Saturday, September 3, 2022

All The Time


The WORD today reminds me that God is not bound by laws and traditions. He is God all the time. 

They say the only constant thing in this world is change. Nothing is permanent. Work ends at a certain time. Even 24 hour operations change shifts. Services have limitations. After a certain time or period, we cannot expect the same level and quality of service. However, God is not like that. 

God is God all the time. 

In the gospel, we see people questioning the actions of Jesus and his disciples. They were picking up and eating grain on a Sabbath, something prohibited because no work should be done on Sabbath. Then Jesus tells them that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

The Law should serve man, not man serving the law.

God is God even on Sabbath, a day during that time where there are laws prohibiting a lot of things. God does not follow man made laws – he is the source of the law. God is not bound by our traditions and laws. His power is not limited by anyone or anything. He is God all the time. 

However, this should not be abused. The law should serve man is not an excuse for breaking the law. Not following traffic signs when there are no police or other vehicles is still wrong. Stealing from the rich and giving to the poor is still wrong. God should never be an excuse from breaking the law. What God is telling us is that we should put things in perspective and respect the law. Even Jesus followed the law when he paid taxes. He allowed his disciples to break the law in the gospel not to show his power, but to show that life is greater than any law. Life is more sacred, and in that situation, protecting life by eating is more sacred than keeping a law which prohibits work to be done. He allowed them to break the law to also show that he is God all the time, no matter what the situation may be. 

How do I see God? Do I know and realize his love and power? What are my concerns right now? How do I respond to these? What is He reminding me today? 

May we pray for a discerning heart so as not to abuse God’s power and Word, while bravely doing his work with and for him. And may we always remember that God is God all the time, and is always watching over us and protecting us.  Amen.


Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another sunrise. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for the reminder of your great love and great power. Lord, I pray that I would always remember that your love and your power is not limited by anything – by laws and traditions and by circumstances around me. Thank you also for reminding me how precious life is – that protecting it is above any man made law. Sorry for the times I forget. Sorry for limiting you. Sorry for thinking there are things you cannot help me with. Increase my faith. Lord, as I work for you, help me to always put things in perspective. May I not abuse you, your love, and your power. And may I always remember your great love and presence. In a special way I lift up my mother who is celebrating her birthday today. Always remind her of your love and protection. Continue to bless her as she is a blessing to others. Amen.


Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,
-g-


Daily Readings

Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church 

Lectionary: 436

Reading 1 

1 COR 4:6b-15

Brothers and sisters:
Learn from myself and Apollos not to go beyond what is written,
so that none of you will be inflated with pride
in favor of one person over against another.
Who confers distinction upon you?
What do you possess that you have not received?
But if you have received it,
why are you boasting as if you did not receive it?
You are already satisfied; you have already grown rich;
you have become kings without us!
Indeed, I wish that you had become kings,
so that we also might become kings with you.

For as I see it, God has exhibited us Apostles as the last of all,
like people sentenced to death,
since we have become a spectacle to the world,
to angels and men alike.
We are fools on Christ’s account, but you are wise in Christ;
we are weak, but you are strong;
you are held in honor, but we in disrepute.
To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty,
we are poorly clad and roughly treated,
we wander about homeless and we toil, working with our own hands.
When ridiculed, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
when slandered, we respond gently.
We have become like the world’s rubbish, the scum of all,
to this very moment.

I am writing you this not to shame you,
but to admonish you as my beloved children.
Even if you should have countless guides to Christ,
yet you do not have many fathers,
for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. 

Responsorial Psalm 

PS 145:17-18, 19-20, 21 

R. (18) The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him,
he hears their cry and saves them.
The LORD keeps all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
May my mouth speak the praise of the LORD,
and may all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.

 

 

Alleluia 

JOHN 14:6 
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel 

LK 6:1-5 
While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath,
his disciples were picking the heads of grain,
rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.
Some Pharisees said,
“Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Have you not read what David did
when he and those who were with him were hungry?
How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering,
which only the priests could lawfully eat,
ate of it, and shared it with his companions?”
Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”



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Friday, September 2, 2022

Of Letting Go




The WORD today reminds me that I should let go of the old to receive something new. 

We can only experience the new if we give up the old. 

In the gospel, Jesus tells us that new wine should be put in new wineskins. New wine should not be put in old wineskins, because both will be ruined. New for new, old for old. In the same way, we cannot enjoy the new life, and blessings and great things God has for us if we hang on to old things – old habits, old sins, old way of living against his will.  We need to give up and let go of the old, bad things in life to enjoy the new ones.

God sees everything, even what is hidden to others. God knows what is in our hearts. The first reading tells us that he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of the heart. We may be able to hide it from other people, the bad habits and intentions, but God sees them. And eventually he will reveal it. However, as God is love, he gives us opportunities to repent and change our ways. 

Letting go is not easy. In as much as wine gets better with age, old things are hard to give up. Status quo. Same routine. Same sins. Same lifestyle. We have become accustomed to the old things, to the comfortable things, that we do not always readily give them up. However, unless we learn to give them up and accept changes, unless we become willing to let go of the old, comfortable things in life, we cannot enjoy the greater things, the new things, God wants to give us. 

What old things, old habits and old thinking am I still holding on to? What should I give up and change? Do I realize that I cannot fully enjoy God’s opportunities and new life if I hold on to old and comfortable things? What concrete way can I do to start the process?

God will not force us to change, to let go of our old selves to make way for the new. However, unless we do it ourselves, he cannot give us what he wants to. 

May we be inspired, challenged, and move to change and let go of the old and welcome God's new for us. 

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, sorry for the times I get too comfortable in life. Sorry for the times I am not willing to give up the old things in favor of new things from you. Sorry for being hard headed. Lord, help me. I want to open up and surrender. I want to let go – of my sins, of my bad habits, of other things in life that are not of you. as I let go of these things, I ask that you send me with new things, new blessings. Fill me up with things that are of you. I will make space for you in my life and my heart. Use it whatever way you want. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,
-g-

Daily Readings

Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 435

Reading 1 

1 COR 4:1-5
Brothers and sisters:
Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ
and stewards of the mysteries of God. 
Now it is of course required of stewards
that they be found trustworthy.
It does not concern me in the least
that I be judged by you or any human tribunal;
I do not even pass judgment on myself;
I am not conscious of anything against me,
but I do not thereby stand acquitted;
the one who judges me is the Lord.
Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time,
until the Lord comes,
for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness
and will manifest the motives of our hearts,
and then everyone will receive praise from God.

Responsorial Psalm 

PS 37:3-4, 5-6, 27-28, 39-40 
R. (39a) The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart’s requests.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Turn from evil and do good,
that you may abide forever;
For the LORD loves what is right,
and forsakes not his faithful ones.
Criminals are destroyed 
and the posterity of the wicked is cut off.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

 

 

Alleluia 

JN 8:12
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel 

LK 5:33-39 
The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,
“The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers,
and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same;
but yours eat and drink.”
Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast
while the bridegroom is with them?
But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
then they will fast in those days.”
And he also told them a parable.
“No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.
Otherwise, he will tear the new
and the piece from it will not match the old cloak.
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins,
and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.
Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.
And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new,
for he says, ‘The old is good.’”




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Thursday, September 1, 2022

Still Obey


The WORD today reminds me that I should still obey God despite my concerns, doubts, and worries. 

Almost all of us are subject to authority - be it at work, in school, in business, in our family, and in other aspects of our life. And sometimes, we do not agree with the decisions or orders of people in authority. However, we often find ourselves obeying them - either out of fear, respect or obligation. This is what Jesus wants from us.

God wants us to obey him despite our doubts, apprehensions and concerns. 

In the gospel, we see Jesus preaching, and eventually making miracles. He told Simon to lower his nets so he can get some fish. at first, Simon was apprehensive, saying that they worked all night and caught nothing. Probably he was thinking who is this guy, he is not even a fisherman. And it shows, because he asked me to just lower my nets, but this is not a spot where we usually catch fish. but he did not let these thoughts win. He eventually obeyed the carpenter – we have worked hard all night but caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets. Beucase of his faith and obedience, he was blessed

God rewards those who obey him. 

A lot of times, we experience what Simon did. However, not all of us get past the initial apprehension phase. We are all carrying problems, burdens and concerns. There may be times we feel what Simon felt – working hard all our lives and still accomplishing nothing, still the same problems, concerns and worries. Tired. Frustrated. However, we should not let these things overpower us. We should not let these things prevent God from working in our lives.

Had Simon told Jesus that he was too tired from working all night, even if Jesus had the power to bless him, Simon won’t be blessed because he did not cooperate and refused God's blessings.If Simon gave in to the temptation to say “Hey, we worked all night and did what you are telling us to do, and we got nothing. So please, give me a break” or something like that, he would really not catch anything. We need to do our part so we can experience God's blessings. 

God’s wisdom is beyond our understanding, and his goodness is never ending.

We don’t need to understand why he is asking us to do things, or it does not need to make sense what he is asking us to do. Sometimes, he just wants us to obey, have faith and be humble. Then he can bless us.

This pandemic, we may be feeling like Simon. God is telling us something, but we have concerns. How can I give and share to others while I myself am uncertain of my future? How can I be a blessing if I have worries myself? But his wisdom is perfect. He can bless our actions. He can bless us. We just need to have faith and obey him despite of everything worrying us. 

What are my concerns in life? How do I react to these concerns? Do I let these things take control of my life? Do I stress myself and worry? Or do I have faith in God despite all these? Do I believe his word when he says to he calm and trust in Him? 

May we always be humble, have faith in and obey God, regardless of our doubts, fears and concerns. 

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for giving me another day to live. Thank you for the inspiration. Lord, I ask for the gift of faith. I ask for the gift of humility. Lord, there are a lot of times I get tired or frustrated in life. My efforts seem to get me nowhere. Same probems, same concerns, same everything. But Lord, may these things not make me lose focus on you, may these things not make me lose my faith in you. Lord, I pray that I always be humble and obedient to you. may my faith always be bigger than my concerns. And may I always be ready and willing to obey, despite of all that are preventing me from it. Amen.

Blessed Day and BER months! 

In Christ,
-g-

Ps
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Daily Readings

Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 434

Reading 1 

1 Cor 3:18-23
Brothers and sisters:
Let no one deceive himself.
If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age,
let him become a fool, so as to become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God,
for it is written:

God catches the wise in their own ruses,

and again:

The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you,
Paul or Apollos or Cephas,
or the world or life or death,
or the present or the future:
all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

Responsorial Psalm 

Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
R. (1) To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.

Alleluia 

Mt 4:19
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come after me, says the Lord,
and I will make you fishers of men.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel 

Lk 5:1-11
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
"Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."
Simon said in reply,
"Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets."
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them. 
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men."
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.


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