Thank Him

The WORD today reminds me that I should always thank God, especially after my prayers have been answered. 

They say that “desperate times call for desperate measures.” And in times of desperate needs, we would be ready to do anything to get through. We do whatever we can in our human capacity to get by. We pray hard to God, and even make promises and bargain with him. “Lord, just help me with this, I will stop smoking,  or I will give up by vices”.  Or “Lord, if I get through this, I promise to hear mass everyday” These are some things we tend to say and do in times of desperate need. However, when situations change, when prayers are answered, when we got by already, our attitude seem to change as well. “Lord, it’s hard to give it up, I’ll just lessen it, okay?” or “Lord, can I just hear mass twice a week, I can’t seem to do it everyday?”

This is similar to how the ten lepers acted. They were all healed when they asked pity from Jesus.

Although they did not say they will go back to Jesus or be good people if they get healed, only one of them came back to Jesus to thank Him. only one of them remembered and made the effort to thank Jesus for hearing and answering their prayer – and this one is a foreigner, similar to the good Samaritan.

Hindi dapat makalimot sa Diyos.

Why did the other nine not go back? Probably they were too excited with their healing that they forgot who healed them. Probably they did not acknowledge it was Jesus who healed them. Or probably they had a sense of entitlement that Jesus should heal them, because they were his own, unlike the foreigner who came back and thanked him. 

What’s important to note is what Jesus told the man – “Your faith has saved you.”Yes, they were all cleaned. Not thanking Jesus will not cause the other nine to be lepers again. however, only one was saved, because only one acknowledged Jesus. only one had faith that it was Jesus who saved him, and only one genuinely experienced God in his life – and will therefore be inspired to live the remaining days of his life for Christ.

What are my intentions? What things have God given me? What are my answered prayers in life? How do I act after God answers my prayers? 

May we never forget to thank God for answered prayers, and always acknowledge him as God in our lives.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday! Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I act like the other nine. Sorry for forgetting you when my prayers have been answered. Sorry for not thanking you. Sorry for feeling entitled to blessings. Lord I pray that I be like the one leper who came back to you and remembered you. when my prayers get answered, may I not forget you and thank you. and as I continuously experience your love, I pray that I may always live my life for you. Transform me and make me like you. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2016/02/obedience.html

Daily Readings

October 13 2019

October 12  |  October 14 »

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 144

Reading 1 2 KGS 5:14-17

Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times
at the word of Elisha, the man of God.
His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child,
and he was clean of his leprosy.

Naaman returned with his whole retinue to the man of God.
On his arrival he stood before Elisha and said,
"Now I know that there is no God in all the earth,
except in Israel.
Please accept a gift from your servant."

Elisha replied, "As the LORD lives whom I serve, I will not take it;"
and despite Naaman's urging, he still refused.
Naaman said: "If you will not accept,
please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth,
for I will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice
to any other god except to the LORD."

Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 2-3, 3-4

R. (cf. 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
his right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands:
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Reading 2 2 TM 2:8-13

Beloved:
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David:
such is my gospel, for which I am suffering,
even to the point of chains, like a criminal.
But the word of God is not chained.
Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen,
so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus,
together with eternal glory.
This saying is trustworthy:
If we have died with him
we shall also live with him;
if we persevere
we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.

Alleluia 1 THES 5:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In all circumstances, give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,
"Jesus, Master!  Have pity on us!"
And when he saw them, he said,
"Go show yourselves to the priests."
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
"Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"
Then he said to him, "Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you."

Why Blessed?

The WORD today reminds me why it is a blessing to hear and act on God’s Word. 

We know what will make God happy – if we love him above all and love others as ourselves. We know that if we hear God’s word and act on it, God will be happy. We know that we should listen to and obey God’s word, because it will make him happy, and as grateful children, we want to make our Father happy. But why will we be blessed?

I used to attend basketball clinics when I was a kid. Kids usually go there to learn the scientific method of playing basketball. Of course, each kid would want to play actual five on five, whole court basketball. However, when you go there, you won’t immediately get what you expect. You won't even be able to hold a basketball, not until you are ready. You will be taught the proper way of doing other things, jogging, defense, etc, before you even hold a basketball. Those things prepare you for the actual game, which usually comes towards the end of the clinic program.

I believe this is why we are blessed if we hear and do God’s word. God cannot readily give us his blessings if we are not ready. God cannot take us where we are meant to go if we are not yet ready, if our vision is limited to this world, if our concerns are all of this world. That is why we are blessed if we hear and act. Hearing God’s word, and acting upon it, slowly prepares us. It slowly readies us, slowly transforms us. Once we consistently allow God to do so, we will be transformed and there will come a time we will be ready – ready to receive his blessings, ready to achieve and actualize God’s great plans for us, ready to meet him face to face. That’s why we are blessed.

Do I know God’s word? Do I read the bible? Do I take time to know God more? What do I do with it? Do I live the gospel values? Do I live right? Do I act upon God’s word? 

May we be inspired to hear God’s word and act on it, not because doing so makes God happy, but because doing so makes us blessed.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for opportunities to live my faith. Thank you for the blessings you constantly give me and my family. Lord, sorry for the times I do not give importance to your word. Sorry for the times I ignore you and focus on worldly things. Sorry for not acting upon your word. Sorry for not living my faith. I pray that today and everyday, I may thirst for your word. May I hear you word and act on it, and allow you to slowly transform me and ready me to receive all you want to give me. As you do, use me for your kingdom and your glory. Amen.

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

October 12 2019

« 

October 11  |  October 13 »

Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 466

Reading 1 JL 4:12-21

Thus says the LORD:
Let the nations bestir themselves and come up
to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
For there will I sit in judgment
upon all the neighboring nations.

Apply the sickle,
for the harvest is ripe;
Come and tread,
for the wine press is full;
The vats overflow,
for great is their malice.
Crowd upon crowd
in the valley of decision;
For near is the day of the LORD
in the valley of decision.
Sun and moon are darkened,
and the stars withhold their brightness.
The LORD roars from Zion,
and from Jerusalem raises his voice;
The heavens and the earth quake,
but the LORD is a refuge to his people,
a stronghold to the children of Israel.

Then shall you know that I, the LORD, am your God,
dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain;
Jerusalem shall be holy,
and strangers shall pass through her no more.
And then, on that day,
the mountains shall drip new wine,
and the hills shall flow with milk;
And the channels of Judah
shall flow with water:
A fountain shall issue from the house of the LORD,
to water the Valley of Shittim.
Egypt shall be a waste,
and Edom a desert waste,
Because of violence done to the people of Judah,
because they shed innocent blood in their land.
But Judah shall abide forever,
and Jerusalem for all generations.
I will avenge their blood,
and not leave it unpunished.
The LORD dwells in Zion.

Responsorial Psalm PS 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12

R.(12a) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Clouds and darkness are round about him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

Alleluia LK 11:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are those who hear the word of God
and observe it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 11:27-28

While Jesus was speaking,
a woman from the crowd called out and said to him,
"Blessed is the womb that carried you
and the breasts at which you nursed."
He replied, "Rather, blessed are those
who hear the word of God and observe it."

Stay Clean

The WORD today reminds me that I should stay clean in life, and always be grounded on God. 

There is an important principle in work that also applies in life. “You are only as good as your last achievement.” Makes sense, right? This should always keep us in our toes, always sharp and ready to accomplish things. We should not sit on yesterday’s achievements and not be complacent and overconfident with what we are doing.

In our spiritual life, this is true as well. We should not be overconfident of our change of lifestyle or our state of being free from evil in our lives. We should constantly strive to live good lives all the time.

After we change, God does not want us to get back into our old sins and habits, and go back worse than what we were before. In the gospel, Jesus said that an unclean spirit who has gone out of the man can return, bringing with it more spirits. So the last condition could be worse than the first. If that happens. If the evil spirit can return. And the evil spirit can return only if the man will not fill his life with God. The evil spirit can return only if there is sin in the man's life again. 

When we sin, we choose the devil over God. Sin opens the door to destruction.

We hurt God when we sin, not because what we do affects him, but because when we sin, it is like choosing the devil over Him. When we sin, we choose to love ourselves more than we love God. When we sin, we tell God something or someone is more important than him. That’s why it hurts Him. That’s why sin opens the door to destruction – because when someone or something takes God’s place in our lives, it is very easy for the devil to take his place in our lives.

What is the state of my heart and my life? Am I filled with God or with sin? What do I do to keep myself filled with God? Do I choose God over myself and my desires? How can I improve my relationship with Him?

May we be encouraged to live straight and clean, and choose God every time.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for another reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I sin. Sorry for the times I choose to love myself more than I love you. Sorry for the times I put other people and other things ahead of you. Sorry for the times I do not make you first in my life. Help me live right, Lord. Help me life for you. Help me honor and glorify you. May my life be a testament of my love for you. Help me fill my life with you and your love, so that there will be no space for the evil one. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

October 11 2019

«

 October 10  |  October 12 »

Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 465

Reading 1 JL1:13-15; 2:1-2

Gird yourselves and weep, O priests!
wail, O ministers of the altar!
Come, spend the night in sackcloth,
O ministers of my God!
The house of your God is deprived
of offering and libation.
Proclaim a fast,
call an assembly;
Gather the elders,
all who dwell in the land,
Into the house of the LORD, your God,
and cry to the LORD!

Alas, the day!
for near is the day of the LORD,
and it comes as ruin from the Almighty.

Blow the trumpet in Zion,
sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all who dwell in the land tremble,
for the day of the LORD is coming;
Yes, it is near, a day of darkness and of gloom,
a day of clouds and somberness!
Like dawn spreading over the mountains,
a people numerous and mighty!
Their like has not been from of old,
nor will it be after them,
even to the years of distant generations.

Responsorial Psalm PS 9:2-3, 6 AND 16, 8-9

R.(9) The Lord will judge the world with justice.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will declare all your wondrous deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, Most High.
R. The Lord will judge the world with justice.
You rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
their name you blotted out forever and ever.
The nations are sunk in the pit they have made;
in the snare they set, their foot is caught.
R. The Lord will judge the world with justice.
But the LORD sits enthroned forever;
he has set up his throne for judgment.
He judges the world with justice;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord will judge the world with justice.

Alleluia JN 12:31B-32

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The prince of this world will now be cast out,
and when I am lifted up from the earth
I will draw all to myself, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 11:15-26

When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said:
"By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons."
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
"Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

"When an unclean spirit goes out of someone,
it roams through arid regions searching for rest
but, finding none, it says,
'I shall return to my home from which I came.'
But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order.
Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits
more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there,
and the last condition of that man is worse than the first."

Persistent in Prayer

The WORD today reminds me how powerful and important it is to be persistent in prayer. 

One of my roles in my previous work is to manage and take care of technical support for users of the systems we implemented. Usually, we follow the first come first served policy – we address the concerns based on the time it was reported. In cases wherein there are a lot of concerns, we base it on the importance or criticality of the situation. However there is always an exception – the persistent users. Yung Makukulit. Sometimes, since we know they wont stop, we prioritize them just so they would stop bugging us and following up. This is how we should be in praying. 

Persistent prayer is powerful.

In the gospel, Jesus told his disciples to be persistent in prayer. Like the man who initially did not want to get up to help his friend in need but eventually did because of his friend's persistence. Persistent, even if initial reaction is no. Persistent, even if he did not get what he wanted the first time he asked. This is how God wants us to pray. This is the attitude Jesus wants us to have on prayer.

Okay lang maging makulit sa pagdadasal. 

We see the importance of a persistent faith and persistence in prayer. God always answers our prayers, and as Jesus said in the gospel, he always has the best intentions for us, so we just have to trust in Him. While we do so, we should be persistent in prayer – even if we think or we feel that God is silent and not answering. We should remind God how badly we want our intentions. And we should have faith that as we pray, God can do anything. He has the power. He can help us. Being persistent in prayer shows we trust him, and we have hope in him. Which means we are living what the psalmist reminds and exhorts us to do - to hope in the Lord. 

We may have tough of challenging prayer intentions. Minsan parang impossible na. Minsan parang wala nang magagawa ang Diyos. But just as Jesus taught in the gospel, we may just get what we ask for. If we just pray. And pray. And pray. Kulitin kang ang Diyos sa pagdadasal. At baka pagbigyan ka rin, kung naaayon sa kagustuhan Niya ang pinagdadasal natin. As he continued to say, ask and you shall receive, but always according to his will and purpose.

What are my concerns right now? What do I pray for? Do I have faith in what I ask of God? Do I know and believe that he is all powerful and all loving? How is God responding to my prayers? How do I react when he does not seem to respond in the way I hope? Do ai get disappointed and stop praying? Do I lose faith in his love and power? Or do ai continue to pray, knowing how powerful and how loving he is?

May God’s silence to our prayers not cause our faith to wave, but may our persistence strengthen our faith in Him. May we learn to be humble to his will, but persistent and unwavering in faith and prayer. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for loving me and for being patient with me. Sorry for the times I am not persistent in prayer. Sorry for stopping or for getting hurt when I don't get what I ask for. Sorry for losing faith in you when you don't immediately answer my prayers. Lord, I ask that you fill me and strengthen my love and my faith to you. I know there are a lot of times my prayers seem to go unanswered, but I ask that you help me remember that I should be open to your answer, that you always answer my prayers, it’s just that sometimes, your answers are different from what I want. As I wait for your answers, may my faith be unwavering and may I always have that persistent faith in you. Mangungulit ako sayo Lord, but I will always submit to your will. I have faith in you. I trust you.  Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

October 10 2019

« October 9  |  October 11 »

Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 464

Reading 1 MAL 3:13-20B

You have defied me in word, says the LORD,
yet you ask, "What have we spoken against you?"
You have said, "It is vain to serve God,
and what do we profit by keeping his command,
And going about in penitential dress
in awe of the LORD of hosts?
Rather must we call the proud blessed;
for indeed evildoers prosper,
and even tempt God with impunity."
Then they who fear the LORD spoke with one another,
and the LORD listened attentively;
And a record book was written before him
of those who fear the LORD and trust in his name.
And they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts,
my own special possession, on the day I take action.
And I will have compassion on them,
as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.
Then you will again see the distinction
between the just and the wicked;
Between the one who serves God,
and the one who does not serve him.
For lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven,
when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble,
And the day that is coming will set them on fire,
leaving them neither root nor branch,
says the LORD of hosts.
But for you who fear my name, there will arise
the sun of justice with its healing rays.

Responsorial Psalm PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6

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

Alleluia SEE ACTS 16:14B

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Open your hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 11:5-13

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Suppose one of you has a friend
to whom he goes at midnight and says,
'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey
and I have nothing to offer him,'
and he says in reply from within,
'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked
and my children and I are already in bed.
I cannot get up to give you anything.'
I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves
because of their friendship,
he will get up to give him whatever he needs
because of his persistence.

"And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What father  among you would hand his son a snake
when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit
to those who ask him?"

Lord’s Prayer

The WORD today reminds me how important it is to pray and have our hearts aligned with God. 

The first reading shows us the continuation of the readings the past few days. God repented of the punishment he was supposed to give to the people of Nineveh. Through Jonah, the people repented and were spared of God’s wrath. Jonah should have been happy, but he was not. Some say he was angry because probably since the destruction did not push through because of God’s goodness and patience, he may be seen an inappropriate prophet. What he prophesied did not happen. This probably shows that his heart was distracted, and it reminds us of the importance of prayer to put our hearts in the proper disposition. 

In the gospel, we saw how Jesus wanted us to pray. The Lord's prayer is a very beautiful and powerful prayer because as we see in the gospel, it was Jesus himself who taught us this. It is a simple prayer, one of the first prayers we usually memorize. Unfortunately, because we have known this prayer since we were kids, we sometimes fail to see the beauty and depth of this prayer. 

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

Our Father who art in heaven, hollowed by thy name

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

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

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

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

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

Give us this day our daily bread

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Am I taking enough time for prayer? Do I know how important prayer is? What is God telling me today about my prayer life? Do I realize that prayer changes me and makes me more like God? 

May we see the Lord’s prayer in a new perspective, the way Jesus sees it. And may we make it our own, personal prayer.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to experience your love. Thank you for reminding me how important and powerful prayer is. Thank you for the Lord’s prayer that is a simple, yet complete prayer. Sorry for the times I overlook this. Sorry for the times forget how beautiful this prayer is. May I look past the normalcy of this prayer and see the beauty and completeness of this, and may I make this my own personal prayer to tell you how much I love you, how much I am sorry for my sins, how I long for you, how I praise you, and how I surrender my life to you. As I pray, make me more and more like you. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

October 9 2019

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 October 8  |  October 10 »

Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 463

Reading 1 JON 4:1-11

Jonah was greatly displeased
and became angry that God did not carry out the evil
he threatened against Nineveh.
He prayed, “I beseech you, LORD,
is not this what I said while I was still in my own country?
This is why I fled at first to Tarshish.
I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God,
slow to anger, rich in clemency, loath to punish.
And now, LORD, please take my life from me;
for it is better for me to die than to live.”
But the LORD asked, “Have you reason to be angry?”

Jonah then left the city for a place to the east of it,
where he built himself a hut and waited under it in the shade,
to see what would happen to the city.
And when the LORD God provided a gourd plant
that grew up over Jonah’s head,
giving shade that relieved him of any discomfort,
Jonah was very happy over the plant.
But the next morning at dawn
God sent a worm that attacked the plant,
so that it withered.
And when the sun arose, God sent a burning east wind;
and the sun beat upon Jonah’s head till he became faint.
Then Jonah asked for death, saying,
“I would be better off dead than alive.”

But God said to Jonah,
“Have you reason to be angry over the plant?”
“I have reason to be angry,” Jonah answered, “angry enough to die.”
Then the LORD said,
“You are concerned over the plant which cost you no labor
and which you did not raise;
it came up in one night and in one night it perished.
And should I not be concerned over Nineveh, the great city,
in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons
who cannot distinguish their right hand from their left,
not to mention the many cattle?”

Responsorial Psalm PS 86:3-4, 5-6, 9-10

R.(15) Lord, you are merciful and gracious.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for to you I call all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
R. Lord, you are merciful and gracious.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.
R. Lord, you are merciful and gracious.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship you, O Lord,
and glorify your name.
For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds;
you alone are God.
R. Lord, you are merciful and gracious.

Alleluia ROM 8:15BC

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You have received a spirit of adoption as sons
through which we cry: Abba! Father!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 11:1-4

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished,
one of his disciples said to him,
"Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples."
He said to them, "When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name,
your Kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread
and forgive us our sins
for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
and do not subject us to the final test."

Finally Obeyed

The WORD today reminds me that God wants me to listen to and obey Him. 

God is a God of second chances. We see in the reading yesterday that Jonah initially ran away from Him. However, God did not give up. He again called Jonah, and when he was ready, God gave him another chance to serve Him. This should remind us that no single mistake can take us away from God’s favor. He will give us opportunities to correct our mistakes and to make up for them. Even if we sin and turn away from Him, he will still use us, if we allow Him to.

Jonah’s obedience to God spared lives. As he followed God, he told the people that God’s wrath was upon them. Then the people, led by the king, sincerely repented of their sins. God saw the sincerity, and spared their city of what he was planning to do… all because Jonah answered to God’s call. All because Jonah obeyed God – no matter how tiring or how futile the action may seem to be.

In the gospel, we are reminded of this again. Mary sat down and listened to Jesus, while Martha was busy serving them. Of course, action is important. However, before we act, we should first listen to make sure our actions are founded on love. Before we act, we should first be filled with God, to make sure our intentions for our actions are pure, are correct. Sometimes God just wants us to sit down and listen to him. So our actions are founded on Him. 

Do I obey God or do I run away from him? What are the things God wants me to do? Do I serve God? What is my attitude as I serve Him? 

May we be inspired by Mary and Jonah, to listen to God and be filled with his love and take in his word, then act for him, so our actions will be based on love, will be based on him, and would be powerful for Him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another day full of blessings and new beginnings. Lord, thank you for the reminders. Thank you for giving me second chances to do things for you. thank you that you have patience for me and my hard heart. Sorry for being busy. Sorry when my focus is on the wrong thing. Help me be like Mary who intently listened to you. help me be like Jonah who followed you. Fill me with your love so that all my actions would be based on that love. Use me mightily to bless others. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

https://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2018/10/do-not-be-stressed.html

Daily Readings

October 8 2019

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 October 7  |  October 9 »

Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 462

Reading 1JON 3:1-10

The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time:
"Set out for the great city of Nineveh,
and announce to it the message that I will tell you."
So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh,
according to the LORD's bidding.
Now Nineveh was an enormously large city;
it took three days to go through it.
Jonah began his journey through the city,
and had gone but a single day's walk announcing,
"Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,"
when the people of Nineveh believed God;
they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small,
put on sackcloth.

When the news reached the king of Nineveh,
he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe,
covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes.
Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh,
by decree of the king and his nobles:
"Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep,
shall taste anything;
they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water.
Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth
and call loudly to God;
every man shall turn from his evil way
and from the violence he has in hand.
Who knows, God may relent and forgive,
and withhold his blazing wrath,
so that we shall not perish."
When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way,
he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them;
he did not carry it out.

Responsorial Psalm PS 130:1B-2, 3-4AB, 7-8

R.(3) If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
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. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Let Israel wait for the LORD,
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

Alleluia LK 11:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are those who hear the word of God
and observe it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 10:38-42

Jesus entered a village
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me.”
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”

All Around Us

The WORD today reminds me that that God is all around us. 

In the first reading, we see Jonah trying to escape God. He did not want to follow what God wanted him to do, and he tried to escape. But of course he cannot escape God, and we saw God’s power and ways of calling our attention. In the gospel, we see someone asking Jesus who our neighbor is – who we should do good to. Jesus answered him through a parable, and we see that in essence, every one around is, especially those in need, is our neighbor.

God is everywhere.

Sometimes, we do not feel that He is there just because we cannot see him, unlike other people. However, we see in the readings that he is everywhere. His power is everywhere and his protection is all around us, even if we do not feel him or we do not acknowledge that it is him. Sometimes we doubt his love and presence, but we just need to be sensitive to things happening around us. there are a lot of instances that we think we are just lucky, but it is God’s provisions that gave us these things. His active protection in us is precisely the reason why we think things are normal, that we are not in danger.

Jesus is in everyone, and we should love and serve God through everyone we can help and do good to.

There are a lot of people who abuse good people. Criminals disguise themselves as people in need and prey on kind hearted people. However, even if there are people like this, there are a lot more who are genuinely in need, and help can genuinely affect their lives. Help from others may be the only way they can feel and remember God’s love. And helping others is not just beneficial for them, but to us as well. For as we help others, we are becoming transformed to be more and more like Christ.

Do I realize that God is everywhere? Do I recognize his love and his presence in my life? Do I recognize his power? How do I treat other people? Do I realize that the way I treat other people is the way I treat God? 

May we be inspired and reminded that God is all around, and be challenged to love and serve him through others.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. thank you for another chance to love and serve you. thank you for all the blessings. Thank you for your protection. Thank you that you are everywhere. Sorry for the times I do not recognize you. Sorry for the times I forget you. Help me to be more appreciative and more attentive. Make me more aware of everything you have been doing to me. and help me live my love for you by doing good to others. May in my own little may, I be able to make your love more real and more alive in others. Amen.

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

https://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2018/10/love-hurts.html

Daily Readings

October 7 2019

 October 6  |  October 8 

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Lectionary: 461

Reading 1 JON 1:1–2:1-2, 11

This is the word of the LORD that came to Jonah, son of Amittai:

"Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it;
their wickedness has come up before me."
But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarshish away from the LORD.
He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish,
paid the fare, and went aboard to journey with them to Tarshish,
away from the LORD.

The LORD, however, hurled a violent wind upon the sea,
and in the furious tempest that arose
the ship was on the point of breaking up.
Then the mariners became frightened and each one cried to his god.
To lighten the ship for themselves, they threw its cargo into the sea.
Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship,
and lay there fast asleep.
The captain came to him and said, "What are you doing asleep?
Rise up, call upon your God!
Perhaps God will be mindful of us so that we may not perish."

Then they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots
to find out on whose account we have met with this misfortune."
So they cast lots, and thus singled out Jonah.
"Tell us," they said, "what is your business?
Where do you come from?
What is your country, and to what people do you belong?"
Jonah answered them, "I am a Hebrew,
I worship the LORD, the God of heaven,
who made the sea and the dry land."

Now the men were seized with great fear and said to him,
"How could you do such a thing!–
They knew that he was fleeing from the LORD,
because he had told them.–
They asked, "What shall we do with you,
that the sea may quiet down for us?"
For the sea was growing more and more turbulent.
Jonah said to them, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea,
that it may quiet down for you;
since I know it is because of me
that this violent storm has come upon you."

Still the men rowed hard to regain the land, but they could not,
for the sea grew ever more turbulent.
Then they cried to the LORD: "We beseech you, O LORD,
let us not perish for taking this man's life;
do not charge us with shedding innocent blood,
for you, LORD, have done as you saw fit."
Then they took Jonah and threw him into the sea,
and the sea's raging abated.
Struck with great fear of the LORD,
the men offered sacrifice and made vows to him.

But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah;
and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish
three days and three nights.
From the belly of the fish Jonah prayed
to the LORD, his God.
Then the LORD commanded the fish to spew Jonah upon the shore.

Responsorial Psalm JONAH 2:3, 4, 5, 8

R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
Out of my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me;
From the midst of the nether world I cried for help,
and you heard my voice.
R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea,
and the flood enveloped me;
All your breakers and your billows
passed over me.
R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
Then I said, "I am banished from your sight!
yet would I again look upon your holy temple."
R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the LORD;
My prayer reached you
in your holy temple.
R. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.

Alleluia JN 13:34

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 10:25-37

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said,
"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law?
How do you read it?"
He said in reply,
"You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself."
He replied to him, "You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live."

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
"And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus replied,
"A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
'Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you,
I shall repay you on my way back.'
Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"
He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy."
Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."