Integrity

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061414.cfm) reminds me that God wants us to have integrity with what we say.

God is a simple God, and he wants us to be the same. Say yes if we mean yes, no if we mean no. No conditions, no flowery words, just a direct to the point answer. In the gospel he tells us:

Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’

Say what you mean. If we say we love God, we say and do it. No conditions, no explanations. Lord, I will love you as long as you bless me. Lord, I will serve you as long as my schedule permits.  These are not what God wants from us. No if no, yes if yes.

Nowadays, integrity is losing its meaning. We find it so easy to lie and just apologize for it. Politicians do it on national television. We see accused people setting conditions. The world today make it seem that it's okay to lie since a lot do it anyway. May we be reminded that for God, it is not. And he still expects us to remain firm in faith.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another weekend. Lord, thank you for all the blessings. Help me Lord to work on my integrity. May I always do my best to be true to my word. In a special way, I pray for those who made their vows to each other today. Bless their marriage, and may they do their best to remain faithful to that word. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Soft Voice

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061314.cfm) reminds me that God comes to us in a soft voice, so we should be ready to listen to Him.

They say that hearts that are close to each other understand without words. That's why when lovers or close friends talk, they do so in a soft voice. Sweet, diba? But when enemies talk, their hearts are far from each other, thats why they shout at each other.

In the first reading, we see how God talked to Elijah.

But the word of the LORD came to him, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by.” A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORDB but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquakeB but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fireB but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.

A tiny whispering sound. A soft voice. Not in a strong and heavy wind commanding respect, not a powerful earthquake, not in a fiery fire. But in a soft wind. And we can only hear him if we listen well. If our attention is on him. We will be able to listen to him better if our heart is close to him, so his whisper can be very audible for us.

God speaks to us in quiet ways.

He reminds us of how he wants us to live in simple ways. In today's gospel, he reminds us of what is important. He uses people around us to remind us of these things. He does not send us a mighty cloud with his voice shouting and telling us what to do. Instead, he sends friends, reminders of how we should act.

May we be sensitive to God calling us in a soft voice.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder that you come to me in a soft voice. May I be challenged and inspired to work on my relationship with you so I can hear you when you come and whisper to me. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ

-g-

When God Seems Silent

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061214.cfm) reminds me of what we should do when God seems to be silent and does not respond to our prayers.

Sharing a previous reflection:

We see again Elijah’s great faith in God.

In today’s reading, Elijah had faith in God’s power that he told king Ahab that a heavy rain is approaching. This was the time that there was famine in the land, so for him to say there would be heavy rain is such a bold statement – a statement that could only be made with someone who has great faith.

Elijah prayed to God. His posture, putting his head between his knees, is a sign of how intense and how surrendering his prayer was. Syempre naman, sabihan mo ba naman ang hari na may malakas na ulan e, kung di ka magdasal ng ganun.

What’s inspiring about Elijah is his persistent faith.  As compared to the previous story, wherein God immediately sent fire to consume the offering, now we see God being initially quiet. Walang ulan. Hindi madilim. When Elijah sent his servant to check, the servant said – nothing. However, this did not dampen Elijah’s spirit. He did not say, “Lord, diba close tayo? Bakit mo naman ako papahiyain?” Instead, he was persistent in prayer, unwavering in faith. He knew God would listen to him.

Siguro nakukulitan na yung servant. He looked  six times na wala parn talaga. Siguro iniisip nya, wala pala to, mahina si Elijah, ang kulit pa. Sabi nang wala eh. However, Elijah’s faith in God made the servant see something great. On the seventh try, he saw a small cloud.

Boom!

That was more than enough for Elijah. That was the mustard seed that would grow into a huge tree. That was the start of great things from God. He knew that it was God’s answer to his call. He had faith that the small cloud was the start of heavy rain… and God did not disappoint him.

We can have Elijah’s faith if we are close to Jesus. However, in the gospel, Jesus tells us that we cannot truly worship him, that we cannot really develop an intimate relationship with God if we have issues – specifically anger towards others.

Anger is not inherently bad. Jesus was angry at the people who made his father’s house a den of thieves. What’s bad is if it leads us to sin. What’s bad is if anger makes us hate the person, not the act of the person. We cannot fully worship God and claim to love him if we cannot love others as well.

Do I find Elijah’s faith inspiring? Why? Why not? What can I do to improve my faith? When God does not seem to answer my prayers, what do I do? Do I stop and think that God is not listening, or am I like Elijah who is persistent in faith? Is there someone I need to forgive from my heart? Is anger residing in my heart?

May we be inspired by Elijah’s faith and work to live our lives building that faith while truly praising God.

Dear God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for reminding me that even if you don’t immediately answer, it doesn’t mean you won’t give me what I pray for. Lord, I ask that you help me build my faith. May I be like Elijah that has full faith in you even if you seem to be silent. As I live my life, help me build that faith, and help me release anger in my heart that is preventing me from fully worshipping you. Amen.

God bless!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/06/persistent-faith.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/06/gods-power-unleashed-through-our-faith.html

Work for God

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061114.cfm) reminds me that we should tirelessly work for God.

All fresh graduates are very optimistic about their first job. They want to do something they like. They want to work for a company whose values and culture are the same as theirs. They want to find the perfect job, so they put a lot of effort researching and looking for it, and then getting through the process of getting in the company. Then when they get in, they do their best as they work for that company.

Do we also do the same as we work for God?

The gospel is the same as a few days ago. (see here). We are reminded to mind our own business and just do what God asks of us. In the first reading we see other disciples continue working for God, minding their own business and just doing what God asks of them, going where God wants them to go.

God needs workers for his vineyard. He says that the harvest is many but the laborers are few. May we respond to that call, and work tirelessly, giving our best to work for His kingdom.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Sorry for the times I don't give you my best, and especially for the times I don't even work for you. I will do my best to be a happy worker and give my best for you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/06/mind-your-own-business.html

Act of Faith

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061014.cfm) inspires me to live a life of faith.

The first reading continues the story of Elijah. God continued to provide for him, this time through a widow. Imagine the situation, you're about to prepare your last meal, when suddenly a man asks that you make him bread first before you eat. Hassle, right? Nakakainis. But he comes with a promise, that God will provide you flour and oil until  you need it. What would you do? Would you act based on that faith, or ignore it and go on with your life?

We are faced with these situations everyday. Situations where our faith is tested and challenged. Will I continue to give to the poor, when I barely have enough to survive? But God promised that he will take care of me. What would I do? In work, school, business and even family matters - we are faced with situations like this. Do we take that leap of faith? Do we act in faith?

May we take the time to read God's word so we would know his promises to us. And may we have faith on his word.

Father God,

Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for all the blessings. Thank you for your word. Thank you that your promises are real. May I always have faith in you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/06/shine-for-god.html?m=1

Simple

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/060914.cfm) reminds me that life is simple.

Technology is evolving very fast. Mobile phones become more advanced, going beyond the usual talk and text features. There are a lot of gadgets with different features. Portable battery and mobile internet are becoming a necessity for some, together with mobile devices. For some, or most people, technology complicated life.

However, we are reminded today that in essence, life is simple. We see in the first reading how God provided the basic things to Elijah, and enabled him to live.

"He went and remained by the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan. Ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the stream."

Sometimes, it is our desires that stress us out. We want to have this and that. We want to have things we really do not need. We complicate life. God provides us with what we need. Sometimes unhappiness and stress come from our worldly desires, from us wanting what others have, even if we don't need it.

May we be reminded that life us simple. And in this constantly changing world, may we not forget our constant God and his live for us. May our journey in this world never distract us from God, from knowing him more and loving him more.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another week. Thank you for the reminder that life is simple. Lord, may I never lose the right perspective as I live my life in this world. May I always know the essentials in life, and focus on you, especially when the world tempts me to make things complicated. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

Personalized Paraclete

The WORD Today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/060814-day-mass.cfm) reminds me that Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to each one of us, thus we experience him differently, in our own personal way.

Nowadays, there are people who are fans of foreign groups, even those whose language they do not understand. K-Pop fanbase is very wide. People sing and memorize the lyrics of Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and even French songs. They say that even if they can't really understand the lyrics, they can relate to the song, that they can feel the emotions of the artist in their personal level.

This is what God does to us through the Holy Spirit.

In the first reading, it says:

"When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.

...

 Then how does each of us hear them in his native language? We are ..... yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”

That's personalized. God did not send a big cloud, a big dove, or a big ball of fire for everyone. Instead, he sent tongues of fire on each one of them. Personalized. And further on we see that each one heard them speaking in their native language. Personalized. Localized.

God goes down to our level. He sent his son to be a man like us, so we can identify with him, so we can understand, even in our own little capacity, how great his love for us is. And he sent the Holy Spirit, as he is sending it until now, to each and everyone of us. So that we can feel him in our own level. In a way that we need, in a way that only we can understand. In a way that only we can appreciate.

May we appreciate how much God loves us, and allow him to make us feel his love an presence in our lives in a personal level. And may we allow him to slowly transform us to be more and more like him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for going down to my level. Thank you for making me feel you in my own personal level, in a personal way. Lord, may I allow myself to be transformed as I feel your love. Make me more and more like you, though slowly, I know that one day, I will be with you forever. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-