Look Inside First

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/062617.cfm) reminds me to look inside ourselves first and not be quick to judge others. 

Bob Marley is one of the more popular artists in our time. Probably the most popular reggae artist at that. 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 and not find fault in others.

May we focus on ourselves and how we can improve and not look at the imperfections of others.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. 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. Sorry for being too critical and for judging others. 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. When I see imperfections, may I help them, not condemn or judge them. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

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June 26, 2017
Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 371

Reading 1GN 12:1-9

The LORD said to Abram:
"Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk
and from your father's house to a land that I will show you.

"I will make of you a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
so that you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you
and curse those who curse you.
All the communities of the earth
shall find blessing in you."

Abram went as the LORD directed him, and Lot went with him.
Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
Abram took his wife, Sarai, his brother's son Lot,
all the possessions that they had accumulated,
and the persons they had acquired in Haran,
and they set out for the land of Canaan.
When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land
as far as the sacred place at Shechem,
by the terebinth of Moreh.
(The Canaanites were then in the land.)

The LORD appeared to Abram and said,
"To your descendants I will give this land."
So Abram built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him.
From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel,
pitching his tent with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east.
He built an altar there to the LORD and invoked the LORD by name.
Then Abram journeyed on by stages to the Negeb.

Responsorial PsalmPS 33:12-13, 18-19, 20 AND 22

R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

AlleluiaHEB 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.

GospelMT 7:1-5

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Stop judging, that you may not be judged.
For as you judge, so will you be judged,
and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
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."

Precious

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/062517.cfm) reminds me that I am precious in God's eyes. 

In school, we are very conscious of the focus of people in authority. Students are more likely to be rough and naughty when they know the attention of the teacher is not on them. Mas makulit yung mga bata pag wala and teacher. They maximize the fact that human beings have limited view and capability to monitor people, and they wait until the attention is not on them before they do what they want to do. This is how we as humans function, with limited view and capabilities, but not God.

God has his eyes on all his creations. 

In the gospel, Jesus tells us that God has his eyes on the sparrow – which is worth very little in this world. God created everything, and as such, he looks after everything – even the seemingly insignificant creatures in this world. If he has his eyes on these creatures, much more on us who are made in his image and likeness. God can do that, to watch over everyone and everything, but as his greatest creatures, his masterpieces, he has more focus on human beings. Even the hair on our head is counted. He watches over us in that level of detail. That is how special we are. That is how special I am to God. 

You are special in God's eyes. 

God watching over us is not just so he knows what we are doing. Jesus warns us of what we should be afraid of and careful about – those who can take our life into this world and the next – the devil. We should be careful of falling into sin, into the devil’s traps that will affect where we will spend eternity in. However, as God is watching over us, he also is protecting us. He is guiding us and he sends his angels to make sure we have reminders to do good and fight the devil. He watches over us and he is powerful over anything That’s what we should remember.

May we find courage that our great God always has his eyes on us, and always be reminded of how special we are in God's eyes. 

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. Lord, thank you for loving me and watching over me. thank you for protecting me. I am sorry for the times I ignore you and do what is not pleasing to your sight. Sorry for doubting myself and my worth. Sorry for forgetting this. Help me remember you, to live right in your eyes. Help me remember how special I am as a child of God. And help me live like that - like the son of a King. Help me live pleasing to you and doing your will all the time. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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June 25, 2017
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 94

Reading 1JER 20:10-13

Jeremiah said:
"I hear the whisperings of many:
'Terror on every side!
Denounce! let us denounce him!'
All those who were my friends
are on the watch for any misstep of mine.
'Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,
and take our vengeance on him.'
But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion:
my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.
In their failure they will be put to utter shame,
to lasting, unforgettable confusion.
O LORD of hosts, you who test the just,
who probe mind and heart,
let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause.
Sing to the LORD,
praise the LORD,
for he has rescued the life of the poor
from the power of the wicked!"

Responsorial PsalmPS 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35

R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me.
For your sake I bear insult,
and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers,
a stranger to my children,
Because zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
I pray to you, O LORD,
for the time of your favor, O God!
In your great kindness answer me
with your constant help.
Answer me, O LORD, for bounteous is your kindness;
in your great mercy turn toward me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
"See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.
Let the heavens and the earth praise him,
the seas and whatever moves in them!''
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Reading 2ROM 5:12-15

Brothers and sisters:
Through one man sin entered the world,
and through sin, death,
and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned—
for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world,
though sin is not accounted when there is no law.
But death reigned from Adam to Moses,
even over those who did not sin
after the pattern of the trespass of Adam,
who is the type of the one who was to come.

But the gift is not like the transgression.
For if by the transgression of the one the many died,
how much more did the grace of God
and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ
overflow for the many.

AlleluiaJN 15:26B, 27A

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord;
and you also will testify.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelMT 10:26-33

Jesus said to the Twelve:
"Fear no one.
Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;
what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;
rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy
both soul and body in Gehenna.
Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?
Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge.
Even all the hairs of your head are counted.
So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Everyone who acknowledges me before others
I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
But whoever denies me before others,

I will deny before my heavenly Father."

What Will I Be?

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/062417.cfm) reminds me that God has great plans for me. 

Today, we celebrate the solemnity of the Nativity of St John the Baptist. We know that he is a cousin or a relative of Jesus, and he did great things for God’s kingdom. He preached about the kingdom and the Messiah, but was consistent in denying that he was the chosen one. he prepared the way for Jesus, and worked hard doing so.

Supporting cast can be great too.

John the Baptist was not talking about himself. He was preparing the way for Jesus. He directed all attention to Jesus, never to himself. This reminds us that we need not be overachievers to be great in God’s eyes. What matters to him is our hearts – that we point to him all the time.

When John was born, holy fear came to his town. They were thinking that he would be a mighty person, since his birth is a special occasion. And indeed he did great. This reminds me that we too should strive to be great and do great things for God. No matter where we are right now, no matter what we have done in the past, all the sins we have committed, is not as important as what lies ahead of us. 

God’s plans for us are greater than our past.

In the same way that John allowed himself to be used by God, we too just need to allow ourselves to be used by God. He will use us mightily, we just have to surrender and submit to his will.

May we be ready to surrender to God, and like John, let God lead our lives for his greater glory.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. thank you for another reminder. Lord, I am sorry for the times I only think of myself. Sorry for the times I just do what I want, regardless of the implications or the moral issues of my actions. Sorry for the times I doubt your great plans for me. Sorry for the times I look down on myself. Help me be like John. Help me to always submit to you and allow you to use me to build your kingdom here on earth. May I be able to do great things for you and through you. amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

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June 24, 2017
Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Mass during the Day
Lectionary: 587

Reading 1IS 49:1-6

Hear me, O coastlands,
listen, O distant peoples.
The LORD called me from birth,
from my mother's womb he gave me my name.
He made of me a sharp-edged sword
and concealed me in the shadow of his arm.
He made me a polished arrow,
in his quiver he hid me.
You are my servant, he said to me,
Israel, through whom I show my glory.

Though I thought I had toiled in vain,
and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength,
yet my reward is with the LORD,
my recompense is with my God.
For now the LORD has spoken
who formed me as his servant from the womb,
that Jacob may be brought back to him
and Israel gathered to him;
and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,
and my God is now my strength!
It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

Responsorial PsalmPS 139:1B-3, 13-14AB, 14C-15

R. (14) I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
O LORD, you have probed me, you know me:
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother's womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.
R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
My soul also you knew full well;
nor was my frame unknown to you
When I was made in secret,
when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.
R. I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.

Reading 2ACTS 13:22-26

In those days, Paul said:
"God raised up David as king; 
of him God testified,
I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.
From this man's descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.'

"My brothers, sons of the family of Abraham,
and those others among you who are God-fearing,
to us this word of salvation has been sent."

AlleluiaSEE LK 1:76

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelLK 1:57-66, 80

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
"No. He will be called John."
But they answered her,
"There is no one among your relatives who has this name."
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name,"
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
"What, then, will this child be?"
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
The child grew and became strong in spirit, 
and he was in the desert until the day

of his manifestation to Israel.

Sacred Heart of Jesus

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/062317.cfm) reminds me of God's divine love for us. 

Today is the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It reminds us of Christ's intense and divine love for us. 

What comes into mind when one sees an image of a heart?

Some, probably the scientists and physicians, would associate heart with science and remember one of the most important organ in the human body.

Well, that is true.

However, I believe most of the people would associate heart with love. And I believe that is what Jesus, through the readings today, wants to tell us.

In the first reading we see God taking care of us, his flock. He loves and takes care of us. He protects us. Nanjan sya kahit hindi natin alam, kahit hindi natin napapansin or pinapansin. His love is unconditional, na kahit hindi mo I acknowledge, kahit hindi ka magpasalamat, hindi sya titigil magmahal. He is willing to die for us. To protect us. To guide us. To save us. And that is exactly what Jesus did for us. 

In the second reading, we see the first reading concretized. Hindi na concept yung pagmamahal ni God. Hindi na theoretical yung shepherd willing to die for his sheep. We see that this love is true. While it is easy to love our family, friends and those who love us, pero mahirap mahalin ang kaaway. Mahirap mahalin ang sumasakit sayo. But this is exactly what Christ did. He loved us while we were still sinners. He did not wait for us to change and love him before loving and saving us. He died for us while we were still sinners. While we were still hurting him. He died to save us. That's how he loved us. That's how he proved his love for us. 

God invites us to love him and to love others. In the second reading, he also tells us to remain in his love. In the gospel, God wants us to love him and follow him and come to him. Love should be an action. A decision. 

God loves you even if you don't love him. 

Do I know that God really loves me so much? Do I value God’s love for me? IS it enough for God to tell me how special and worthy I am, or do I still look for love and affirmation of other people to make me feel good about myself? How can I love others and make them feel God’s love?

May we always remember how much God loves us, and live to make that love alive in the world. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for your reminder. Thank you for loving me, even if I am unworthy. Lord, I am sorry for sinning and hurting you. Pero Lord salamat, kasi kahit pasaway ako, that does not stop you from loving me. Thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for loving me even if I hurt you. Thank you for dying for me. Lord, help me value to your love for me and may I find my worth in your love and not in others. May I always remember how divine your love for me is. Today and every day, may I always remember how much you love me, and may I be a vessel of your love to others. Use me to make your love more alive in this world.  Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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June 23, 2017
Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Lectionary: 170

Reading 1DT 7:6-11

Moses said to the people:
"You are a people sacred to the LORD, your God;
he has chosen you from all the nations on the face of the earth
to be a people peculiarly his own.
It was not because you are the largest of all nations
that the LORD set his heart on you and chose you,
for you are really the smallest of all nations.
It was because the LORD loved you
and because of his fidelity to the oath he had sworn your fathers,
that he brought you out with his strong hand
from the place of slavery,
and ransomed you from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
Understand, then, that the LORD, your God, is God indeed,
the faithful God who keeps his merciful covenant
down to the thousandth generation
toward those who love him and keep his commandments,
but who repays with destruction a person who hates him;
he does not dally with such a one,
but makes them personally pay for it.
You shall therefore carefully observe the commandments,
the statutes and the decrees that I enjoin on you today."

Responsorial PsalmPS 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 10

R. (cf. 17) The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

Reading 21 JN 4:7-16

Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.

This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.

God is love, and whoever remains in love
remains in God and God in him.

AlleluiaMT 11:29AB

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord;
and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelMT 11:25-30

At that time Jesus exclaimed:
"I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father. 
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves. 

For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."