Forgive

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081414.cfm) reminds me that God wants us to forgive.

They say that the most complete prayer is the Lord's Prayer. Jesus himself taught us this prayer. And as we take a closer look, the only part of the prayer where our action is a pre requisite is the forgiveness part.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

It is telling God not to forgive us if we cannot forgive others who have sin against us, who have hurt us.

in the gospel, we see Jesus telling the disciples how many times we should forgive. Basically, he tells us that we must ALWAYS forgive others. And he further illustrates it with a story. Like the king, God has been forgiving to us. Anytime we come to him and beg him to forgive us, he does. However, we should also forgive ourselves. Makes sense, for every time we sin, we hurt God. And the hurt we have caused God is definitely bigger than any hurt others may have caused us. So if God can forgive us, so too should we forgive one another.

Is God a God of conditions? Why do we have to forgive others first before he forgives us. Why does God's love and forgiveness have a pre requisite from us?

I believe that if we don't forgive others, if we hold dear to us our hurts and feelings that we can't forgive others, then it shows we are not truly sorry for our sins. When we sin, we hurt God. And what causes us to sin is too much love - love for ourselves not God. We love ourselves too much that we disobey God just to do what we want, just to get what we want, just to make ourselves happy. And not forgiving others who have sin against us basically shows that we love ourselves more than God, that God's love and forgiveness is not enough to heal us - therefore we are truly not sorry for our sins yet, so God cannot forgive us.

No matter how difficult, may we heed the call to forgiveness.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love you and to experience your love. Lord, thank you for reminding me how much you value forgiveness. Lord, I lift up all the hurts in my heart. I lift up all the pain others have caused in my life. And I ask that you heal me. Your love is enough for me. You are more than enough for me. So i ask that you help me die of myself and my hurts, and allow you and your love to live in me as i forgive others. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

PS

see related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/08/peace-na_4704.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/03/pay-it-forward.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/11/of-faith-and-forgiveness.html

No Tolerating

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081314.cfm) reminds me that God does not tolerate evil.

God's silence does not mean his absence.

In the first reading, we see how God had the evil people slain. It was an evil city, and people were doing evil deeds. Majority of them. Only a few people were living in the way of God. Probably the evil people saw themselves as invincible, powerful people - since no one stands up to them, no one can stop them, and God seems silent and allowing all the evil to happen. But God would not be silent forever. In God's wisdom and in his perfect timing, he knows when to punish the evil ones and sparing the good people.

God does not tolerate evil.

He may sometimes be silent but he does not approve of evil.

In the gospel we see Jesus teaching his disciples how to correct. Again, we see that he does not approve of wrong, of evil. But there is also a proper way of correcting. We don't confront or correct with the intention of shaming the person for the wrong done. Correction should be done in love. Discreetly if possible, unless otherwise necessary to get the attention of the offender.

Nowadays, we may think God is silent. Evil people prosper. Evil people are powerful. And unfortunately, evil is becoming more common or more acceptable for some. However, this will not be forever. In God's perfect time, He will strike down the evil in this world, and save those who are living his ways. May this inspire us to keep living in the right way, and move us to correct others with love and humility.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another midweek. Thank you for your reminder that you do not tolerate evil, and that your silence does not mean your absence. Lord, help me remain faithful to you, despite all that is happening in this world. Help me have my eyes fixed on you. And give me a heart that would love others so much that I would not be satisfied to remain silent and not correct them. May I love and live like Jesus did. Amen

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Sweet For A Child

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081214.cfm) reminds me that God’s word is sweet for the childlike

Children generally like sweets. Candies, chocolates, cakes, ice cream – these things are happy food for children. I remember the lyrics of a song by 50 cent – “I love you like a fat kid love cake.” And even for a lot of adult people, these are comfort food until now – things we don’t really want to eat because of the calories that make us gain unwanted weight, but when stressed or tired, generally makes us feel happy. Comfort food. Reward food.

In the gospel, Jesus again speaks of being childlike. To be great is to be like a child – seen as insignificant in society that time, but great in God’s kingdom for a child is fully dependent and submissive to his parent. As we live this life, God wants us to act as such. Fully dependent, humble, and submissive to God our father. (See related reflections below on this topic)

In the first reading, we see how sweet God’s word is to the mouth.

So I opened my mouth and he gave me the scroll to eat.
Son of man, he then said to me,
feed your belly and fill your stomach
with this scroll I am giving you.
I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.

And in the psalm, we continue to see declaration of how sweet God’s promise is.

How sweet to my taste is your promise!
I gasp with open mouth,
in my yearning for your commands

Sweet. Word. Promise. Child.

How do we see God’s word? How do we feel when we hear God’s promises to us? Are we too busy to read God’s word, or do we give it it’s due importance in life? when God tells us he has great plans for us, and he promises salvation to those who come to him, do we feel impatient because we don’t want to wait for it to happen? Do we feel anxious because these may not be what we want to happen in our lives? Or do we feel excited, and feel want more of his word and his promises?

God’s word and promises are only sweet to those who have faith like a child. May we be willing to be childlike to experience it’s sweetness in our lives.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to love you, to feel you, to get closer to you. Lord, I am sorry for not giving importance to you and your word. Sorry for justifying my not being able to read and bask in your word with my being busy and tired. Grant me a heart Lord that would always want you and desire you. May I have childlike faith and heart, that your every word and promise would be sweet to me. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-worlds-greatest.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/07/child-like.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/12/be-child.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/02/childlike.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/05/dont-you-worry-child.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/08/be-child.html

Glorious but Humble

  

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081114.cfm ) reminds me that we should always be humble, no matter the situation may be.

One of the bad attitudes of powerful, important and influential people is the “hindi mo ba ako kilala (Don’t you know who I am)?” mentality. Powerful people want to be treated as such. They want to feel that they are above everyone else. Don’t you know who I am, I am an important person, why are you making me wait in line? Don’t you know who I am, I am a powerful person, why are you giving me a traffic violation? Worldly success, fame, power and influence can get to the head, and it can affect how one lives life on earth.

We can learn a thing or two from Jesus.

In the first reading, we see a vision of the glory of God.

a huge cloud with flashing fire enveloped in brightness,
from the midst of which (the midst of the fire)
something gleamed like electrum.
Within it were figures resembling four living creatures
that looked like this: their form was human.

Above the firmament over their heads
something like a throne could be seen,
looking like sapphire.
Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man.
Upward from what resembled his waist I saw what gleamed like electrum;
downward from what resembled his waist I saw what looked like fire;
he was surrounded with splendor.
Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy day
was the splendor that surrounded him.
Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD

And in the psalm, we are reminded that heaven and earth are filled with God’s glory.

However, despite all these, in the gospel we see how humble and simple Jesus is.

Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon?
From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?
From their subjects or from foreigners?”
When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him,
“Then the subjects are exempt.But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook,
and take the first fish that comes up.
Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax.
Give that to them for me and for you

He could have said that he did not need to pay taxes. But he is a just and humble God, and he wants us to be like him.

No matter how accomplished we may be in this world, no matter what great things we think we have done, no matter how much honor and respect we think we deserve, we are reminded to be humble and grounded. Jesus had all the right to be proud, he is the Son of God anyway, but he showed us with how he lived his life, how truly humble he is. And he wants us to do the same.

There is nothing we have that is not from God. May this fact put things in perspective, and encourage us to live right.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week to love you, to serve you, to experience you. Lord, I thank you for all the blessings you have been giving me. I pray that I may always be humble as I remember that everything I have is from you. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

Steady Lord

  

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081014.cfm) reminds me that God can be found in the peace and quiet of our hearts.

To get people’s attention, we usually make noise. New restaurants and establishments usually have loud music playing on huge speakers, or even a band playing on their opening or just to get attention for them. Big events usually have marketing campaigns to get the noise out, to get people talking about the event or product. In class, teachers usually scream to get people’s attention. This is how the world works, but not God.

A mighty king that Jesus is, was not born with loud trumpets and people singing. Instead, he was quietly born in a stable. In the first reading, we see God coming to Elijah not in a form of a strong wind, a mighty earthquake or a powerful fire. The mighty and powerful God came in a tiny whispering sound.

Steady.

In the gospel, we see a repeat of this Monday’s gospel. Jesus did not fight the strong wind with a storm or of something stronger. He could have fought it with a storm to show how greater and more powerful he is than nature. But he did not do it. Instead, he calmed it down. The storm died down when he got in the boat.

Steady.

Even though God is all powerful, all mighty, and all glorious, we can find him in the quiet of our hearts. He is a mighty and powerful God, but also a steady one.

Life may find us all busy with work, business, and all the things we want done. All the responsibilities we have – in the office, school, in family, and even socially, can get us all busy and wrapped up in our own affairs. Let us not expect God to shout or wait for Him to hit hard to get our attention. He can, and sometimes he does. But may we not wait for that. Let us find time to be steady – to be quiet, at peace, and search for God, and wait for Him.

How do I live my life? Do I let all the troubles, challenges, and my desires in this life get me all busy and stressed? How do I respond when faced with challenges? Do I easily get stressed, wanting things to happen my way and on my time, or am I steady and peaceful despite everything, knowing that God is in me?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to love and serve you. thank you for another day to rest and steady my heart, steady my mind for you. Lord, sorry for being so busy with a lot of things in my life. Sorry for not thinking of you, and for expecting you to just understand and support me with what I want to happen in life. May I always find time to be steady, to be silent, to be with you and be in tune with you. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/08/never-doubt-him.html

Little but Used

  

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/080914.cfm) reminds me that no matter how little our faith is, God can still use us.

They say that God does not call the qualified. He qualifies the called. Indeed, that is true. God loves to use what the world considers as underdogs and make them great, so people will see how great, powerful and loving He is. He used David, a young shepherd to kill  a huge warrior Goliath. He used a young boy, Jeremiah, to proclaim his message to the people. He used a slave, Joseph, to deliver his people. God makes all things new, and uses small people for great purpose.

In the gospel we see Jesus telling his disciples how little faith they have.

Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said,
“Why could we not drive it out?”
He said to them, “Because of your little faith.
Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you will say to this mountain,
‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Well, from the looks of it, they really have little faith. Smaller than a mustard seed. But what’s interesting to note is God still used them. Before this, they were able to cure a lot of people and perform miracles. All with a small faith – smaller than a mustard seed. Wow isn’t that a great an encouraging thought? God has faith in us, and God uses us, no matter how little faith we have. We don’t need to have a huge faith to perform miracles and be used by God. It’s good if we do, but whatever we lack, God fills.

May we be inspired to build and develop our faith, and encouraged to use whatever little faith we have, and offer it to God.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to use my little faith. Thank you for another opportunity to develop my faith. Thank you Lord for having faith in me, and I ask that you continue to use me and help me build and strengthen my faith as I live for you. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/11/he-has-faith-in-us.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/10/of-faith-and-perspective.html

Choose What is Essential

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/080814.cfm) reminds me that we should choose what is essential in life.

There are a lot of things people would do to get what they want. Athletes train everyday to be in competition shape. They skip gimmicks, eat healthy food, and workout and train, just to prepare themselves. Other people save up to be able to do what they want. They do not eat and spend just so they would have money for night outs, parties and travel. There are some who work so hard to get the promotion and job that they want, at the expense of quality time for their family. Some would do anything to get the power, fame and influence, sometimes at the expense of their very dignity and integrity.

We are reminded today to choose what is essential for us. For it is for the essential things that we should do everything for.

In the psalm we see how powerful God is. Something we tend to forget, for we always know how loving and forgiving he is.

R. It is I who deal death and give life.
“Learn then that I, I alone, am God,
and there is no god besides me.
It is I who bring both death and life,
I who inflict wounds and heal them.”

In the gospel, we see again Jesus reminding us of something similar.

What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?

None of the things in this world is permanent. Only God is permanent. And We are asked to make the decision on who or what is essential to us – since this would determine how we would live our lives. If we want worldly power, fame, influence or money, then we would do everything, maybe at the expense of our very souls, to attain it. but if God is above all, we would do everything, including dying of ourselves and our worldly wants, to have him in our lives.

May we choose what is really essential.

Father God,

Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. thank you for another chance to experience you. Lord, I give you my heart. Mold it Lord and make it more and more like yours. May I always see what is essential in my life. may I always choose you in my life. as I do so, may in my own little way, I be able to give you the glory and praise that you deserve. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-