Grounded on God

Today’s readings show us what we can accomplish if we are grounded on God.

In the first reading, we see Elijah’s great acts blessed by God (See reflection http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2011/12/awesome-elijah.html ). He did such great and wondrous deeds in the name of and with the blessing and anointing of God. He has always been founded on the word, firmly grounded on God – doing everything for God’s praise and glory, not his own. We see that his service is genuine and really blessed by God.

The gospel shows us Jesus teaching us one way to be grounded on God. He teaches us how to pray (see related reflection http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/02/lords-prayer.html ).  One way to be grounded on God is first to build a relationship, a personal and intimate one, with Him. Prayer helps us do this. Jesus is teaching us that it is neither the words nor the actions that are important. It is our heart as we pray. It is a heart fully surrendered to God’s will, having faith in His perfect plan, not ours.

How is my prayer life? Do I give importance to it? What things have I accomplished though God’s grace? Do I believe that I can accomplish anything through Him?

May we work on our prayer life as we become grounded on God as we live life on earth.

Prayer:

Dear God,

I thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for the gift of prayer. I am sorry if I do not give much importance to praying, especially when things are doing well in my life. Lord, help me work on my prayer life as I develop an intimate and personal relationship with you. I have faith that as I am grounded on you, you will do great things through me. Amen.

Stay blessed!

In Christ,

-g-

PS

See related reflections

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/02/lords-prayer.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2011/12/awesome-elijah.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/06/gods-power-unleashed-through-our-faith.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/06/whats-your-motive.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/06/persistent-faith.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/06/shine-for-god.html

What’s your motive?

The gospel today encourages us to check our motives for doing good. Jesus tells us that our actions for God should be more than the superficial level. More important than our actions is our intention behind them.

 Jesus says you cannot readily tell the intention based on the action. Sometimes, there’s a tendency to do things not for God, but for the praise and approval of other people. People giving alms, helping the less fortunate ones with the intention of being recognized and branded as someone for the poor is not serving God in others, but himself. Praying and fasting to be seen, complimented and recognized as prayerful, righteous people are not praising God by their act, but merely building up themselves.

The first reading tells us an inspiring story. Elijah, one of the greatest prophets, was mysteriously taken up by a flaming chariot and flaming horses. Truly a testament of how pleased God was with his service. Yes, Elijah did many things (See footnotes), great things, but the intention was to praise and glorify God and never himself. We also see Elisha, asking for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit rather than any other power or thing, and as a sign of God’s approval, Elisha was able to do great things as well.

How about us? What are our intentions? When serving God through others – the poor, his church, our friends – what are our intentions? Do we seek to praise and glorify Him, or are there hidden personal desires in our actions? Do we want to be praised and recognized as we serve? Will we still serve even if we are not recognized and thanked for our actions? Will we still serve even if no one sees our actions? Will we still serve even if we are criticized for it?

May we always remember to probe our hearts for our intentions as we serve, and may we serve for the audience of one – God.

Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for reminding me today to check my intentions. Lord, I know it is not easy to serve you, and human as I am, I sometimes seek personal affirmation or recognition on my service. Father God, I pray that you always remind me that the most important affirmation is not from other people, but from you, Lord. Help me clean my intentions and always focus on you as I serve, having faith that when the time comes, you will recognize the service I am giving to you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

PS

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/06/persistent-faith.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/06/gods-power-unleashed-through-our-faith.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2011/12/awesome-elijah.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/06/shine-for-god.html

Love like God

Today’s readings invite us to love like God.

In the first reading, we see the continuation of yesterday’s story. Today, we see God, through the prophet Elijah, telling his anger at Ahab and his line. God’s anger was fuelled not just by Ahab allowing for the murder of Naboth so he can take his land, but by Ahab’s lifestyle of following other gods. In breaking the first and greatest commandment of loving God first, and in doing evil things because of that, God was so angered.

However, we also see how forgiving God is.

When God saw that Ahab humbled himself and was sorry for what he has done, God recognized it. We see God’s mercy and compassion if we are truly sorry for our sins. There’s no sin he cannot forgive, and there’s nothing too grave that he will not forgive. We just need to humble ourselves and be truly sorry for our sins for us to experience God’s forgiveness, mercy and love.

The gospel teaches us again to love in a higher level. We are asked to love as God loves.

It is easy to love the lovable. It is easy to love back those who love us and take care of us. It is easy to love back if we are getting that same, or sometimes greater love than the one we are giving. Lahat ng tao kayang gawin yun. However, Jesus is asking us to take it a step further.

Love the unlovable. Ang bigat no?

As followers of Christ, we are asked to love as he loves. To love the people who is not easy to love. That annoying officemate or relative, that seemingly nasty person you know, that disrespectful someone you know. These people, who are not easy to love, are still children of God, and God still wants to reach out to them… probably through you. Only God knows why they are acting that way, and God is asking us to love them even if it is not easy to, even if they do not deserve it.

Does this mean it’s okay to be a battered partner to someone abusive, because we are asked to love them? Not necessarily. Loving a person does not always mean we will obey and surrender to them. God do not give us everything we want and ask for, but we know for a fact that he loves us so much. God will give us what’s best for us, what will make us grow and mature, even if that entails pain on our part. He does so, not because he is angry, but because he loves us and wants us to grow in faith.

Be Jesus to others. You may be the only one.

In what ways have I experienced the love and mercy of God? When reading this, who came into my mind as the unlovable person in my life? How can I be like Jesus to that person today?

Dear God,

Thank you for your love. Thank you for loving me, even if I am an unworthy sinner. Thank you for your redeeming love that enables me to love others because you loved me first. Help me, Lord, to repay that love by loving others, especially the unlovable ones. Help me love in the way you want me to, not based on my own feelings and emotions, but anchored on you. Today, in my own little way, may I be like Jesus to someone, especially the unlovable one. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Nasaan ka na?

The readings today ask us where we are in terms of our lives.

In the first reading, we see two people being of the world. We see king Ahab who, after not getting what we want, got angry, disturbed. Needless to say, he did not take things well. Then we see his wife, Jezebel, who after finding out what happened, assured the king that the vineyard will be his. This may seem like a good intention, helping out the partner, but the means of how it was done was evil. She set up a plan to have Naboth, the landowner, killed so king Ahab could get the land. Yes, Naboth was killed due to false accusations, and the king obtained the land, who was just too happy to have the land. This shows that even if the intention may seem good, the means of getting it done is very important as well.

The gospel teaches us Jesus’ way, as opposed to the first reading. Jesus asks us to love, especially the unlovable. He wants us to be generous with the things that we have on earth, because all these things are temporary and should be used to further God’s kingdom. All we have on earth is God’s gifts to us, and should be used for God’s purposes. Jesus asks us to love the unlovable, to give until it hurts, to serve even if it is not easy, to let go and let Him take control.

Where are we now? Are we like the people in the first reading, who take care of each other and want the best for each other and will work on it, no matter how they get it? Or are we slowly working on following Jesus’ teaching of loving the way he does?

May we always remember that everything we have is God’s and should be used to further his kingdom.

Father God,

Thank you for giving me another week. Thank you for this day. I ask today that you help me improve myself. Help me love others the way you love us. May I be more generous with my time, talents and treasures to further your kingdom. Amen.

God bless!

In Christ,

-g-

My Littleness for His Greatness

The second reading today reminds us that we should glorify God.

Therefore, we aspire to please him,
whether we are at home or away.

We should aspire to please God, wherever we are and whatever we do. We can please God with our actions every day. We do not need to be a missionary or a full time church worker to please Him. Our daily taking up of our crosses to follow him is pleasing to him. Offering up our actions for his glory pleases him. Praying and acknowledging that he is God in our lives pleases him.

No act is too insignificant, if done for the glory of God.

St Therese knows that doing ordinary things with extraordinary love is much appreciated by God. It is more important that doing great things for self-gratification or personal glory. God does not need us to do a lot of mighty things on our own. All he needs is a heart that fully loves and surrenders to Him. God will use whatever little we can offer, and turn it into something great – for Him and by Him.

The first reading shows this. He will take of a tender shoot, plant it on a mountain and it will become a majestic cedar. The gospel says that a small mustard seed eventually turns into one of the biggest trees that give shade to birds. He said that he will lift high the lowly tree. He will use whatever little we can offer and turn it into a grand act for his purpose. We just need to let him.

Does this mean we just need to give him a little? Definitely not.

Even if God does not need grand acts from us, it doesn’t mean we’ll give a little. IT doesn’t work that way.  God does not require a grand act as an offering, but as lovers and followers of Christ, we definitely need to give him our best. He deserves the best we can offer. Whatever the best we can give him, he will turn into something great.

Is God real in my life? What do I offer him? Do I give him my best, or just the leftovers? Do I feel that I have to do grand things to serve him, or do I know that he will take whatever little I can give, and turn it into something great, if done with love and if given for his glory? What can I give God today?

May we always remember to give God our best, and remember that as long as it is the best we can give, he will take it, however little it may seem, and use his greatness.

Prayer:

Father God,

I thank you for this day. Thank you for reminding me that as long as I give you my best, no act is too little for your kingdom. Help me always give you my best and have faith that however little it may seem, you will turn it to something great. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Today, we are commemorating the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Yesterday, we see and remember how much God loves us. Today, we see an example of how we should love him back, through a human being in Mama Mary

In the gospel, we see a glimpse of Mary’s heart.

Even if she did not understand what Jesus meant, she still followed God. She still loved Him and served Him. Probably she did not get the answer she was expecting, but she was not proud and complaining. We did not see her complain and say “You sent the angel and asked me to be Jesus’ mother, now I do not understand what he is saying?!” Instead, we see Mary as a humble and obedient servant, keeping things in her heart when she did not understand.

How about us?

How do we react when we do not understand God’s plans? Do we humbly accept his plan, having faith that his plan is the best, or do we complain and insist he conform to what we want? When we do not get what we pray for or what we ask, how do we react? Are we angry at God, or do we keep the faith, continuously serving him despite of everything? Do I feel God’s love in my life? How do I respond and give it back to him? to others?

May we find in Mama Mary an example of how to love God back.

Prayer:

Father God,

Thank you for loving me. Thank you for always going down to my level and reaching out to me. Lord, I ask that you help me love you like Mama Mary. May I always surrender to your will and may I always be a humble servant loving you… always. Amen.

Have a blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

What comes into mind when one sees an image of a heart? <3

Some, probably the scientists and physicians, would associate heart with science and remember one of the most important organ in the human body.

Well, that is true.

However, I believe most of the people would associate heart with love. And I believe that is what Jesus, through the readings today, wants to tell us.

God loves us. The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus reminds us of the intense love of God for us.

In the first reading, we see God, like a father, loves and takes care of us. Nanjan sya kahit hindi natin alam, kahit hindi natin napapansin or pinapansin. His love is unconditional, na kahit hindi mo I acknowledge, kahit hindi ka magpasalamat, hindi sya titigil magmahal. His anger is also controlled. Ayaw nan yang masaktan tayo. Kahit pasaway tayo paminsan minsan, he still loves us and wants the best for us.

In the second reading, Paul uses a lot of words to try to describe God’s love for us. “..the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge…” Lahat na, parang napaka laki at napaka complex ng love ni God para sa atin. Imagine, God, who created us, who do not need us, who can live without us, loves us this much? Special ka!

In the gospel, we see this love in action. God sent his one and only son to save us from our sins. How? Not like a mighty king, but like a helpless child. He gave in to the will of God. He died to save us from sin and death. His love is greater than death. In the gospel, kahit patay na sya, blood and water still flowed out from Him. Even death could not stop him from loving us, from giving everything to us. We are not worthy of such love, but God’s love make us worthy and special.

Do I know that God really loves me so much? Do I value God’s love for me? IS it enough for me to tell me how special and worthy I am, or do I still look for love and affirmation of other people to make me feel good about myself? How can I love others and make them feel God’s love?

May we always know how much God loves us!

Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for loving me, even if I am unworthy. Lord, I am sorry for sinning and hurting you. Pero Lord, kahit pasaway ako, that does not stop you from loving me. May I give value to your love for me, and may I find my worth in your love and not in others. Today and every day, may I always remember how much you love me, and may I be a vessel of your love to others. Amen.

God bless!

In Christ,

-g-