The WORD
Today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/102516.cfm)
reminds me that God can use our little faith in a mighty way.
We went to Davao last month for
my cousin's wedding. And as they say, a visit to Davao is incomplete without
eating Durian. Durian is a very intriguing fruit. It is one of the fruits with
the strongest smell, and others would say one of the tastiest fruit. A lot of
people don’t like its smell, that is why there are hotels and places around
Davao have signs explicitly saying that durian is not allowed. Others who
cannot take the smell does not even want to taste the fruit. Others, however,
are comfortable with the smell, and like the fruit very much. Well they say
it’s a love it or hate it relationship with Durian, no in between.
Same
is true with our faith. Either you have faith, or not. Probably some have
greater faith than others, that’s why the disciples in the gospel asked Jesus
to increase their faith. But if you have faith in you, that’s a good start.
Jesus said if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, then we can move
mountains. Really, that small faith is enough? I used to think that yes, that probably
is enough. But others present an interesting perspective - that our
little faith becomes enough not because only small faith isnrequired, but because God
has faith in us! It is his
faith in us that increases the power of our
little faith.
His faith adds to ours. It is his faith in us, our capacity to do good, our
capacity to do great things through him, that enables us to do so, to move
mountains. Yes, I believe that it is not just our faith, but God’s faith in us, that enables our
mustard seed sized faith to move mountains.
God's faith in us adds to our
faith and enables great things to happen.
We
cannot do anything on our own. Our knowledge and wisdom and understanding are
limited. No matter how we think or what we think of ourselves, it is only by
God's goodness, love and blessings that we are able to do things. No matter how
small our faith is, he takes it, increases it, and uses it to be able to
involve us in his plans and do great things to and through us.
May
we always remember how much God loves us, how he sees us, and how he uses us to
do great things - no matter how small our faith is.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for all the blessings you
have been giving me. Thank you for the reminder. Lord. Lord, I pray that you
continue to complement my faith. I know I have little faith, so I pray that you
never get tired of having faith in me. Your faith in me increases the power of
my little faith, and I pray that as I continuously experience your love and
faith in me, my faith will slowly and eventually increase as well. Lord, I also
ask that you always remind me to put things in perspective. As you use me to do
great things, may i never be proud and just continue to work for you and allow you
to use me. I will surrender always as a sign of my trust, love and gratitude
for all the blessings and love you have been giving me. Amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflection:
October 25, 2016
Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 480
Reading 1 Eph 5:21-33
Brothers and sisters:
Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.
For the husband is head of his wife
just as Christ is head of the Church,
he himself the savior of the Body.
As the Church is subordinate to Christ,
so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the Church
and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the Church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.
So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it,
even as Christ does the Church,
because we are members of his Body.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church.
In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself,
and the wife should respect her husband.
Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.
For the husband is head of his wife
just as Christ is head of the Church,
he himself the savior of the Body.
As the Church is subordinate to Christ,
so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the Church
and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the Church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.
So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it,
even as Christ does the Church,
because we are members of his Body.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church.
In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself,
and the wife should respect her husband.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
R. (1a) Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear 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.
Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like?
To what can I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush
and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”
Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?
It is like yeast that a woman took
and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”
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 13:18-21
To what can I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush
and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”
Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?
It is like yeast that a woman took
and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”
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