Annunciation 2020

The WORD today reminds me how powerful saying Yes to God is.

Just a few months ago, we celebrated Christmas. Today, 9 months before December 25, we commemorate Jesus' Annunciation - when the Angel announced that Mary would bear a child, and more importantly, when Mary said yes and started Jesus’ earthly life. As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, we see that the readings focus on the joyful feast. The first reading gives prophecy on what will happen – that a virgin will bear a Son from God. The gospel fulfills that prophecy as Mama Mary said yes to being the earthly mother of God’s Son. Then in the second reading, we see that animal sacrifices cannot take away our sins, so God had to send his Son as a living sacrifice to save us. And we see how Jesus lived and quoted the psalm – “here I am Lord, I come to do your will”

Mama Mary’s simple yet powerful yes to God started great things.

Mary was visited by the angel in today’s gospel. She was told she would be the mother of God. How frightening it must have been for a young girl to be told this. She was also told that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and God’s power will overshadow her and make her pregnant. There were a lot of concerns, especially as she did not understand everything that will happen and how things will happen. However, she still said yes. She did not let her concerns or worries get in the way of saying yes to God, to serving God.

It is not easy serving God. Almost always, we are taken out of our comfort zones. Our schedules and plans will change. That’s why is not always an immediate yes when God calls us. However, we see that Mama Mary’s yes caused great things, and it enabled her to play a great part in God’s plan.

God calls us to do different things. Different and oftentimes, hard. These things may not be within our schedules and plans, but we should be inspired by Mama Mary’s faith filled Yes to God!

In what ways am I being called by God to serve him? How do I respond? Am I ready to give my yes to God? What hinders me from giving my yes to Him? Do I have faith that as I give my yes, God will use me mightily for his purpose, and equip me with the things that I need to serve him? Do I believe that as I die of myself and embrace his will, nothing is really impossible? How do I share my blessings and serve God through others with the covit19 situation we are in? 

May we always be ready and willing to say yes to God and echo the words: “May it be done to me according to your word” and Jesus’ “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will”.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for your reminder. Thank you for your love. Thank you for seeing the greatness in me, that no matter how simple and normal I am, like Mama Mary, you give me opportunities to serve you and become part of your great plans. Sorry for not always saying yes to you. Sorry for letting my fears and concerns get the best of me. Sorry for not focusing on you. Lord, give me a heart like Mama Mary. Help me to always surrender to you and abandon my concerns and worries and just say yes to you. Help me give and serve you through the people affected by the virus.  I have faith that as I respond to your call, you will equip me to do your work. May you use me to glorify you. Help us get through all this. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

March 25, 2020

Solemnity of The Annunciation of the Lord

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FIRST READING

Isaiah 7:10–14; 8:10

The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!” Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary people, must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us!”

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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 40:7–8a, 8b–9, 10, 11 (8a, 9a)

R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Holocausts 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 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.

Your justice I kept not hid within my heart; your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of; I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth in the vast assembly.

R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

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SECOND READING

Hebrews 10:4–10

Brothers and sisters:
It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats takes away sins. For this reason, when Christ came into the world, he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.’”

First Christ says, “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in.” These are offered according to the law. Then he says, “Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all.

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ALLELUIA

John 1:14ab

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us; and we saw his glory.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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GOSPEL

Luke 1:26–38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Take Up Your Mat

The WORD today reminds me how powerful obeying God's word is.

The gospel shows us the story of Jesus healing a man on a Sabbath. Unlike most miracles where he touches sick people, in the gospel, He need not touch the man. He just gave him instructions and he was healed - to rise up and walk. Jesus probably saw the faith in the man, and he recognized it. However, when he healed the man, it was not the end of it. Jesus told the man to rise up and take his mat. Jesus wanted the man not only to confirm to himself that he is well, but more so to obey him - to act and do his part to be fully healed.

Obeying God is powerful. 

Even if Jesus gave the instruction and healed the man, he would not have felt it had he not moved. He would not realize he has been healed if he did not obey Jesus. That’s what God wants from us. God wants us not only to have faith in him, but to obey as well.

Sometimes, God's ways are different from ours. Probably the man was expecting Jesus to touch him or carry him into the water to be healed. Probably the man was hopeless, as we saw in his answer to Jesus. Jesus just said the word. We too probably experience this. Sometimes we feel that God's ways are different, that it is not what we expect. Sometimes it may even seem crazy. However, as we saw in the gospel, as long as we obey, no matter what God tells us, then we would feel his healing love, we would get our prayers answered.

However, when the man saw Jesus again, Jesus continued to give him instructions. Jesus told him to live right. Jesus told him to not sin anymore so nothing worse may happen to him. He was given complete healing - both body and spirit. It is just up to the man if he will obey. And Jesus expects him to obey and live right to enjoy the benefits of his healing love.

We are going through a very challenging time right now. However, we know what God wants from us. We know ways of fighting the virus. We should stay home. We should help others - the front-liners and those affected by community lockdown. In our own little way, we can do things. Question is, will we like the man who will act. Will we be like the man who did his part to be healed and saved? How will we respond to the situation we are in?  

What are my prayers? What are my concerns? How does God answer me? Does he answer in ways I do not expect? How do I react? Do I obey him nonetheless? What is he telling me today?

May we be reminded to obey God, no matter how trivial or crazy his instructions for us are.

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, sorry for the times I don't obey you. Sorry for the times I want you to conform to what I want, and not for me to just humbly obey you. Help me have faith like the man, and help me have his will. May I always be ready to follow you no matter what you ask of me. May I always remember that simple acts become powerful if blessed by you. Help us and lead us Lord.  Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2019/04/never-hopeless.html

March 24, 2020

4th Week of Lent - Tuesday; Blessed Diego

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FIRST READING

Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12

The angel brought me, Ezekiel, back to the entrance of the temple of the LORD, and I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the façade of the temple was toward the east; the water flowed down from the right side of the temple, south of the altar. He led me outside by the north gate, and around to the outer gate facing the east, where I saw water trickling from the right side. Then when he had walked off to the east with a measuring cord in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and had me wade through the water, which was ankle-deep. He measured off another thousand and once more had me wade through the water, which was now knee-deep. Again he measured off a thousand and had me wade; the water was up to my waist. Once more he measured off a thousand, but there was now a river through which I could not wade; for the water had risen so high it had become a river that could not be crossed except by swimming. He asked me, “Have you seen this, son of man?” Then he brought me to the bank of the river, where he had me sit. Along the bank of the river I saw very many trees on both sides. He said to me, “This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah, and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh. Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

R. (8) The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.

R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High. God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed; God will help it at the break of dawn.

R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

The LORD of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. Come! behold the deeds of the LORD, the astounding things he has wrought on earth.

R. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

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VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL

Psalm 51:12a, 14a

A clean heart create for me, O God; give me back the joy of your salvation.

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GOSPEL

John 5:1-16

There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes. In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.

Now that day was a sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” He answered them, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’“ They asked him, “Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.

Great Faith

The WORD today reminds me why I should have great faith in God.

They say that success can drown people. People who have achieved much and who are important in society often think so highly of themselves. They want things done their way, their time. They are used to being the boss, the one in command, the one people follow. And it is irritating to see people drowning in success and power. Good thing the royal official in the gospel was not like this.

In the gospel we see the story of the royal official asking Jesus to come to his house to heal his son. We already see his faith, traveling just to see Jesus and asking him to heal his son. We also see his humility. He initially wanted Jesus to come with him and heal his son. However, he did not get this. Instead, Jesus just told him to go home and his son will live. We would think that as a mighty leader, he would act out, grumble, or force Jesus to come to him. But no. He was humble enough to accept what Jesus said, even if it was different from what he wanted and expected. Also, we see how great his faith is when he believed Jesus who told him to go home because his son will live.

Wow. What a faith! So Inspiring.

Nowadays, it's hard to believe someone just on the basis of words spoken. We want a written document. We want proof. We want to be sure.

That's something we do not need with Jesus. We can count on his word. When he says he has great plans for us, he definitely has. When he says he will heal us, he definitely will. When he says his love endures forever, it definitely does. When he says we can do anything through him, we definitely can.

We can trust God's word.

We may be in a similar situation with the royal official. There is probably something we are praying for. Situation may be tough. Let us come to God in faith, and believe him when he answers us, especially when, like the royal official, we do not get the answer we want, or we do not see yet the confirmation of our prayers.

What am I praying for right now? What is God's answer to me? Do I believe his word - the bible? Or do I first want to see or experience a proof or sign from him before I believe?

May we always have faith in God, no matter how he answers us, especially if his answer is different from what we are expecting.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for all the blessings. Thank you for the beautiful reminder and inspiration. Lord, sorry for the times I do not trust in you enough. Sorry for wanting things answered my way. Sorry for not having a strong faith in you. I pray that you help me have faith like the royal official. May I always have faith in you and your Word and your plans for me, even if I may not yet see or feel it in my life. Continue to surprise me, and use me to build your kingdom. Amen.

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

March 23 2020

« 

March 22  |  March 24 »

Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 244

Reading 1 IS 65:17-21

Thus says the LORD:
Lo, I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
The things of the past shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness
in what I create;
For I create Jerusalem to be a joy
and its people to be a delight;
I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and exult in my people.
No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there,
or the sound of crying;
No longer shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not round out his full lifetime;
He dies a mere youth who reaches but a hundred years,
and he who fails of a hundred shall be thought accursed.
They shall live in the houses they build,
and eat the fruit of the vineyards they plant.

Responsorial Psalm PS 30:2 AND 4, 5-6, 11-12A AND 13B

R. (2a)  I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O LORD, you brought me up from the nether world;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
“Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.”
You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

Verse Before The Gospel AM 5:14

Seek good and not evil so that you may live,
and the LORD will be with you.

Gospel JN 4:43-54

At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee.
For Jesus himself testified
that a prophet has no honor in his native place.
When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him,
since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast;
for they themselves had gone to the feast.

Then he returned to Cana in Galilee,
where he had made the water wine.
Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum.
When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea,
he went to him and asked him to come down
and heal his son, who was near death.
Jesus said to him,
“Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.”
The royal official said to him,
“Sir, come down before my child dies.”
Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.”
The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.
While the man was on his way back,
his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live.
He asked them when he began to recover.
They told him,
“The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.”
The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him,
“Your son will live,”
and he and his whole household came to believe.
Now this was the second sign Jesus did
when he came to Galilee from Judea.

He Looks Inside

The WORD today reminds me that God sees and looks inside my heart.

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 see this in the first reading. Samuel thought Eliab was the anointed one. He was the eldest. He was strong and mighty - a leader in the worldly sense.  But God did not choose him. God did not choose the others who were mighty. God chose David, a young shepherd. He chose David not because of his worldly characteristics, but because of his heart. And David did great things with God's guidance and blessings.

We also see this in the gospel. Jesus healed a blind man. His outside appearance was not good. Other people thought he or his parents were sinful. But Jesus looked inside his heart. And he healed him. We eventually see that he had a good heart when he testified to people, even to leaders at that time, about his healing. Then when he had the chance, he worshipped God. This was different from the leaders who appeared mighty and righteous but had unclean and hardened hearts towards Jesus.

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.

How do I show my love for God? Am I focused on what the eyes see? Or am I more concerned at the contents lf my heart that only God sees? Do I know how much God loves me?

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 Sunday. Thank you for another reminder. Thank you for all the blessings you have been giving me. 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 make me more like you and use me however unworthy I may seem. Use me for your purpose and your glory. Lord, help us get through this challenging times. YOU are greater than this virus. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

March 22 2020

« March 21  |  March 23 »

Fourth Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 31

Reading 1 1 SM 16:1B, 6-7, 10-13A

The LORD said to Samuel:
“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.”

As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice,
Samuel 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 man sees the appearance
but the LORD looks into the heart.”
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 the one!”
Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand,
anointed David in the presence of his brothers;
and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.

Responsorial Psalm PS 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6.

R. (1)  The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Reading II EPH 5:8-14

Brothers and sisters:
You were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light,
for light produces every kind of goodness
and righteousness and truth.
Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness;
rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention
the things done by them in secret;
but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
for everything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore, it says:

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”

Verse Before The Gospel JN 8:12

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Gospel JN 9:1-41

As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.
His disciples asked him,
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,
that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered,
“Neither he nor his parents sinned;
it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.
We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.
Night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
When he had said this, he spat on the ground
and made clay with the saliva,
and smeared the clay on his eyes,
and said to him,
“Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—.
So he went and washed, and came back able to see.

His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,
“Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?”
Some said, “It is, “
but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”
He said, “I am.”
So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”
He replied,
“The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes
and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’
So I went there and washed and was able to see.”
And they said to him, “Where is he?”
He said, “I don’t know.”

They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.
Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.
So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see.
He said to them,
“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”
So some of the Pharisees said,
“This man is not from God,
because he does not keep the sabbath.”
But others said,
“How can a sinful man do such signs?”
And there was a division among them.
So they said to the blind man again,
“What do you have to say about him,
since he opened your eyes?”
He said, “He is a prophet.”

Now the Jews did not believe
that he had been blind and gained his sight
until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight.
They asked them,
“Is this your son, who you say was born blind?
How does he now see?”
His parents answered and said,
“We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.
We do not know how he sees now,
nor do we know who opened his eyes.
Ask him, he is of age;
he can speak for himself.”
His parents said this because they were afraid
of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed
that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ,
he would be expelled from the synagogue.
For this reason his parents said,
“He is of age; question him.”

So a second time they called the man who had been blind
and said to him, “Give God the praise!
We know that this man is a sinner.”
He replied,
“If he is a sinner, I do not know.
One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.”
So they said to him,
“What did he do to you?
How did he open your eyes?”
He answered them,
“I told you already and you did not listen.
Why do you want to hear it again?

Do you want to become his disciples, too?”
They ridiculed him and said,
“You are that man’s disciple;
we are disciples of Moses!
We know that God spoke to Moses,
but we do not know where this one is from.”
The man answered and said to them,
“This is what is so amazing,
that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes.
We know that God does not listen to sinners,
but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.
It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind.
If this man were not from God,
he would not be able to do anything.”
They answered and said to him,
“You were born totally in sin,
and are you trying to teach us?”
Then they threw him out.

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,
he found him and said, ADo you believe in the Son of Man?”
He answered and said,
“Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”
Jesus said to him,
“You have seen him,
the one speaking with you is he.”
He said,
“I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.
Then Jesus said,
“I came into this world for judgment,
so that those who do not see might see,
and those who do see might become blind.”

Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this
and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?”
Jesus said to them,
“If you were blind, you would have no sin;
but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.

Not Just Sacrifice

The WORD today reminds me that mere sacrifices do not please God.

They say that actions speak louder than words. Sometimes, it is true. But mere actions are not indicative of the true state of heart. We see a lot of evil people do good for publicity. Of course, the action is good if it helps others, but the intention is not automatically good.

God sees the intentions of the heart

In the readings, we see that God does not desire sacrifice alone. In the first reading, he says that it is love he desires, not sacrifice. It is mercy he desires. In the psalm, he says again that it is mercy he desires, not mere sacrifice. Jesus further illustrates this in the gospel, when he said that actions, or sacrifice alone do not please God – especially if it shows self-righteousness on the person. The Pharisee saw himself as better than others – because he fasts and gives tithes. His prayer was not really a prayer, but a self praising activity. On the other hand, the tax collector knows he is a sinner and asked God to forgive him. And Jesus said that the tax collector went home justified, not the Pharisee.

God is not impressed by our actions. He looks at our heart

Sometimes we get too focused on actions. We need to do this and that for God. We need to serve him through others. We need to share what we have. We need to give our time. This lent, we may get too focused on our abstinence or sacrifices for Him. It should be more than that. Today, we are reminded not to be too focused on the actions, that we should remember the intentions as well. Our reasons for doing these things should be clear, and we should not forget those reasons.

What are my actions for God? How do I show my love for God? What are my intentions for doing these things? Do I want to look good to others? Do I seek praise and recognition? Or do I do these things simply because I love God and want to share him with others? Do I serve God by serving others, especially with the covit19 situation? What is my intention for such? 

May we remember that to God, mere actions and sacrifices are not as important as the reason for doing them. Let us make sure our hearts are on the right place as we do these things.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. And thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I focus on actions and sacrifices, that I forget why I am doing those things. Sorry for being contented with actions I am doing for you. Help me examine my reasons as well. Help me to always focus on you. Help me to live for you. Help me to do those things and actions for you. Purify my heart as I do things for you. And may this be pleasing to you. Lord, we lift up what we are going through as a nation, and we have faith that you would get us through.  Amen.

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2019/03/content.html

Daily Readings

March 21 2020

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March 20  |  March 22 »

Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
Lectionary: 242

Reading 1 HOS 6:1-6

“Come, let us return to the LORD,
it is he who has rent, but he will heal us;
he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds.
He will revive us after two days;
on the third day he will raise us up,
to live in his presence.
Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD;
as certain as the dawn is his coming,
and his judgment shines forth like the light of day!
He will come to us like the rain,
like spring rain that waters the earth.”

What can I do with you, Ephraim?
What can I do with you, Judah?
Your piety is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that early passes away.
For this reason I smote them through the prophets,
I slew them by the words of my mouth;
For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice,
and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Responsorial Psalm PS 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21AB

R. (see Hosea 6:6)  It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
Be bountiful, O LORD, to Zion in your kindness
by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem;
Then shall you be pleased with due sacrifices,
burnt offerings and holocausts.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.

Verse Before The Gospel PS 95:8

If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.

Gospel LK 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
“Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —
greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week,
and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

With Everything

The WORD today reminds me that I should love God with everything that I have.

They say that if you won't do your best, don't do it at all. Just as important as what you do is how you do it. You should give your best. You should give your all - no matter how simple what you are doing is. Doing your best means you give your all - all you have, all you've got. You cannot control the outcome of everything, but you can control how you do it. You can control how much effort you give as you do it. This is true in different things in life, but especially in loving God.

God deserves our best, and we should give him that. We should give God our everything.

In the gospel, Jesus himself said that:

Hear, O Israel!

The Lord our God is Lord alone!

You shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart,

with all your soul, with all your mind,

and with all your strength.

He wants us to love God with everything - all our heart, soul, mind and strength. He wants our whole being. He wants all of us, including all our imperfections. He wants us to love him and offer him everything, because only then can we experience his great love and power. He wants us to love him and surrender to him everything. We need not be holy as we love him. He accepts us as we are. And as we love him and give him everything, he will fill us with everything of his. And as this happens, we will feel his love and power and we will be transformed to be more and more like him.

Loving God and giving him our all should be translated to the second greatest commandment - love your neighbor as yourself. It is easy to say we love God, but hard to do. Love for God should be concretized and lived by loving others. Others, especially the unlovable. Others, especially those who cannot and will not love us back. Only then can we say we love God with all we have. And right now, with what is happening around us with the corona virus, we have the opportunity to show our love to others. 

Loving God with all we've got is not easy. But it surely is necessary for us to realize and experience all his love as well.

Do I love God? How do I show my love for him? Do I livenit by loving my neighbors? Am I willing to love God by loving others? How can I concretely live my love for God? How do I show my love for others now with the covit19 situation? 

May we be moved into action and love God with all we have, and translate this to loving others.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for loving me so much. Thank you for your reminder of how I should love you.  Lord, i am sorry for the times i don't love and serve you with all I have. Sorry for holding back my actions for you. Sorry for giving excuses - that I'm busy, that i'm tired, that I do other good things anyway. And sorry for not loving others as you want me to. Sorry for not concretizing my love for you. Help me surrender to you. Help me love you, not the way i want to love you, but the way you want me to love you. As I surrender, as I love you, I ask that you make me more and more like you. May you be pleased with me, my actions, and how I love you.  Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

March 20 2020

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March 19  |  March 21 »

Friday of the Third Week of lent
Lectionary: 241

Reading 1 HOS 14:2-10

Thus says the LORD:
Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God;
you have collapsed through your guilt.
Take with you words,
and return to the LORD;
Say to him, “Forgive all iniquity,
and receive what is good, that we may render
as offerings the bullocks from our stalls.
Assyria will not save us,
nor shall we have horses to mount;
We shall say no more, ‘Our god,’
to the work of our hands;
for in you the orphan finds compassion.”

I will heal their defection, says the LORD,
I will love them freely;
for my wrath is turned away from them.
I will be like the dew for Israel:
he shall blossom like the lily;
He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,
and put forth his shoots.
His splendor shall be like the olive tree
and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.
Again they shall dwell in his shade
and raise grain;
They shall blossom like the vine,
and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols?
I have humbled him, but I will prosper him.
“I am like a verdant cypress tree”–
Because of me you bear fruit!

Let him who is wise understand these things;
let him who is prudent know them.
Straight are the paths of the LORD,
in them the just walk,
but sinners stumble in them.

Responsorial Psalm PS 81:6C-8A, 8BC-9, 10-11AB, 14 AND 17

R. (see 11 and 9a)  I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
An unfamiliar speech I hear:
“I relieved his shoulder of the burden;
his hands were freed from the basket.
In distress you called, and I rescued you.”
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
“Unseen, I answered you in thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Hear, my people, and I will admonish you;
O Israel, will you not hear me?”
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
“There shall be no strange god among you
nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt.”
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
“If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
I would feed them with the best of wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would fill them.”
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

Verse Before The Gospel MT 4:17

Repent, says the Lord;
the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Gospel MK 12:28-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
“Which is the first of all the commandments?”
Jesus replied, “The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.”
The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
He is One and there is no other than he.
And to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him,
“You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.