The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072618.cfm) reminds
me that God will always give us more.
The
gospel does not seem to make sense at first glance. Why give more to someone
who has a lot. Sounds like what corrupt people do. However, we should take a
second look.
To
anyone who has, more will be given,
and from the one who has not,
even what he seems to have will be taken away
even what he seems to have will be taken away
I
think the famous line from spider man, with great power comes great
responsibility, is similar to this bible verse from the gospel. To whom
much is given, much is required. An uncle of mine always mentions this
bible verse to us, as a reminder of our responsibility not only to our family,
but more so to others who do not have the capacity to pay us back for helping
them out. A dear lasallian brother told us before his take on this verse. To
whom much is given, much is expected. Nobody will force us to share, but as
Christians, this is what is expected of us.
Giving
comes not only in financial form, but more importantly in spiritual one. Yes,
we are required to help our brothers in need by financially sharing what we
have, but there’s more to that. Spiritual giving is just as important.
Loneliness, hopelessness, depression, and spiritual dryness are some things
that may not be easily seen, but just as serious, or even more serious, than
poverty. Being children of God who are starting and continuing to know Him, we
should also give this knowledge, this hope, this faith and this love we have
received, to others who may need it. This would take up time, energy, and
entail sacrifice, but as mentioned, we are given much, and much is expected
from us.
This
is probably what Sts Joachim and Anne did. This was probably how they lived.
They wanted to serve God, and they were given a lot of opportunities to. They
were given the blessing of being the parents of Mama Mary. They wanted to serve
God, and God gave them more opportunities to serve Him.
God
expects us to not delay giving help to others. We are asked to give
not just when it is comfortable to, or when we feel like it, but when others
need it, regardless of our state.
Am I
willing to give back to others what I have received from God? Am I doing
something to give back to others? Am I willing to give of myself, not just
financially, to others? When I give, do I expect words of thanks, affirmation
or gratitude, or do I give without expecting anything in return?
May we
never hold back expressions of love on others, and be generous in giving and
sharing what we have to others.
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 blessing me
with so much - much more than I ask for and definitely much more than I
deserve. Sorry for the times I do not appreciate it. Sorry for the times I do
not share with others. I know the best way to thank you is to give it back to
others. Today, I ask that you use me to be a blessing to others as well. I open
up myself for your taking. Use me to fulfil your purpose, use me to spread your
love to your children here on earth. Fill me and enable me to share you with
others. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
July 26, 2018
Memorial of Saints Joachim and
Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lectionary: 398
Lectionary: 398
Reading 1
This
word of the LORD came to me:
Go, cry out this message for Jerusalem to hear!
I remember the devotion of your youth,
how you loved me as a bride,
Following me in the desert,
in a land unsown.
Sacred to the LORD was Israel,
the first fruits of his harvest;
Should any presume to partake of them,
evil would befall them, says the LORD.
When I brought you into the garden land
to eat its goodly fruits,
You entered and defiled my land,
you made my heritage loathsome.
The priests asked not,
"Where is the LORD?"
Those who dealt with the law knew me not:
the shepherds rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
and went after useless idols.
Be amazed at this, O heavens,
and shudder with sheer horror, says the LORD.
Two evils have my people done:
they have forsaken me, the source of living waters;
They have dug themselves cisterns,
broken cisterns, that hold no water.
Go, cry out this message for Jerusalem to hear!
I remember the devotion of your youth,
how you loved me as a bride,
Following me in the desert,
in a land unsown.
Sacred to the LORD was Israel,
the first fruits of his harvest;
Should any presume to partake of them,
evil would befall them, says the LORD.
When I brought you into the garden land
to eat its goodly fruits,
You entered and defiled my land,
you made my heritage loathsome.
The priests asked not,
"Where is the LORD?"
Those who dealt with the law knew me not:
the shepherds rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
and went after useless idols.
Be amazed at this, O heavens,
and shudder with sheer horror, says the LORD.
Two evils have my people done:
they have forsaken me, the source of living waters;
They have dug themselves cisterns,
broken cisterns, that hold no water.
R.
(10a) With you is the fountain of
life, O Lord.
O LORD, your mercy reaches to heaven;
your faithfulness, to the clouds.
Your justice is like the mountains of God;
your judgments, like the mighty deep.
R. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.
How precious is your mercy, O God!
The children of men take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They have their fill of the prime gifts of your house;
from your delightful stream you give them to drink.
R. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.
For with you is the fountain of life,
and in your light we see light.
Keep up your mercy toward your friends,
your just defense of the upright of heart.
R. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.
O LORD, your mercy reaches to heaven;
your faithfulness, to the clouds.
Your justice is like the mountains of God;
your judgments, like the mighty deep.
R. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.
How precious is your mercy, O God!
The children of men take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They have their fill of the prime gifts of your house;
from your delightful stream you give them to drink.
R. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.
For with you is the fountain of life,
and in your light we see light.
Keep up your mercy toward your friends,
your just defense of the upright of heart.
R. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.
Alleluia SEE
MT 11:25
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT
13:10-17
The
disciples approached Jesus and said,
"Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?"
He said to them in reply,
"Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven
has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.
To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich;
from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
This is why I speak to them in parables, because
they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.
Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:
You shall indeed hear but not understand,
you shall indeed look but never see.
Gross is the heart of this people,
they will hardly hear with their ears,
they have closed their eyes,
lest they see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their hearts and be converted
and I heal them.
"But blessed are your eyes, because they see,
and your ears, because they hear.
Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people
longed to see what you see but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."
"Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?"
He said to them in reply,
"Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven
has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.
To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich;
from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
This is why I speak to them in parables, because
they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.
Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:
You shall indeed hear but not understand,
you shall indeed look but never see.
Gross is the heart of this people,
they will hardly hear with their ears,
they have closed their eyes,
lest they see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their hearts and be converted
and I heal them.
"But blessed are your eyes, because they see,
and your ears, because they hear.
Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people
longed to see what you see but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."
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