The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/082918.cfm) reminds
me that I should stay firm as I serve God.
Today,
we commemorate the Passion of St John the Baptist. Jesus himself told his
disciples that they should expect suffering just as He, their master, suffered
on earth for doing God’s work. John the Baptist experienced this, and faced
this head on. He did not shy away from doing God’s work, even if he knew he
offended powerful people in the course of doing it. He continued to do God’s
work, despite the opposition and challenges he faced. He stayed firm in his
faith.
Only
a strong faith will enable us to stay firm in times if great challenges.
John
had this, and we should aspire to have it too. He worked for God despite these
challenges against him. He lived the first reading - setting a good example to
others and working (for God), and in the process doing his best to earn the
eternal great reward of life in eternity with God.
In one
way or another, we all suffer. We all experience problems and challenges. But
we are also reminded that it is better to suffer for doing good, than suffer as
a consequence of your actions and decisions. Doing God’s work, like St John the
Baptist, caused him to suffer in the hands of powerful people at that time. We
too can experience this in the form of oppression from others, mockery, among
other things. These are sufferings, but because of doing good, and are
temporary. St John the Baptist’s suffering was the end of his hardships here on
earth and the beginning of his life eternal with God in heaven. However, some
can also suffer for doing bad. A drug addict can suffer from addiction, torn
family, financial problems, etc. these are also sufferings, but not caused by
doing God’s work, but by our own decisions.
How
do I look at sufferings and problems? Do I live right, or are my sufferings the
result of my wrong decisions and lifestyle? Do I offer my sufferings to God,
and keep my faith, continue doing good despite of these? How can I strengthen
my faith in Him?
May we
be inspired by St John the Baptist’s focus on God, courage and strength as he
experienced suffering in doing God’s work.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live.
Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for the inspiration. Lord, I am sorry for
the many times I don't act like John the Baptist. Sorry for being scared and
not staying firm when faced with powerful oppositions. And sorry for making bad
decisions that cause my sufferings and hardships. Lord, I ask that you help me
be like St John the Baptist. May I always find courage from and strength in
you, especially as I experience challenges and suffering in doing your work.
Help me be brave and strong in doing your work. Make me a firm soldier. Use me
for your kingdom wherever I may be. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
August 29 , 2018
Memorial of the Passion of
Saint John the Baptist
Lectionary: 427/634
Lectionary: 427/634
Reading 1 2 THES 3:6-10, 16-18
We
instruct you, brothers and sisters,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
to shun any brother
who walks in a disorderly way
and not according to the tradition they received from us.
For you know how one must imitate us.
For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,
nor did we eat food received free from anyone.
On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked,
so as not to burden any of you.
Not that we do not have the right.
Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you,
so that you might imitate us.
In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that
if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.
May the Lord of peace himself
give you peace at all times and in every way.
The Lord be with all of you.
This greeting is in my own hand, Paul's.
This is the sign in every letter; this is how I write.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
to shun any brother
who walks in a disorderly way
and not according to the tradition they received from us.
For you know how one must imitate us.
For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,
nor did we eat food received free from anyone.
On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked,
so as not to burden any of you.
Not that we do not have the right.
Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you,
so that you might imitate us.
In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that
if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.
May the Lord of peace himself
give you peace at all times and in every way.
The Lord be with all of you.
This greeting is in my own hand, Paul's.
This is the sign in every letter; this is how I write.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
Responsorial Psalm PS 128:1-2, 4-5
R. (1) Blessed are those who fear the
Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Alleluia MT 5:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MK 6:17-29
Herod
was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
"It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers,
his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
Herodias' own daughter came in
and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
"Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you."
He even swore many things to her,
"I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom."
She went out and said to her mother,
"What shall I ask for?"
She replied, "The head of John the Baptist."
The girl hurried back to the king's presence and made her request,
"I want you to give me at once
on a platter the head of John the Baptist."
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders
to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
"It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers,
his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
Herodias' own daughter came in
and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
"Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you."
He even swore many things to her,
"I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom."
She went out and said to her mother,
"What shall I ask for?"
She replied, "The head of John the Baptist."
The girl hurried back to the king's presence and made her request,
"I want you to give me at once
on a platter the head of John the Baptist."
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders
to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
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