God's Instructions

The WORD today reminds me that God always gives us instructions on how we should live. 

God is a caring God. He sees us and is always there for us. And we see in the readings that he gives us instructions on how we should live, so when we meet him, we would be ready.

In the first reading, Saint Paul tells the Colossians on how they should act. They should think of heaven, not of this earth. Their focus should be on eternity with God. They are asked to put off sins and old habits and be renewed, be transformed, and put on their new self in preparation for meeting God. This is how we should live. 

In the gospel, we see Jesus himself giving us the Beatitudes or what others call the “Be-Attitudes.” This is how God wants us to be. It reminds me that as we live this life on earth, everything will not be easy. We will experience challenges and persecutions, we will be frustrated with what is happening around us. However, Christ exhorts us to be faithful and to continue trusting in Him despite everything that is happening to us and around us. At the same time, it reminds me that those who having a great time, those who are worldly and powerful, will one day have to face God as well, and will be accountable for their actions. 

Life is more than what is here right now. 

What is happening on our lives here on earth is not the end. This is not everything. God reminds us that there is a greater life after our life here on earth. All his promises in the beatitudes does not necessarily mean comfort will come in this life. Actually, if we examine the promises, all of those will come in the next life. However, we need to be faithful and remain living in God’s light as we live on earth to realize and experience those promises.

May we be encouraged and strengthened, and follow God’s instructions for our lives in preparation for eternity with Him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live and love. Thank you for your promises and encouragement. Thank you for taking care of us and knowing and providing what we need to get by. Thank you for the instructions. Lord, sorry for the times I  ignore your instructions. Sorry for the times I am not sensitive to your instructions. I pray that we be faithful to you. Help me follow your instructions. May I be firm in faith and focus on you as I live this life on earth, having faith that I will claim and receive your promises as I do so. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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September 13, 2017
Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 439

Reading 1COL 3:1-11

Brothers and sisters:
If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ your life appears,
then you too will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly:
immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire,
and the greed that is idolatry.
Because of these the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient.
By these you too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way.
But now you must put them all away:
anger, fury, malice, slander,
and obscene language out of your mouths. 
Stop lying to one another,
since you have taken off the old self with its practices
and have put on the new self,
which is being renewed, for knowledge,
in the image of its creator.
Here there is not Greek and Jew,
circumcision and uncircumcision,
barbarian, Scythian, slave, free;
but Christ is all and in all.

Responsorial PsalmPS 145:2-3, 10-11, 12-13AB

R. (9) The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.

AlleluiaLK 6:23AB

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rejoice and leap for joy!
Your reward will be great in heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelLK 6:20-26

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:

"Blessed are you who are poor,
for the Kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. 
For their ancestors treated the prophets 
in the same way.

But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
But woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you,

for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way."