesus said to him,
"Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe."
The royal official said to him,
"Sir, come down before my child dies."
Jesus said to him, "You may go; your son will live."
The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.
While the man was on his way back,
his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live.
He asked them when he began to recover.
They told him,
"The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon."
The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him,
"Your son will live,"
and he and his whole household came to believe.
Now this was the second sign Jesus did
when he came to Galilee from Judea.