Final Answer

The WORD today reminds me that I should choose God all the time, and until the end.

In the game who wants to be a millionaire, the contestant is given choices. After analyzing the choices and picking an answer, the host will ask if it is the final answer. If the contestant says yes, then thats the only time the choice will be checked if correct. The contestant can change the answer until he says it is final. The same is true with God.

God looks at our final answer. Our final action and decision will be judged, not the initial one.

In the first reading, they say the wicked men refer to the sinners and outcasts at that time, while righteous men are the scribes and pharisees. However, God gives opportunities to sinners, to wicked people to change their ways and follow God. Maybe they have not known who God really is. Maybe they're just waiting for someone to guide them to repentance. That is why God is waiting for them to repent and he will save them. However, the righteous already know what to do and how to act. So if they do evil, it is with the knowledge that it is indeed evil, and it shows they are choosing wickedness over good, so they will be punished even if they did good works before.

We all sin. We all hurt God. And we all have the opportunity to choose God, or choose wickedness. God does not judge us by our sins, but by our heart. Our heart determines our final action, our final answer. The state of our heart will determine if we choose God or wickedness. Then when we make that choice, that's the time we will be judged.

Choosing God is not a one time decision. It is not a before-you-die decision. We should choose God every day. We should choose goodness in every situation we can. This is how God wants us to live.

Do I choose God every time, or just when I want to? Am I aware that I can choose God and that I can glorify him in all my actions and decisions, no matter how big or small they may be?

May we take comfort in the fact that God does not judge us by our initial actions, and make the most of every opportunity to repent and choose God consistently until the end.

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 all the blessings. Thank you for this reminder. Thank you for your patience and love for me. Lord, sorry for my sins. Sorry for hurting you. Sorry for the times I choose wickedness over you. Help me live right. Help me live pleasing to you. I want to be with you. Help me see you and choose you in the little decisions in life, so that as I live, I will be consistently showing you what my final answer is. May my actions tell you how much I love and choose you.  Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2017/02/higher-standards.html

Daily Readings

March 6 2020

« 

March 5  |  March 7 »

Friday of the First Week of Lent
Lectionary: 228

Reading 1 EZ 18:21-28

Thus says the Lord GOD:
If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed,
if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.
None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him;
he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced.
Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?
says the Lord GOD.
Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way
that he may live?

And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil,
the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does,
can he do this and still live?
None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered,
because he has broken faith and committed sin;
because of this, he shall die.
You say, “The LORD’s way is not fair!”
Hear now, house of Israel:
Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies,
it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.
But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed,
does what is right and just,
he shall preserve his life;
since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Responsorial Psalm PS 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7A, 7BC-8

R. (3) If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
Let Israel wait for the LORD.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

Verse Before The Gospel EZ 18:31

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

Gospel MT 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you,
unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother, Raqa,
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

Ask Seek Knock

The WORD today reminds me that God will give me my desires as long as they would be good for me and are according to God's great plans. 

The first reading shows us a child of God coming to Him in prayer. Queen Esther comes to God with her petitions and opens up herself to God. She is desperate, and put her faith on God. And we see in the gospel what God’s response to such prayers is.

The words of Jesus in the gospel are very uplifting.  Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened. He even illustrates that our earthly father gives us what we ask for, what more God our heavenly father? However, this does not mean we will get absolutely anything we ask for. God’s love is too great that he will not give us what is not good for us.

Ask. Seek. Knock.

God knows what we ask of Him even before we actually ask. However, that does not mean he will give everything we ask of him. Our parents love us, but would not give us what we ask if they know what we ask will be bad for us. More so with God. God also knows what will be good for us, so he will only give us what is best for us, he will give us only what is according to his perfect plan.  This is why it is important to stay close to God, so we would know what he wants from us, and be sensitive enough to his voice, and let humble ourselves and submit ourselves to his will.

God is giving. He will always give us what we ask for, sometimes more than we ask for... As long as these things are in accordance to what he wants for us. To what his plans for us are. So as we ask, seek and knock, we should not just have faith, but humility as well.

What things am I asking for from God? What seems to be his answer? How do I react when God doesn’t give me what I pray for, especially when those things are very important for me? What is God telling me today?

May we learn to humbly ask according to the will of God, and be assured of his love for and protection to us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for reminding me how much you love me and how much you care for me. Lord, sorry for being hard headed. Sorry for not having faith - in your power, in your plans, and in your love for me. Sorry for wanting things done my way. Lord, I thank you for my earthly parents. They may not be perfect, but you gave them to me to be ambassadors of your love to me. Help me show how much I love and appreciate them. I pray for those who are orphans or those who do not have parents that make them feel your love. I pray that you send them people that would keep your love alive in their lives. I also ask that you mold my heart. Increase my faith. May I always trust you. May I always surrender to you. May I always be sensitive to your will, and always submit myself to your will, having the assurance that you have the best for me. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

March 5 2020

« 

March 4  |  March 6 »

Thursday of the First Week in Lent
Lectionary: 227

Reading 1 EST C:12, 14-16, 23-25

Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish,
had recourse to the LORD.
She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids,
from morning until evening, and said:
“God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you.
Help me, who am alone and have no help but you,
for I am taking my life in my hand.
As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers
that you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you.
Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you,
O LORD, my God.

“And now, come to help me, an orphan.
Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion
and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy,
so that he and those who are in league with him may perish.
Save us from the hand of our enemies;
turn our mourning into gladness
and our sorrows into wholeness.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 138:1-2AB, 2CDE-3, 7C-8

R. (3a)  Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Verse Before The Gospel PS 51:12A, 14A

A clean heart create for me, O God;
give me back the  joy of your salvation.

Gospel MT 7:7-12

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which one of you would hand his son a stone
when he asked for a loaf of bread,
or a snake when he asked for a fish?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give good things
to those who ask him.

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the law and the prophets.”

Repentance

The WORD today reminds me of the importance of repentance.

As we get into the first week of Lent, we are again reminded of the importance of repentance. In the gospel, we see that Jesus appreciated the people of Nineveh for repenting at the preaching of Jonah. They listened, fasted, and repented. Eventually, they were spared. And in the first reading, we see that account – the people, led by their king, repented and turned from their evil ways because of Jonah’s warning. They were spared by God from the punishment intended for them. Even Jonah repented. The reading is taken from the third chapter of the book, and in the first chapter, God called him for the first time but Jonah did not listen. He ran away. Eventually he repented and listened when God called him for the second time.

All sin and fall short of the glory of God.

All of us sin, no matter how big or trivial the sin may be. God does not qualify, a sin is a sin, and whatever the degree is, it still hurts God. A sin still shows we love others and ourselves more than we love Him. However, as we see in the first reading, God is a very forgiving God. As long as he sees us turning away from sin and humbly repenting, he will forgive us. Just like he did with Jonah and the people of Nineveh. He will honor a heart that is sorry and repents.

God wants us to change our ways and repent.

The psalmist tells us the attitude God wants from us – to have a humble and contrite heart. No matter how serious our sins are, God can and will forgive truly repentant people. That is how much God loves us. The people of Nineveh repented through Jonah’s warning. We have someone greater than Jonah. We have Jesus telling us to repent and change our ways. And especially in this season of Lent, he calls us to repent and change our ways. It is just up to us if we will obey and heed his call.

What are the things in my life I should give up? Am I willing and ready to repent and change our ways? What prevents me from doing what God wants? What can I do starting now?

May we see how sinful we are and how much we hurt God. May we humbly come to him for forgiveness, and allow his transforming love to penetrate our hearts to heal us from all the hurts and melt away evil in our lives.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to experience your love. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for my sins. Sorry for abusing or ignoring your love. Sorry for hurting you. I humbly come to you with a repentant heart, asking your forgiveness, and for your grace to help me live a life pleasing to you. Transform me with your love. Heal me and make me whole. Help me live in a way pleasing to you. Help me glorify you. As you do, use me to bring your love to others as well.  Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

March 4 2020

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March 3  |  March 5 »

Wednesday of the First Week in Lent
Lectionary: 226

Reading 1 JON 3:1-10

The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time:
“Set out for the great city of Nineveh,
and announce to it the message that I will tell you.”
So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh,
according to the LORD’s bidding.
Now Nineveh was an enormously large city;
it took three days to go through it.
Jonah began his journey through the city,
and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing,
“Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,”
when the people of Nineveh believed God;
they proclaimed a fast
and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.

When the news reached the king of Nineveh,
he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe,
covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes.
Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh,
by decree of the king and his nobles:
“Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep,
shall taste anything;
they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water.
Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God;
every man shall turn from his evil way
and from the violence he has in hand.
Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing wrath,
so that we shall not perish.”
When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way,
he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them;
he did not carry it out.

Responsorial Psalm PS 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19

R. (19b) A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

Verse Before The Gospel JL 2:12-13

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart
for I am gracious and merciful.

Gospel LK 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
“This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here.”
 

Powerful

The WORD today reminds me that God's word is very powerful, especially when we get to digest it.

For those who went to Catholic schools, and those who grew up in catholic families, it is very common to be exposed to different prayers. Especially in school, students are asked to memorize it. They should know it by heart. Unfortunately, memorizing it and knowing it by heart do not mean we understand and internalize it. It is easy to memorize it, but takes a lot of effort to understand and digest it. However, the effectiveness of these prayers is related to how well we understand it.

In the first reading, we see that God's word is powerful and will do to accomplish its purpose. Yes, I believe this is true. But i also believe that the rate it will accomplish its purpose or how powerful it will be is affected by how much we know and understand the prayer.

Like food, the better we digest the prayer, the more effective and powerful its effects are.

In the gospel, Jesus teaches us the Lord's prayer. Probably almost all of us memorize it. But not all of us digest it. If we take the time to digest snd study it, we will see a different beauty in it. We will see it's power. And we will understand more why this short prayer is the prayer Jesus taught his disciples (see related reflection).

How do I see prayer? Do I spend time in prayer? Do I give it the importance it deserves? How Is my relationship with God?

May we go beyond superficial level memorization of prayers, and take time to understand it, to dig deeper and digest it.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to experience you. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, help me make the extra effort for you. Help me understand deeper the prayers. Help me understand the real meaning and what you indented me to know and reflect on with the prayers. Guide me and talk to me, so I may get to know you more. May I digest it well enough, snd may it strengthen me in my life of faith. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

https://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2019/03/jesus-prayer.html

Daily Readings

March 3 2020

«

 March 2  |  March 4 »

Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
Lectionary: 225

Reading 1 IS 55:10-11

Thus says the LORD:
Just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
And do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
Giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
So shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
It shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.

Responsorial Psalm PS 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19

R. (18b)  From all their distress God rescues the just.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.

Verse Before The Gospel MT 4:4B

One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Gospel MT 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
“In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This is how you are to pray:

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

“If you forgive men their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

Loving God Through Others

The WORD today reminds me that we should love God through others.

A lot of people say they love God, however not all can say they love the least, the last, the lost, the faithless, the unchurched. A lot say that they want to serve Jesus, but not all say they want to serve the poor, those in prison, the sick. Some say they don’t deserve service, because those in prison are criminals, or the poor may be part of a syndicate, of the sick did not take care of themselves. However, in today’s gospel, we are reminded that Jesus is not a statue in the church that we profess our love to, but is alive on others living with us.

'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did

for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

…

He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you,

what you did not do for one of these least ones,

you did not do for me.’

And these will go off to eternal punishment,

but the righteous to eternal life

Love for God is concretized through love for others.

God is not contented with mere profession of love and service. Talk is easy. God wants us to act. And we can tell him we really love him and we really want to serve him, if we love and serve others. Doesn’t matter if other people don’t see the action. Doesn’t matter if we don’t get acknowledgement or affirmation. God sees everything we do, and God sees what we do and not do unto others.

The first reading emphasizes who God is. It expounds on the gospel. We see God teaching us how to act, how to treat others. And at the end of each set of orders, we see God reinforcing who he is. I AM THE LORD. It is a reminder to treat others good, to show love to others, to love God through others because the command is coming from God.

Do I love God? How do I live that love? Do I merely say I love him, or do I live it by loving and serving others? Do I only serve people who I feel deserve it, or am I willing to love others as God commanded me to? What is he telling me today? How can I make my love for him more alive and concrete today?

May we live our love for God by expressing it to others.

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 weekend to rest and spend time with you and the people I love. Thank you for the new week.  Thank you for the blessings in life. Lord, and thank you for the opportunity to serve and share these blessings with others. Sorry for the times I keep them to myself. Sorry for not loving others the way you asked me to. Sorry for holding back. I pray that I may be able to show my love for you as I love others. Help me be sensitive to the needs of others, and help me be willing to step out of my comfort zone to love and serve others. May my actions make your love more alive and more real in the lives of others and in this world. Amen.

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

https://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2018/02/be-holy.html

Daily Readings

March 2 2020

« 

March 1  |  March 3 »

Monday of the First Week of Lent
Lectionary: 224

Reading 1 LV 19:1-2, 11-18

The LORD said to Moses,
“Speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and tell them:
Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.

“You shall not steal.
You shall not lie or speak falsely to one another.
You shall not swear falsely by my name,
thus profaning the name of your God.
I am the LORD.

“You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor.
You shall not withhold overnight the wages of your day laborer.
You shall not curse the deaf,
or put a stumbling block in front of the blind,
but you shall fear your God.
I am the LORD.

“You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment.
Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty,
but judge your fellow men justly.
You shall not go about spreading slander among your kin;
nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor’s life is at stake.
I am the LORD.

“You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart.
Though you may have to reprove him,
do not incur sin because of him.
Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
I am the LORD.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 19:8, 9, 10, 15

R. (John 6:63b)  Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Verse Before The Gospel 2 COR 6:2B

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.

Gospel MT 25:31-46

Jesus said to his disciples:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him,
he will sit upon his glorious throne,
and all the nations will be assembled before him.
And he will separate them one from another,
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right,
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.’
Then the righteous will answer him and say,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Then he will say to those on his left,
‘Depart from me, you accursed,
into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
a stranger and you gave me no welcome,
naked and you gave me no clothing,
ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’
Then they will answer and say,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,
and not minister to your needs?’
He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you,
what you did not do for one of these least ones,
you did not do for me.’
And these will go off to eternal punishment,
but the righteous to eternal life

WORD as Sword

The WORD today reminds me how important it is to know God's WORD so I can use it against the enemy.

There is a story of a man who was having troubles with sins of the flesh. He talked to a priest during confession, and asked what he should do to avoid sin. The priest told him that when temptations come, he should not entertain them, so he would not be led into sin. The man said, “Father I don’t entertain them, they entertain me!”

Everyone gets tempted.

The first reading showed us how Eve and Adam were tempted. Because they gave in to temptation, sin entered the world. However, the second reading tells us that even though sin entered the world, Jesus can save us. And we further see in the gospel what we should do.

In the gospel, we saw that even Jesus was tested. He is like us in every way, except sin. Jesus shows us that it is what we do with temptation that sets us apart. We have the option to give in to temptation, like  Adam and Eve in the first reading, or be like Jesus who fought it with God’s help. Temptation brings us to a crossroad, and gives us a chance to choose what we want to be - a sinner or a saint.

Lent is a season of fasting. When we fast, when we are weak, just like how we are right now with our lenten sacrifices, it is when it is easiest for the devil to tempt us. It is when we are most vulnerable. That is why the devil tempted Jesus while he was fasting. And Jesus showed us how we should fight it. He showed us what we need. This is the period where we need to hold on to God all the more.

Knowing God's word gives us a powerful weapon against the enemy.

When Jesus was tempted, he used God’s WORD. In Ephesians’ Spiritual Armor, the sword of the spirit is the Word of God. We also know that the Word of God is powerful and effective, sharper than any two edged sword. This shows we need to be familiar and to continuously grow in knowledge and love of God’s word so we can have an armor when we are faced with the devil’s temptations. Not only that, we need to really know what it means so we would not fall in one of the devil's trap. In the third temptation, the devil quoted a bible verse. But knowing what it really means, and being able to distinguish the reason and purpose of things should guide us as we are faced with such temptations.

The first and second reading reminds us that God is faithful. He is powerful, merciful, and just. He saves those who trust in him. He saves those who call on him. We should pray as the psalmist, trusting in and calling on God.

What temptations do the enemy always use on me? How do I respond? Do I call unto God to help me fight these temptations, or do I entertain them and be led to sin? Am I growing in knowledge and love of God’s word that would enable me to fight the enemy better?

May we be reminded of the importance and power of God's word, and be inspired to immerse ourselves with it.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for your Word that is powerful. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, I am sorry for not making the most out of your word. Sorry for not spending time basking in it, in not spending time reading and understanding it. Help me live right. Lord, I ask that you give me a heart that would long to know you, that would devote quality time to study your word. May I always come to you in prayer and call on you for strength when faced with temptations. May I act and respond like Jesus, especially when faced with temptations.  Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

March 1 2020

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First Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 22

Reading 1 GN 2:7-9; 3:1-7

The LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground
and blew into his nostrils the breath of life,
and so man became a living being.

Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east,
and placed there the man whom he had formed.
Out of the ground the LORD God made various trees grow
that were delightful to look at and good for food,
with the tree of life in the middle of the garden
and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the animals
that the LORD God had made.
The serpent asked the woman,
“Did God really tell you not to eat
from any of the trees in the garden?”
The woman answered the serpent:
“We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden;
it is only about the fruit of the tree
in the middle of the garden that God said,
‘You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.’”
But the serpent said to the woman:
“You certainly will not die!
No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it
your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods
who know what is good and what is evil.”
The woman saw that the tree was good for food,
pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom.
So she took some of its fruit and ate it;
and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her,
and he ate it.
Then the eyes of both of them were opened,
and they realized that they were naked;
so they sewed fig leaves together
and made loincloths for themselves.

Responsorial Psalm PS 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17.

R. (cf. 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Reading 2 ROM 5:12-19 OR 5:12, 17-19

Brothers and sisters:
Through one man sin entered the world,
and through sin, death,
and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned—
for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world,
though sin is not accounted when there is no law.
But death reigned from Adam to Moses,
even over those who did not sin
after the pattern of the trespass of Adam,
who is the type of the one who was to come.
But the gift is not like the transgression.
For if by the transgression of the one, the many died,
how much more did the grace of God
and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ
overflow for the many.
And the gift is not like the result of the one who sinned.
For after one sin there was the judgment that brought condemnation;
but the gift, after many transgressions, brought acquittal.
For if, by the transgression of the one,
death came to reign through that one,
how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace
and of the gift of justification
come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, just as through one transgression
condemnation came upon all,
so, through one righteous act,
acquittal and life came to all.
For just as through the disobedience of the one man
the many were made sinners,
so, through the obedience of the one,
the many will be made righteous.

or

Brothers and sisters:
Through one man sin entered the world,
and through sin, death,
and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned.

For if, by the transgression of the one,
death came to reign through that one,
how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace
and of the gift of justification
come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, just as through one transgression
condemnation came upon all,
so, through one righteous act,
acquittal and life came to all.
For just as through the disobedience of the one man
the many were made sinners,
so, through the obedience of the one,
the many will be made righteous.

Verse Before The Gospel MT 4:4B

One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Gospel MT 4:1-11

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert
to be tempted by the devil.
He fasted for forty days and forty nights,
and afterwards he was hungry.
The tempter approached and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God,
command that these stones become loaves of bread.”
He said in reply,
“It is written:
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth
from the mouth of God.”

Then the devil took him to the holy city,
and made him stand on the parapet of the temple,
and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.
For it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you
and with their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Jesus answered him,
“Again it is written,
You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain,
and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,
and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you,
if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.”
At this, Jesus said to him,
“Get away, Satan!
It is written:
The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve.”

Then the devil left him and, behold,
angels came and ministered to him.