Awesome

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062118.cfm) reminds me that I can do great things if I let God use me. 

The first reading shows us a glimpse, a summary of Eljah’s life. How interesting! How cool is that?! Elijah taken in a whirlwind of fire in a chariot with fiery horses! Wild! And how awesome Elijah’s role is, to re-establish people and prepare them for Christ’s coming. During that time, it was believed that Elijah would come back before the Messiah comes. That’s how important he was. 

This is again an example that God’s ways are not always our ways. As Elijah came in the person of John the Baptist, the Messiah came in Jesus, a carpenter’s son born in a stable – not the mighty king and ruler they were expecting. It reminds us that even if things does not fit the way we expect them to be, God’s purpose will still be accomplished. We should not close our minds and expect God to behave in the way we expect him to be. 

God is awesome. He uses us in ways we don’t expect, if only we allow him. 

The gospel shows us Jesus teaching a very good way on how God can use us. He teaches us how to pray. The real essence of prayer. The simplicity yet depth of prayer. One way to be used by God is to be more like God. And prayer is a good way to be more like him and build a relationship with Him. A personal and intimate relationship. Prayer helps us do this. Jesus is teaching us that it is neither the words nor the actions that are important as we pray. What's important is the heart. God wants our heart to be fully surrendered to His will, having faith in His perfect plan, not ours.

We may not know the implications or effects of the things that we do for Him, but we still do it anyway. He needs us to. He used John to prepare the way for Christ, and after 2000 years, he still needs people who will do that. In our own little way, we can. As we prepare ourselves, we should also be open and let God use us, we should also do our part to help others prepare for Christ’s coming.  

Do I let God use me? In what way? Am I open to God’s ways or do ai have specific requests for God to use me? Do I pray to be more like Christ? Do I have a personal and intimate relationship with Him?

May we always be ready and willing to be used by God in his ways and for his purpose.

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 reminder of how generous and rewarding you are. Thank you for showing me how awesome Elijah is, because it shows how generous you are in rewarding people who serve you. Lord, sorry for the times I do not let you use me. Sorry for being closed minded. Sorry for not building my personal relationship with you. Lord, like Elijah, help me prepare for and serve you. Make me more and more like you, and use me to spread your love on earth. May my life help prepare others for you as well. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

June 21, 2018

Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious
Lectionary: 368

Reading 1 SIR 48:1-14

Like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah
whose words were as a flaming furnace.
Their staff of bread he shattered,
in his zeal he reduced them to straits;
By the Lord's word he shut up the heavens
and three times brought down fire.
How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!
Whose glory is equal to yours?
You brought a dead man back to life
from the nether world, by the will of the LORD.
You sent kings down to destruction,
and easily broke their power into pieces.
You brought down nobles, from their beds of sickness.
You heard threats at Sinai,
at Horeb avenging judgments.
You anointed kings who should inflict vengeance,
and a prophet as your successor.
You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire,
in a chariot with fiery horses.
You were destined, it is written, in time to come
to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD,
To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons,
and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob.
Blessed is he who shall have seen you
And who falls asleep in your friendship.
For we live only in our life,
but after death our name will not be such.
O Elijah, enveloped in the whirlwind!

Then Elisha, filled with the twofold portion of his spirit,
wrought many marvels by his mere word.
During his lifetime he feared no one,
nor was any man able to intimidate his will.
Nothing was beyond his power;
beneath him flesh was brought back into life.
In life he performed wonders,
and after death, marvelous deeds.

Responsorial Psalm PS 97:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7

R. (12a) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Clouds and darkness are round about him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes round about.
His lightnings illumine the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
All who worship graven things are put to shame,
who glory in the things of nought;
all gods are prostrate before him.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

Alleluia ROM 8:15BC

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You have received a spirit of adoption as sons
through which we cry: Abba! Father!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelMT 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
"In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

"This is how you are to pray:

'Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.'

"If you forgive others their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."