Endurance

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/013015.cfm) reminds me that we should be faithful and loyal to God.

They say that Endurance in not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory. This sums up what God reminds me in the readings.

In the first reading, we see that God wants us to endure the hardships in life and stay loyal to him. We are reminded not to give up. God would not be happy if we give in to the world. We need to endure the world and remain focused on God to be able to experience the joy and reward eternal life with him will bring.

In the gospel, Jesus further demonstrates this through parables concerning seeds. Seeds take time to develop to grow and bear fruit. If a seed will give up, it dies as it is. The seed needs to endure until the promise comes into fruition, until it grows into a tree and bear fruit.

We all have challenges in life. There are times when it is easy to give up our faith. There are times when it is easy to compromise and do what is evil, what will be worldly rewarding. However, the reward we will get will be just that – worldly, temporary. We have to stay focused on God, keep our eyes on him, to be able to enjoy heavenly rewards he has promised us.

As we live in this world and as we experience challenges and hardships, may we be one with the psalmist in praying – the salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

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 that I need endurance in this world. Help me focus on you. May my eyes be fixed on you and not on the challenges and distractions of this world. Be my strength as I live in this world for you. Amen.

Blessed Friday!

In Christ,

-g-

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January 30, 2015

Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 321

Reading 1 Heb 10:32-39

Remember the days past when, after you had been enlightened,

you endured a great contest of suffering.

At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and affliction;

at other times you associated yourselves with those so treated.

You even joined in the sufferings of those in prison

and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property,

knowing that you had a better and lasting possession.

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence;

it will have great recompense.

You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised.

For, after just a brief moment,

he who is to come shall come;

he shall not delay.

But my just one shall live by faith,

and if he draws back I take no pleasure in him.

We are not among those who draw back and perish,

but among those who have faith and will possess life.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 37:3-4, 5-6, 23-24, 39-40

R. (39a) The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Trust in the LORD and do good,

that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.

Take delight in the LORD,

and he will grant you your heart’s requests.

R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Commit to the LORD your way;

trust in him, and he will act.

He will make justice dawn for you like the light;

bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.

R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

By the LORD are the steps of a man made firm,

and he approves his way.

Though he fall, he does not lie prostrate,

for the hand of the LORD sustains him.

R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

The salvation of the just is from the LORD;

he is their refuge in time of distress.

And the LORD helps them and delivers them;

he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,

because they take refuge in him.

R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

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.

Gospel Mk 4:26-34

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