Be Attitudes

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061118.cfm) reminds me how God wants me to live. 

People usually value friends who encourages them. When times are tough, when one is almost on the brink of giving up, someone comes and cheers for them. Someone comes to encourage them to keep on going. These people are heaven sent. And this is how God is with us. 

God always encourages us. 

In the first reading, we see the value of community and of encouraging each other to live pleasing to God. They were doing God’s work. They were serving him. They were worshipping him. They were fasting together. They helped each other live right and pleasing to God. 

In the gospel, we see Jesus encouraging us. We see Jesus explaining 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. He continues to encourage us to remain in faith and just trust in Him.

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 do 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 to live in God’s light as we live on earth to realize and experience those promises.

Do I inspire and encourage others to live th faith? How? How do I react when faced with problems and challenges? How do I view problems and challenges? Do I hold on to God’s words and promises or do I let my reaction be dictated by the situation around me?

May we be encouraged by Jesus words, and be more sensitive to the different ways God is encouraging us as we fight the battles in life, and be instruments to encourage others as well. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another week. 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. Lord, sorry for the times your word and your promises are not enough. Sorry for worrying too much. Sorry for not having faith in you. I pray that i be sensitive to you and your encouragement. And may your encouragement help me remain faithful to you. Help me 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 in your perfect time. I also ask that you use me to inspire and encourage others in faith. Amen.

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

June 11, 2018

Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle
Lectionary: 580/359

Reading 1 ACTS 11:21B-26; 12:1-3

In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.

Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger,
Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
"Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them."
Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off.

Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4, 5-6

R. (see 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Alleluia MT 5:12A

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you."