Ang Sarap Kumain

The WORD today reminds me that I should make the most out of simple opportunities to spread the faith. 

We Filipinos have a special love for food. We love to eat. I love to eat. And more than food, the beauty in eating is if you spend it with people who matter to you. Important people. This is probably why the gospel struck me. 

The gospel paints an interesting scene. I could just imagine what the disciples were feeling. Pagod from working all night and not being able to catch anything. It must have been so frustrating. Not to mention tiring. Then may biglang nagsabi sa kanila na ibato sa kanan yung net. Siguro nainis sila, pagod na sila, nasa mababaw na sila, tapos sasabihan na ibaba and net kasi may isda? Pero sinunod parin nila. Then came the surprise. Their obedience, their faith, enabled Jesus to bless them in a special way. They caught 153 large fish that their net almost broke. Not only that, they realized it was Jesus who talked to them!

Eto pa, astig na pagdating nila sa shore, si Jesus nagluluto na! May breakfast na! How wonderful it must have felt, that after being up all night and not catching anything, they were given a lot, then breakfast was prepared for them. Iba talaga si God pag nag bless! Sobra!

Jesus used eating, the breaking of bread, to remind them of the Eucharist. He also reminded them to come to Him for food, for he alone can give food that satisfies. Tao talaga si Jesus, he knows how to maximize eating time, and he made good use of that. He turned a simple and normal breakfast into an opportunity for him to have communion and fellowship with his friends, and strengthened his relationship to those who would eventually proclaim his kingdom.

We should maximize every opportunity to spread the faith. 

God is telling me to maximize simple things such as eating, and to use it as an avenue to share God’s word and to build relationships. Kapag kumakain tayo, sulitin na natin. Let us proclaim God’s love, goodness and power when we break bread. We can enjoy each other’s company and talk about God in a simple meal. We do not need alcohol or a fancy meal to build relationships. We just need to make sure that in the simplest of things, we include Jesus, and that makes the difference. Kahit ano pa yan. Kahit simple lang. pwedeng ipasok sa usapan ang kadakilaan ng Diyos. 

How do I react when God asks me to do something? Do I justify and reason out, or do I just obey, allowing him to bless me abundantly?  How do I build relationships? Do I need alcohol or fancy meals to build relationships, or do I know that if I include Christ in the simplest of meals, that is enough to build relationships anchored on Him? Do I make the most out of simple opportunities to talk about God and spread the faith?

May we remember to maximize every opportunity to witness to God and spread our faith.

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 the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I forget about you. Sorry for not trusting in you enough. Sorry for not sharing you to others. Increase my faith. May I be like the disciples who would follow you even if I have doubts or questions. And guide me every day. Help me proclaim you. In the simplest of things, in the way I live, help me share you to others. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2020/04/rejected-but-still-working.html

April 09, 2021

Easter Friday; St. Madeleine Sophie Barat

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FIRST READING

Acts 4:1–12

After the crippled man had been cured, while Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them, disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They laid hands on Peter and John and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. But many of those who heard the word came to believe and the number of men grew to about five thousand. 

On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly class. They brought them into their presence and questioned them, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them, “Leaders of the people and elders: If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. He is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”

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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 118:1–2, 4, 22–24, 25–27a (22)

R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. or R. Alleluia. 

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Israel say: “His mercy endures forever.” Let those who fear the LORD say, “His mercy endures forever.”

R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. or R. Alleluia. 

The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. 

R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. or R. Alleluia. 

O LORD, grant salvation! O LORD, grant prosperity! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD; we bless you from the house of the LORD. The LORD is God, and he has given us light. 

R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. or R. Alleluia.

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ALLELUIA

Psalm 118:24

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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GOSPEL

John 21:1–14

Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.