Obedience

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081218.cfm) reminds me how important obedience to God is. 

When we hear the word obedience, we usually associate it to a subordinate following the orders of the superior. Oftentimes, that order is beneficial to the superior, not the subordinate doing it. This is why obedience is not something people are excited about. However, we see in the readings that this is not the same with God.

Obedience to God will always be beneficial to us.

In the first reading, we see Elijah obeying God through the angel. He wanted to rest and die. He was already very tired, but when he was told to eat and continue on his journey, he obeyed. The food he ate helped him and gave him energy for the journey. In the gospel, we see the benefits of obeying God, of accepting Jesus. We see how we can continue doing what he wants us to. When we do not have energy, God is there. He gives us the bread of life – one that we need and will benefit us. The one that will sustain us. 

There are times when we don’t feel like obeying God, especially when what he wants us to do is different from what we want to do. However, we are reminded today that obeying Him makes sense, no matter how difficult it may be. Even if we don’t see the logic of it, or of how it will benefit us, we should always obey God for what he asks of us is always for our good.

Am I obedient to God? In what way? Do I obey him always, or just when what he wants me to do is something I want to do as well? When was the time I obeyed God even if I did not feel like it, and he surprised me with blessings from it? How does he want me to obey him now?

May we always be humble and submit ourselves as we obey God. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, I am sorry for the times I don’t obey you. sorry for the times I do what I want, not what you want. Sorry for the times I put myself first and not you. Help me surrender to you Lord. Help me obey to you just like Elijah did. I know you have great plans for me, and I know you will take care of things. I will just obey and let you take control. May your will always be first in my life. And may you always be glorified in my life. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

August 12, 2018

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 116

Reading 1 1 KGS 19:4-8

Elijah went a day's journey into the desert,
until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it.
He prayed for death saying:
"This is enough, O LORD!
Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers."
He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree,
but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat.
Elijah looked and there at his head was a hearth cake
and a jug of water.
After he ate and drank, he lay down again,
but the angel of the LORD came back a second time,
touched him, and ordered,
"Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!"
He got up, ate, and drank;
then strengthened by that food,
he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb.

Responsorial Psalm PS 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,
Let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
And delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy.
And your faces may not blush with shame.
When the afflicted man called out, the LORD heard,
And from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Reading 2 EPH 4:30—5:2

Brothers and sisters:
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.
All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling
must be removed from you, along with all malice.
And be kind to one another, compassionate,
forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.

So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love,
as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us
as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.

Alleluia JN 6:51

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord;
whoever eats this bread will live forever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 6:41-51

The Jews murmured about Jesus because he said,
"I am the bread that came down from heaven, "
and they said,
"Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph?
Do we not know his father and mother?
Then how can he say,
'I have come down from heaven'?"
Jesus answered and said to them,
"Stop murmuring among yourselves.
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,
and I will raise him on the last day.
It is written in the prophets:
They shall all be taught by God.
Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.
Not that anyone has seen the Father
except the one who is from God;
he has seen the Father.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven
so that one may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."