The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072318.cfm) reminds
me that God wants us not only to know, but also to obey signs from Him.
Road
signs are very important and helpful, especially if one is not familiar with
the road. It tells motorists where to go, how to go there, what the rules are,
etc. They help keep people safe. However, there are a number of tests and
studies that show that a lot of motorists, especially those driving public
utility vehicles in our country, do not know the meaning of these signs.
Therefore, they lose their purpose. They become useless. Signs would only be
useful t if motorists know what they mean and if they are followed properly.
Sometimes,
or a lot of times, we want those kinds of tangible signs from God too.
Why
not?
Who
would not want affirmation or assurance of
what God wants us to do in a specific situation? Who would not want what God
wants us to choose, or where he wants us to go? Even people in the bible asked
for signs from God.
However,
it can also be taken out of bounds.
In the
gospel we see Jesus warning the people about asking for signs. While it is
normal to ask for signs, it becomes bad if the heart is closed to
God’s signs. It is bad if the heart wants God to conform to
what we want, not for us to be open to what God wants. The people of
Nineveh were living in sin, and did not ask for a sign. But when God sent Jonah
to warn them, they repented. However, the people already had Jesus with them to
warn them and preach to them, but their hearts were closed. They did not want
him, they wanted a sign based on their own expectations and standards.
They wanted God to conform to what they want, that’s why Jesus said no sign
will be given to them.
The
Signs
will only be useful if recognized and followed.
Aside
from being open to what the signs tell us, we should also know how to recognize
signs. Drivers are supposed to take examinations to familiarize themselves with
road signs. If they don't know the meaning, research should be done. Else,
signs would be useless. In the same way, we should also exert time and effort
to know God more, so we can recognize his answers and his signs for us, and not
just recognize what we want and be closed to our idea of signs.
However,
knowing and recognizing signs are not enough. There should be more. Action
should be done. Hindi pwedeng puro realizations lang. it is not enough to know
signs. That benefits no one. We should act upon it. We should live and obey
signs. The first reading tells us what he wants us to do. Not to just offer
things and sacrifice things to and for him. God simply wants us to serve and
obey him. God wants us to do what is right, to live right, and to walk humbly
and surrender our lives to God.
How
about us? Do we ask for signs or do what we can – reading the bible, praying,
receiving the sacraments, to know what God wants us to do and how God wants us
to live our lives? If we ask for signs, are we open and sensitive to get and
recognize signs not just based on what we want, but what God wants? Or do we want
God to conform to what sign we want from Him? When we recognize signs, do we
obey God, or are we just contented with recognizing sings from God? Do I
surrender to God?
May we
do our part to prepare so we can recognize signs from God, and do what we can to
obey Him.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live.
Thank you for another week. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the
times I am close minded. Sorry for not being open to you and for only wanting
specific signs. Sorry for not recognizing you. Sorry for not doing what you
want me to do, especially after recognizing your signs. Lord, I pray that
you always make you presence alive in my life. Help me do my part so I will
always be sensitive to you. May I work and do my part to build a strong and
personal relationship with you, so that I would know you more and recognize
you, instead of just asking for signs. And help me have the resolve to do your
will and submit to you. Amen.
Blessed Week!
In Christ,
-g-
July
23, 2018
Monday of the Sixteenth Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 395
Lectionary: 395
Reading 1
Hear
what the LORD says:
Arise, present your plea before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice!
Hear, O mountains, the plea of the LORD,
pay attention, O foundations of the earth!
For the LORD has a plea against his people,
and he enters into trial with Israel.
O my people, what have I done to you,
or how have I wearied you? Answer me!
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
from the place of slavery I released you;
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.
With what shall I come before the LORD,
and bow before God most high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with myriad streams of oil?
Shall I give my first-born for my crime,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
You have been told, O man, what is good,
and what the LORD requires of you:
Only to do the right and to love goodness,
and to walk humbly with your God.
Arise, present your plea before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice!
Hear, O mountains, the plea of the LORD,
pay attention, O foundations of the earth!
For the LORD has a plea against his people,
and he enters into trial with Israel.
O my people, what have I done to you,
or how have I wearied you? Answer me!
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
from the place of slavery I released you;
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.
With what shall I come before the LORD,
and bow before God most high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with myriad streams of oil?
Shall I give my first-born for my crime,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
You have been told, O man, what is good,
and what the LORD requires of you:
Only to do the right and to love goodness,
and to walk humbly with your God.
Responsorial Psalm PS 50:5-6,
8-9, 16BC-17, 21 AND 23
R.
(23b) To the upright I will show the
saving power of God.
“Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
Alleluia PS 95:8
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT
12:38-42
Some
of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,
“Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”
He said to them in reply,
“An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign,
but no sign will be given it
except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights,
so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth
three days and three nights.
At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah;
and there is something greater than Jonah here.
At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation
and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon;
and there is something greater than Solomon here.”
“Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”
He said to them in reply,
“An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign,
but no sign will be given it
except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights,
so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth
three days and three nights.
At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah;
and there is something greater than Jonah here.
At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation
and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon;
and there is something greater than Solomon here.”
No comments:
Post a Comment