Unfair

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/012116.cfm) reminds me that the world is unfair.

They say that life is unfair. The world is unfair. There are a lot of good and innocent people who dying and suffering, while a lot of bad and evil people prosper. We should remember that the enemy is the ruler of the world, and it will always be unfair to those not of it, to those belonging to Christ. We see that in the reading.

David did God's work and was successful. However, envy wrapped Saul's heart and instead of being happy with what God did through David, he focused on himself and how other people see him. He valued his reputation so much that he wanted to kill David to get the attention all to himself. How unfair, for David was just doing what was asked of Him.

Though the world may be unfair, God is fair.

God used Jonathan to bring Saul to his senses. And eventually David's life was spared. God is fair and faithful to those who trust in him. He takes care of those who love him. We just need to be faithful and trust in Him.

There are times that we feel like David. We feel we are at a disadvantage. We feel the world is so unfair, especially because we are trying to do good and live right. We feel that people are against us - powerful people that we cannot do anything anymore. Times like these, we should be like David. Yes, we cannot do anything but pray and trust in God. And as we do so, as we are limited by our own means, God will work and do for us what we cannot do.

May we be inspired that though life is unfair, God is always watching over us and he is fair.

 

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 the reminder. Lord, a lot of times I feel like David. A lot of times I feel the world is unfair, that I am at a disadvantage. But I will do what David did and just trust you. I just lift up all the pain, hurt, and all I am feeling and ask that you continue to take care if me. I trust you for I know you are fair and generous. Amen.

Blessed day!

 

In Christ,

-g-

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January 21, 2016

Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
Lectionary: 314

 

Reading 1 1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7

 

When David and Saul approached
(on David’s return after slaying the Philistine),
women came out from each of the cities of Israel to meet King Saul,
singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and sistrums.
The women played and sang:

“Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.”

Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought:
“They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me.
All that remains for him is the kingship.”
And from that day on, Saul was jealous of David.

Saul discussed his intention of killing David
with his son Jonathan and with all his servants.
But Saul’s son Jonathan, who was very fond of David, told him:
“My father Saul is trying to kill you.
Therefore, please be on your guard tomorrow morning;
get out of sight and remain in hiding.
I, however, will go out and stand beside my father
in the countryside where you are, and will speak to him about you.
If I learn anything, I will let you know.”

Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him:
“Let not your majesty sin against his servant David,
for he has committed no offense against you,
but has helped you very much by his deeds.
When he took his life in his hands and slew the Philistine,
and the LORD brought about a great victory
for all Israel through him,
you were glad to see it.
Why, then, should you become guilty of shedding innocent blood
by killing David without cause?”
Saul heeded Jonathan’s plea and swore,
“As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed.”
So Jonathan summoned David and repeated the whole conversation to him.
Jonathan then brought David to Saul, and David served him as before.

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13

 

R. (5b) In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Have mercy on me, O God, for men trample upon me;
all the day they press their attack against me.
My adversaries trample upon me all the day;
yes, many fight against me.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
My wanderings you have counted;
my tears are stored in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?
Then do my enemies turn back,
when I call upon you.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
I am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.

 

Alleluia See 2 Tm 1:10

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Mk 3:7-12

 

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples.
A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.
Hearing what he was doing,
a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem,
from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan,
and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.
He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd,
so that they would not crush him.
He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases
were pressing upon him to touch him.
And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him
and shout, “You are the Son of God.”
He warned them sternly not to make him known.

He Equips

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/012016.cfm) reminds me that God equips whom he calls.

In the reading yesterday, we saw that God looks at the heart. Today the story is continued when David fought for God. It's cliché but it's true - God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called. We see that in the first reading today.

David was just a shepherd, not a warrior. But because of his heart, God chose him and used him. He equipped David with what he needed to fight the enemy, even if the world thinks otherwise. He was not a trained soldier, much more a warrior, but he beat the enemy. Because God equipped him. And God prepared him.

Though he was not a warrior, God prepared David. He was a shepherd, and as part of his role as a shepherd, he defended his sheep from wild animals. And what does he use for this? Of course, not a sword but a sling and stones - the very weapons he used in battle. David also did his part, he practiced and improved his skill in defending his sheep, not knowing God will equip and use him and his skill in a great battle. And because of David's heart, he was able to do what God wanted him to do.

May we be inspired by this story. May we continue to trust in God, that he will use us and equip us and bless and magnify what we have to glorify his name. And may we be like David who honed his craft and did his best in whatever he was doing, no matter how small and trivial it may seem - for we do not know how God will use us where we are and with what we have for his glory.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the beautiful reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I doubt that you can use me mightily. And i am sorry for the times I do not do my best in my craft for you. Help me remember this story. Help me be like David, who patiently mastered his craft. For now I know that you need me to do my part as well. Help me do my best in everything for you, no matter how simple and how small it may be. Amen.

Blessed day!

 

In Christ,

-g-

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January 20, 2016

Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 313

 

Reading 1 1 Sm 17:32-33, 37, 40-51

 

David spoke to Saul:
“Let your majesty not lose courage.
I am at your service to go and fight this Philistine.”
But Saul answered David,
“You cannot go up against this Philistine and fight with him,
for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth.”

David continued:
“The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear,
will also keep me safe from the clutches of this Philistine.”
Saul answered David, “Go! the LORD will be with you.”

Then, staff in hand, David selected five smooth stones from the wadi
and put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s bag.
With his sling also ready to hand, he approached the Philistine.

With his shield bearer marching before him,
the Philistine also advanced closer and closer to David.
When he had sized David up,
and seen that he was youthful, and ruddy, and handsome in appearance,
the Philistine held David in contempt.
The Philistine said to David,
“Am I a dog that you come against me with a staff?”
Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods
and said to him, “Come here to me,
and I will leave your flesh for the birds of the air
and the beasts of the field.”
David answered him:
“You come against me with sword and spear and scimitar,
but I come against you in the name of the LORD of hosts,
the God of the armies of Israel that you have insulted.
Today the LORD shall deliver you into my hand;
I will strike you down and cut off your head.
This very day I will leave your corpse
and the corpses of the Philistine army for the birds of the air
and the beasts of the field;
thus the whole land shall learn that Israel has a God.
All this multitude, too,
shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves.
For the battle is the LORD’s and he shall deliver you into our hands.”

The Philistine then moved to meet David at close quarters,
while David ran quickly toward the battle line
in the direction of the Philistine.
David put his hand into the bag and took out a stone,
hurled it with the sling,
and struck the Philistine on the forehead.
The stone embedded itself in his brow,
and he fell prostrate on the ground.
Thus David overcame the Philistine with sling and stone;
he struck the Philistine mortally, and did it without a sword.
Then David ran and stood over him;
with the Philistine’s own sword which he drew from its sheath
he dispatched him and cut off his head.

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 144:1b, 2, 9-10

 

R. (1) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
My refuge and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust,
who subdues my people under me.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
O God, I will sing a new song to you;
with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise,
You who give victory to kings,
and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

 

Alleluia See Mt 4:23

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Mk 3:1-6

 

Jesus entered the synagogue.
There was a man there who had a withered hand.
They watched Jesus closely
to see if he would cure him on the sabbath
so that they might accuse him.
He said to the man with the withered hand,
“Come up here before us.”
Then he said to the Pharisees,
“Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?”
But they remained silent.
Looking around at them with anger
and grieved at their hardness of heart,
Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”
He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel
with the Herodians against him to put him to death

At The Heart

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011916.cfm) reminds me that God looks at our hearts.

A lot of people get influenced by appearance. They get impressed or intimidated based on what the eyes see. Rich and powerful people show off their money and influence with their appearance. In the same way, it is easy to judge the weak and poor by appearance. However, what is real is not always seen by the eyes. Similar to what the little prince said, "what is essential is invisible to the eye". God looks at us this way.

God does not judge by the appearance, but looks at our heart.

It is easy to appear good to other people. It is easy to make and maintain a reputation - of confidence, power, success, or goodness. However, God sees more than what we show. God sees our hearts and what really are in there. God sees if our actions are superficial, or if they are manifestations of the goodness in our hearts.

We do not need a lot of credentials to serve God and do good. Unlike in corporations where further education and accomplishments are very important to be at the top, God's ladder is climbed differently. He does not need these accomplishments. He just needs a heart willing to serve Him and sees Him as the God he is. Then like David, he will use and equip, and make great things through us - no matter how simple we may seem in the eyes of the world.

May we remember that God sees our hearts, and work to have not a good image, but a good heart.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another reminder. Lord, sorry for the times i get contented with superficial level service. Sorry for the times i focus on how I would appear good to other people. Sorry for the times I work to get the approval of other people and not you. And I am sorry for underestimating you, for thinking that because I am simple and have no credentials the world recognizes, I cannot serve you well. Help me have a heart like David. Help me have a heart that focuses on you, that loves you. Help me have a heart that surrenders to you. As I work to have that, I Ask that you use me however unworthy I may seem. Use me for your purpose. Use me for your kingdom. Use me to glorify your name. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2015/11/two-small-coins.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/01/gods-eyes.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/01/he-sees-inside.html

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January 19, 2016

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 312

 

 

Reading 1 1 Sm 16:1-13

 

The LORD said to Samuel:
“How long will you grieve for Saul,
whom I have rejected as king of Israel?
Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.
I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem,
for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”
But Samuel replied:
“How can I go?
Saul will hear of it and kill me.”
To this the LORD answered:
“Take a heifer along and say,
‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’
Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I myself will tell you what to do;
you are to anoint for me the one I point out to you.”

Samuel did as the LORD had commanded him.
When he entered Bethlehem,
the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and inquired,
“Is your visit peaceful, O seer?”
He replied:
“Yes! I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.
So cleanse yourselves and join me today for the banquet.”
He also had Jesse and his sons cleanse themselves
and invited them to the sacrifice.
As they came, he looked at Eliab and thought,
“Surely the LORD’s anointed is here before him.”
But the LORD said to Samuel:
“Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature,
because I have rejected him.
Not as man sees does God see,
because he sees the appearance
but the LORD looks into the heart.”Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him before Samuel,
who said, “The LORD has not chosen him.”
Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said,
“The LORD has not chosen this one either.”
In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel,
but Samuel said to Jesse,
“The LORD has not chosen any one of these.”
Then Samuel asked Jesse,
“Are these all the sons you have?”
Jesse replied,
“There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said to Jesse,
“Send for him;
we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.”
Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them.
He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold
and making a splendid appearance.
The LORD said,
“There–anoint him, for this is he!”
Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand,
anointed him in the midst of his brothers;
and from that day on, the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.
When Samuel took his leave, he went to Ramah.

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 89:20, 21-22, 27-28

 

R. (21a) I have found David, my servant.
Once you spoke in a vision,
and to your faithful ones you said:
“On a champion I have placed a crown;
over the people I have set a youth.”
R. I have found David, my servant.
“I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong.”
R. I have found David, my servant.
“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.’
And I will make him the first-born,
highest of the kings of the earth.”
R. I have found David, my servant.

 

Alleluia See Eph 1:17-18

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to our call.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Mk 2:23-28

 

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath,
his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain.
At this the Pharisees said to him,
“Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”
He said to them,
“Have you never read what David did
when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry?
How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest
and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat,
and shared it with his companions?”
Then he said to them,
“The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.
That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

 

Obedience

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011816.cfm) reminds me that there is no making up for disobedience to God.

People make mistakes. And when we do, we try to make up for it in other ways. We find other ways and means to tell the person we are sorry, or to get the attention away from our mistake and have the person focus on the good done. This works for some mistakes, but not for others. Grave and very serious mistakes cannot easily be outweighed by make up effort. This is what God reminds us today.

No effort is enough to make up for disobedience to God.

In the first reading, we see Saul losing favor to God because he disobeyed God. Yes he did a lot of great things for God, which God sees, but he disobeyed God. And despite of all he has done, God was displeased because Saul disobeyed him.

Why is obedience to God so important? Because it shows where our heart is. It shows who God is in our lives.

Disobeying God is not simply not following his commands. At the surface that's it, but if we look deeper, we see something else. Disobedience to God is us telling God that we love someone or something else - more than Him. Disobeying him is telling God that we love ourselves more than we love him. Disobeying God tells him we value something or someone more than we value him.

We cannot serve God just when it is convenient for us. We cannot serve God just when we want to. That is why no amount of good works can make up for disobedience, because good works can be done at our convenience but obedience is every time.

May we be reminded of the importance of obedience to God all the time.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and experience your love. Thank you for all the blessings. Lord, help me be obedient to you. Help me submit and surrender to you. Help me love you more than anything and anyone. May I always choose you every time. May i always obey you, especially when it is hard and when I do no want to. Help me love and serve you the way you want me to, not the way I want to. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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January 18, 2016

Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 311

 

Reading 1 1 Sm 15:16-23

 

Samuel said to Saul:
“Stop! Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.”
Saul replied, “Speak!”
Samuel then said: “Though little in your own esteem,
are you not leader of the tribes of Israel?
The LORD anointed you king of Israel and sent you on a mission, saying,
‘Go and put the sinful Amalekites under a ban of destruction.
Fight against them until you have exterminated them.’
Why then have you disobeyed the LORD?
You have pounced on the spoil, thus displeasing the LORD.”
Saul answered Samuel: “I did indeed obey the LORD
and fulfill the mission on which the LORD sent me.
I have brought back Agag, and I have destroyed Amalek under the ban.
But from the spoil the men took sheep and oxen,
the best of what had been banned,
to sacrifice to the LORD their God in Gilgal.”
But Samuel said:
“Does the LORD so delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as in obedience to the command of the LORD?
Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission than the fat of rams.
For a sin like divination is rebellion,
and presumption is the crime of idolatry.Because you have rejected the command of the LORD,
he, too, has rejected you as ruler.”

 

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23

 

R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

 

Responsorial Psalm Heb 4:12

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Mk 2:18-22

 

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast.
People came to Jesus and objected,
“Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them,
“Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast on that day.
No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak.
If he does, its fullness pulls away,
the new from the old, and the tear gets worse.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins,
and both the wine and the skins are ruined.
Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”

 

Mama’s Powers

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011716.cfm) reminds me how powerful and close to Jesus Mama Mary is.

We Filipinos give much important to family. And usually, our mother holds a very special place in our lives. Usually mothers are the very affectionate and caring in the family, and as we get older and mature, we realize the sacrifices of our mother. This is the reason why we give them the best we can. We find ourselves doing things for them that we usually would not do. This is similar to what Mama Mary asked Jesus in the gospel.

Jesus told Mary that his time has not yet come. But Mary would have none of it. Makulit sya. She knew Jesus could do something about it, though she did not know the specifics. And eventually Jesus did as his mother asked. This reminds us how powerful and close to Jesus his mother is. This is why we should also remain close to Mama Mary.

We should remain close to Mama Mary so we would remain close to Jesus.

We have a special devotion to Mama Mary, and we are again reminded today why. Mama Mary is human like us, but she had great faith and love for Jesus. She had great faith in God. And we should ask her to help us how to serve God, and how to remain close to Jesus.

May we rekindle that special love and devotion for Mama Mary, and ask her to help us be like her and teach us how to love and serve God the best way we can.

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 Sunday. Thank you for the reminder. Help me be close to Mama Mary. Thank you for sharing your earthly mother with us. Rekindle in me the devotion and love for her. May I have her faith and love for you. Make me more like her so i can also serve you with abandon, with pure and great love just like her. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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January 17, 2016

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 66

 

 

Reading 1 Is 62:1-5

 

For Zion’s sake I will not be silent,
for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
until her vindication shines forth like the dawn
and her victory like a burning torch.

Nations shall behold your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
you shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of the LORD.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the LORD,
a royal diadem held by your God.
No more shall people call you “Forsaken, “
or your land “Desolate, “
but you shall be called “My Delight, “
and your land “Espoused.”
For the LORD delights in you
and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin,
your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
so shall your God rejoice in you.

 

Responsorial Psalm Ps 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10

R. (3) Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Worship the LORD in holy attire.
Tremble before him, all the earth;
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.

 

Reading 2 1 Cor 12:4-11

 

Brothers and sisters:
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.
To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom;
to another, the expression of knowledge according to the
same Spirit;
to another, faith by the same Spirit;
to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit;
to another, mighty deeds;
to another, prophecy;
to another, discernment of spirits;
to another, varieties of tongues;
to another, interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same Spirit produces all of these,
distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.

 

Alleluia cf. 2 Thes 2:14

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God has called us through the Gospel
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Jn 2:1-11

 

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee,
and the mother of Jesus was there.
Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
When the wine ran short,
the mother of Jesus said to him,
“They have no wine.”
And Jesus said to her,
“Woman, how does your concern affect me?
My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servers,
“Do whatever he tells you.”Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings,
each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus told them,
“Fill the jars with water.”
So they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them,
“Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”
So they took it.
And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine,
without knowing where it came from
— although the servers who had drawn the water knew —,
the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him,
“Everyone serves good wine first,
and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one;
but you have kept the good wine until now.”
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee
and so revealed his glory,
and his disciples began to believe in him

Calling Sinners

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011616.cfm) reminds me that God is calling us sinners to follow him.

In airports, when people are late for boarding, their names are announced in the public address system. Once when we were traveling in a group, ordering food took longer than expected and we were not able to keep the time, and we were just surprised when our names were called because we are the only ones the plane is waiting for. We ran fast and were so ashamed coming into the airplane.  This is somewhat similar to the attention God gives to the "special" ones.

God calls the sinners to follow Him.

In the gospel, he did not mind people talking about Him. He says that he came to call sinners, not the self righteous. Like in the airport, he is calling each and every sinner to come to him, but without the intention of shaming us. He calls us to save us. To give us an opportunity to start again and live right.

May we be able to hear him calling us in a lot of different ways, and be humble enough to come to him and heed his call.

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 the reminder. Sorry for the times i ignore your call. Sorry for the times i do not recognize your voice. And thank you for not giving up on calling me. May I be aware and humble enough to recognize and heed your call. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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January 16, 2016

Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 310

 

Reading 1 1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1

 

There was a stalwart man from Benjamin named Kish,
who was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror,
son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite.
He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man.
There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul;
he stood head and shoulders above the people.

Now the asses of Saul’s father, Kish, had wandered off.
Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you
and go out and hunt for the asses.”
Accordingly they went through the hill country of Ephraim,
and through the land of Shalishah.
Not finding them there,
they continued through the land of Shaalim without success.
They also went through the land of Benjamin,
but they failed to find the animals.

When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD assured him,
“This is the man of whom I told you; he is to govern my people.”

Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said,
“Please tell me where the seer lives.”
Samuel answered Saul: “I am the seer.
Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today.
In the morning, before dismissing you,
I will tell you whatever you wish.”

Then, from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head;
he also kissed him, saying:
“The LORD anoints you commander over his heritage.
You are to govern the LORD’s people Israel,
and to save them from the grasp of their enemies roundabout.

“This will be the sign for you
that the LORD has anointed you commander over his heritage.”

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

 

R. (2a) Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
O LORD, in your strength the king is glad;
in your victory how greatly he rejoices!
You have granted him his heart’s desire;
you refused not the wish of his lips.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
For you welcomed him with goodly blessings,
you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked life of you: you gave him
length of days forever and ever.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
Great is his glory in your victory;
majesty and splendor you conferred upon him.
For you made him a blessing forever;
you gladdened him with the joy of your face.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

 

Alleluia Lk 4:18

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Mk 2:13-17

 

Jesus went out along the sea.
All the crowd came to him and he taught them.
As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus,
sitting at the customs post.
Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed Jesus.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples;
for there were many who followed him.
Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners
and tax collectors and said to his disciples,
“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus heard this and said to them,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

 

Influence

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011516.cfm) reminds me that it is important to choose who we are surrounded by.

Parents often remind their children to choose their friends wisely because it usually is a big influence on the child. I used to think this is not true, but looking st s lot of cases, this is usually true. Although there are people who don't get affected by the behavior of their friends, generally people do get affected. Those who hang out with intelligent and hardworking people get the same values as well.

We should be careful who we surround ourselves with.

The first reading and the gospel present different situations. The people in the first reading were rumbling against God. They rebelled and wanted someone to be their king. They did not want to remain to be under God. However, the paralytic in the gospel had great friends - friends who had faith and cared for him, and eventually made way for him to be healed.

Friends usually affect how we behave. Their attitudes and values rub on to us, regardless of we notice it or not. And the more we interact with them, the more we hang out with them, the more they influence us. So we should choose our friends wisely, and in the same way, we should be good influences to those around us - bringing them closer to God.

May we be more aware of who we surround ourselves with, and be more conscious of how we behave and influence others.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another reminder. Lord, help me choose wisely who I surround myself with. Help me be aware. And help me be detached and let go of people who do not bring me closer to you. Send me people who would increase my faith and love for you. I also ask you to help me become a good person, a good influence to those around me. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2015/01/faith-of-others.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2015/12/would-you-do-same.html

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January 15, 2016

Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 309

 

Reading 1 1 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22a

 

All the elders of Israel came in a body to Samuel at Ramah
and said to him, “Now that you are old,
and your sons do not follow your example,
appoint a king over us, as other nations have, to judge us.”
Samuel was displeased when they asked for a king to judge them.
He prayed to the LORD, however, who said in answer:
“Grant the people’s every request.
It is not you they reject, they are rejecting me as their king.”

Samuel delivered the message of the LORD in full
to those who were asking him for a king.
He told them:
“The rights of the king who will rule you will be as follows:
He will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and horses,
and they will run before his chariot.
He will also appoint from among them his commanders of groups
of a thousand and of a hundred soldiers.
He will set them to do his plowing and his harvesting,
and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.
He will use your daughters as ointment makers, as cooks, and as bakers.
He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive groves,
and give them to his officials.
He will tithe your crops and your vineyards,
and give the revenue to his eunuchs and his slaves.
He will take your male and female servants,
as well as your best oxen and your asses,
and use them to do his work.
He will tithe your flocks and you yourselves will become his slaves.
When this takes place,
you will complain against the king whom you have chosen,
but on that day the LORD will not answer you.”

The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel’s warning and said,
“Not so! There must be a king over us.
We too must be like other nations,
with a king to rule us and to lead us in warfare
and fight our battles.”
When Samuel had listened to all the people had to say,
he repeated it to the LORD, who then said to him,
“Grant their request and appoint a king to rule them.”

 

Responsorial Psalm PS 89:16-17, 18-19

 

R. (2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
For you are the splendor of their strength,
and by your favor our horn is exalted.
For to the LORD belongs our shield,
and to the Holy One of Israel, our King.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

 

Alleluia Lk 7:16

 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel Mk 2:1-12

 

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,
it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,
not even around the door,
and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,
they opened up the roof above him.
After they had broken through,
they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him,
“Child, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
Jesus immediately knew in his mind what
they were thinking to themselves,
so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”
–he said to the paralytic,
“I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”
He rose, picked up his mat at once,
and went away in the sight of everyone.
They were all astounded
and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”