Crucified

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/101514.cfm) reminds me what being crucified means.

Jesus gave new meaning to the cross. Crucifixion, death by the cross, was meant for sinners. But Jesus made it to symbolize love and new life. Jesus died on the cross for us, so we may live. His love changed the cross, and he will change our lives, if we let him.

God needs us to be crucified so he can save us.

He is not a masochist who wants pain for us. But he wants us to be empty so he can fill us up with all he wants to give us. He wants us to leave to the cross our old self – with our worldly desires, wants and needs, and allow Him to change us and raise us up, the way He did to Jesus. in the first reading we see this

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh
with its passions and desires

If we are not crucified, our lives will not change. God cannot enter our lives, for our hearts are filled with worldly concerns and wants. This is what happened to the Pharisees and scribes in the gospel. They do the supposedly good acts, but their hearts are not in the proper place. There is no space for God in their lives, in their hearts.

May we be willing to be crucified and die of our worldly desires and sins, so God can enter our lives and hearts and raise us up again.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another chance to work and do good. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, I am sorry for the times I choose not to be crucified. Sorry for the times, a lot of them, that I don’t submit to you, that I insist on doing what I want, that I enjoy myself and this world too much at the expense of my soul. Help me change, Lord. Help me to slowly, little by little, day by day, be crucified of my worldly desires and submit to you, knowing that it is the only way you can enter my heart and my life and bring me new life and salvation. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Clean Inside

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/101414.cfm) reminds me that it is important to keep the inside clean.

It is easy to clean the outside. For example, with cars. There are a lot of carwash which provide cleaning services. You don't even need to go to a carwash. You can clean the car at home, and it won't take a lot of time and effort. However, what requires more time and effort is cleaning the inside of the car - the interior, the engine, among other things. That’s why they charge more for detailing and cleaning services, because it is harder and more time consuming than cleaning just the outside of the car.

Today Jesus says in the gospel...

The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees!
Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish,
inside you are filled with plunder and evil.
You fools!
Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?
But as to what is within, give alms,
and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

Being clean inside would eventually be manifested outward. 

As with cars, what requires more time and effort, and what is really important, is that we are clean from the inside. This is what Jesus wants us to do and to work on, not the easier exterior cleaning.

Being clean outside does not mean that the inside is clean as well. It is easy to seem clean. It's easy to go to the church, go to outreach activities and relief operations, help the less fortunate. It's easy to show others you go to mass, confess and serve. However, this does not guarantee the inner state of the person. Jesus wants us to work harder and clean ourselves from the inside. What are our motives as we do these things? Do we do it for show, or because we really love God so much?

May we work to have a clean heart, a clean spirit first. Clean and pure motives and intentions. May we pray for these, so that eventually, these things will be manifested in our actions. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for your reminder. Lord, I pray that you help me have a clean heart. Purify my thoughts, purify my spirit, purify my heart, so that my actions would follow what is inside me. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/08/from-inside-out.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/08/from-inside.html

Signs

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/101314.cfm) reminds me how important it is to recognize signs

Road signs are very important and helpful, especially if one is not familiar with the road. It tells motorists where to go, how to go there, what the rules, are, etc. They help keep people safe. However, signs would only be able to do that if motorists know what the signs mean, and if these signs are followed properly.

Sometimes, or a lot of times, we want that kind of tangible sign from God too.

Why not?

Who would not want affirmation or assurance of what God wants us to do in a specific situation? Who would not want what God wants us to choose, or where he wants us to go? Even people in the bible asked for signs from God.

However, it can also be taken out of bounds.

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,

“This generation is an evil generation;

it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,

except the sign of Jonah.

Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,

so will the Son of Man be to this generation.

At the judgment

the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation

and she will condemn them,

because she came from the ends of the earth

to hear the wisdom of Solomon,

and there is something greater than Solomon here.

At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation

and condemn it,

because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,

and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

In the gospel we see Jesus warning the people about asking for signs. While it is normal to ask for signs, it becomes bad if the heart is closed to God’s signs. It is bad if the heart wants God to conform to what we want, not for us to be open to what God wants. The people of Nineveh were living in sin, and did not ask for a sign. But when God sent Jonah to warn them, they repented. However, the people already have Jesus with them to warn them and preach to them, but their hearts were closed. They did not want him, they wanted a sign based on their own expectations and standards. They wanted God to conform to what they want, that’s why Jesus said no sign will be given to them.

Signs will only be useful if recognized and followed.

Aside from being open to what the signs tell us, we should also know how to recognize signs. Drivers are supposed to take examinations to familiarize themselves with road signs. Research should be done. In the same way, we should also exert time and effort to know God more, so we can recognize his answers and his signs for us, and not just be closed to our idea of sings.

How about us? Do we ask for signs or do what we can – reading the bible, praying, receiving the sacraments, to know what God wants us to do and how God wants us to live our lives? If we ask for signs, are we open and sensitive to get and recognize signs not just based on what we want, but what God wants? Or do we want God to conform to what sign we want from Him?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another week! Lord, I pray that you always make you presence alive in my life. Help me do my part so I will always be sensitive to you. May I work and do my part to build a strong and personal relationship with you, so that I would know you more and recognize you, instead of just asking for signs. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/10/did-you-see-sign.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2011/12/do-you-see-sign.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-sign.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/07/you-want-sign.html

Dressed

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/101214.cfm) reminds us that God wants us to be properly dressed for the occasion

Not being dressed for the occasion is a very awkward feeling. It goes both ways – be it being overdressed and underdressed. It is important that one dress appropriately for the specific occasion.

The gospel tells us of a story – a king calling a wedding fest. The original invitees did not attend, so the invite was opened to all. However, the king daw someone not dressed for a wedding garment, and it enraged the king.

But when the king came in to meet the guests
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?’
But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
Wow, what a reaction, right? Overkill? How about if the person do not have the proper wedding garment?

They say that the clothes were not a problem that time. When the king invited people, it was said that he also prepared the clothes for them to wear to the feast. How cool is that? Libre na ang pagkain, libre ka pa sa damit! That’s how festive and how well taken care of the guests were. So we can understand the king expecting, and in this case, demanding the guests be in the proper attire.

What is the significance of this in our lives? This does not happen anymore anyway. Right?

We know that God, our king, invites us to the feast – heaven. It is now up to us if we will heed his call, if we will go to the invitation. However, it does not end there. We cannot just say we want to go to heaven, and show up there. We need to be dressed appropriately. We need to prepare and do our part. As the king gave clothes, God also gave us this life to wear properly. He gives us opportunities to shine for Him ,and to prepare for us attending the feast. Then when he sees us, we will know if we prepared enough – if he will be happy to see us in the feast, appropriately dressed, or if he will get mad at us attending not being properly dressed, and send us away.

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to love and experience your love for me, especially today during Holy Mass. Lord, thank you for inviting me to the feast. And thank you for all the opportunities you give me to prepare myself for it. You know I want to be there, Lord, so I ask that you help me live my life preparing for it. May you be delighted to see me appropriately dressed for it. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,
-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/08/dressed-for-heaven.html

No Excuses

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/101114.cfm) reminds me that in our spiritual life, there are no valid excuses

I like hip hop and rap. And there was a point before that I listened to and re discovered old school rap. I like it because they don’t just rap about women, sex, parties and money. They had stories to tell. And one of the artists I liked is 2pac. One of his songs got me thinking, for a part of it goes like “…but if I had a better life, I would have lived a good life and did more things right.” This struck me, one because it reminded me again how blessed I am, that even if we were not wealthy, I was raised in an environment where you need not fear for your life, and would not have the urge to result to drugs and crime to be able to eat and survive. Second is because it made me think how tough it is for others to simply live and survive in a hostile environment.

What has this got to do with the readings? Unlike with the situation we were born into, which we have no control of, our faith and spiritual life is something we can control and do things about.

Jesus said in the gospel:

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.”

There is no excuses for not growing in faith.

We cannot do something about our affinity with Jesus. It’s done. We cannot claim to have met Jesus when we were young, or played with him, or experienced his physical gentleness or power firsthand. We can’t do something about it. But what we can do something about is our faith. Jesus said that “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it” He is referring to us! He is referring to anyone who wants to act on God’s word. He is referring to you. He is challenging you.

We may not have physically experienced the earthy body of Jesus, but he gives us an opportunity to experience him spiritually. And he gives that fair and open opportunity to everyone. Challenge is for us to actually take it. and live it.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another opportunity to love and serve you. Thank you for another opportunity to rest. Thank you for reminding me that all is fair in you, in the spirit. Lord, I pray that I make the most out of it. There are no excuses for not growing in faith, so I ask that you help me grow and do my best to really flourish in faith and shine for you. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Stay Clean

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/101014.cfm) reminds me of the importance of staying clean

Recovering dependents, be it alcohol or drugs, should have something to get busy with. They should have a hobby or a sport to focus their energy and attention with. That is why it is recommended for recovering dependents to go into sports. When one is dependent on drugs, there is so much energy to do things, and in taking the drugs away, there should be something to replace it with – so the energy and time would be put to good use.

This is what God wants us to do with our faith and with our life. in the gospel we see:

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.”

This is what happens to some people who go cold turkey or immediately stop smoking. At first, it works. But just one stick and you will eventually find yourself smoking again, and maybe even in a worse state than before you attempted to quit. God does not want this to happen in our lives.

Changing for God should be permanent. It should be consistent. As we try to live a life pleasing to Him, we should be consistent. We should be focused on God. We should not entertain thoughts of our old life, of living in sin and enjoying the world. Rather, we should fill our life with God – with good works, with service of Him through others, of prayer, sacraments and love. That way, there would be no way the enemy can lure us back into a life of sin again.

We need to fill our lives with God and everything of Him so there will be no more space for the devil to come in.

May we be willing to stay clean and remain in God’s love and live in God’s ways.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to experience your love. Thank you for another weekend coming. Lord, I thank you for all the reminders you have been giving me. Thank you for the opportunity to change and live for you. I pray that you help me live right always. Help me to stay clean and stay in you always. Help me fill my life with you – with service, love, prayer – everything that is of you, so that there will no more space for the devil to come in. Wrap me in your embrace and never let me go. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/10/relapse.html

Good Gifts

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/100914.cfm) reminds me that God always gives us good gifts.

The gospel passage is something that gets misinterpreted from time to time. Sometimes we interpret it in a way that we want to make it sound, to justify what we want to prove or what we want to happen.

“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?”

Jesus did not say that God will give us exactly what we need. He says that God will give us good gifts – especially the Holy Spirit, if we ask Him to.

God always gives us good gifts, but these gifts are not always what we want.

We have a lot of prayers for in life. we have a lot of things we want. We have a list. We are specific. But that does not necessarily mean God will give us those things. God knows what is best for us, and he knows the plans he has for us. And if those things we are praying for would be like dangerous snakes for us, even though we do not see it that way right now, then definitely God will not give us those things.

May we keep the faith and continue to pray to God, especially for his good gifts, yet be humble enough to accept when his good gifts are not exactly what we are praying for.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to know more about you. Thank you for reminding me how much you love me and that you have great plans for me. Thank you for being generous and for all the gifts and blessings, especially those I do not deserve. Lord, may I always be humble and accept your gifts to me, especially when those are not what I am praying for. Always remind me that you are God, and that you have great things in store for me. And no matter how much I want those things, if those are like dangerous snakes for me and your plans for me, you will not give it to me out of your great love for me. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-