Saturday, January 29, 2022

Repentance and Faith


The WORD today reminds me that we should always have faith in God, and it should also lead to repentance. 

In the first reading we see the continuation of yesterday’s. we see Nathan confronting David for the evil he has done. He may not have realized what he did, or the gravity of what he did, until Nathan pointed it out. What’s good about David is that he quickly admitted his sins. He did not deny it. His attitude made things better. Instead of being sorry, blaming himself and going away from God, he repented, fasted and wore sackcloth… At least he was humble enough to accept his sins and repent. He did not move away from God, feeling ashamed and sorry for his sins. Instead, he worked on getting back on track, on making peace with himself and most especially, with God. We can see he was truly repentant because this was when he wrote Psalm 51 which we started reading yesterday – the prayer of repentance. Indeed, David was deeply sorry and longed to be in God’s grace once again.

God is always there even if we do not always see or feel him. God saw what David did to Bathsheba and Uriah, even if David did not feel his presence. The apostles in the gospel also had the experience. Jesus was sleeping in their midst when a strong storm hit them. They did not feel his presence, and asked Jesus upon waking him up if he did not care if they all die. However, when he made his presence felt, it was just awesome.

God wants us to have faith in Him – especially when we do not see or feel him. Maybe this was what Jesus wanted the disciples to develop. This is what he wants us to develop. We all know how great and powerful God is. We have seen him work in the bible, and we are continuing to see him work in our daily lives. We just need to trust in him - especially when we feel that the powers that be remain unchecked and always have their way. 

What are my concerns? Do I feel that God is far from me or he is not listening? Are there areas of my life I try to hide from God? What is he reminding me today, especially with all the things happening during this pandemic?

May we have faith in Him, be it in asking for forgiveness like David, or during times of trouble like the disciples. Let us be still, and know He is God. 

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Lord, sorry for the times I run away from you. Sorry for the times I ignore you. Sorry for being hard hearted. Help me be like the repentant David. Help me be truly sorry and do my very best to repent and get right with you. As I do, I have faith that you would welcome me back into your arms. Amen. 

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,
-g-

Ps
See related reflection:


Daily Readings

Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 322

The LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him,
Nathan said: “Judge this case for me!
In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor.
The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers.
But the poor man had nothing at all 
except one little ewe lamb that he had bought.
He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children.
She shared the little food he had 
and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom.
She was like a daughter to him.
Now, the rich man received a visitor, 
but he would not take from his own flocks and herds 
to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him.
Instead he took the poor man’s ewe lamb 
and made a meal of it for his visitor.”
David grew very angry with that man and said to him: 
“As the LORD lives, the man who has done this merits death!
He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold 
because he has done this and has had no pity.”

Then Nathan said to David:  “You are the man!
Thus says the LORD God of Israel:
‘The sword shall never depart from your house, 
because you have despised me 
and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.’
Thus says the LORD:
‘I will bring evil upon you out of your own house.
I will take your wives while you live to see it, 
and will give them to your neighbor.
He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.
You have done this deed in secret, 
but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, 
and with the sun looking down.’”

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”
Nathan answered David: “The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin:
you shall not die.
But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, 
the child born to you must surely die.”
Then Nathan returned to his house.

The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, 
and it became desperately ill.
David besought God for the child.
He kept a fast, retiring for the night 
to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth.
The elders of his house stood beside him 
urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, 
nor would he take food with them.

Responsorial Psalm

R.        (12a)  Create a clean heart in me, O God.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
            and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
            and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R.        Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
            and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
            and sinners shall return to you.
R.        Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God;
            then my tongue shall revel in your justice.
O Lord, open my lips,
            and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R.        Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:
“Let us cross to the other side.”
Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.
And other boats were with him.
A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,
so that it was already filling up.
Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.
They woke him and said to him,
“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
He woke up,
rebuked the wind, 
and said to the sea, “Quiet!  Be still!”
The wind ceased and there was great calm.
Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?
Do you not yet have faith?”
They were filled with great awe and said to one another,
“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”


Friday, January 28, 2022

Just Sow


The WORD today reminds me that I should be focused on sowing seeds for God's kingdom and not on seeing the effects of our actions. 

It is normal for people to want to see the output of their efforts. I believe this is the reason why community building outreach activities are so popular. Institutions like “habitat for humanity” and “gawad kalinga” who give people the chance of seeing the immediate output of their actions are supported very well. After working for a day, volunteers get to see the output – be it hollow blocks or other materials being moved from one place to another, a house being painted or walls buing built – these things give a sense of fulfillment and joy, knowing that the effort spent was not put to waste. However, it is not always like this when we are doing God’s work.

In the first part of the gospel, we see that the man would just sow the seeds, and he does not know how these seeds grow and bear fruit. He does not know what happens inside the soil, he just sows seeds. What happens to the seeds, inside the soil, and the fruits it will bear are all dependent on God - what God wants to happen according to his perfect plans. His power, not our efforts. His plans, not ours. 

We should be focused on sowing seeds for God's kingdom and not on seeing the effects of our actions. 

We may not always see the effects of our service to God. We may not always get good results. However, these things should not dishearten us and prevent us from doing God’s work, from planting seeds. 

God needs workers to plant seeds of faith. God needs our help to spread his word.

We do not need to see the effects of our actions. We do not need to know that the seeds bore fruit. We should not seek comfort and approval from the output of our work, because everything is dependent on God’s time and plan, not ours. We should just focus on God as we do his work, and have complete faith that our work for Him is not futile. We may not see the effects but it does not mean God is not pleased with us, that our actions were not effective. We may think we are doing small things for him, but the mustard seed in the gospel reminds us that little things done for Him can be turned into something good. Something big. Something great. We should just remember that no good work, especially if done for God, is futile. 

What are the things I do for God? Why do I do these things? Do I enjoy the success or affirmation, or is it because I know these are the things God wants me to do? Do I focus on the outcome, or just on obeying God?

May we continue to sow seeds of faith without the need to see the effects of our actions.

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another reminder. Thank you for the opportunity to continue to sow seeds of faith to others around me. sorry for the times I look for and focus on the results of my actions. Sorry for wanting validation and affirmation. Lord, guide me so I wont be too focused on the results, on the fruits of the seeds. Remind me that those seeds would bear fruit, not necessarily in my time, but definitely in your perfect time. May I just continue to sow seeds of faith and focus on you as I work for you, knowing in faith that my work for you will always bear fruit. Use the little I have and turn it into something that would give you great glory. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,
-g-



Daily Readings

Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Lectionary: 321

At the turn of the year, when kings go out on campaign,
David sent out Joab along with his officers
and the army of Israel, 
and they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah.
David, however, remained in Jerusalem.
One evening David rose from his siesta 
and strolled about on the roof of the palace.
From the roof he saw a woman bathing, who was very beautiful.
David had inquiries made about the woman and was told, 
“She is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, 
and wife of Joab’s armor bearer Uriah the Hittite.”
Then David sent messengers and took her.
When she came to him, he had relations with her.
She then returned to her house.
But the woman had conceived, 
and sent the information to David, “I am with child.”

David therefore sent a message to Joab,
“Send me Uriah the Hittite.”
So Joab sent Uriah to David.
When he came, David questioned him about Joab, the soldiers, 
and how the war was going, and Uriah answered that all was well.
David then said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and bathe your feet.”  
Uriah left the palace, 
and a portion was sent out after him from the king’s table.
But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace 
with the other officers of his lord, and did not go down 
to his own house.
David was told that Uriah had not gone home.
On the day following, David summoned him, 
and he ate and drank with David, who made him drunk.
But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his bed 
among his lord’s servants, and did not go down to his home.
The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab
which he sent by Uriah.
In it he directed:
“Place Uriah up front, where the fighting is fierce.
Then pull back and leave him to be struck down dead.”
So while Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah
to a place where he knew the defenders were strong.
When the men of the city made a sortie against Joab, 
some officers of David’s army fell,
and among them Uriah the Hittite died.

Responsorial Psalm

R.        (see 3a)  Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
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.        Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
For I acknowledge my offense,
            and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
            and done what is evil in your sight.”
R.        Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
I have done such evil in your sight
            that you are just in your sentence,
            blameless when you condemn.
True, I was born guilty,
            a sinner, even as my mother conceived me.
R.        Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness;
            the bones you have crushed shall rejoice.
Turn away your face from my sins,
            and blot out all my guilt.
R.        Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Alleluia

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.

Jesus said to the crowds:
“This is how it is with the Kingdom of God;
it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land
and would sleep and rise night and day
and the seed would sprout and grow,
he knows not how.
Of its own accord the land yields fruit,
first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once,
for the harvest has come.”

He said,
“To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God,
or what parable can we use for it?
It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,
is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants
and puts forth large branches,
so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”
With many such parables
he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.
Without parables he did not speak to them,
but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

Thursday, January 27, 2022

Nothing Hidden


The WORD today reminds me that we cannot hide anything from God. 

They say that you cannot keep a secret forever. In one way or another, the truth will come out. There will be something that will happen that will make the truth come out. People can do their best to maintain a good reputation and project a good image to others, but there will be instances that will make the real deal, the truth come out. This is what God is reminding us today. 

We cannot hide anything from God. 

The gospel shows us Jesus telling his disciples that a lamp is not to be hidden, but placed on a lampstand. That nothing can be hidden, nothing can be kept a secret. Just as light exposes everything, God's light exposes our darkness, our sins, and our secrets. However, he does not expose to judge or condemn, but to help us change and improve

When we come to God, our sins and secrets will be exposed. When we come to him, we will realize our nothingness as we see his greatness. And as these things are exposed, he will help us change and improve, and be more and more like him. We just need to come to him, and surrender to him so we can improve and be more like him. 

What are my secrets? What are the things I keep from people? What are things I am not proud of? What do I do about these things? Do I humbly come to God? Do I allow him to change me? 

May we find it in our hearts to come to Him, and as our sins and secrets are exposed, be humble enough to allow him to change us and make us more like him. 

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 reminder. Lord, sorry for thinking I can keep secrets from you. Sorry for the times I focus on projecting a good image instead of working on improving myself. Sorry for living a double life. Help me be humble and come to you and allow you to change and improve me. Make me more like you. Purify and clean me. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,
-g-


Daily Readings

Thursday of the Third Wek in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 320

After Nathan had spoken to King David, 
the king went in and sat before the LORD and said, 
“Who am I, Lord GOD, and who are the members of my house, 
that you have brought me to this point?
Yet even this you see as too little, Lord GOD; 
you have also spoken of the house of your servant 
for a long time to come: 
this too you have shown to man, Lord GOD!

“You have established for yourself your people Israel as yours forever, 
and you, LORD, have become their God.
And now, LORD God, confirm for all time the prophecy you have made 
concerning your servant and his house, 
and do as you have promised.
Your name will be forever great, when men say, 
‘The LORD of hosts is God of Israel,’
and the house of your servant David stands firm before you.
It is you, LORD of hosts, God of Israel, 
who said in a revelation to your servant, 
‘I will build a house for you.’
Therefore your servant now finds the courage to make this prayer to you.
And now, Lord GOD, you are God and your words are truth; 
you have made this generous promise to your servant.
Do, then, bless the house of your servant 
that it may be before you forever; 
for you, Lord GOD, have promised, 
and by your blessing the house of your servant 
shall be blessed forever.”

Responsorial Psalm

R.        (Lk 1:32b)  The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
LORD, remember David
            and all his anxious care;
How he swore an oath to the LORD,
            vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob.
R.        The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
“I will not enter the house where I live,
            nor lie on the couch where I sleep;
I will give my eyes no sleep,
            my eyelids no rest,
Till I find a home for the LORD,
            a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
R.        The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
The LORD swore an oath to David
            a firm promise from which he will not withdraw:
“Your own offspring 
            I will set upon your throne.”
R.        The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
“If your sons keep my covenant,
            and the decrees which I shall teach them,
Their sons, too, forever
            shall sit upon your throne.”
R.        The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
For the LORD has chosen Zion,
            he prefers her for his dwelling:
“Zion is my resting place forever;
            in her I will dwell, for I prefer her.”
R.        The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
 

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus said to his disciples,
“Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed,
and not to be placed on a lampstand?
For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; 
nothing is secret except to come to light.
Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”
He also told them, “Take care what you hear.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, 
and still more will be given to you.
To the one who has, more will be given; 
from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

Christ is Risen!

The WORD today reminds me that  Christ is Risen and has won over sin and death. The gospel tells us different accounts/stories about Christ’...