Overflowing

There are times when it is difficult to find the message from God through his word. But the Word today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091213.cfm) is the opposite - there are just a lot of ideas and messages that i felt. It was just overflowing with God's love, guidance and reminders.

The first reading reminds us how wr should treat each other - with love! Kahit nakakainis at nakakabwisit, love them. Bear with one another. Pag pasensyahan mo. Patawarin mo. We are called to act like Jesus to others, to extend love, compassion and forgiveness especially to those whom we feel does not deserve them.

The gospel takes this further. Love your enemies. Treat them well. Do good to those who cannot repay you. Be crazy. Go all out. Let them take whatever they want. Be detached from material things, be detached from yourself, and put others first.

Crazy? Yes, probably.

But the last line is a very beautiful ending - For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you

The crazier we are in serving God, in loving him through others, the crazier and wilder God's reward for us will be. Overflowing too.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for continuously nourishing me and filling me with your love. Thank you for letting yourself be found when I look for you. Lord, I pray that you give me a crazy heart. May I be willing to be selfless and allow you to work in me and through me. Keep me detached from anything of this world so that i may be able to serve you with everything, for i know the reward will be great. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Of Changing

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091113.cfm) reminds me that change is a process.

In the first reading, we see that God wants us to always put on our new self so he can continuously renew us.

Change does not happen overnight. Just as a seed does not turn into a plant overnight. It needs time. It needs nourishment. It needs support. Continuously.

God wants us to constantly make the effort to make the right decisions. To prioritize the important things. To choose him always. Everyday. By these things, these small steps, God will be able to transform us into becoming the person we were made to be - in the image and likeness of Christ.

The gospel takes it further. The beatitudes or what others fondly call be-attitudes. Jesus encourages us to continue doing what is good and right and God will reward us. At the same time, we are warned what will happen if we go against God.

May we always remember that change is a process. And what is important is we continuously take baby steps so God can transform us to become more like Him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you it's mid-workweek! Lord, I ask that you help me become more and more like you. May my everyday actions enable you to slowly change me. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Prayer

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091013.cfm) reminds me how important prayer is as we work for God.

It is inspiring, at the same time challenging, to see how much Jesus loves and values prayer. In the gospel, we see Jesus doing an all-nighter. He prayed in the mountain all night. That was after working for God – healing people and preaching about God’s kingdom. Personally, I cannot say I have that much love for prayer. Unlike Jesus, I don’t spend a lot of time in prayer, not all night. We all get tired, even if we are working for God, and sometimes it becomes an excuse not to pray. “Lord, I work for you anyway, hope it’s alright not to pray because I’m tired.” Well, we see that this is not the case for Jesus. in fact, even if he worked hard, he prayed even harder.

We also see how important prayer is. It helps him know God more. He prayed all night before he chose the twelve Apostles. In his life, we can see that Jesus prayed hard before making important decisions. This aligns him to the will of the Father, to make sure what he will be doing is God’s will, not his. Also, though it may take time from his physical rest, prayer also refreshes him and allows him to continue serving God more. It nourishes him. As we see that after choosing the 12, he went on and continued healing and preaching.

How important is prayer in my life? Do I pray? Do I have a fixed time for it, or do I just pray when I remember to? What excuses or reasons do I have for not spending enough, unhurried time for prayer? How can I improve my prayer life?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for reminding me how important and powerful prayer is. Lord, I am sorry for not making the most out of prayer. Sorry for all excuses and all the reasons I give you for not having enough unhurried time for prayer. Lord, I pray that you give me a heart for prayer. Like Jesus, may I have a great love and desire for prayer, so I will always be aligned with your will, and I will always be recharged as I do your work. This I ask in Jesus name, Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Fault Finding

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/090913.cfm) reminds me not to find fault in other people.

There are people I know who are so particular with diction and grammar. They get annoyed when one makes a mistake with diction or grammar. others on the other hand are very fast to find fault in the way other people say things – they check the diction, pronunciation and grammar used – and some laugh with each other as they find fault in the way others speak.

In the gospel, Jesus warns us to check our intentions and not find fault in others. The scribes and Pharisees were like those people – watching Jesus closely, not to learn from him, but with the intention of finding fault in him and doing bad to him. This is the reason they did not celebrate when a man was healed and set free from sickness during Sabbath. To them, what’s more important is they keep their place in society, that Jesus does not take their place of power and influence with the people – so they want to put Jesus down, even to the expense of other people.

It is not bad to want success for ourselves. In fact, we should do our best and succeed. Shine for God. However, when we get attached to these things – success, power, influence – that we get our hearts closed to God and we consciously find fault in others who can possibly be competitors, we know that something is wrong already. Real success comes from God – from knowing Him and doing things for him, not for ourselves.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another week. Lord, as I start this week, I ask that you purify my thoughts and my intentions. May I not be too attached to worldly things – wealth, power, fame and success, that I would actively find fault in others who may be a threat to these. I pray that I only focus on you, live for you, glorify you, and shine for you this week and always. Amen.

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

First in Your Life

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/090813.cfm) reminds me that God wants to be first in our lives.

When I first started working, i was made to attend a training for all new employees in the specific technology. After the training, we were given our ranking and found out I was top three in the whole group. One time during lunch, our family talked about work and asked me how my training was. I told them I was top three, and my uncle, though happy for my accomplishment, told me that next time maybe I can be number one. The rapper Nelly captures this in his song.. “I am number one.. two is not a winner and three nobody remembers…”

In the same way us human beings want to be number one in what we do, God also wants to be number one – in our lives.

The gospel says that anyone who loves his family, or his posessions, more that Christ cannot be his disciple. Yes, God should be number one in our lives, if we really want to be his disciples. No one, or nothing should get in the way of us serving God, of us doing things for him, of us loving Him.

It may be difficult and challenging, but as we remain faithful disciples of God, we will constantly reminded that all our act of love for him is worth it. And without us asking for it, they will always be rewarded by our loving, gracious and generous God.

What or who is number one in my life right now? What am I living for? What or Who do I do things for? Who do I offer my success and my setbacks in life? What do I need to let go to make God the number one in my life?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another Sunday. Lord, I am excited for what is in store for me today! I thank you for always being there to surprise me, to love me and to bless me. I pray that I always make you number one in my life. May no one and nothing ever take your place as first in my life, and may no one and nothing be in the way of my service to you. All this I ask in Jesus name, through the intercession of Mama Mary, Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Doable

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/090713.cfm) reminds me that what God asks from us is always doable by everyone.

There are a lot of things in life that are not for everyone. For example, not everyone can be part of a sports team. One should first pass the try outs to be able to be on the team. Another is scholarships. Not everyone can meet the criteria to receive such grants. These are the times that no matter how badly you want or need these things, you can’t necessarily be sure you’ll get them.

With God, it is not like that. When he sets a criteria, or a condition, he makes sure everyone can pass. Everyone willing can meet the standards.

In the first reading, we are reminded that we are all reconciled with God through Jesus’ death. However, it does not end there. Christ dying for us doesn’t mean we don’t have to do anything anymore, that we can do whatever we want on earth and expect to be in heaven for eternity. No. we have to work as well. But God sets conditions that everyone can meet.

“… provided that you persevere in faith… and not shifting from the hope of the Gospel…”

God does not tell us that for you to be saved, you have to perform 5 major miracles, or make 10 million from the gifts given to you. No, God sets standards attainable and doable by all.

God loves us, and wants us to remain in him. May we find joy and affirmation in the fact that God sets standards that everyone can do, and be inspired that heaven is definitely attainable – by God’s grace and our effort.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another weekend! Lord, I pray that I may be able to glorify you this day. I also thank you Lord for loving me, for wanting me to be with you in heaven. Thank you that your standards are attainable, that everyone who really wants to go to heaven and be with you can do so – by your grace combined with our effort to live a life pleasing to you, live a life of faith firmly planted on you. I pray that I may have the desire and the will to live it in my life. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Old is Good

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/090613.cfm) reminds us that change is painful.

There are a few things that get better with time, and what is most common to people is wine. We know that wine gets better with age. Same with some scotch. The older it is, the more expensive it is, because the better it tastes.

In the gospel, we see Jesus using this example. Old wine, old wineskins. Old cannot be joined with new. And in the same way people like old wine because it tastes better, people find it hard to let go of their old selves and be transformed to the new self in Christ. Why? Because change is painful. Old is better because it is comfortable, because we are used to it.

Accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior is the start of a transformation. However, we should decide – to stick to the new self or go back to the old. No halfway between the two. Jesus says the letting go of the old self and accepting the new is painful and difficult, that is why the scribes and Pharisees were not willing to accept it. They were already too comfortable with their old selves, with the power and influence that they had. They were not willing to let go and change – and allow God to be truly God in their lives.

Change can be painful. The  pull of the old self may be too strong. But change is something necessary if we want to find favour in God. May we desire to change and become new creations in Christ, and resolve to stick to it as we live our lives.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for the gift of new life. Thank you for loving me so much and sending your son to die for me so that I can live. Lord, I pray that you give me a heart that would always desire to be a new creation in you. Everyday, may I accept Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior, and may I live my life as such, shunning the call of the old self and persevering to walk in the light as you continue to change me to become the person I was meant to be. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-