Change while Possible

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/102116.cfm) reminds me that I should change my ways while it is still possible. 

There is a Filipino saying that "laging nasa huli ang pagsisisi". Regrets or repentance always come at the end - at the latter part when things are worse, or when we cannot do anything anymore. We have probably experienced this in one way or another. People have warned us, and God has reminded us through different things but we did not listen. we did not act. And we repent at the end, when we realize what we should have and could have done. This is not something that should happen in our spiritual life. 

We should change our ways while it is still possible. 

God reminds us through different ways how we should live. In the first reading, Paul tells us how to live. How we should act. And in the first part of the gospel, Jesus challenges us that we should give importance to God's ways as well and not be concerned just with worldly things. However, nothing lasts forever. Even the opportunities God gives us to change will not be forever. We should make the most out of it. 

The latter part of the gospel reminds us what will happen if we do not change. Like the person who does not settle his accounts on the way and eventually put into prison, we too will be experiencing eternal punishment if we refuse to change while we still have time. God will come and judge us, and will reward or punish us according to our ways. According to what we want. According to live our lives. 

May we heed his messages and warnings and repent and change our ways while we still have time here on earth. 

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 ignore you. Sorry for the times I put off doing good and living right. Sorry. Help me Lord. Help me love right and pleasing to you. Give me the desire and the will to slowly change, to slowly open up to you. Slowly transform me and make me more like you. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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October 21, 2016
Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 477

Reading 1 Eph 4:1-6

Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit
through the bond of peace;
one Body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

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 Lk 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.”