The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/100318.cfm)
reminds me of the greatness
of God.
They
say that history repeats itself. Things happen over and over again because as
they say, the test will not end until the lesson is learned. This is because
people can be forgetful. We forget experiences and lessons of the past and just
focus on the present. That is why things are bound to happen again if we do not
remember the lesson and repeat the same mistakes over again. This is why it is
good to be reminded from time to time.
God is
a great and powerful God, just in case we forget.
In
the first reading, Job reminds us who God is. We see the things we sometimes,
or oftentimes, take for granted, things we think are normal or things we
don’t even think about. It is God who created everything and tells
everything what to do. The sun – how it rises and sets, the sky – how it
behaves and how the clouds form, the sea – how deep it is, how dark the depths
of the sea is, these are just some of the things God created and arranges.
These things, which we overlook, or oftentimes do not understand, are all God’s
work. Even these things we take for granted are under the supervision of God.
God
created everything. And he is powerful.
We
see that no one and nothing can match God's power and might. He can do
anything. He can do as he pleases. And we as human beings are his creation. We
may feel we deserve things, but we should not impose on God. We should not feel
entitled. Just as Job reminds us how special we should feel if God hears us,
listens to us, and gives us what we ask. God, the almighty and powerful being,
listens to us. Wow.
In
the busyness of life, we sometimes forget these things. We forget how
great God is. We forget how powerful he is. We forget how loving he is.
When we don’t get what we want, we get angry at him. We feel that he
doesn’t love us, or he doesn’t know how to make us happy. Worse, we sometimes
feel he has no power over our concerns, we think that God doesn’t have power
over the natural things in life, over the things logic tells us are not
possible. Sometimes we get worried about worldly things and don’t know if God
can and will help us. We forget how powerful he is, and we forget that he
always has his eyes on us. Yes, his eye is always on you.
Do
I sometimes forget what great things God has done? Do I sometimes belittle his
power or his love for me? How has he made his love alive in my life? What great
things has he done that I take for granted? What can I do to always be reminded
of his power and love for me?
May
we always remember how powerful God is, and how he loves us, knows everything
about us, and always has his eyes on us. And may it lead us to remember
how little we are in this universe, yet in God's infinite goodness, loves us so
much.
Father
God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live.
Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for loving me, an unworthy and little
person. Lord, you don’t need to love me. I don’t make your being God mightier
or greater. You don’t need me Lord, but you love me just because you are love.
In fact, it is I who need you. I know that I am nothing without you, that I
cannot accomplish anything without you. Sorry for the times I forget this.
Sorry for not trusting in you enough. Sorry for feeling entitled to receive
blessings from you. Help me remember who you are and who I am, especially
without you. May I always remember to stay close to you and trust that you
always have the best plan for me, and that with you, nothing is impossible. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
October 3, 2018
Wednesday of the Twenty-sixth
Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 457
Lectionary: 457
Reading 1 JB 9:1-12,
14-16
Job
answered his friends and said:
I know well that it is so;
but how can a man be justified before God?
Should one wish to contend with him,
he could not answer him once in a thousand times.
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength;
who has withstood him and remained unscathed?
He removes the mountains before they know it;
he overturns them in his anger.
He shakes the earth out of its place,
and the pillars beneath it tremble.
He commands the sun, and it rises not;
he seals up the stars.
He alone stretches out the heavens
and treads upon the crests of the sea.
He made the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the south;
He does great things past finding out,
marvelous things beyond reckoning.
Should he come near me, I see him not;
should he pass by, I am not aware of him;
Should he seize me forcibly, who can say him nay?
Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"
How much less shall I give him any answer,
or choose out arguments against him!
Even though I were right, I could not answer him,
but should rather beg for what was due me.
If I appealed to him and he answered my call,
I could not believe that he would hearken to my words.
I know well that it is so;
but how can a man be justified before God?
Should one wish to contend with him,
he could not answer him once in a thousand times.
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength;
who has withstood him and remained unscathed?
He removes the mountains before they know it;
he overturns them in his anger.
He shakes the earth out of its place,
and the pillars beneath it tremble.
He commands the sun, and it rises not;
he seals up the stars.
He alone stretches out the heavens
and treads upon the crests of the sea.
He made the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the south;
He does great things past finding out,
marvelous things beyond reckoning.
Should he come near me, I see him not;
should he pass by, I am not aware of him;
Should he seize me forcibly, who can say him nay?
Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"
How much less shall I give him any answer,
or choose out arguments against him!
Even though I were right, I could not answer him,
but should rather beg for what was due me.
If I appealed to him and he answered my call,
I could not believe that he would hearken to my words.
Responsorial Psalm PS
88:10BC-11, 12-13, 14-15
R.
(3) Let my prayer come before you,
Lord.
Daily I call upon you, O LORD;
to you I stretch out my hands.
Will you work wonders for the dead?
Will the shades arise to give you thanks?
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
Do they declare your mercy in the grave,
your faithfulness among those who have perished?
Are your wonders made known in the darkness,
or your justice in the land of oblivion?
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
But I, O LORD, cry out to you;
with my morning prayer I wait upon you.
Why, O LORD, do you reject me;
why hide from me your face?
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
Daily I call upon you, O LORD;
to you I stretch out my hands.
Will you work wonders for the dead?
Will the shades arise to give you thanks?
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
Do they declare your mercy in the grave,
your faithfulness among those who have perished?
Are your wonders made known in the darkness,
or your justice in the land of oblivion?
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
But I, O LORD, cry out to you;
with my morning prayer I wait upon you.
Why, O LORD, do you reject me;
why hide from me your face?
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
Alleluia PHIL
3:8-9
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I consider all things so much rubbish
that I may gain Christ and be found in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I consider all things so much rubbish
that I may gain Christ and be found in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 9:57-62
As
Jesus and his disciples were proceeding
on their journey, someone said to him,
"I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus answered him,
"Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."
And to another he said, "Follow me."
But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father."
But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead.
But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God."
And another said, "I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home."
Jesus answered him, "No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God."
on their journey, someone said to him,
"I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus answered him,
"Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."
And to another he said, "Follow me."
But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father."
But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead.
But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God."
And another said, "I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home."
Jesus answered him, "No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God."
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