All Things New

The WORD today reminds me that God and his love makes all things new

We usually associate a fresh start during new year. We say that it is a year to change our ways. We have new years resolutions to be better and improve ourselves. However, today we are reminded that God gives this opportunity to us every day. 

Sharing an excerpt of the first reading:

So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:

the old things have passed away;

behold, new things have come

God is fond of giving us a fresh start. Everyday, when we wake up, we are given a new day, a new chance to do good, an opportunity to do what is right in our lives. He does not keep a record of our wrongs and wait for us to prove we are sorry or we will do what is right. Instead, he gives us fresh opportunities everyday to do what is right. Everyone is given that – regardless of your attitude, of your faith or of your way of life. God gives all of us fresh opportunities and a fresh supply of his love everyday.

New things have come.

God’s love makes all things new. There is no one too bad that he can’t be loved. There is no sin so grave that can’t be forgiven. Whatever sins we have, whatever bad habits we harbor, whatever issues we have – is not enough to prevent God from loving us and giving us a new start. God’s love is like soap – it cleans everything that it touches. We just need to humble ourselves and go to God, and expect him to change us and make things new, make things clean.

How is my life? How is my relationship with God? Am I living in a way pleasing to God? Do I want to live right? Do I want a fresh start? Do I realize that God gives me opportunities to start fresh every day?

May we be aware of God’s love and his opportunities, and may we make the most out of these.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Lord, thank you for your love. Thank you for your great love that can overcome anything. Sorry for the times I forget how much you love me. Sorry for the times I forget your great power. Sorry for running away from you. Lord, I pray that I humble myself and come to you. May I always allow you to love me so that I can experience and feel how real and how great your love for me is. And as I do so, I know that it will change me, it will change my life, and it will make things new and clean in my life. Amen.

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2020/06/integrity.html

June 12, 2021

Saturday of Week 10; St. John Gonzalez de Castrillo 

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FIRST READING

2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Brothers and sisters:
The love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died. He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 

Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer. So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12

R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful. 

Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. 

R. The Lord is kind and merciful. 

He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion. 

R. The Lord is kind and merciful. 

He will not always chide, nor does he keep his wrath forever. Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. 

R. The Lord is kind and merciful. 

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. 

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

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ALLELUIA

Psalm 119:36a, 29b

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees; and favor me with your law. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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GOSPEL

Matthew 5:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the Evil One.”