Eagerly Waiting

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/012813.cfm) reminds me that Jesus would bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

The first reading reminds us that Christ died once to save us from sin and death, and he will come a second time to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him. Indeed, the psalm reminds us that Christ has done marvellous deeds.

Christ’s second coming is usually associated with the end of the world. People are generally afraid of that – the time when the world as we know it would perish, and we would be judged by the way we live our lives. Yes, scary, but those who are followers of Christ should not be afraid. If we are not of the world, if we are not too comfortable in the world and remember to live our faith, then we should not be afraid. We should take comfort and joy in Christ’s word that when he comes, he would bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Waiting is not a fun process. We human beings generally do not want to wait.  We want fast results and quick action – that’s why in this world, we have a lot of instant things – instant noodles and other food, instant and fast relief medicines, quick return of our investments, etc. We are impatient. But Jesus reminds us that we should be patient and continue doing his work while in this world… and eagerly await him when he comes to bring us salvation.

Am I living my life in a way that I would be glad when Christ comes?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day, another week. Lord, I ask that you help me live my life in a way pleasing to you, that I may be one of those who will be glad when you come again, that I may be eagerly awaiting your salvation when you come again in glory. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

Happy Servant

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/012713.cfm) reminds me that we should be happy servants!

The gospel reminds us that Jesus is the one and only true son of God – the only one worthy of our praise, love and service. The second reading reminds us that we are all part of the body of Christ. We may have differences in opinions, differences in beliefs and culture, differences in talents and skills, but we are all parts of Christ’s body. We all have different skills and functions, so we all have different purposes in building up God’s kingdom. We should not compare ourselves with other people, more so be envious of other people. God created us as we are, and whatever we can contribute in building God’s kingdom is greatly appreciated by God, and is needed by God – just like the different parts of the body making up one whole and complete body.

The first reading reminds us to be happy. To be joyful. I believe this is what our attitude should be as we serve God, as we do our role as part of the body of Christ.

Serving is one thing, happily serving is an entirely different thing. It may not be easy to do, especially if we do not want what we are doing, or if what we are doing is challenging, but it makes serving lighter and better. No matter what we do in life, no matter how we serve God, no matter how challenging the situation may be, we should be happy servants – happy for the opportunity to serve God, despite everything.

Am I a happy servant?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to rest and take a break from my routine. Lord, I ask that you give me a heart of a servant. As I live my life on earth, may I not be too focused on myself and on building my dreams, but may I always remember to serve you through my life. As I serve you, Lord, may I not forget to be happy, because I know you want me to be happily serving you. And as I do that, I know it will be easier to bring people to you, since they would be interested to know what kind of God I am happily serving. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Foolish for God!

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/012613.cfm) reminds me that we should be ready to be foolish for God.

In the gospel, we see the relatives of Jesus saying that he is out of his mind. He is so busy, he does not even have time to eat. He is always out, going to different cities. He goes out with tax collectors and sinners. He interacts with the outcasts of society. Probably, he is out of his mind.

Why? Because he goes all out for God. He is ready and willing to be foolish for God – foolish in the sense of the world, rejecting what the world teaches but instead, doing God’s work.

The reading tells us that:

For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice
but rather of power and love and self-control.
So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,
nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;
but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel
with the strength that comes from God.

He gave us a spirit of power and love and self-control. For what? To spread the gospel. To do his work. We know that doing God’s work is not easy, and we will have our share of hardships and challenges. However, God’s got that covered too, he gives us the strength to face these challenges.

God equips us as we do his work. We just need to be willing to be fools for God.

Am I serving God? In what ways? Am I willing to go all out for Him, to be foolish for him – step out of my comfort zone and give him my all?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another weekend. Lord, disturb me. Do not let me be relaxed and comfortable with the world. Give me a heart that will be ready to go all out for you, a heart that will be ready to be foolish for you. I know that as I serve you, you will equip me with all that I need, and I trust that you will magnify my work for you. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Go Out!

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/012513.cfm) encourages and challenges me to go out and proclaim the gospel.

They say that we Filipinos are very resourceful. We can do a lot of things. However, sad to say, some of us use that quality to do things that are not so nice. That’s why there are corruption, a lot of pirated materials, etc in our country. We can be a lot more progressive if people only use their creativeness and resourcefulness in a positive way. This is why people say that our resourcefulness and creativeness is not maximized.

This is probably what we can say about St Paul.

Before his conversion, Saul (his former name) was a very fierce persecutor of Christians. He spent his days diligently persecuting Christ’s followers. People feared him. However, that was completely reversed when Jesus appeared to him. His conversion turned his life around, and his qualities were greatly used by God.

We may not be called to preach the way St Paul did, or may not be as gifted in preaching as him, but the readings today clearly say that we are called to go out and proclaim God’s kingdom, proclaim the gospel – wherever we are, whatever we do. In our own little way, we can proclaim his kingdom and the gospel by the way we live our lives and the way we interact with people around us.

Do I realize that even I too am called to proclaim the gospel, proclaim God’s kingdom in my life? Am I willing to go out of my way, of my comfort zone, and proclaim the gospel?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for calling me to proclaim your gospel and your kingdom. Lord, that’s the least I can do to show my love for you – to proclaim you and bring you to others. Lord, give me a heart that would be ready to step out of my comfort zone and go out into the world for you. I know I need not be a missionary to do that. I know that in my own little way – at home, in the office, in school, I can do something to proclaim you to others. I know Lord I am unworthy, so I ask that you help and equip me to do your work. Like to Saint Paul, may you never tire of giving me second chances to serve you, because even if it may not always be obvious, deep in my heart, that’s something I really want to do. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

He is Always Able

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/012413.cfm) reminds me that Jesus is always able.

An excerpt from the first reading says:

Jesus is always able to save those who approach God through him,
since he lives forever to make intercession for them

How comforting to know that. Jesus is ALWAYS ABLE to save us… if we come to God THROUGH Him.

So powerful!

In the Philippine culture, the “palakasan” culture is very strong. It’s not necessarily good, but it’s true. They say that nowadays, it’s not what you know, but who you know. You can most likely get anything you want if you know the right people – be it in school, business or corporate. Knowing the right people, and having a good relationship with them, will be beneficial.

In the spiritual context, that is true as well.

Knowing Jesus makes us good or strong to God. Why? Because Jesus goes in between us and God. He intercedes for us. As the reading says, he is always able – not just when he was living here on earth, but always. We just need to come to Jesus.

What does coming to Jesus mean? Does it mean we will always get what we want if we course it through Jesus?

Coming to Jesus does not mean we’ll just ask him to tell God what we want. On the other hand, coming to Jesus is humbling ourselves and submitting ourselves to Him. And as we do so, we will be changed. Our hearts will be more and more like him. our desires will be one with him, will be what he desires for us. We will decrease and God will increase in our lives. Thus, we will be saved as we die of ourselves, and we will get what we pray for as we pray for what God wants for us.

Are you ready to come to Jesus, knowing that he is always able?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for reminding me how loving and powerful Jesus is. It is inspiring that you are always able, as we see in the first reading and in the gospel. Thank you for not turning away anyone who comes to you in full faith. Lord, give me that faith. Give me that humility. May I have the heart to come to you, and surrender myself to you. May you be God in my life, so that my life will be my love offering to you. As I strive to live my life for you, I know that you will give me my heart’s desires, because I will only desire what you desire for me. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Can't Stop Him

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/012313.cfm) reminds me that no one of nothing can go against God’s plans, except us ourselves.

Nothing comes easy in life. They say you value something more if you worked hard for it. There are challenges and obstacles along the way, but as you overcome them, you not only get stronger, but get closer to reaching you goal, and will come to appreciate achieving it more.

In the gospel, we see Pharisees challenging Jesus. They were watching and waiting that he commits something against the law. They were silent, but Jesus knew what is in their hearts. Instead of wanting the man to be healed and cured, they were more interested in finding fault in Jesus. Instead of supporting Jesus in doing good and healing, they made it harder for Jesus to work.

Good news! Nothing and no one can stop God’s plans!

Not even the hardness of heart of the Pharisees. Not even their wanting to find fault in Jesus. Not even the risk Jesus would be getting himself into. Jesus still healed the man, despite of all these challenges and obstacles!

Bad news! We can stop God from doing his plan in our lives!

Only we, ourselves, can stop God’s plan from happening. IF we don’t cooperate in God’s plan for our lives, he certainly cannot do it. He gave us free will to choose and decide. If the man in the gospel remained hopeless and closed his heart to Jesus, he probably would not stretch out his hands because he probably have been trying for so long. If he did not stretch his hand, if he did not cooperate with Jesus’ plan for him, he would have not be healed.

What challenges am I experiencing right now? How am I taking it? Do I know that nothing and no one can stop God’s plans from happening in my life, except myself? Am I willing to move and act as I cooperate with God’s plans?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for reminding me that nothing and no one can stop you from fulfilling your great plans for me – except myself. Lord, help me not to focus on life’s challenges and difficult people that may distract me from focusing on you. May I always remember your great love and power. And as I do so, may I be ready and willing to move and act as I cooperate with your plan, to make them come true in my life. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Check the Heart

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/012213.cfm) reminds me to check my motives

Actions does not always go consistent with motives. There are a lot of people who seem to be doing good but with ulterior motives. It is easy to show you have concern for others, but the motive and intention behind it is a different story. There are people who show they help other people in front of cameras, but turn the other way when no one can see their actions.

The Pharisees in the gospel is similar to those people.

Their motives for saying those things are not pure. They followed the law by the dot, which is good, but not if it leads to self-righteousness and accuse others of breaking the law. They are more concerned with the action, and are quick to find fault in the actions of others – at the same time justifying themselves and feeling more honourable than others.

We too have the tendency to act in this way. We sometimes are quick to find fault in others, without the intention of helping them or correcting them, rather, for us to feel good about ourselves. “Good thing I am not like that” or “I will never do such a thing” are words, spoken or unspoken, that we sometimes feel.

Jesus is reminding us that we should check our intentions, and that strict observance of the law should not lead us into self-righteousness, rather it should lead us into leading others and encouraging others to do the same.

Am I quick to judge and find fault in others? Why? What are my motives and my intentions for finding or recognizing fault in others? Do I realize that I too am imperfect?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for reminding me to check my motives. Lord, may I never be quick in seeing the fault of others and pointing them out. Rather, may I be sensitive and gentle like you are. Clear me of any trace of self-righteousness and just give me a heart that would want to follow you because I love you, not because I want to feel that I am better than other people. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-