God is for us!

The readings today are full of inspiration and encouragement! In the first reading, we see God saying that the river will give life to every living creature. In the psalm, we see a reminder of how great God is and how we should act:

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.

God is for us! As we do his work, we should get our strength from him and expect him to be with us every step of the way.

The gospel shows Jesus embodying this. He healed a man who has been suffering for thirty-eight years! How great his love for us is, as shown through the man. The man was helpless, even though he is trying to be healed. It was believed that when the water in the pool stirs up, those who would be able to go there would be healed. Syempre madaming tao, and being sick, nauunahan sya lagi. So Jesus saw his faith and healed him by his word. As the man responded and did what Jesus told him, he was healed.

How great is the God we serve! How powerful yet merciful He is. As we serve Him, we should not be afraid of anything. We should have faith that he will be with us and equip us with everything that we need. 

As we serve, we should also remember to do our part and stay in Him. God is merciful, but he is also a God of justice. Kapag pasaway tayo, yari tayo. Jesus told the man in the gospel ”Look, you are well, do not sin no more, so that nothing worse may happen to you” May we heed his warning and do our best to stay in him, so be in a state of grace as we serve Him.

What are my concerns as I serve God? Do I believe that God will be with me every step of the way? Am I scared of the enemy? Do I forget that God has already won over the enemy? Am I in the state of grace as I serve?

May we always remember that as God is with us, nothing can be against us. Let us do our part to be clean as we serve, and have faith that there’s nothing God can’t do.