The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062618.cfm) reminds
me that I should continue to trust God, especially when I feel it may not be
wise to do so.
A
lot of people go with the bandwagon. New restaurant. New product. New favorite
basketball team. New political party. New fad. They want to belong and be part
of the majority. Super majority for some. That's okay. But not necessarily okay
when it comes to our faith.
God
wants us to stick with Him especially when others don't.
In
the gospel, Jesus tells his disciples as he is telling us today to stick to the
narrow gate. The narrow gate - difficult, not a popular choice, but will lead
to life with him. Not a lot of people are willing to do this. Not a lot of
people want this. People want easy things with easy rewards, not thinking of
the long term reward God will give us.
In
the first reading, we see why we should choose the narrow gate. Hezekiah was
threatened by the powerful king of Assyria, Sennacherib. He already
destroyed a lot of countries. And when Hezekiah was told that he would be
attacked, he did not let go of his faith. He did not ally himself with the
powerful king. Instead, he turned to God. Even if others fell. Even if it would
have been easier to surrender. He trusted in God. And God rewarded his faith by
disposing of 185,000 men in the powerful camp, that the king decided to turn
back. That's how God rewards those who choose the narrow gate and remain
faithful to him.
God
is powerful. God is faithful, especially to those who are faithful to him. We
should not look at the obvious or the majority, especially when it comes to
faith. We should just trust God and have faith that he will take care if
everything according to his great plans. We may be faced with challenges.
We may have problems. And there may be easy ways out. But God reminds us to
stick to him and choose him. To choose the narrow gate. And he will continue to
take care of us.
When
was the last time I was faced with the choice between choosing God or others?
What did I do? Who did I choose? When was the last time God surprised me by
taking care of me especially when the situation seemed to be impossible to get
away from? What is he telling me today?
May we always choose God, especially when others do not.
Let us have faith in him, his love and his power.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live.
Thank you for another chance to experience your love. Thank you for another
reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I ignore you. Sorry for the times I choose
the easy way out. Sorry for the times I let go of my faith. Help me choose the
narrow gate, especially when it is not the most popular choice. Help me stick
to you always. Increase my faith and my resolve to follow and choose you
always. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
June
26, 2018
Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 372
Lectionary: 372
Reading 1 2 KGS
19:9B-11, 14-21, 31-35A, 36
Sennacherib,
king of Assyria, sent envoys to Hezekiah
with this message:
"Thus shall you say to Hezekiah, king of Judah:
'Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you
by saying that Jerusalem will not be handed over
to the king of Assyria.
You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done
to all other countries: they doomed them!
Will you, then, be saved?'"
Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it;
then he went up to the temple of the LORD,
and spreading it out before him,
he prayed in the LORD's presence:
"O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned upon the cherubim!
You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.
You have made the heavens and the earth.
Incline your ear, O LORD, and listen!
Open your eyes, O LORD, and see!
Hear the words of Sennacherib which he sent to taunt the living God.
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations
and their lands, and cast their gods into the fire;
they destroyed them because they were not gods,
but the work of human hands, wood and stone.
Therefore, O LORD, our God, save us from the power of this man,
that all the kingdoms of the earth may know
that you alone, O LORD, are God."
Then Isaiah, son of Amoz, sent this message to Hezekiah:
"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,
in answer to your prayer for help against Sennacherib, king of Assyria:
I have listened!
This is the word the LORD has spoken concerning him:
"'She despises you, laughs you to scorn,
the virgin daughter Zion!
Behind you she wags her head,
daughter Jerusalem.
"'For out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant,
and from Mount Zion, survivors.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.'
"Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria:
'He shall not reach this city, nor shoot an arrow at it,
nor come before it with a shield,
nor cast up siege-works against it.
He shall return by the same way he came,
without entering the city, says the LORD.
I will shield and save this city for my own sake,
and for the sake of my servant David.'"
That night the angel of the LORD went forth and struck down
one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp.
So Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, broke camp,
and went back home to Nineveh.
with this message:
"Thus shall you say to Hezekiah, king of Judah:
'Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you
by saying that Jerusalem will not be handed over
to the king of Assyria.
You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done
to all other countries: they doomed them!
Will you, then, be saved?'"
Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it;
then he went up to the temple of the LORD,
and spreading it out before him,
he prayed in the LORD's presence:
"O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned upon the cherubim!
You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.
You have made the heavens and the earth.
Incline your ear, O LORD, and listen!
Open your eyes, O LORD, and see!
Hear the words of Sennacherib which he sent to taunt the living God.
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations
and their lands, and cast their gods into the fire;
they destroyed them because they were not gods,
but the work of human hands, wood and stone.
Therefore, O LORD, our God, save us from the power of this man,
that all the kingdoms of the earth may know
that you alone, O LORD, are God."
Then Isaiah, son of Amoz, sent this message to Hezekiah:
"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,
in answer to your prayer for help against Sennacherib, king of Assyria:
I have listened!
This is the word the LORD has spoken concerning him:
"'She despises you, laughs you to scorn,
the virgin daughter Zion!
Behind you she wags her head,
daughter Jerusalem.
"'For out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant,
and from Mount Zion, survivors.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.'
"Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria:
'He shall not reach this city, nor shoot an arrow at it,
nor come before it with a shield,
nor cast up siege-works against it.
He shall return by the same way he came,
without entering the city, says the LORD.
I will shield and save this city for my own sake,
and for the sake of my servant David.'"
That night the angel of the LORD went forth and struck down
one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp.
So Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, broke camp,
and went back home to Nineveh.
Responsorial Psalm PS 48:2-3AB,
3CD-4, 10-11
R.
(see 9d) God upholds his city for ever.
Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
Mount Zion, "the recesses of the North,"
is the city of the great King.
God is with her castles;
renowned is he as a stronghold.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
O God, we ponder your mercy
within your temple.
As your name, O God, so also your praise
reaches to the ends of the earth.
Of justice your right hand is full.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
Mount Zion, "the recesses of the North,"
is the city of the great King.
God is with her castles;
renowned is he as a stronghold.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
O God, we ponder your mercy
within your temple.
As your name, O God, so also your praise
reaches to the ends of the earth.
Of justice your right hand is full.
R. God upholds his city for ever.
Alleluia JN 8:12
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT 7:6, 12-14
Jesus
said to his disciples:
"Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.
"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the Law and the Prophets.
"Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.
"Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.
"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the Law and the Prophets.
"Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.
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