Faith

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/070515.cfm) reminds me of the importance of faith.

A lot of times, we see Jesus telling people that their faith has saved them. However, today’s gospel is different. Jesus went to his hometown, and the people, instead of being proud that Jesus came from there, belittled him and took offense at him. They did not believe that someone from their own could really be God’s Child. This lack of belief, this lack of faith, was the reason why Jesus did not do a lot of miracles.

Jesus needs our faith, even just a tiny bit.

He mentioned that if we have faith of a mustard seed, we can do great things. They say that this is not because only a small bit of faith is needed, but rather, God fills up our faith. God has faith in us, and his faith compensates for our little faith. His faith, combined with our little faith, enables him to do great things to us and through us.

In the second reading, we see a man of faith. Paul had complete faith in Jesus. He was willing to suffer, kahit hirap na hirap na sya, for God. He was willing to take all the hardships just so God would be magnified and glorified. He did not take his suffering against God, but embraced it for God’s glory. Ganun kalakas ang faith nya kay God, faith that is more than just lip service – faith that is willing to suffer and experience pain for God’s greater glory. And God did not disappoint, he did great things through Paul.

I believe we are challenged by God. We are asked to look at ourselves and see what our heart says. Is our faith strong, or are we like the people who do not trust in God? When we pray, do we really have complete faith in God and his love and power, or do we just pray just in case God hears us? Is our faith strong enough to be willing to suffer for God? When God does not seem to hear us, like his response to Paul’s request in the second reading, do we have a humble heart and will still continue to serve Him, or do we walk away from him when we don’t get what we want?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another Sunday. I thank you for the gift of faith. Lord, I ask that you help me strengthen my faith. I know faith is such a powerful and important aspect of my life, and I ask that you help me develop it. Kahit maliit, kahit mala mustard seed, I know it is a good start. Help me have complete and firm faith in you, especially when other people or the circumstances lead me otherwise. May my faith always be bigger than my fears. May I have faith and may I be willing to suffer and still serve you because of that faith, knowing that your name will be glorified in everything. Amen.

Have a blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/07/lack-of-faith.html

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July 5, 2015

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 101

Reading 1 Ez 2:2-5

As the LORD spoke to me, the spirit entered into me

and set me on my feet,

and I heard the one who was speaking say to me:

Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites,

rebels who have rebelled against me;

they and their ancestors have revolted against me to this very day.

Hard of face and obstinate of heart

are they to whom I am sending you.

But you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD!

And whether they heed or resist—for they are a rebellious house—

they shall know that a prophet has been among them.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 123:1-2, 2, 3-4

R. (2cd) Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

To you I lift up my eyes

who are enthroned in heaven —

As the eyes of servants

are on the hands of their masters.

R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

As the eyes of a maid

are on the hands of her mistress,

So are our eyes on the LORD, our God,

till he have pity on us.

R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

Have pity on us, O LORD, have pity on us,

for we are more than sated with contempt;

our souls are more than sated

with the mockery of the arrogant,

with the contempt of the proud.

R. Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

Reading 2 2 Cor 12:7-10

Brothers and sisters:

That I, Paul, might not become too elated,

because of the abundance of the revelations,

a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan,

to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.

Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me,

but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,

for power is made perfect in weakness.”

I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses,

in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.

Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults,

hardships, persecutions, and constraints,

for the sake of Christ;

for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Alleluia Cf. Luke 4:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

for he sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.

When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,

and many who heard him were astonished.

They said, “Where did this man get all this?

What kind of wisdom has been given him?

What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!

Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,

and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?

And are not his sisters here with us?”

And they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them,

“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place

and among his own kin and in his own house.”

So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,

apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.

He was amazed at their lack of faith.

New Life

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/070415.cfm) reminds me that the decision to live a new life should be done everyday.

Saying and doing are two different things. You can say one thing, but do the exact opposite. That is why saying and doing goes hand in hand. Jesus tells us a similar thing. New wine into new wineskin. Consistency.

When we decided to follow Christ, we are in effect throwing away our old life – with all its worldliness and sin, and are putting on a new self – one made in the image and likeness of Christ. And this is not a one time decision. This should be lived and acted upon everyday. This is a decision we have to make daily, we have to live daily, we have  to profess daily.

We cannot claim to be followers of Christ, but continue to live a life of sin. Just like putting new wine into old wineskins. It’s not a match. We cannot act right in some aspects of our lives, while retaining some sins we like or not fully letting go of bad things in our lives. It just does not work that way.

No matter how difficult it is, we should constantly strive to live new lives. We should take a fresh start everyday and live pleasing to God, fitting for the new wineskins God has given us. Else, everything will burst and will be put into waste.

Have I really decided to live a life for Christ? Am I actually doing my best to live it? Do I decide and act upon it everyday? What old habits and sins have I not given up yet? What things should I let go to really live a new life for Christ? What is holding me back from giving them up?

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another weekend. Thank you for the opportunity to rest and spend time with family and friends. As I live this day, may I do things that will make you happy. Help me to live a life pleasing to you. help me to choose you. May I continuously strive to live a new life for you, no matter how challenging it may be, and no matter how strong the urge to go back to my old life. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/01/new-wine.html

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July 4, 2015

Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 382

Reading 1 Gn 27:1-5, 15-29

When Isaac was so old that his eyesight had failed him,

he called his older son Esau and said to him, “Son!”

“Yes father!” he replied.

Isaac then said, “As you can see, I am so old

that I may now die at any time.

Take your gear, therefore–your quiver and bow–

and go out into the country to hunt some game for me.

With your catch prepare an appetizing dish for me, such as I like,

and bring it to me to eat,

so that I may give you my special blessing before I die.”

Rebekah had been listening

while Isaac was speaking to his son Esau.

So, when Esau went out into the country

to hunt some game for his father,

Rebekah [then] took the best clothes of her older son Esau

that she had in the house,

and gave them to her younger son Jacob to wear;

and with the skins of the kids she covered up his hands

and the hairless parts of his neck.

Then she handed her son Jacob the appetizing dish

and the bread she had prepared.

Bringing them to his father, Jacob said, “Father!”

“Yes?” replied Isaac. “Which of my sons are you?”

Jacob answered his father: “I am Esau, your first-born.

I did as you told me.

Please sit up and eat some of my game,

so that you may give me your special blessing.”

But Isaac asked, “How did you succeed so quickly, son?”

He answered,

“The LORD, your God, let things turn out well with me.”

Isaac then said to Jacob,

“Come closer, son, that I may feel you,

to learn whether you really are my son Esau or not.”

So Jacob moved up closer to his father.

When Isaac felt him, he said,

“Although the voice is Jacob’s, the hands are Esau’s.”

(He failed to identify him because his hands were hairy,

like those of his brother Esau;

so in the end he gave him his blessing.)

Again he asked Jacob, “Are you really my son Esau?”

“Certainly,” Jacob replied.

Then Isaac said, “Serve me your game, son, that I may eat of it

and then give you my blessing.”

Jacob served it to him, and Isaac ate;

he brought him wine, and he drank.

Finally his father Isaac said to Jacob,

“Come closer, son, and kiss me.”

As Jacob went up and kissed him,

Isaac smelled the fragrance of his clothes.

With that, he blessed him saying,

“Ah, the fragrance of my son

is like the fragrance of a field

that the LORD has blessed!

“May God give to you

of the dew of the heavens

And of the fertility of the earth

abundance of grain and wine.

“Let peoples serve you,

and nations pay you homage;

Be master of your brothers,

and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.

Cursed be those who curse you,

and blessed be those who bless you.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 135:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (3a) Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!

or:

R. Alleluia.

Praise the name of the LORD;

Praise, you servants of the LORD

Who stand in the house of the LORD,

in the courts of the house of our God.

R. Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!

or:

R. Alleluia.

Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;

sing praise to his name, which we love;

For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,

Israel for his own possession.

R. Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!

or:

R. Alleluia.

For I know that the LORD is great;

our LORD is greater than all gods.

All that the LORD wills he does

in heaven and on earth,

in the seas and in all the deeps.

R. Praise the Lord for the Lord is good!

or:

R. Alleluia.

Alleluia Jn 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord.

I know them, and they follow me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 9:14-17

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said,

“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,

but your disciples do not fast?”

Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn

as long as the bridegroom is with them?

The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,

and then they will fast.

No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth,

for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse.

People do not put new wine into old wineskins.

Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined.

Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Doubt

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/070315.cfm) reminds me that there is no need for us to doubt God.

In this world, there are a lot of reasons to doubt. People lie and don’t always do as they say. Situations change. Surprises happen. That is why a lot of times, we doubt until what we expect comes to pass. Only when it is over do we believe.

Thomas in the gospel is like us. He is sometimes called doubting Thomas. He did not believe when the other disciples told him they have seen the risen Lord. Well, it is not something you would easily believe, so him doubting is probably understandable. But when Jesus appeared again, he did not get mad at Thomas for doubting, but instead assured him that there is no reason to doubt.

“Blessed are those who have not seen but believe”

Jesus is talking about us. We have not seen him, we have not spent time with him, but we believe in Him, his words and teachings. And as he is affirming us, he is also encouraging us. Like Thomas, we need not doubt. His love and protection is always there, even if we do not feel it. He watches over us even if we find it hard to believe it. He has great plans for us, even if right now we don’t think so.

May we be challenged by Thomas, and pray for faith that will never doubt.

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 reminder. Sorry for the times I act like Thomas. Sorry for doubting you. sorry for letting my fears win over my faith. Help me and reach out to me, Lord. May I learn to trust you more. May my faith be bigger than my fears. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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July 3, 2015

Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle

Lectionary: 593

Reading 1 Eph 2:19-22

Brothers and sisters:

You are no longer strangers and sojourners,

but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones

and members of the household of God,

built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,

with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.

Through him the whole structure is held together

and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;

in him you also are being built together

into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm PS 117:1bc, 2

R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

Praise the LORD, all you nations;

glorify him, all you peoples!

R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

For steadfast is his kindness for us,

and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.

R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

Alleluia Jn 20:29

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;

blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe!

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 20:24-29

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,

was not with them when Jesus came.

So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

But Thomas said to them,

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands

and put my finger into the nailmarks

and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside

and Thomas was with them.

Jesus came, although the doors were locked,

and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,

and bring your hand and put it into my side,

and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”

Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?

Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Real Offering

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/070215.cfm) reminds me what real offering to God should be like.

In one way or another, we offer things to God. During Sunday mass, we give our love offering. When we pray and when we serve him, we offer our time. However, we do not always give God the best, the first fruits as we offer him. Sometimes, we just offer our surplus – extra money on Sunday, extra time in service, or we pray just when we are about to sleep and tired from the day’s work.

God deserves the best we can offer Him.

Abraham had a lot of properties and resources, but the most important for him is his son Isaac. Is was probably the greatest gift God gave him. However, his love for God is greater than anything he has in this world. when God asked him to offer his own son, he did not bargain or think twice. He just followed – until the angel told him to stop, and he offered an animal instead.

IF we love God so much, we would offer him the best that we can. We will not be contented with offering him from our surplus – extra money, extra time, extra resources. We only want what’s best for the one we love, and we should always strive to give God our very best in everything we offer him – actions, time, talent and treasure.

May we be inspired by Abraham, and remember that when we offer God the best, God will give us back more than what we offer him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another reminder. Thank you for your love. Lord, help me build my faith. Help me increase my love for you. sorry for the times I get contented with just offering you what I have. Sorry for the times I don’t strive to give you my best. May I always feel and remember your love. May I love you more and more, so that I would always strive to give you the very best I can. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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July 2, 2015

Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 380

Reading 1 Gn 22:1b-19 God put Abraham to the test.

He called to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

Then God said: “Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love,

and go to the land of Moriah.

There you shall offer him up as a burnt offering

on a height that I will point out to you.”

Early the next morning Abraham saddled his donkey,

took with him his son Isaac, and two of his servants as well,

and with the wood that he had cut for the burnt offering,

set out for the place of which God had told him.

On the third day Abraham got sight of the place from afar.

Then he said to his servants: “Both of you stay here with the donkey,

while the boy and I go on over yonder.

We will worship and then come back to you.”

Thereupon Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering

and laid it on his son Isaac’s shoulders,

while he himself carried the fire and the knife.

As the two walked on together, Isaac spoke to his father Abraham:

“Father!” he said.

“Yes, son,” he replied.

Isaac continued, “Here are the fire and the wood,

but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?”

“Son,” Abraham answered,

“God himself will provide the sheep for the burnt offering.”

Then the two continued going forward.

When they came to the place of which God had told him,

Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it.

Next he tied up his son Isaac,

and put him on top of the wood on the altar.

Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.

But the LORD’s messenger called to him from heaven,

“Abraham, Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he answered.

“Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the messenger.

“Do not do the least thing to him.

I know now how devoted you are to God,

since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.”

As Abraham looked about,

he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket.

So he went and took the ram

and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son.

Abraham named the site Yahweh-yireh;

hence people now say, “On the mountain the LORD will see.”

Again the LORD’s messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said:

“I swear by myself, declares the LORD,

that because you acted as you did

in not withholding from me your beloved son,

I will bless you abundantly

and make your descendants as countless

as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore;

your descendants shall take possession

of the gates of their enemies,

and in your descendants all the nations of the earth

shall find blessing—all this because you obeyed my command.”

Abraham then returned to his servants,

and they set out together for Beer-sheba,

where Abraham made his home.

Responsorial Psalm PS 115:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

R. (9) I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us

but to your name give glory

because of your kindness, because of your truth.

Why should the pagans say,

“Where is their God?”

R. I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Our God is in heaven;

whatever he wills, he does.

Their idols are silver and gold,

the handiwork of men.

R. I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.

or:

R. Alleluia.

They have mouths but speak not;

they have eyes but see not;

They have ears but hear not;

they have noses but smell not.

R. I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Their makers shall be like them,

everyone who trusts in them.

The house of Israel trusts in the LORD;

he is their help and their shield.

R. I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Alleluia 2 Cor 5:19

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ

and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 9:1-8

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town.

And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,

“Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”

At that, some of the scribes said to themselves,

“This man is blaspheming.”

Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said,

:Why do you harbor evil thoughts?

Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’

or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

But that you may know that the Son of Man

has authority on earth to forgive sins”–

he then said to the paralytic,

“Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”

He rose and went home.

When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe

and glorified God who had given such authority to men

Cry

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/070115.cfm) reminds me that God hears our cry.

I was watching a few episodes of the first season of Modern Family last week, and in one episode when Lily was still a baby, they were trying to train her to sleep as she was crying. They can hear her cry, but they try not to go to her so she can be trained. They know what’s happening, however she probably did not feel her dads love and attention because of their ignoring her cry.

Sometimes we may feel like that. Sometimes we may feel that God does not love us or does not listen because he seems to be silent. But he knows what is happening to us, and he knows the right time to make his presence felt.

In the first reading, we see this in Hagar and Ishmael. They were sent away. It was not their fault, especially Ishmael because he was just born in that situation. That time Hagar felt they were going to die already, and probably felt God was unfair and was not listening to them. However, God sent an angel to encourage her and comfort her, and eventually saved them from their situation.

God hears our prayers, even if he sometimes appear silent.

Just because God is silent does not mean he is not paying attention. Just because we cannot feel him does not mean he does not care. Just because we are having problems and in pain does not mean God does not love us. He is our loving father, and he knows what we can take, and what we need to grow in faith and to grow closer to him. He watches us closely, and he knows the perfect time to reach out to us.

May we be reminded of God’s great love, no matter how silent he may seem sometimes.

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 the reminder. Lord, I am sorry for the times I doubt you. sorry for the times I question you. sorry for the times I feel you are not there, and you don’t care about me because of the pain or discomfort I am in. help me have faith in you. remind me through different things and different people of how much you love me. May my faith grow stronger, that despite of the situation I am in, I may always know and remember you are there and that you love me so much. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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July 1, 2015

Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 379

Reading 1 Gn 21:5, 8-20a

Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

Isaac grew, and on the day of the child’s weaning

Abraham held a great feast.

Sarah noticed the son whom Hagar the Egyptian

had borne to Abraham

playing with her son Isaac;

so she demanded of Abraham:

“Drive out that slave and her son!

No son of that slave is going to share the inheritance

with my son Isaac!”

Abraham was greatly distressed,

especially on account of his son Ishmael.

But God said to Abraham: “Do not be distressed about the boy

or about your slave woman.

Heed the demands of Sarah, no matter what she is asking of you;

for it is through Isaac that descendants shall bear your name.

As for the son of the slave woman,

I will make a great nation of him also,

since he too is your offspring.”

Early the next morning Abraham got some bread and a skin of water

and gave them to Hagar.

Then, placing the child on her back, he sent her away.

As she roamed aimlessly in the wilderness of Beer-sheba,

the water in the skin was used up.

So she put the child down under a shrub,

and then went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away;

for she said to herself, “Let me not watch to see the child die.”

As she sat opposite Ishmael, he began to cry.

God heard the boy’s cry,

and God’s messenger called to Hagar from heaven:

“What is the matter, Hagar?

Don’t be afraid; God has heard the boy’s cry in this plight of his.

Arise, lift up the boy and hold him by the hand;

for I will make of him a great nation.”

Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water.

She went and filled the skin with water, and then let the boy drink.

God was with the boy as he grew up.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:7-8, 10-11, 12-13

R. (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,

and from all his distress he saved him.

The angel of the LORD encamps

around those who fear him, and delivers them.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Fear the LORD, you his holy ones,

for nought is lacking to those who fear him.

The great grow poor and hungry;

but those who seek the LORD want for no good thing.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Come, children, hear me;

I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Which of you desires life,

and takes delight in prosperous days?

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Alleluia Jas 1:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth

that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 8:28-34

When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes,

two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him.

They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.

They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God?

Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”

Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.

The demons pleaded with him,

“If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.”

And he said to them, “Go then!”

They came out and entered the swine,

and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea

where they drowned.

The swineherds ran away,

and when they came to the town they reported everything,

including what had happened to the demoniacs.

Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus,

and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district