No Rejection

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/050714.cfm) reminds me that God does not reject anyone that comes to Him.

Rejection is such a difficult and hurtful feeling. Men feel so depressed after being rejected by the woman they like. People feel down and sad when rejected by the company they want to get into. Students feel it too when rejected by the school they want to enter. Rejection makes people think twice about trying again, since they don't want to experience the feeling of hurt or depression being rejected brings.

God knows this. That's why in the gospel we are reminded he does not reject anyone.

Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me

Yes, he does not reject anyone. In the first reading, we see Saul persecuting christians big time. He went from house to house to get and persecute christians. However, God did not despise him. In fact, he called Saul to serve him, and when Saul came to his senses, God did not reject him, instead, used him to proclaim His kingdom.

As we live our lives, we are reminded that we too will never be rejected by God. As we come to him in the sacrament of reconciliation, he always forgives us as long as we come to him fully repentant. No matter how sinful we are and how much we hurt him, he will never reject us if we come to him. And as he accepts us, he calls us to serve him like Saul. If we say yes to serve Him, God will use us mightily.

What are the rejections in my life that have hurt me deeply? Do i ask God to heal me from those hurts? In what ways have i hurt God? Do I come to him for forgiveness?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another opportunity to be forgiven. Lord, I am sorry for my sins and for continuing to hurt you. I come to you deeply repentant, and i know you will never reject me as I humbly and repentantly come to you. As I do, use me Lord to glorify you. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Focused

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/050614.cfm) reminds me what the effect of focusing on God is 

Yesterday we saw how peaceful Stephen is. Today we again see another instance of that when he was being stoned to death. On his last breath, like Jesus, he asked God not to hold the sin against the people. No trace of hurt or anger. Just peace. Why? Because he was focused on God.

As he was doing his work, he knew that the focus should be on God. He did not desire acceptance and popularity as he was preaching. He desires conversion. He wanted to bring people to God. He wanted to proclaim God's message. So when he was being stoned, he asked God to forgive the very people stoning him, because they were the very people he was trying to convert, he was trying to bring to God.

In our lives, we experience this as well. Not just as we proclaim God's kingdom, but in our everyday lives. There may be situations brining us down or distracting us. People may hurt us. However, we should be like Stephen, focused on God and his goodness and love. And these outside influences will not bring us down.

What is bothering me today? What weighs me down? What do I do about it?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another opportunity to shine for you. Lord, help me always focus on you. May my eyes always be fixed on you as I live this life. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

From the Inside

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/050514.cfm) reminds how important it is to be deeply rooted in God.

The bible says that "out of the goodness of the heart, the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45) it sums up the message to me of today's readings.

In the gospel, we see how peaceful and one with God Stephen is. No matter how bad the situation is, no matter how many lies other people say about him, his face is still peaceful like an angel. That's how deep his faith is. Calm amidst the storm.

In the gospel, when people asked how to accomplish the work of God, he told them to believe in the one whom God sent. That's it. He did not tell them to do good works, to pray, to fast, or anything. He asked them to believe in the one God sent. Why? Because if we truly believe in Jesus, we will let him enter our lives. If we truly believe in Jesus, we will do his command to love and serve God through others. If we truly believe in Jesus, we will let him change us to submit to God's will. If we truly believe in Jesus, we will let him enter deep into our hearts, and change us, and that change will manifest in our lives.

May we be inspired to keep things simple, and allow God to go deep in our hearts.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another week. Thank you for all the blessings. Lord, as I start the week, may I be motivated to start to allow you to enter deep in my heart and in my life. As you do so, change me, so that the change may overflow in my actions and show in my life. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

Fail to See

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/050414.cfm) reminds me that sometimes, we fail to see God, even if he is right in front of us.

Nowadays, computer viruses are very rampant. They usually come in different forms and through different ways so it can get past the security protocols in place. They are able to infect once they go undetected. In the gospel we see something similar. The disciples were talking to Jesus, but they did not recognize him, until he broke bread. He was right in front of them but they did not recognize him.

That happens to us as well. We expect God to come to us in a grand way. We expect to hear his guidance in a voice, in our dream, or in a sign we want to. We box him in, we expect him to conform to what we expect of him. This is why, sometimes even if he is right in front of us already, we do not see him.

God comes in familiar forms as well. He does not need to speak in a tiny or loud voice to us, because he can use our family, friends, and even strangers to reach out to us. He does not need to appear in our dreams for us to know what to do, for his message and guide is readily available in the bible. He does not need to tell us to be a full time missionary to serve him through others, because he sends people - the least, the last, and the lost - in our lives. Normal people we encounter everyday.

May we never fail to see Jesus in our everyday lives, especially when he comes in familiar forms.

In what ways do God reach out to me? Am I always sensitive to Him? Or do I expect him to reach out to me the way I want to? How do I respond when he comes in normal ways, through familiar people?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for all the blessings and guidance. Lord, I pray that i always be sensitive to you when you come to me. And may I respond positively. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Enough for Everyone

  

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/050314.cfm) reminds me that Jesus has love and power enough for everyone.

Sharing an excerpt of the first reading:

that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once,

How powerful Jesus is. We all know he rose from the dead to save us. But not all of us know what he did after that. He appeared to his disciples, walked through closed doors, and here he appeared to more than five hundred people at once! How cool is that?! However, More than that, how powerful and loving he is!

In the same way he appeared to hundreds of people at once, he also takes care of us all at once. It's as if he is telling us that a dedicated Jesus is always with us, guiding us, protecting us, and ready to hear us, ready to talk to us! How amazing! How assuring that we have a God like that, making us feel special and loved.

In the Eucharist we see a glimpse of this, when his body and blood is readily available, not to be consumed by us, but for us to be consumed by him! He is present, always, at Eucharist, and is waiting for us. May we be reminded of the great privilege of the Eucharist and make the most out of it.

Who is God to me? Do I have a personal relationship with Him? Do I feel his love and presence in my life? Do I believe when he says that he is with me always?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another opportunity to love, and be loved by you. Thank you for your great and personal love and power. Lord, may I always feel you in my life, may I always allow you to come and make me feel you, and may I do my best and allow you to consume me. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Human or Divine?

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/050214.cfm) makes me think what is the foundation of my relationships.

Sharing an excerpt from the first reading

So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.”

Makes sense, right? Not just with groups and endeavors, but with relationships as well.

If a group, organization, relationship or endeavor is really focused on God, then whatever happens, it will continue to be strong. That is why in these groups and organizations, a specific leader does not determine its existence or membership, because their focus is really on God. However, If this is not the case, it will eventually die out. Being anchored and founded on God gives us a different kind of strength to face challenges and just focus on God, despite differences and challenges even among members. However, if otherwise, small things will eventually cause the breakdown of it.

May we be reminded to examine our relationships, groups and endeavors, and make sure we are anchored on God.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for being with us. Lord, I thank you for being with the groups I have been part of. Thank you that you constantly remind me how alive you are, and the reading today just affirms how your hand works and guides, no matter who the leader is. May we just always focus on you and ask you to guide us in our lives, in our groups, in our relationships. In a special way, I pray for those who will get married today. Be with them in their relationship. May they always be founded and anchored in you. Bless and guide them, Lord. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Lack of Faith

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/050114.cfm) reminds me that God needs us to trust him.

In the first reading we see that God made us in his image and likeness. So we are inherently good. However, in the gospel we see people not having faith in Jesus, which prevented him to work a lot of miracles in the place.

Lack of faith brought about pride and hardness of heart.

They thought they knew the roots of Jesus. He was from their town. A normal person like them. So they did not believe that He is the Son of God. Their hearts were closed to God's power and love and focused on themselves. That's why Jesus was not able to do a lot of miracles.

God's love is overflowing. His power is constant. It does not depend on us, and our faith. However, what is dependent on us is if we will let him love us. If we will allow ourselves to feel his love. If we will allow ourselves to be transformed. To be healed.

If our hearts are closed to Jesus, if we lack faith, we will not be able to feel his love. We will not be sensitive to his healing and saving power in our lives.

May we remember this, and open up ourselves.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for all the blessings. Thank you for all the love. Thank you for all the miracles and healing. Thank you for another holiday! Lord, may I always be ready to open up to you and allow you to love me. May i always feel your love and power in my life. As I do so, Like St Joseph, may I be a silent and faithful worker for your kingdom. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-