The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/071417.cfm)
reminds me that I should learn to relax, be still, and trust in
God.
As Christians, we can have the
tendency to extend our faith. We sometimes take things out of context. Some of
us may have the tendency to just pray and pray, asking God to do everything
without us doing anything. We think prayer
is magic, and it is enough. However, you cannot pass a test if you
don't study. You will not be able to answer
a question without knowing anything. We need to act. We need to do
our part. Sabi nga, nasa Diyos ang awa,
nasa tao ang gawa.
God will find it easier to help those who act and help
themselves.
This
is true for a lot of things. In life. In school. At work. And even in our faith
life. We cannot just ask that we develop faith. We cannot just ask for a close
relationship with God. We have to do our part. We have to pray. Read the bible.
Know our doctrines. We need to research to get to know him more. We need to
act.
However,
we need to do so in faith. With calmness in our hearts.
In
the gospel, we see Jesus telling his disciples not to worry and just wait for
God to tell them what they should say to defend themselves. Again this should
not be taken out of context. It does not mean we need not do anything and
expect God to help us in times if need. They need not worry what they are about
to say, but they need to act. They need to
constantly talk to God. They heed to constantly serve God. They need
to constantly be filled with God. They need
to know God's voice, because if they don't, they won't hear God helping them.
However, we should be still and
relax as we prepare. We should have faith. We need not think of a lot of things
in life. God can take care of all those. We just need to worry about our
relationship with God. We just need to have faith in Him. We just need to work
on having a good and personal relationship with Him. And he will take care of
the rest.
May
we realize what is important in life, and work on it.
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 weekend coming up. Lord, thank you for the
reminder. Sorry for the times I worry about a lot of things. Finances. Career.
Relationships. Lord, nakaka overwhelm minsan. Madalas, actually. Thank
you for reminding me what is important. Help me focus on that. Help me focus in
you. Help me make the best use of my time and resources by focusing on you. By
serving you. By getting to know you. By loving you. As I do so, I have faith
that you would continue to take care of things. I have faith that you would
continue to take care of me. Amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
July 14, 2017
Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin
Lectionary: 387
Reading 1GN 46:1-7, 28-30
When he arrived at Beer-sheba,
he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
There God, speaking to Israel in a vision by night, called,
"Jacob! Jacob!"
He answered, "Here I am."
Then he said: "I am God, the God of your father.
Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt,
for there I will make you a great nation.
Not only will I go down to Egypt with you;
I will also bring you back here, after Joseph has closed your eyes."
So Jacob departed from Beer-sheba,
and the sons of Israel
put their father and their wives and children
on the wagons that Pharaoh had sent for his transport.
They took with them their livestock
and the possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan.
Thus Jacob and all his descendants migrated to Egypt.
His sons and his grandsons, his daughters and his granddaughtersB
all his descendants—he took with him to Egypt.
Israel had sent Judah ahead to Joseph,
so that he might meet him in Goshen.
On his arrival in the region of Goshen,
Joseph hitched the horses to his chariot
and rode to meet his father Israel in Goshen.
As soon as Joseph saw him, he flung himself on his neck
and wept a long time in his arms.
And Israel said to Joseph, "At last I can die,
now that I have seen for myself that Joseph is still alive."
Responsorial PsalmPS 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40
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.
The LORD watches over the lives of the wholehearted;
their inheritance lasts forever.
They are not put to shame in an evil time;
in days of famine they have plenty.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Turn from evil and do good,
that you may abide forever;
For the LORD loves what is right,
and forsakes not his faithful ones.
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.
AlleluiaJN 16:13A, 14:26D
When the Spirit of truth comes,
he will guide you to all truth
and remind you of all I told you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 10:16-23
"Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves;
so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
But beware of men,
for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.
Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel
before the Son of Man comes."
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