Depend on God

The WORD today reminds me that I should always depend on God.

When we travel, we usually bring a lot of things. We pack a lot in our luggages. We want to have extras so we can capture every moment and be connected on the web. However, this can lead to us being worried and and concerned about these things and not the trip. This is what Jesus wants us to avoid.

In the gospel, Jesus instructed his disciples to bring just what is necessary, the very basics. He told them not to take anything except a walking stick

Why a walking stick…?

In those times, it was normal for people to have a walking stick. People, especially those advanced in age and those who often travel, have a walking stick. It helps them since they travel through far distances. It gives them additional strength by acting as their third leg, or something that would support their weary legs so as not to take all the weight of the body. It is also used to protect themselves from stray animals as they travel. Also, we see in the bible  that God used the walking stick or staff to perform great things - Moses parted the red sea, led Israelites to victories in wars, and drew water out of a stone all by using a staff or a stick.

How light the disciples must have felt in that trip. No extra things to weigh them down.

However, in today’s day and age, we sometimes feel that we need a lot of things to survive. There are a lot of gadgets, smartphones and power banks, that we feel we need with us every time. When we travel, we bring with us a lot of these things. That’s why sometimes, instead of enjoying our journey and focusing on it, our attention is diverted because we have to think of what we brought, making sure nothing gets lost or left behind. We need battery and internet signal so we can take pictures upload at once to social media, then we check how our friends would react to our posts.

This is exactly what Jesus did not want to happen to his apostles. He wanted them to remain simple so they could focus on their task. More than that, they wanted them to have faith that God will provide as they stay focused on God. Divine Providence.

God wants us to depend on Him as we journey in life.

In the first reading, we are reminded why we should depend on God. David told this to Solomon. That Solomon should continue to live right and pleasing to God, following his ways and depending on him, and he will continue to rule sovereignly. This reminds us Why we should trust God. He is powerful and mighty. There is no reason to not trust him.

How much do I trust God? Do I believe in his love and power? Do I believe his word? What prevents me from fully surrendering to God?

May we be challenged and see what things we do not really need, the things that are taking our focus away from God and the task he has in store for us. May we always have our full faith and trust in God all the time. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for reminding us the importance of staying light – to rid ourselves of anything and everything that prevents us from focusing on you and from doing what you want us to do. Thank you for the reminder to trust in and depend on you. Thank you for Pope Francis who reminds us and who lives this. Lord, sorry for forgetting this. Sorry for being worried about a lot of things. Sorry for losing my focus on you. there are a lot of distractions in my life, and I ask that you help me keep my focus on you. I am sorry for allowing myself to be distracted, and for considering as necessary some of the extras in life. Help me have faith and travel light as I take this journey towards you. I have faith that you will always provide, so I just need to  focus on you and put you. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

February 6 2020

« February 5  |  February 7 »

Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, martyrs
Lectionary: 326

Reading 1 1 KGS 2:1-4, 10-1

When the time of David’s death drew near,
he gave these instructions to his son Solomon:
“I am going the way of all flesh.
Take courage and be a man.
Keep the mandate of the Lord, your God, following his ways
and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees
as they are written in the law of Moses,
that you may succeed in whatever you do,
wherever you turn, and the Lord may fulfill
the promise he made on my behalf when he said,
‘If your sons so conduct themselves
that they remain faithful to me with their whole heart
and with their whole soul,
you shall always have someone of your line
on the throne of Israel.’”

David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David.
The length of David’s reign over Israel was forty years:
he reigned seven years in Hebron
and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

Solomon was seated on the throne of his father David,
with his sovereignty firmly established. 

Responsorial Psalm 1 CHRONICLES 29:10, 11AB, 11D-12A, 12BCD

R. (12b)  Lord, you are exalted over all.
“Blessed may you be, O LORD,
God of Israel our father,
from eternity to eternity.”
R. Lord, you are exalted over all.
“Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory.”
R. Lord, you are exalted over all.
“LORD, you are exalted over all.
Yours, O Lord, is the sovereignty;
you are exalted as head over all.
Riches and honor are from you.”
R. Lord, you are exalted over all.
“In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.”
R. Lord, you are exalted over all.

Alleluia MK 1:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick
–no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.
He said to them,
“Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them.”
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

Lack of Faith

The WORD today reminds me of the warning to those who lack faith.

Yesterday, we saw the importance and power of faith. Now we see the opposite.

David in the first reading ordered a census. That in itself is not bad, but the motivation behind it was what made it bad. We may be surprised why God reacted that way for David ordering a census. He just got the numbers. It was not part of today’s reading, but verse 3 of the reading says that Joab tried to warn David not to do it, but David did not listen. David wanted to know the number of people to see how strong he was, how strong his army was and not to be able to serve the people better. In doing so, he was becoming proud, relying on his army rather than God. This showed lack of faith in God and his arrogance.

In the gospel, Jesus was not able to do many things in his own town because of the people’s lack of faith. His power and love has not changed. It was the attitude of the people that’s different. This lack of faith of the people prevented him from doing great things.

Our lack of faith limits God's power on us.

When we realize we lack faith, and worse, when we sin because of that lack of faith, we must quickly turn back to God. We must be humble and be truly sorry, and ask God’s forgiveness. Kapag nagkasala, Dapat kapalan na natin ang mukha natin at wag mahiya, kasi pag nahiya tayong bumalik at lumapit sa kanya, lalo tayong mapapalayo.

David, although he sinned greatly, was humble and quickly asked God for forgiveness, unlike the people in the gospel who did not realize what they had just done.

God loves us. God is powerful. He can and he will forgive us. We just need to be humble, repent, and ask for His forgiveness.

How is my faith in God? Does my faith falter when situations are challenging? Do I doubt God’s love and power when the world tells me my situation is helpless? How can I improve my faith? What situations did God prove his love and power, even if situation seems impossible? What is he telling me today?

May we always remember these things, and always remember that we need faith in order to experience God’s love and power. May we be sensitive enough to realize when we are starting to lack faith, and be quick to do something about it, before it’s too late.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to know you more. Thank you for the warning that should be my inspiration to develop my faith and relationship with you. Sorry for the times I act like David - arrogant when things are doing great, forgetting that you made all things possible and not myself. Sorry for being like the people who question you. Help me be a child you would be proud of. Help me be a child that would bring a smile on your face. May I glorify you by living right, by having faith developed from a good personal relationship with you. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

February 5 2020

« 

February 4  |  February 6 »

Memorial of Saint Agatha
Lectionary: 325

Reading 1 2 SM 24:2, 9-17

King David said to Joab and the leaders of the army who were with him,
“Tour all the tribes in Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba
and register the people, that I may know their number.”
Joab then reported to the king the number of people registered:
in Israel, eight hundred thousand men fit for military service;
in Judah, five hundred thousand.

Afterward, however, David regretted having numbered the people,
and said to the LORD:
“I have sinned grievously in what I have done.
But now, LORD, forgive the guilt of your servant,
for I have been very foolish.”
When David rose in the morning,
the LORD had spoken to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying:
“Go and say to David, ‘This is what the LORD says:
I offer you three alternatives;
choose one of them, and I will inflict it on you.’”
Gad then went to David to inform him.
He asked:  “Do you want a three years’ famine to come upon your land,
or to flee from your enemy three months while he pursues you,
or to have a three days’ pestilence in your land?
Now consider and decide what I must reply to him who sent me.”
David answered Gad: “I am in very serious difficulty.
Let us fall by the hand of God, for he is most merciful;
but let me not fall by the hand of man.”
Thus David chose the pestilence.
Now it was the time of the wheat harvest
when the plague broke out among the people.
The LORD then sent a pestilence over Israel
from morning until the time appointed,
and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beer-sheba died.
But when the angel stretched forth his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it,
the LORD regretted the calamity
and said to the angel causing the destruction among the people,
“Enough now! Stay your hand.”
The angel of the LORD was then standing
at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
When David saw the angel who was striking the people,
he said to the LORD: “It is I who have sinned;
it is I, the shepherd, who have done wrong.
But these are sheep; what have they done?
Punish me and my kindred.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7

R. (see 5c)  Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.
R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,”
and you took away the guilt of my sin.
R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
For this shall every faithful man pray to you
in time of stress.
Though deep waters overflow,
they shall not reach him.
R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me;
with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round.
R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done

Gospel JN 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place,
accompanied by his disciples.
When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished.
They said, “Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?”
And they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house.”
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,
apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Powerful Faith

The WORD today reminds me how powerful our faith is.

Faith is something close to my heart. A lot of times, situation seems hopeless. I feel helpless. And it is my faith in God that somehow got me through. Faith. It is simple. It is powerful. In the bible it says that faith can move mountains, and that for those who have faith, nothing is impossible. I believe this is true. And in the gospel, we see why.

The gospel today tells us of two stories of faith and healing and miracles. The first one was the woman with hemorrhage. She had great faith in Jesus, so great that she knew even a touch on his cloak would save and heal her. Probably this is what most of us Filipinos feel and think when we touch the image of Christ. We do not say that the image itself has power, same as the woman not saying that the cloak itself has power. It is Jesus, whom the cloak (and image) represents who has power and who we have faith into, that heals us. And the woman was brave when she admitted that she was the one who touched Jesus, though she doesn’t know how Jesus would react on her admitting it. Jesus could have gotten angry at her. But she was honest and brave. And we saw that Jesus affirmed her and said that “Daughter…your faith has saved you…be cured..”

The second story is about Jairus daughter. Jesus was on the way to heal her when they were told she is dead. We feel like this a lot of times, when we are told situation is hopeless and we cannot do anything about it anymore. Jesus is telling us today what He told Jairus. Do not listen to them. “Do not be afraid; just have faith” Simple words. Powerful words. Jesus is asking us, like he asked Jairus, to not mind other people telling us bad things, or making us feel down. Do not let the world bring you down.  Do not let the situation or other people dampen your spirit. Do not be afraid of what is happening. Just focus on me. Have faith in me. And as we do so, we will surely be pleasantly surprised like Jairus when the seemingly hopeless situation would be turned around by God’s grace, power, and love.

Jesus appreciates our faith, and rewards us for it.

In both circumstances, Jesus tells us how important faith is. “Daughter, your faith has saved you, go in peace and be cured of your affliction” and “Do not be afraid, just have faith.” These words of Jesus should remind us how important faith is, and inspire us to have faith in Jesus, no matter what the situation may be. This should encourage us to build and strengthen our faith, by praying, reading his word, partaking of the sacraments, so we would know him more and experience him more so our faith would be strengthened. 

How is my faith in God? How do I live my faith? Do I have faith in God all the time, or only when my situation looks easy? How can I improve my faith?

May we be inspired and moved into action.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder on how important and powerful faith is. Lord, I am sorry for the times I doubt. Sorry for the times I give in to the temptation and power of the world. Sorry for the times I let the situation bring me down and doubt you. Lord, I pray that you give me faith – faith that would heal, faith that would work miracles, faith that would just focus on you in the midst of all that is happening around me. May you be happy with my faith, as I wait for the day you will tell me “my Child your faith has saved you…” Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

February 4 2020

« 

February 3  |  February 5 »

Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 324

Reading 1 2 SM 18:9-10, 14B, 24-25A, 30–19:3

Absalom unexpectedly came up against David’s servants.
He was mounted on a mule,
and, as the mule passed under the branches of a large terebinth,
his hair caught fast in the tree.
He hung between heaven and earth
while the mule he had been riding ran off.
Someone saw this and reported to Joab
that he had seen Absalom hanging from a terebinth.
And taking three pikes in hand,
he thrust for the heart of Absalom,
still hanging from the tree alive.

Now David was sitting between the two gates,
and a lookout went up to the roof of the gate above the city wall,
where he looked about and saw a man running all alone.
The lookout shouted to inform the king, who said,
“If he is alone, he has good news to report.”
The king said, “Step aside and remain in attendance here.”
So he stepped aside and remained there.
When the Cushite messenger came in, he said,
“Let my lord the king receive the good news
that this day the LORD has taken your part,
freeing you from the grasp of all who rebelled against you.”
But the king asked the Cushite, “Is young Absalom safe?”
The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king
and all who rebel against you with evil intent
be as that young man!”

The king was shaken,
and went up to the room over the city gate to weep.
He said as he wept,
“My son Absalom!  My son, my son Absalom!
If only I had died instead of you,
Absalom, my son, my son!”

Joab was told that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom;
and that day’s victory was turned into mourning for the whole army
when they heard that the king was grieving for his son.

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

R. (1a)  Listen, Lord, and answer me.
Incline your ear, O LORD; answer me,
for I am afflicted and poor.
Keep my life, for I am devoted to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God.
R. Listen, Lord, and answer me.
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. Listen, Lord, and answer me.
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. Listen, Lord, and answer me.

Alleluia MT 8:17

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ took away our infirmities
and bore our diseases.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 5:21-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat
to the other side,
a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.
One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward.
Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying,
“My daughter is at the point of death.
Please, come lay your hands on her
that she may get well and live.”
He went off with him
and a large crowd followed him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.
She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors
and had spent all that she had.
Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.
She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd
and touched his cloak.
She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.”
Immediately her flow of blood dried up.
She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him,
turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?”
But his disciples said to him,
“You see how the crowd is pressing upon you,
and yet you ask, Who touched me?”
And he looked around to see who had done it.
The woman, realizing what had happened to her,
approached in fear and trembling.
She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.
He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you.
Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

While he was still speaking,
people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said,
“Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?”
Disregarding the message that was reported,
Jesus said to the synagogue official,
“Do not be afraid; just have faith.”
He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside
except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official,
he caught sight of a commotion,
people weeping and wailing loudly.
So he went in and said to them,
“Why this commotion and weeping?
The child is not dead but asleep.”
And they ridiculed him.
Then he put them all out.
He took along the child’s father and mother
and those who were with him
and entered the room where the child was.
He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,”
which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”
The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.
At that they were utterly astounded.
He gave strict orders that no one should know this
and said that she should be given something to eat.

Other Plans

The WORD today reminds me that despite our good intentions, God may have other plans for us.

It is relatively easier to pray when we have good intentions. It is relatively easier to ask for God's blessings and favors when what we are praying for or what we are asking is good. However, these do not guarantee that God will hear our prayer.

Good intentions do not always get a yes from God.

In the gospel, Jesus healed a man. He set him free from a lot of evil spirits. From Legion. And not surprising, after being healed, the man wanted to come with Jesus to be with him, to thank him through his service. However, surprisingly, Jesus did not accept him but instead told him to serve God in another way - by going home and announce what God has done for him. 

God sometimes has other plans for us. But it is always better that what we initially have in mind.

The man did what he was told. And as he did, all were amazed. God sent him to do something and equipped him. And used him mightily. He brought awareness of God to people, even if Jesus was not with him. That was definitely better than just being with Jesus as he was used as a force multiplier.

There are times we experience the same thing. We feel God is rejecting us and our plans, even if we feel our plans and intentions are good. However, just because his plans are different from us doesn't mean we won't like it. His plans are always better than ours, and as we humbly submit and follow his plans and allow him to use us, we will realize the wisdom of his plans. 

What are the things I am praying for? How does God respond? Do I have faith in him? Or do I want him to say yes to my prayers? What is he reminding me today?

May we be like the man, humbling ourselves before God, submitting to his plans, and doing what he asks us to do. 

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 week. Thank you for all the blessings. Thank you for being so generous. Lord, sorry for the times I prefer my plans instead of yours. Sorry for being hard headed. Sorry for not being humble enough to submit to your will, to your plans. help me be like the man. Help me humble myself before you always. Help me be submit to your will and your plans, especially when they are not what i expect. Help me just obey, and as I do, I have faith that you will use me mightily for your kingdom. Amen. 

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

September 29 2019

« 

September 28  |  September 30 »

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 138

Reading 1 AM 6:1A, 4-7

Thus says the LORD the God of hosts:
 Woe to the complacent in Zion!
 Lying upon beds of ivory,
 stretched comfortably on their couches,
 they eat lambs taken from the flock,
 and calves from the stall!
 Improvising to the music of the harp,
 like David, they devise their own accompaniment.
 They drink wine from bowls
 and anoint themselves with the best oils;
 yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph!
 Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile,
 and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.

Responsorial Psalm PS 146:7, 8-9, 9-10

R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed he who keeps faith forever,
 secures justice for the oppressed,
 gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind;
 the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
 the LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
 but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
 your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 1 TM 6:11-16

But you, man of God, pursue righteousness,
devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called
when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.
I charge you before God, who gives life to all things,
and before Christ Jesus,
who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession,
to keep the commandment without stain or reproach
until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ
that the blessed and only ruler
will make manifest at the proper time,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light,
and whom no human being has seen or can see.
To him be honor and eternal power.  Amen.

Alleluia CF. 2 COR 8:9

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees:
"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man's table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.'
Abraham replied,
'My child, remember that you received
what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go
from our side to yours or from your side to ours.'
He said, 'Then I beg you, father,
send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers,
so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.'
But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.'
He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"

Presented and Purified

The WORD today reminds me that I should present and offer myself to God and allow Him to purify me.

As we celebrate the feast of the presentation of Jesus in the temple, I am reminded that Jesus is like us in every way except sin. He was presented in the temple, as was customary at that time. In the second reading, we see that he was tempted and suffered on this earth as well, just like us. Being the son of God did not exempt him from feeling what we feel, from going through what we go through. He can relate to us, because he knows what we are going through, and he can help us because he was able to go through all those things.

When Jesus was presented in the temple, his parents were told that things will not be easy for them. Same goes to us as well. Even if we present and offer ourselves to God, things will not be easy from then on. We will experience challenges and hardships, just as Jesus did. However, just as Jesus was able to win over those challenges and sufferings, we too can triumph over them and emerge victorious in Christ. The second reading assures us that because Jesus was tested, he can and will help us who are undergoing suffering.

Not all suffering are bad. Not all suffering are because of the enemy. The first reading tells us that sometimes we suffer because we are being purified. God sometimes allow challenges to strengthen and purify us, just like fire purifies silver. However, just as a silversmith keeps his eyes on the silver being purified, God too keeps his eyes on us as we undergo purification, to be sure we will not be subjected to more than we can handle. He does this until such time that he can see his face in us. And as we become purified, as we become more and more like him, we can please and glorify God more.

Do I offer myself to God? In what ways do I offer myself and allow myself to be used by God? Do I allow God to purify me and make me more like him? Or do I just want him to do what I want?

May we have the desire to present and offer ourselves to God and allow him to purify us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for another reminder. Lord, I pray that you help me surrender and offer myself to you. Sorry for the times I do not. Sorry for the times I do what I want, not what you want. Sorry for being proud. Help me Lord. May I die of myself and present myself to you. I allow you to mold me and live in me. I know that as I surrender, you will purify me. I know that it can cause pain. I just ask that you hold my hand and never let me go, especially when I feel like giving up and running away from you. May I be faithful and trust in you throughout the process. I know that this would make me more and more like you. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

https://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2018/02/present-all.html

Daily Readings

February 2 2020

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 February 1  |  February 3 »

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Lectionary: 524

Reading 1 MAL 3:1-4

Thus says the Lord God:
Lo, I am sending my messenger
to prepare the way before me;
And suddenly there will come to the temple
the Lord whom you seek,
And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.
Yes, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
But who will endure the day of his coming?
And who can stand when he appears?
For he is like the refiner’s fire,
or like the fuller’s lye.
He will sit refining and purifying silver,
and he will purify the sons of Levi,
Refining them like gold or like silver
that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord.
Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem
will please the Lord,
as in the days of old, as in years gone by.

Responsorial Psalm PS 24:7, 8, 9, 10

R. (8) Who is this king of glory?  It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory?  It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle.
R. Who is this king of glory?  It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory?  It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The Lord of hosts; he is the king of glory.
R. Who is this king of glory?  It is the Lord!

Reading 2 HEB 2:14-18

Since the children share in blood and flesh,
Jesus likewise shared in them,
that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life.
Surely he did not help angels
but rather the descendants of Abraham;
therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters
in every way,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God
to expiate the sins of the people.
Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.

Alleluia LK 2:32

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 2:22-40 OR 2:22-32

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. 

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
Band you yourself a sword will pierceB
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.

Repentance and Faith

The WORD today reminds me that we should always have faith in God, and it should also lead to repentance. 

In the first reading we see the continuation of yesterday’s. we see Nathan confronting David for the evil he has done. He may not have realized what he did, until Nathan pointed it out. What’s nice about David is that he quickly admitted his sins. He did not deny it. His attitude made things better. Instead of being sorry, blaming himself and going away from God, he repented, fasted and wore sackcloth… At least he was humble enough to accept his sins and repent. He did not move away from God, feeling ashamed and sorry for his sins. Instead, he worked on getting back on track, on making peace with himself and most especially, with God. We can see he was truly repentant because this was when he wrote Psalm 51 which we started reading yesterday – the prayer of repentance. Indeed, David was deeply sorry and longed to be in God’s grace once again.

God is always there even if we do not always see or feel him. God saw what David did to Bathsheba and Uriah, even if David did not feel his presence. The apostles in the gospel also had the experience. Jesus was sleeping in their midst when a strong storm hit them. They did not feel his presence, and asked Jesus upon waking him up if he did not care if they all die. However, when he made his presence felt, it was just awesome.

God wants us to have faith in Him – especially when we do not see or feel him. Maybe this was what Jesus wanted the disciples to develop. This is what he wants us to develop. We all know how great and powerful God is. We have seen him work in the bible, and we are continuing to see him work in our daily lives. We just need to trust in him.

What are my concerns? Do I feel that God is far from me or he is not listening? Are there areas of my life I try to hide from God? What is he reminding me today?

May we have faith in Him, be it in asking for forgiveness like David, or during times of trouble like the disciples. Let us be still, and know He is God.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Lord, sorry for the times I run away from you. Sorry for the times I ignore you. Sorry for being hard hearted. Help me be like the repentant David. Help me be truly sorry and do my very best to repent and get right with you. As I do, I have faith that you would welcome me back into your arms. Amen. 

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

https://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2016/01/forgiven-but-accountable.html

Daily Readings

February 1 2020

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January 31  |  February 2 »

Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 322

Reading 1 2 SM 12:1-7A, 10-17

The LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him,
Nathan said: “Judge this case for me!
In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor.
The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers.
But the poor man had nothing at all
except one little ewe lamb that he had bought.
He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children.
She shared the little food he had
and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom.
She was like a daughter to him.
Now, the rich man received a visitor,
but he would not take from his own flocks and herds
to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him.
Instead he took the poor man’s ewe lamb
and made a meal of it for his visitor.”
David grew very angry with that man and said to him:
“As the LORD lives, the man who has done this merits death!
He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold
because he has done this and has had no pity.”

Then Nathan said to David:  “You are the man!
Thus says the LORD God of Israel:
‘The sword shall never depart from your house,
because you have despised me
and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.’
Thus says the LORD:
‘I will bring evil upon you out of your own house.
I will take your wives while you live to see it,
and will give them to your neighbor.
He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.
You have done this deed in secret,
but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel,
and with the sun looking down.’”

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”
Nathan answered David: “The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin:
you shall not die.
But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed,
the child born to you must surely die.”
Then Nathan returned to his house.

The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David,
and it became desperately ill.
David besought God for the child.
He kept a fast, retiring for the night
to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth.
The elders of his house stood beside him
urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not,
nor would he take food with them.

Responsorial Psalm PS 51:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

R. (12a)  Create a clean heart in me, O God.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God;
then my tongue shall revel in your justice.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God

Alleluia JN 3:16

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

Gospel MK 4:35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:
“Let us cross to the other side.”
Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.
And other boats were with him.
A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,
so that it was already filling up.
Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.
They woke him and said to him,
“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
He woke up,
rebuked the wind,
and said to the sea, “Quiet!  Be still!”
The wind ceased and there was great calm.
Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?
Do you not yet have faith?”
They were filled with great awe and said to one another,
“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”