Wise Builder

The WORD today  (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091314.cfm) reminds me that we should be wise builders of our permanent home.

The gospel says that a house built on a rock cannot be destroyed by rain, flood, and wind… Having a strong foundation enables us to withstand these challenges that could destroy others - like a house built on sand.

I will show you what someone is like who comes to me,
listens to my words, and acts on them.
That one is like a man building a house,
who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock;
when the flood came, the river burst against that house
but could not shake it because it had been well built.
But the one who listens and does not act
is like a person who built a house on the ground
without a foundation.
When the river burst against it,
it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.

All of us are in this earth for a brief moment only. This is a temporary stage for us. We are just travelling, But as we travel, we are actually building our house – our permanent home, whether in heaven or not. The things we do in this world, the choices we make in this life, and the actions live our lives by, would determine how we want our eternal home to be. We are building a home. We are building a foundation. We are starting in this life.

As we build our eternal home, it is good to ask who is our foundation? Who is the rock upon we are building our house? The first reading tells us that it is to God that we should build our foundation.  The psalm tells us how we can start building our foundation in God – by offering a sacrifice of praise.  The gospel further says that we should listen AND ACT upon God’s words. It is not enough to recognize God. Satan recognizes God as well – but he does not follow God. We should recognize God and follow His ways. Hindi pwedeng puro realizations. Hindi pwedeng puro lip service. We should act, follow God’s will in our lives.

May we be wise and use this life to work towards building our house on a rock, a solid foundation.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to love and serve you. Thank you for another weekend. Lord, I thank you for your love. And I thank you for the opportunity to make the most of this life. Help me be a wise builder. Help me make good choices in life. May I always choose you, in the little and big things, Lord. May I use this life to build my eternal home in heaven with you. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2011/12/house-on-rock.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/06/built-on-rock.html
 

Look Inside

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091214.cfm) reminds me to look inside me first and not find fault in others

Bob Marley is one of the more popular artists in our time. Probably the most popular reggae artist. And one of his quotes is

"Who are you to judge the life I life?

I'm not perfect and I don't have to be.

But, before you start pointing fingers,

make sure your hands are clean"

Makes sense, right? Similar to what Jesus said in the gospel.

"Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,

but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?

How can you say to your brother,

‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’

while the wooden beam is in your eye?

You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first;

then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”"

It is easy to see fault in others. It is easy to judge based on what we see and think. However, God tells us otherwise. Other than we probably do not know what's happening behind the scenes so we cannot properly understand the reasons for the action, we are instead asked to focus on ourselves. God wants us to look inside. God wants us to first change and improve ourselves. We too are imperfect, and sometimes instead of dealing with our imperfections and sins, we tend to look at others so that we won't feel so guilty or so bad about ourselves. We put the focus on others instead of improving ourselves.

God does not tolerate the imperfections and sins of others, nor of ours. But he wants us first to improve ourselves, then help, not find fault in, others.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend coming up. Thank you for your love and forgiveness, Lord. I am sorry for the times I am quick to judge and find fault in others. Sorry for the times i magnify their imperfections in an attempt to hide my own. Help me not be quick to find fault in others, but first look at myself and improve myself so i can be more and more like you. Amen.

Ps,

See related reflection:http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/06/do-not-point.html

Just Give

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091114.cfm) reminds me that God cannot be out given.

They say that the more you give, the more you will have. Does not make sense, right? The more you give, the less there will be for you - at least in the worldly sense. But today's gospel tell us otherwise.

Give and gifts will be given to you;

a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,

will be poured into your lap

There are some things better expressed and more heartfelt when said in the native language. And this is one of them. The Filipino translation of the verse says:

Magbigay kayo at kayo'y bibigyan ng Diyos;

hustong takal, siksik, liglig, at umaapaw pa

ang ibibigay sa inyo.

The more you give, the more you will receive. Some people say that if you need money, give God money for he will surely reward you. God will give you back more than what you give him.

Why? Because of this truth. God cannot be outgiven. This is just how he is. He will not let you give him more than he gives you. Whatever we give him will surely be returned back to us.  And the more we give, the more he can give us back, because God can only fill us up when we are empty.

What am I giving to God? How do i give - do i give the best, the first fruits, or just my surplus? Looking back in my life, what situations have I given to God - my time, talent and treasure? In what ways has he rewarded me?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for all the blessings. Lord I thank you for being generous. Indeed you cannot be outgiven. I pray that you give me a heart that will always be ready and willing to give you my best, not because I want something in return, but because I am just full of your love and blessings, and the natural reaction is to share you to others. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflectionshttp://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/03/give-to-receive.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/11/give-to-receive.html

More Than Here

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091014.cfm) reminds me that there is more to life than what is happening on this world

The gospel reminds us of the Beatitudes or what others call the “Be-Attitudes.” This is how God wants us to be. It reminds me that as we live this life on earth, everything will not be easy. We will experience challenges and persecutions, we will be frustrated with what is happening around us. However, Christ exhorts us to be faithful and to continue trusting in Him despite everything that is happening to us and around us.

What is happening on our lives here on earth is not the end. This is not everything. God reminds us that there is a greater life after our life here on earth. All his promises in the beatitudes does not necessarily mean comfort will come in this life. Actually, if we examine the promises, all of those will come in the next life. However, we need to be faithful and remain living in God’s light as we live on earth to realize and experience those promises.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live and love. Thank you for your promises and encouragement. Thank you for taking care of us and knowing and providing what we need to get by. Lord, I pray that we be faithful to you, that we be firm in faith and focus on you as we live this life on earth, having faith that we will claim and receive your promises as we do so. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/06/not-just-here-and-now.html

Enough for Everyone

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/090914.cfm) reminds me that God’s power and love are enough for everyone.

A few months back, there was a problem with the issuance of NBI clearance. They had a problem with their system, and it affected the number of clearance they were able to release for the day. Aside from the long lines due to slow processing, people also came in really early because they knew that there was a cut off and not all that need the clearance would be accommodated.

This is not the case with God. He has more than enough for everyone.

And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground.
A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people
from all Judea and Jerusalem
and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon
came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;
and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured.
Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him
because power came forth from him and healed them all

In the gospel, we see that his power is enough for everyone. No matter how  many come to him, it won’t run out. There is no quota or limitation of God’s power. God healed them all.

God’s love is also enough for everyone. No matter how simple or serious your concern may be, his love is for you. in the gospel, the people had different concerns – those with diseases and even those tormented by demons. God cured them all.

May we always remember how different God is. He is out of this world. His love and power is enough for everyone no matter how many come to him for healing and help, he will help all. And his love is power is effective – no matter how serious or simple your concern is.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Lord, thank you for another reminder of how loving and powerful you are. may I always come to you, knowing that your power is limitless and your love is unlimited. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/07/he-cured-them-all.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/07/unlimited.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/09/he-cured-them-all.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/01/he-cured-them.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/07/he-cured-all.html

The Lowly Lifted High

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/090814.cfm) reminds us that God lifts the lowly.

Today, we celebrate the nativity of Mama Mary. We see how God looks not on the worldly standards and accomplishments, but rather on the heart. He chose a simple woman from a simple town to be the earthly mother of Jesus. God did not choose a queen or someone from a powerful family. God chose someone with a pure heart, with a heart that would surrender to Him, and God lifted her up.

We are encouraged to know what is important in the eyes of God. Not human achievements, not power or fame, not money or wealth, not physical beauty, not strength. God looks for a clean, humble heart that would surrender to him. That is all he needs to use us mightily, that is all he needs to fulfil his purpose in and through us. Let us work on that.

What are my goals in life? Do I strive for human achievement, fame, power and money? Do I also recognize and work on things for God? Do I believe that he can and will use me mightily if I let him? Do I know that he only needs a clean and humble heart that will submit to him?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for sending Mama Mary to be our model of a servant, of a mother. Thank you for reminding me that you don’t need and wont look at my worldly achievements. Thank you for letting me know that all you need is a humble heart that will submit to you. May I always be inspired by Mama Mary’s simple yet great faith as seen in her life May I always say “yes” to you, and may I always submit myself to you as Mama Mary did, having faith that you would take care of me and would d great things through me. Amen.

Have a blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/08/little-one.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-little-one-made-big.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/08/lift-up-humble.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/09/he-lifts-lowly.html

Another Take on LOVE

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/090714.cfm) reminds me how much God asks us to love each other

The second reading is full of love.

Brothers and sisters:
Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another;
for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery;
you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet, ”
and whatever other commandment there may be,
are summed up in this saying, namely,
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Love does no evil to the neighbor;
hence, love is the fulfillment of the law

Love. Love. Love. Forgive one another. Love one another. It is that great it Paul says that love is the fulfilment of the law. Wow. Big words. But looking at it, this actually makes sense. As we look at commandments 4-10, we see that it is all about other people. Therefore, to fulfil the law and commandments, we need not memorize everything word for word. We just need to remember one thing - love. Love God and love others.

When we hear the word love, a lot of times we think of something romantic. However, that is just one of the kinds of love. In the readings today, we see a powerful, everyday, normal kind of love - love we sometimes take for granted or not practice, because it is difficult.

In the first reading, we see how God wants us to care enough for other people to want them to be saved. It is not enough that we are doing good with our lives. In the gospel, Jesus wants us to love others by forgiving them – something very hard to do. It is very hard to forgive others, because we want to get revenge, we want to even the score. Thus, forgiveness is really not a sign of weakness, but of power and love.

It is very hard to love others, especially those unlovable. But God wants us to do it. because only as we love others even if it hurts, do we allow God to love us and love through us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to spend time with you and be one with you. Lord, thank you for your love. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for your forgiveness. I ask that I be able to soak it in and experience it, so that as I become more aware of it, I may share it with others. Help me to forgive like you do, and most importantly, to love like you do. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-different-kind-of-love.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/08/forgive.html