Second Chance

The gospel today shows us Jesus living what he preaches about forgiveness.

We know that Peter denied Christ three times. Now, Jesus not only forgives him but gives him a chance to redeem himself.

When appearing to his disciples, the first thing he said was “Peace be with you.” – meaning kahit na iniwan nyo ako sa ere nung pinapahirapan ako, kahit na nagtatago kayo, at kahit na ikaw, Peter, na leader ng mga alagad ko, ay itinanggi na kilala mo ako, pinapatawad ko na kayo. Peace na tayo.

As if that was not enough, Jesus gave Peter an explicit way to redeem himself. Pinatawad na sya n Jesus, pero baka hindi pa napapatawad ni Peter ang sarili nya. That’s why Jesus gave him three times to redeem himself, to profess how much he loves Jesus, and to make sure he really does.

Peter felt distressed when Jesus asked him the third time, so aside from saying “yes”, he professed that “Jesus knows everything.” Probably Peter thought that Jesus lost confidence in Him kaya paulit ulit sya nagtatanong, baka nag sisigurado sa sagot ni Peter. However, it was during that time that he felt that way that he answered more than a “yes”, it was then that he professed what he knows about Jesus, it was then he professed his faith. “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you” a statement of faith, of surrendering to Jesus.

Yes, God will readily forgive us, but again reminds us that things will not automatically be easy. Just because he forgives us doesn’t mean things will be easy. He reminded Peter that he would not have an easy time, but that he would glorify God. Then Jesus asked him to follow Him.

Are we feeling guilty about something we’ve done (or did not do) in the past? Do we know that Jesus will readily forgive us, that’s why we have the sacrament of reconciliation. Am I willing to experience hardships, to die of myself as I live for Jesus?

Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for being with me this week. Thank you for your love that is bigger than anything bad I’ve done. Thank you for your forgiving heart. Lord, I ask that I learn to forgive myself as well, because if you can forgive me, then I should also be able to forgive myself. As I seek forgiveness from you and from myself, may I also be willing to serve you, especially when it is not easy to. May I live my life glorifying you. This I ask in Jesus name. Amen.

Stay blessed! Happy Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Pure service out of love

In today’s first reading, we see Paul standing before the Sadducees and Pharisees. It became so serious that the commander sent his troops to save Paul from being torn to pieces. Imagine how chaotic that must have been. Indeed, Paul’s discernment that he will encounter hardships is true. Paul must have felt a relief being pulled away by the soldiers, but God told him something else…

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage.
For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem,
so you must also bear witness in Rome

God did not spare him from the pains and hurts. God did not say “I will take you away from them and I will save you because you have been doing my work.” God did not say kawawa ka naman, bibigyan nga kita ng reward. Instead, God told him to take courage. Hindi pa tapos. Meron pang iba.

Scary?

Probably.

But I think Saint Paul was just too glad to be suffering for Christ. I believe Saint Paul was too happy to be afraid.

Why?

Because he was glorifying God.

He said in different letters that He was happy to suffer for Christ (Colossians 1:24) and that he will boast of his weakness, because is it when he is weak that Christ’s power is made perfect, that Christ is glorified (2 Cor 12:9 and 2 Cor 11:30)

This is such an inspiring attitude. Something we should aspire to have. Paul, aside from his willingness to suffer for Christ, does not have a sense of entitlement. He did not feel entitled to God’s blessings just because he has been working hard to proclaim his kingdom. He did not say, Lord, konting tulong naman jan, anyway, ilang taon na akong nagta trabaho para sayo. Ibalato mo na to sakin – ill preach your word, wag mo lang akong pahirapan. Nothing like that from St Paul. He willingly preached God’s word, and willingly suffered after. All for God.

Tayo din ba?

Are we willing to suffer for God, or are we just there during the happy times, the fun times? Do we have a sense of entitlement? Do we feel God owes it to us to give us our wants, just because we’re serving him, just because we feel we are doing good? Do we get annoyed or mad at him when we don’t get what we pray for, even after we’ve sacrificed for him, even after we’ve done things for him? Do we bargain with God?

May we be inspired by Saint Paul to just work for God, not expecting anything in this world, simply because we love God, and we know in faith that in the life after this, we will be rewarded accordingly.

Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for giving me an example through St Paul. I thank you for letting me know that St Paul, a man like me, is capable of loving and serving you in that way. I thank you for telling me, and believing, that I too can serve the way St Paul did. Lord, please cleanse me from anything that is not of you as I serve you. May I always put my focus on you as I live my life and as I serve you through my life. All this I ask in Jesus name, Amen.

God bless!

In Christ,

-g-

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/05/take-courage.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/05/one-with-god.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/05/stay-in-world-but-not-of-it.html

Stay in the world, but not of it

The readings today tell us again that it will not be easy doing God’s work.

In the first reading, Paul tells the people that “savage wolves will come among you and they will not spare the flock.”  As if that is not enough, he further says that “from your own group, men will come perverting the truth to draw disciples away from them” Again, we are warned that serving God will not be a walk in the park.

In the gospel, Jesus himself tells us that “the world hated them because they do not belong to the world.” In as much as Jesus was not of the world, that he did not belong to the world, that his kingdom is not of this world, we too do not belong to the world, thus we won’t be treated well by the world.

Did this mean that we should live lives separated from the evil world?

Not necessarily

God calls each one of us differently

He calls most of us to stay in the world, but not of it. He says in the gospel:

I do not ask that you take them out of the world
but that you keep them from the Evil One

Yes, Jesus did not pray that we be spared from the trials and problems. He did not pray that we be taken out of the evil one. Jesus prayed that God protect us from the enemy. If we would live out of this world, if we would seclude ourselves, who will work for Him? Who will proclaim his kingdom? Who will glorify him? Who will he use to touch the lives of others? We are called to live in the world, but not of it. We should continue to live and work for God, trusting in faith that God will keep us from the enemy.

What does living in the world mean for me? What is living of the world? Looking at my life right now, am I living IN the world or OF the world? What can I do to remain focused on Jesus’ command of living In the world but not of the world?

Dear God,

I thank you for your word today. I thank you for reminding me what you want me to do and how you want me to live my life. Father God, right not I have a lot of concerns – health of my family, career, and other things… but Lord, I have full faith that you would take care of everything as I serve you, as I live for you. Father God, I ask that you help me remain focused in serving you. I ask that you help me live my life in praise, honor and glory of you. Lord, help me live in the world enough that I can love and serve you, and make your love alive, but always remind me to not live of the world, to not be distracted and deceived by all the worldly pleasures it may give me. All this I ask in faith in Jesus name. Amen.

Stay focused on God!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/02/it-aint-easy.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/05/world-hates.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/04/it-is-not-easy.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/03/die-to-live.html

One with God

The gospel today shows how Jesus is one with God. Jesus had God’s glory before coming down to earth to save us. Jesus worked to proclaim God’s kingdom on earth. He came from God. Everything He has is God’s, and everything of God’s is Christ’s. This shows us an intimate bond, the infinite love between God and Jesus. This love enabled Jesus to step down from his glory and become a lowly human like us, not to rule over us, but to serve us and save us, out of love and obedience to God.

An intimate love with Jesus will enable us to do great things for Him, even if it goes against logic. We see this in the first reading. St Paul did not know what awaits him in Jerusalem, but he knows he will experience hardships and imprisonment. Yet, he is still willing to go to proclaim God’s kingdom, to bear witness to him. One can only do that out of great love for Christ!

How about us? Where are we in our relationship with God? What are we willing to do to improve our relationship with Him? What are we willing to do for Him? Where do we want our relationship with God to go?

May we be inspired by Jesus and Paul’s relationship with God, and work on building that in our lives as well.

Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for always reaching out to me. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. I ask Lord that today, I become more sensitive to you, that I become more eager to know you. Help be build my relationship with you as I live my life here on earth in service of you. I ask this in Jesus name. Amen.

God bless!

In Christ,

-g-

Take Courage

I believe the gospel today is a fitting gospel the day after we celebrated the Ascension. Yesterday, we remember Jesus being lifted up into heaven. Today, I feel he is reminding us that we are not alone. Kahit nasa langit na sya, he is asking us to be strong and focus on Him.

I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world

Yes, it will not be easy. Serving Him will not be a walk in the park. There will be challenges, especially from the enemy who rules the world, but Jesus is reminding us to take courage.

Jesus experienced a lot of challenges and troubles while doing God’s work on earth, but he did not lose his focus. Saints also experienced persecution and hardships for Jesus. However, they remained focused on Jesus, they remained focused on serving God.

Challenges don’t always come in the form of persecution and hardships. It’s easy to spot challenges like that, and it’s easy to be aware of those things. When people say nasty things about your faith or make fun of you standing firm on the values, you can easily recognize it as persecution and know how to handle it. I believe the enemy is using things seemingly harmless and normal to challenge us, to trouble us, to distract us from serving God.

Work by itself is not bad. We need it to sustain our lives. However, too much work (or the lack of it) can cause us to be distracted from our service. People handle stress differently. If work is causing you to feel too tired to serve God, or if the lack of it makes you feel unworthy serving God, then definitely it becomes a distraction from serving God. Too much work may cause stress that could easily make you susceptible to worldly rewards. Sige, gimik muna ako ngayon kasi ang dami ko naming trabaho, I’ve been working hard, I deserve a little reward. May not necessarily be bad, but if not handled properly, a lot of things can happen – too much drinking causes accidents, makes people act differently, etc… things that Christ’s followers should not be doing.

What is troubling me right now? What is giving me comfort in my life? Do I remember and live what Christ tells me today, or are his words drowned by the concerns of the world? How can I have peace as I fight for Christ?

May we recognize the things that the enemy is doing to distract and trouble us, and lift up to God everything that hinders us from fully following and serving Him.

Prayer

Dear God,

As we start another work week, we ask that you give us a fresh portion of your strength to be able to do your work. Thank you for the weekend, and thank you for giving us time to rest and spend time with family and friends. May we always remember to keep our focus on you as we live our lives and as we do your work here on earth. This we ask in Jesus name. Amen.

Have a blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

Ascension 2012

As we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ’s Ascension, the readings show us the power of God, how Christ really is the Son of God. Astig!

The first reading tells us how Christ was taken up into heaven.

When he had said this, as they were looking on,
he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.

And the gospel also tells another version, though a less descriptive one

So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them,
was taken up into heaven
and took his seat at the right hand of God.

It is interesting to note that the last thing he said to his disciples before ascending into heaven was to go out to the world. The readings tell us that.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
throughout Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth."

…

Go into the whole world
and proclaim the gospel to every creature.

As Jesus commands us to proclaim the gospel, he also says he will equip us. He sent the holy spirit to the disciples (as also seen in the second reading) and up to now, he still continues to send the holy spirit to us as we proclaim his gospel, as we proclaim his kingdom. In the same way he gave the disciples what they needed, he still gives us what we need to serve him. He provides.

Question is, are we obeying his commandment? Are we proclaiming his kingdom?

God has blessed us so we can be a blessing to others. He made us feel his love and the joy and peace that come with it so we may also share it with others. He gave us his forgiveness so we could extend that to others as well. He loved us so we could love others.

We do not necessarily need to be like the disciples to proclaim God’s kingdom. That was what was needed before, so they did just that. They drove out demons, healed the sick, preached to different places. God needs us to proclaim his kingdom where we are right now. No matter what you do, no matter where you are, we are called to proclaim God’s kingdom. The second reading tells us:

And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets,
others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,
for building up the body of Christ,

Yes, kahit ano pa ang ginagawa mo, game yan! We just need to obey and have faith in God. We do not need to go elsewhere. Let’s start with our family, our relatives, our friends, our officemates. Let’s start.

Dear God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for all the blessings. Thank you for my family. Lord, may I serve you the way you want me to. Help me have the heart that listens and obeys you. Help me trust in faith that you will equip me as I do your work. Help me start proclaiming your kingdom wherever I am. I know that it is not me, but it will be you who would be working through me to proclaim your kingdom. May I be a vessel of your love and your power in my own little way. This I ask through the mighty name of Jesus. Amen

Have a blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Be Inspired and Challenged

The readings today inspire me.

In the first reading, we see Apollos, a Jew who taught and preached about Jesus, even if he only knew the baptism of John. He did not know a lot of things, he did not understand a lot of things, but he was zealous in proclaiming God’s kingdom! He was generous in sharing what little he knows! Then, we see, that God never fails to equip and provide us with the things that we need to serve him. Priscilla and Aquila taught him more accurately, and endorsed him to other brothers. Ang galing =)

The gospel reminded me of what’s in store for us if we continue following Jesus. It’s inspiring to think of this…

The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures
but I will tell you clearly about the Father

Imagine, understanding things about God. Understanding things about the faith. Having a personal face to face conversation with Jesus! Astig diba? Something to look forward to as we live this life on earth, as we continue to serve Him especially when it is not easy to.

I take it as an inspiration and a challenge.

Probably, we know more about Jesus than Apollos when he started. We have lots of personal experiences with him. We know stuff about him. But do we behave like Apollos? Do we proclaim his kingdom? Are we generous to share whatever we know about him to other people, or do we wait until we feel we know enough before we share?

How about our lives? Do we live faithfully to the gospel values, or do we give up when it’s hard to? Are we keeping our focus on God, having faith in his great power and love for us, or are we easily distracted by worldly things?

It is never too late to act on God’s challenges. Let’s start now.

Dear God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for this weekend. Thank you for your word that encourages. I pray that you equip me with the things that I need to serve you and to proclaim your kingdom. I also ask that you always remind me of the prize in store for me as I serve you. May I continue to be a faithful servant of your Son, Jesus. May this weekend not be a time of rest and recreation, but a time to recharge my spirit as well. Amen.

Have a blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/04/he-opened-their-minds.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/03/we-will-understand-and-remember.html