Change Early

The WORD today reminds me that we should change our ways on the early stages, while it is still possible.

In software development, managers, programmers and analysts want corrections to be done in the earlier phases of the project. It is easier to correct and will cost less, as compared to having all the corrections and changes done when a system or a product is already almost finished. Worse, if a product or software is already released and in production, and errors are discovered, it will be most costly, not to mention the negative image the group will have on the users. This is similar to what God wants us to do in the gospel.

It is easier to repent early, than wait for the final judgment and suffer the consequences

In the gospel, Jesus tells the people to make amends and settle things on the way to the magistrate. Otherwise, if no  amends were made before the decision is finalized, they will have to suffer the full consequences of their actions. Jesus wants us to prepare and change our ways early on, when it is still easier, and when we still can. Otherwise, if we don’t make amends and settle, God will eventually come and judge us, and we will be made accountable for all the sins we have committed. We will bear eternal punishment

Sometimes, we don’t feel like making amends. Sometimes we don’t feel like repenting or changing our ways. We think judgment day is far off, and that we will have time when we are old or before we die. Sometimes we totally forget about it when we get caught up in the busyness of life. Today, we are reminded of what we should do and how we should act.

What aspects of my life should I change? What bad habits and attitudes should I let go? What am I waiting for before I change my ways?

May we heed His call and act early, repent, and prepare for eternity.

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.  I thank you for knowing me and knowing how to get through me. Sometimes life gets very busy that I forget these things. Sometimes I just push it off.  Lord, sorry for the times I ignore you. Sorry for not preparing for eternity. Sorry for being complacent. Help me to make the resolve. Help me to repent and live right, so that I won’t have to face you on judgment day unprepared. Help me prove by my life that I want to spend eternity with you. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

October 25 2019

«

 October 24  |  October 26 »

Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 477

Reading 1 ROM 7:18-25A

Brothers and sisters:
I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh.
The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not.
For I do not do the good I want,
but I do the evil I do not want.
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it,
but sin that dwells in me.
So, then, I discover the principle
that when I want to do right, evil is at hand.
For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self,
but I see in my members another principle
at war with the law of my mind,
taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
Miserable one that I am!
Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Responsorial Psalm PS 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94

R.(68b) Lord, teach me your statutes.
Teach me wisdom and knowledge,
for in your commands I trust.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
You are good and bountiful;
teach me your statutes.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
Never will I forget your precepts,
for through them you give me life.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.
I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts.
R. Lord, teach me your statutes.

Alleluia SEE MT 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelLK 12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds,
“When you see a cloud rising in the west
you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does;
and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south
you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.
You hypocrites!
You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky;
why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,
make an effort to settle the matter on the way;
otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge,
and the judge hand you over to the constable,
and the constable throw you into prison.
I say to you, you will not be released
until you have paid the last penny.”

Divided

The WORD today reminds me that God will divide those who believe in him from those who do not.

In our society, affiliations are powerful. We see entitled people get their way just because of their or their family's money, power and connections. Even if one is personally not powerful, being a spouse, children, or even relative of a powerful and influential person can make a big difference in society. It may work in the world, but not with God.

Each of us has to choose if we are for or against God. Individually.

Jesus is the prince of peace, but the gospel seems to contradict that at first glance. However, looking at it closely, we will see that it is not an intentional division. Jesus reminds us that he comes to divide those who are following him from those who are not. And we have to choose individually. Our family cannot choose for us.

Choosing him is a personal decision. And it is not a one time decision. If we constantly sin, we are telling God we want death over life with him. This is why God wants to separate us, his followers, from those who do not follow him. This is why he brings division - even from our families.

Family is very important, especially to us Filipinos. Through thick and thin, family stays together. A family should be one, with no issues and division. However, we are reminded in today’s gospel that nothing should come in between us and God. Nothing and no one. A division may occur among friends, among those we love, and even among family members, as we try to follow God.  However, we are reminded that we should not let attachment come in between our faith, and nothing should separate us from God.

How is my relationship with God? Do I choose him and make him first always, or is there something or someone who gets in the way? Does my family bring me closer to God?

God’s ways are not always easy, but it always worth it. May we be encouraged to stand firm, and avoid division by doing our best to bring our loved ones to Christ as well.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another opportunity to experience you. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I do not choose you. Sorry for not always standing up for you. Sorry for not bringing others to you. Lord, I pray for strength to stand firm, to stand for you no matter what happens. Help me be brave and live and defend my faith and love for you. I ask that you help me to also spread your love to others. May I also bring others, especially those whom I love, closer to you. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

October 24 2019

«

 October 23  |  October 25 »

Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 476

Reading 1 ROM 6:19-23

Brothers and sisters:
I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your nature.
For just as you presented the parts of your bodies as slaves to impurity
and to lawlessness for lawlessness,
so now present them as slaves to righteousness for sanctification.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness.
But what profit did you get then
from the things of which you are now ashamed?
For the end of those things is death.
But now that you have been freed from sin and have become slaves of God,
the benefit that you have leads to sanctification,
and its end is eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Responsorial Psalm PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6

R.(Ps 40:5) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Alleluia PHIL 3:8-9

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I consider all things so much rubbish
that I may gain Christ and be found in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided,
three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son
and a son against his father,
a mother against her daughter
and a daughter against her mother,
a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Live Wisely

The WORD today reminds me that I should live wisely.

I think the famous line from spider man, with great power comes great responsibility, is similar to the last verse from today's gospel. An uncle of mine always mentions this bible verse to us, as a reminder of our responsibility not only to our family, but more so to others who do not have the capacity to pay us back for helping them out. To whom much is given, much is required. Also, a very dear lasallian brother told us before his take on it. To whom much is given, much is expected. This us true not only with our financial blessings, but also on how we live our life and take care of our souls.

"Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,

and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

God expects more from us as more things are revealed to us. Scary? More like challenging. God expects more from us as we know him more, because that's what the natural reaction should be. The more we know God, the more we feel his love, the more we experience his gentleness and forgiveness, the more we should want to stay away from sin - from hurting him. The more we know him, the more we realize his love for us, the more we should love him back and live pleasing to Him. Consistently as well, for we do not know when God will come again. We need to be ready and prepared when he comes. 

On the other hand, If after knowing and experiencing these things from God and we don't change and don't improve, then something's wrong. If after feeling his love and knowing how much he loves us, and still we choose to ignore him, we choose to sin, then we are telling him that we do not love him. We are telling him that we do not want to be with him. Thus, someone fully aware of God's love and his will, yet choose to live away from him will eventually be punished more than someone who is ignorant of these.

How do I live? Do I live following God’s ways or doing my way? How do I prepare for eternity? Do I tell God I love him and want to be with him, or do I tell him I want to be away from him? What should I do to prepare?

May we first allow God to love us, allow God to make us feel and experience his love, gentleness, power and forgiveness in our lives - and may it move us to change our lives to please him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for continuously revealing yourself to me. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I don't do what is pleasing to you. Sorry for my sins that tell you I love myself more than I love you. Help me live right. Lord, I allow you to love me. May I experience your love in a deep, personal and intimate way. And as i do so, I pray that you give me the heart that would always want to love you, serve you, please you and continuously change for the better. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

October 23 2019

« 

October 22  |  October 24 »

Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 475

Reading 1 ROM 6:12-18

Brothers and sisters:
Sin must not reign over your mortal bodies
so that you obey their desires.
And do not present the parts of your bodies to sin
as weapons for wickedness,
but present yourselves to God as raised from the dead to life
and the parts of your bodies to God
as weapons for righteousness.
For sin is not to have any power over you,
since you are not under the law but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law
but under grace?
Of course not!
Do you not know that if you present yourselves
to someone as obedient slaves,
you are slaves of the one you obey,
either of sin, which leads to death,
or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
But thanks be to God that, although you were once slaves of sin,
you have become obedient from the heart
to the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted.
Freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.

Responsorial Psalm PS 124:1B-3, 4-6, 7-8

R.(8a) Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Had not the LORD been with us,
let Israel say, had not the LORD been with us–
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive;
When their fury was inflamed against us.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept the raging waters.
Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave us
a prey to their teeth.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
We were rescued like a bird
from the fowlers' snare;
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

Alleluia MT 24:42A, 44

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stay awake!
For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 12:39-48

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."

Then Peter said,
"Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?"
And the Lord replied,
"Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward
whom the master will put in charge of his servants
to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.
Truly, I say to you, he will put him
in charge of all his property.
But if that servant says to himself,
'My master is delayed in coming,'
and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants,
to eat and drink and get drunk,
then that servant's master will come
on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour
and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
That servant who knew his master's will
but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will
shall be beaten severely;
and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will
but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating
shall be beaten only lightly.
Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.

Ready

The WORD today reminds me that I should always be ready to meet God.

It’s ironic that all of us want to go to heaven, but we don’t want to talk about death. We don't want to die. However, death is real, and everyone will have do experience it to go to heaven. That is why it is important to prepare for it while we are still alive.

Gird you loins and light your lamps.

In the gospel, Jesus said that the servants should gird their loins and light their lamp. Girding the loin in those days meant to be ready for battle, or to simply be ready. And a servant who has a lighted lamp as he waits for the master’s return means that servant is ready, and awake. That’s how we should be. That’s how we should live our lives. Ready. Ready to meet him.

How can we be ready?

We do a lot of things. We pray, that’s good. We go to mass on Sundays and if we have time, probably more than once a week. We read the bible. We confess. We help others with what we have. Yes, those are good things. Those are helpful things in preparing. But I believe those are not enough. Merely praying is not enough. Everyone can pray, even the scribes and Pharisees during Jesus time, but simple praying doesn’t guarantee salvation. We can pray with our hearts closed and far from God. Merely hearing mass is not enough too. We can be at mass, everyday, but not participate and be distracted with other things, other people. If we are in mass but our lives are not consistent with Christ’s, then it is not enough. We can read the bible, but if we read it using our minds, using intellect, and not the heart, then it is not enough. We can do good things, but if we do it to show off, then we already got our reward.

What we need to be prepared is simple – a surrendered heart.

A surrendered heart to Christ. As we surrender our hearts to Him, our motives are purified. Our actions will be sanctified. Our prayers will be aligned to his. our prayers will be to happen what God wants in our lives. When we hear mass, we fully participate and allow God to mold us, and to enter our lives especially as we receive the Eucharist. We allow him to consume us. We read the bible with an open heart, asking to reveal to us his messages everyday. And as we do good works, we don’t mind if no one recognizes us, because we do it to show love to God through others

May we be challenged and prepare to be ready to meet God when he calls us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for giving me another day to live. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for another opportunity to prepare my life as I the day I will meet you draws nearer. Lord, sorry fr the times I forget this. Sorry for not giving this the attention it deserves. Sorry for being lazy and complacent. I ask that you help me surrender my heart to you. help me surrender my life, little by little, day by day. I ask that as I do so, you help me purify my thoughts, actions and motives. Help me live right so I will always be prepared. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

October 22 2019

« October 21  |  October 23 »

Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 474

Reading 1 ROM 5:12, 15B, 17-19, 20B-21

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.

If by that one person's transgression 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.
For if, by the transgression of the one,
death came to reign through that one,
how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace
and the gift of justification
come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, just as through one transgression
condemnation came upon all,
so, through one righteous act
acquittal and life came to all.
For just as through the disobedience of one man
the many were made sinners,
so, through the obedience of the one
the many will be made righteous.
Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more,
so that, as sin reigned in death,
grace also might reign through justification
for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Responsorial Psalm PS 40:7-8A, 8B-9, 10, 17

R.(8a and 9a) Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you,
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, "The LORD be glorified."
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Alleluia LK 21:36

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 12:35-38

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master's return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants."

Foolish

The WORD today reminds me that it is foolish to focus on material things.

I used to play the game Shadow Fight 2 on my phone. The game, though action type, requires energy for you to fight. You also need coins so you can upgrade your weapons and armor. Coins are earned by fighting small battles. One time, I badly wanted to defeat the big boss of the level so I fought consecutive battles to win coins so I can upgrade my weapons and armor. I was happy because I had enough coins to get upgrades, so the fight would be relatively easy. However, in the middle of the battle, the game suddenly shut down. Hassle. When I restarted the game, not only was my progress not saved, but my coins were lost as well! Super hassle!

That is something I don’t want to happen in life, and Jesus reminds us today not to let that happen, especially with our spiritual life.

It is foolish to accumulate worldly riches at the expense of eternal ones

Money, power, fame and influence take time to accumulate. However, it can be easily taken from us, either by someone more powerful, more famous, more influential or someone with more money. Worse, it can be taken overnight by God, when he decides to take us out of this world – only us with nothing we can bring. This is why we should not forget to accumulate eternal riches as well.

Worldly riches are not bad in themselves. They become bad, however, when they become the purpose of life. they become evil when we commit evil and forget our values just to get more of them. IT becomes foolish when we focus on these riches and forget heavenly things and treasures we can work for even if we’re still here on earth.

We won’t be around forever, so we do not need too much. I believe God always gives us enough to get by - enough for our needs. He gives us enough blessings to live and be able to serve him. The extras that we want are just that - wants. We compare ourself with others. We want others to look up to us or envy us. These are unnecessary, and the cause of our unhappiness.

Do I have a lot in life? How? Do I want a lot in life? Why? Do I want more than what i need because I want to share with others, or because I want to show off to other? How did I get my riches? Did I compromise my values and my faith, or did I work hard and honest to get them?

May we remember to also focus on heavenly things – to do good, to pray, to spend time with and serve God, even as we accumulate and work for earthly riches to not only to survive here on earth, but to share with others as well.

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 week. thank you for the reminder not to be a rich fool. Lord, sorry for the times I act like the rich fool. Sorry for being too focused on worldly things that I neglect spiritual ones. Sorry for not giving enough time and attention for you. I ask that you help me focus on you and live right. Help me live wise. May I never be too focused on accumulating earthly riches at the expense of my soul. May my focus always be right and my values intact. Help me live preparing for the time you will call me to be with you. Amen.

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

October 21 2019

« 

October 20  |  October 22 »

Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 473

Reading 1 ROM 4:20-25

Brothers and sisters:
Abraham did not doubt God's promise in unbelief;
rather, he was empowered by faith and gave glory to God
and was fully convinced that what God had promised
he was also able to do.
That is why it was credited to him as righteousness.
But it was not for him alone that it was written
that it was credited to him;
it was also for us, to whom it will be credited,
who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
who was handed over for our transgressions
and was raised for our justification.

Responsorial Psalm LUKE 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75

R.(see 68) Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
He has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
R. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
R. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.
R. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

Alleluia MT 5:3

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are the poor in spirit;
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,
"Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me."
He replied to him,
"Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?"
Then he said to the crowd,
"Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich,
one's life does not consist of possessions."

Then he told them a parable.
"There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.
He asked himself, 'What shall I do,
for I do not have space to store my harvest?'
And he said, 'This is what I shall do:
I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.
There I shall store all my grain and other goods
and I shall say to myself, "Now as for you,
you have so many good things stored up for many years,
rest, eat, drink, be merry!"'
But God said to him,
'You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?'
Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself
but is not rich in what matters to God."

Surrendered

The WORD today reminds me how powerful surrendering to God is. 

In the first reading, we see the story of Moses, Joshua and the whole Israelites going to war with Amalek. They went to war and as long as Moses had his hands raised, they got the upper hand in battle. Imagine it. Wow. This must have been a cool sight. if his hands were raised they were winning. If he got tired and lowered his hands, the enemies take over. Wow. How magical, right? But why were his raising of hands powerful? Probably because it signified his surrender to God.

Surrender to God is not a sign of weakness and defeat. Is it a sign of humility and power. 

In praise and worship, one of the outward signs of surrendering is the raising of hands. Think of someone being held up, or being arrested. As filipino actors would say in his movies, suko na ako, taas na ang kamay ko sayo. One raises the hands as a sign of surrender. That’s what Moses was doing. Raising his hands, surrendering to God not only himself but his people. 

It is wise to surrender to God. It is wise to surrender to the almighty being who made heaven and earth, as the psalmist says. And it is wise to surrender to and keep calling on God, as Jesus pointed out in the gospel. We need to be persistent, just like the widow in the parable. Just like Moses who would raise up his hands after he gets weak. Minsan kailangan maging makulit. 

However, surrender is not a one time decision. It is an everyday, constant decision. The battle was not won in one sitting. A one time raising of Moses hands was not enough. Raising the hands can become painful if done for a long period of time, that is why he had Aaron and Hur to help him raise his hands, and eventually they won the battle. This is the important of having friends who would support us in our spiritual journey. It is also a call to be friends who would support and help others who are weak. Surrendering to God can be painful, and we may eventually get tired and weary. It may lead us to go back to where it was comfortable. That is why we need people to help and support us, to make sure we push despite the challenges and hardships, that we continue to surrender to God until the time we will be called to meet him face to face.

How can I surrender my life and decisions to God? What can I do to surrender? What prevents me from fully surrendering to God? What is he asking from me today? 

May we be willing to always surrender to God, and be friends who would help and encourage others do the same. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for giving me another day to live. Thank you for another opportunity to know more about you. Lord, thank you for the reminder on surrender. Lord, I am sorry for the times I refuse to surrender to you and instead trust in myself or on others. Sorry for being hard headed. And sorry for the times I give up. Sorry for the times I put my hands down when I feel pain and when I get tired and weary.  Lord, help me to always surrender to you. Help me choose to submit to you everyday all of my concerns, worries, fears, dreams and my plans. I just lift them up to you and trust that you would take care of everything. I also pray that you send me people to always help me and guide me and remind me to continuously and faithfully surrender to you, despite all the pain it may cause me. In the same way, I ask that you use me to help others surrender to you as well. Have your way in me always. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g- 

Ps

See related reflection:

https://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2018/11/pray-always.html

Daily Readings

October 20 2019

« October 19  |  October 21 »

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 147

Reading 1 EX 17:8-13

In those days, Amalek came and waged war against Israel.
Moses, therefore, said to Joshua,
"Pick out certain men,
and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle.
I will be standing on top of the hill
with the staff of God in my hand."
So Joshua did as Moses told him:
he engaged Amalek in battle
after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur.
As long as Moses kept his hands raised up,
Israel had the better of the fight,
but when he let his hands rest,
Amalek had the better of the fight.
Moses'hands, however, grew tired;
so they put a rock in place for him to sit on.
Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands,
one on one side and one on the other,
so that his hands remained steady till sunset.
And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people
with the edge of the sword.

Responsorial Psalm PS 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

R.(cf. 2)  Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
I lift up my eyes toward the mountains;
whence shall help come to me?
My help is from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
May he not suffer your foot to slip;
may he slumber not who guards you:
indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps,
the guardian of Israel.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The LORD is your guardian; the LORD is your shade;
he is beside you at your right hand.
The sun shall not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The LORD will guard you from all evil;
he will guard your life.
The LORD will guard your coming and your going,
both now and forever.
R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Reading 2 2 TM 3:14-4:2

Beloved:
Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed,
because you know from whom you learned it,
and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures,
which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is inspired by God
and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction,
and for training in righteousness,
so that one who belongs to God may be competent,
equipped for every good work.

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,
who will judge the living and the dead,
and by his appearing and his kingly power:
proclaim the word;
be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient;
convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.

Alleluia HEB 4:12

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

Gospel LK 18:1-8

Jesus told his disciples a parable
about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.
He said, "There was a judge in a certain town
who neither feared God nor respected any human being.
And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,
'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.'
For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,
'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,
because this widow keeps bothering me
I shall deliver a just decision for her
lest she finally come and strike me.'"
The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.
Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
who call out to him day and night?
Will he be slow to answer them?
I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.
But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Faithful Forever

The WORD today reminds me that God will always be faithful. 

In the first reading, God made a covenant to Abraham. God told Abraham that he will be the father of nations, that he will have a lot of descendants. This was not too easy for Abraham to believe. Why? Because when this happened, he was ninety-nine years old! To be told that he will be the father of nations was probably something he would not take seriously. However, Abraham had great faith – greater than the negative circumstances around him. He hoped against hope and trusted in God.

Good thing God really keeps his word!

We know that God kept his word and made a great nation from Abraham. God saw his faith and rewarded it. 

In the gospel, Jesus reminds us that we should acknowledge God so eventually God will acknowledge us. Of course, this goes beyond lip service. We should acknowledge him by the way we live. In the latter part of the gospel, we are also assured that God will be there for us. We just have to trust in him. 

God keeps our covenant to us. He will keep his word – that he will take care of us, that he has great plans for us, that he will protect us, that he will love us. No matter what we are facing right now, God’s covenant still holds true. 

However, we need to keep our part of the covenant as well. Does this mean that God will only keep his part if we keep ours? Probably not… but if we wont keep our part, it’s like us saying we don’t want God to keep his part. IF we wont submit to his will, it will be hard for him to make his great plans for us come true. If we run away from him, it will be hard for him to protect us. IF we do not take care of ourself and others, it will be hard for God to take care of us. If we continue to sin and harden our hearts towards him, it will be hard for him to make his love alive in our lives, because we don’t allow God to love us.

The psalmist is right – the Lord remembers his covenant forever… he is faithful, so should we.

May remember how loving, powerful, and faithful God is, and may it give us inspiration to live rght and be faithful to him as well.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for reminding me that you will always be faithful to your covenant. I am sorry for the many times I broke my word to other people. I am sorry for the many times I broke my promises to you. Lord, I ask that you help me to be faithful to my word. Help me keep my promises – to other people and most especially, to you. Help me submit myself to your wlll. Help me be focused on you and on serving and loving you, and not to be distracted with the lies the world tells me. May I have great faith like Abraham, who focused on you and your word and not on his surroundings. May I be able to hope against hope and just trust in your word, especially when the situation tells me otherwise. Amen.

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

https://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2018/10/prepare-and-be-protected.html

Daily Readings

October 19 2019

« 

October 18  |  October 20 »

Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs
Lectionary: 472

Reading 1 ROM 4:13, 16-18

Brothers and sisters:
It was not through the law
that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants
that he would inherit the world,
but through the righteousness that comes from faith.
For this reason, it depends on faith,
so that it may be a gift,
and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants,
not to those who only adhere to the law
but to those who follow the faith of Abraham,
who is the father of all of us, as it is written,
I have made you father of many nations.
He is our father in the sight of God,
in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead
and calls into being what does not exist.
He believed, hoping against hope,
that he would become the father of many nations,
according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be.

Responsorial Psalm PS 105:6-7, 8-9, 42-43

R.(8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations –
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
For he remembered his holy word
to his servant Abraham.
And he led forth his people with joy;
with shouts of joy, his chosen ones.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

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.

Gospel LK 12:8-12

Jesus said to his disciples:
"I tell you,
everyone who acknowledges me before others
the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.
But whoever denies me before others
will be denied before the angels of God.

"Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,
but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will not be forgiven.
When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities,
do not worry about how or what your defense will be
or about what you are to say.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say."