It’s Personal

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040213.cfm) reminds me that God is a personal God.

In the gospel, we see Mary Magdalene weeping outside the tomb. The body of Jesus is missing. She saw Jesus but did not realize it was him, and he even thought he was a gardener that took Jesus’ body away. She only recognized him when he called her by name. “Mary.” Jesus did not introduce himself, nor did he say something else. He just called her by name and she recognized it was Jesus.

Our God is a personal God. He knows our name and calls each and every one of us by name.

It is easy for God to call us. However, it does not necessarily mean it is easy for us to recognize his voice.

I think Mary recognized Jesus when he called her because she was close to Jesus. This is important for us to recognize God calling our name. it will be easier for us to recognize him if we know him, if we have a good and intimate relationship with Him. And we can have a good and intimate relationship with him if we work on it – if we devote proper time and effort into praying, bible reading and the sacraments.

Do I realize that God is a personal God who knows me and calls me by name? Do I realize I am special to him? Do I make the effort to build a good relationship with him so I can recognize him when he calls me?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for knowing and calling me by name. thank you that you see me as someone special and worth loving, worth dying for. Lord, I pray that I may have the heart, the desire, and the will to know you more, to love you more, and to serve you more… as I know these things will help me recognize your voice more clearly when you call me. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Alive in You?

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040113.cfm) challenges me to look if Christ is alive in me.

Yesterday, we celebrated Easter. We commemorated Christ’s rising from the dead. In the gospel today, we see another account of it, and we see Jesus showing himself to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. Indeed, people experienced him being alive again, both in spirit and body.

We are asked to think – is Christ alive in you as well? Do other people see Christ in the way we live?

In the first reading, Peter definitely makes Christ known. Christ is alive in him as he preaches to others. How about us?

We say we are followers of Christ. We celebrated Easter. We are happy and glad. But does that translate into action? Do our happiness end with ourselves being happy, or do we spread this happiness to others? Do other people see Christ alive in us and in the way we live our lives, or not?

May we be challenged to not only be happy with Christ’s resurrection, but more importantly, live our lives making Christ alive in and through us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for rising for me. Lord, as I start yet another work week, I ask that you help me live my life for you, help me to live my life making you alive in this world. Unworthy as I am, help me live my life in such a way that others will see you alive in and through me. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

Christ Is Risen

This Easter 2013, the WORD (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/033113.cfm) reminds us that Christ has risen and has won over sin and death.

The gospel tells us different accounts/stories about Christ’s rising from the dead. We see how the disciples and those close to him first experienced His rising and winning over sin and death.

Today is a very joyful and victorious day! If at Christmas, Christ was born which signifies the start of our salvation history, today, we see Jesus rising from the dead, which signifies Christ’s victory over sin and death – the completion of His mission, of our salvation.

It is very fitting that we are given time to prepare for Easter as well. We are also given 40 days to prepare for Christmas, but sometimes we get caught up in the business of the season and do not get to prepare spiritually as much as we should. During lent, I believe we are more able to prepare, starting from Ash Wednesday where we fast and abstain, every Fridays where we abstain, and Good Friday where we also fast and abstain. It is also the season where we usually sacrifice or give up something, to be one with Christ in denying our self and to be closer to God as we give up things for Him.

We should be joyful, not just because we can already stop our Lenten sacrifices, but because we celebrate and commemorate God’s great love and power.  With it comes the task, like the disciples in the first reading, to proclaim God’s kingdom and preach the gospel with our lives. With Christ’s rising and victory comes our call to do our part to proclaim it.

The celebration does not end today. We can still continue to offer our sacrifices. For those who feel they have not given enough, we can still offer new sacrifices of self-denial or love offerings to God. And God’s call to act, to preach his word, to proclaim his kingdom, is here, and he is waiting for our response.

Christ is Risen…let us make him more alive through our lives.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for Easter! Thank you for the gift of life. Thank you for all the blessings you continue to give me and my loved ones. Lord, I thank you for your great love for me, and thank you for your great power over sin and death. Lord, I feel that I have not given enough, that there is still a lot of room for you in my life, so I ask that you help me continue offering sacrifices and love offerings so that you may continue to fill my life with your love. Help me respond to your call to action to bring you to others, and make you more alive through the way I live my life. May I make the most out of my life, and make Easter last not just today. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/04/easter-sunday-new-life-in-christ.html

Dark Night

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/033013.cfm) reminds me that no matter how dark the night may seem, the sun will eventually come out.

Today, the readings are for the Easter Vigil. Probably the longest, if not the longest readings for the mass. We keep vigil and wait for Sunday, for Easter, for the time we commemorate Christ’s rising from the dead, victory over sin and death.

But before the reach the light, we should first pass through darkness.

We could just imagine how the disciples were feeling during this time. Jesus is dead. Their teacher, leader, master for three years is dead. They probably do not know what to do. They have been following him and are now like lost sheep. Not only that, they are probably scared that they would also be arrested and killed. How terrifying it must have been for everyone during that time, not knowing what to do, not knowing what will happen.

We also find ourselves in a similar situation, some more often than others.

There are times we do not know what the future holds. We are scared of what will happen next. We feel lost, helpless and hopeless. Times like these, let us hold on to our faith. We may not know what’s next, but let us cling on to God’s word that he has great plans for us. May his resurrection be an inspiration and a source of strength for us to keep fighting, to remain in Him until the sun’s light washes away the darkness around us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for reminding me that in life, there will always be dark nights. Thank you for reminding me that I am not alone in the darkness or loneliness I feel. Thank you for reminding me that even your disciples and the people closest to you experienced the same. As I am reminded of this, may I draw strength and inspiration from them, and may I always remember your word that says you have great plans for me. Lord, may I be steadfast in loving and serving you while I await for the sun’s rays to cast away the darkness around me. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

From Bad to Good

Today, Good Friday 2013, the WORD (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032913.cfm) reminds me that God can turn something bad into something good.

Today, we commemorate Christ’s death. It’s supposed to be sad, but we call it good Friday. Why? Because what the devil has intended for evil, God has turned into something good.

We see Christ’s passion in the gospel. And as we see in the second reading, Jesus is like us in every way, except sin. He was tested, tempted, and had emotions too. That’s why we can imagine how he felt during that time. He felt every fear as he knew the time was nearing. He felt every pain as he was being scourged, whipped, crowned with thorns and nailed to the cross. He felt sadness as he was being mocked and laughed at,  and when Peter denied him three times. However, most important is he felt love – for God and submitting to his will, and love for us.

Good news for good Friday! We are saved because Christ died for us!

The first reading reminds us of this. “It was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured…by his stripes, we are healed.” Christ loves us so much that human as he is, he chose to lay his life for us. He chose us over himself. He chose to submit to God’s will and save us.

This may be a sad day, commemorating Jesus’ death, but God’s power turns this sad, bad day into something good.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for reminding me how much you love me. Jesus, Thank you for dying for me. It must have been so painful, so sad, so depressing and so lonely to bear all our sins on your shoulder. Yet you submitted to God’s will because you love me. Thank you for that. Lord, thank you for your love and your power that turns something evil, something bad, into something good. I pray that I would always be thankful and always be ready to die of myself, like Jesus, and submit to your great and perfect plan. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/04/good-friday-god-loves-you.html

Love and Sevice

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032813-evening-mass-lords-supper.cfm)  reminds me of the importance of Love and Service.

Today, I was blessed to be able to attend the Lord’s Supper Mass officiated by Manila Archbishop Chito Cardinal Tagle, and he discussed the importance of love and service going hand in hand.

The first reading reminds us of the feast of the Passover – where the angel of death “passed over” those with whose houses that have the blood of the lamb. The second reading tells us that Jesus is the new lamb, whose blood he gave up freely so we will not die of sin, so he can save us.

The gospel tells us what Jesus told his disciples when he was about to pass over, when he was about to die to save us. He wanted them to remember two things – Love and Service.

Jesus loves us that is why he gave up his life freely to save us from our sins. He loves the Father so much that he submitted to his will, even if it meant it would be painful, even if it meant that he would be separated from the Father.

At that time, washing of the feet is done by slaves. In fact, not all slaves – only the lowest of the slaves. That is how lowly a task it is. During that time, people would walk a lot, so the feet are the most abused and dirty part of the body. That is why it’s given to the lowest of slaves. However, Jesus, the teacher and master of the disciples, washed their feet. He showed them humility. He showed them service. He showed them what it will entail to work for God.

Love and service should go together. Profession of love is easy, however, translating it to action is a different story. We need to walk the talk, to live our profession of love to God and to others. Also, service should be rooted in love. Working is not enough. Actions are not enough. You can work for God without wanting to, without the heart to. That’s why some people serve with a heavy heart, with a frown on their face. Love and service should always be together.

May we be inspired by Jesus to love and serve others with our lives.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for reminding me the importance of love and of service. Thank you for challenging me to love and serve you and others in my life. Lord, may I always have the heart to love you and others, and may I always translate that into service, into action. That everything I do for you be rooted in love, and may I bring you to others as I serve them. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Who Can Stand Against?

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032713.cfm) reminds me that nothing can stand against God

One of my favourite songs is “Our God”, and a part of the lyrics says:

“.. and if Our God is for us,

then who could ever stop us?

And if our God is for us,

then what can stand against..?”

The first reading tells us this as well.

He is near who upholds my right;
if anyone wishes to oppose me,
let us appear together.
Who disputes my right?
Let him confront me.
See, the Lord GOD is my help;
who will prove me wrong?

If God is for us, nothing can stand against us. It doesn’t mean we’ll have it easy. In fact, as followers of Christ, we will experience difficulties and challenges in life. However, we should remember that nothing can stand against us if God is with us. Nothing can stand against God, so we just need to hold on to him and have faith in him and his love and power.

This holy week, we are reminded of that fact. Yes, Christ was scared and at one point asked if he can be spared his cross. But he continued to trust in God, and out of that trust and love for God, he submitted himself. He suffered, yes – big time. He died. But as true as nothing can stand against God, even death and evil, Christ rose again and has forever won victory for us.

May we remember that no matter how difficult or challenging the situation may be, no matter how powerful the enemy may be, as long as God is with us, nothing can stand against us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for reminding me your great love and power. Lord, I pray that I continue to have that faith in you, your love and your power, that despite everything that I am experiencing, every challenge and difficulty, may I always remember that as long as you are with me, nothing can stand against us. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-