Special Ka

The WORD today reminds me how special I am in God's eyes. 

Self-esteem is a very big problem. Sometimes, the people we think that are confident, beautiful, or successful are the ones who have big self-esteem issues. They do not see their worth, or their importance, that’s why some try to cover it with achieving things, or appearing beautiful or confident. Self-esteem issues can also ruin relationships. One cannot trust another person if he or she is very unsure about the self. However, if someone special or powerful affirms your improtance, it helps a lot. It boosts your self esteem and confidence. This is what we are reminded today. 

The first reading and the psalmist reminds us that God is powerful. His words are powerful. He breathes life. He is indeed the Almighty. This establishes the greatness and power of God. And in gospel, we are reminded that this same powerful and mighty God thinks highly of us. Of you. Of me.  should help us feel better about ourselves. 

“What is your opinion?

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray

will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills

and go in search of the stray?

And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it

than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.

In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father

that one of these little ones be lost

Every creation of God is important. Special ka sa Diyos! 

Everyone. And our importance is not based on how we see ourselves, or our achievements in life. We are important because God created us. We are important and God loves us.

God sees us not for what we are right now, but for what we can be. 

He made us with great potential. All our sins, concerns, problems, and issues do not change that. Despite all of our bad decisions, all of these things and all our imperfections, God still sees the beautiful and wonderful creation he made in us. He still sees us that way, and we are invited to just surrender to him, to come to him as he looks for us, and allow him to use and mold us.

God will go the extra mile for you. 

No matter where you are, no matter how far you may feel from him, no matter how little or insignificant you may feel, God will search for you and go looking for you. He will find you. However, he won’t force you to come with him. That is your decision to make. He will just wait and hope you will go with him. He will just wait for us to surrender to him, to let him love us, and let that love transform us into the persons we were created to be. 

How do I see myself? Do I feel good about myself, or is the way I see myself dependent on what other people say? Do I believe God when he says I am special? Do I recognize what he says or does the opinion of others more important for me? 

May we find the heart to surrender to God when he comes looking for us, and allow him to mold us to be the great creation we were intended to be. May we always realize how special we are in his eyes. 

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 inspiring reminder. Lord, sorry for letting my concerns and the issues of the world get the best of me. Sorry for making these things Affect the way I see myself. Sorry for looking down on myself. Help me focus on you, Lord. Help me see myself the way you see me – beautiful, full of potential, capable of doing good, destined for greatness. I know you love me and how special I am to you. I surrender Lord and allow you to use my for whatever purpose you have for me. I know you have great plans for me, and I will do my best to just cooperate with you as you work in and through me. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

• DECEMBER 5, 2022
• December 6, 2022
• DECEMBER 7, 2022

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Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent

Lectionary: 182

Reading 1 

Is 40:1-11

Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,
her guilt is expiated;
Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD
double for all her sins.

A voice cries out:
In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!
Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill shall be made low;
The rugged land shall be made a plain,
the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together;
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

A voice says, "Cry out!"
I answer, "What shall I cry out?"
"All flesh is grass,
and all their glory like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower wilts,
when the breath of the LORD blows upon it.
So then, the people is the grass.
Though the grass withers and the flower wilts,
the word of our God stands forever."

Go up onto a high mountain,
Zion, herald of glad tidings;
Cry out at the top of your voice,
Jerusalem, herald of good news!
Fear not to cry out
and say to the cities of Judah:
Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by his strong arm;
Here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;
in his arms he gathers the lambs,
Carrying them in his bosom,
and leading the ewes with care.

Responsorial Psalm 

Ps 96:1-2, 3 and 10ac, 11-12, 13

R.(see Isaiah 40:10ab)  The Lord our God comes with power.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name;
announce his salvation, day after day.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then let all the trees of the forest rejoice.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.
They shall exult before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. The Lord our God comes with power.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The day of the Lord is near;
Behold, he comes to save us.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel 

Mt 18:12-14

Jesus said to his disciples:
"What is your opinion?
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills
and go in search of the stray?
And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it
than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost."

Would You Do The Same

The WORD today makes me think if I am always ready to step out of my comfort zone for others.

Helping is more than just giving something. Helping is not really the amount given. As Jesus said in one of the parables, those who gave from their surplus did not feel the pain of giving. However, a widow who gave two small coins felt the pain of giving, and Jesus told that she gave more than the rest. 

You need to step out of your comfort zone to help others.

In the gospel, we see a familiar story. It is inspiring how people (four people in other translations) which may or may not be friends of the paralyzed man, had the will, the faith, and made the effort to bring the paralyzed man to Jesus. It was not easy since there were a lot of people already, but these guys went the extra mile to bring the paralytic to Jesus, in hopes of healing for the person. They were willing to step out of their comfort zone for the man. They brought him down through the roof. Really so much effort for them. 

I don’t know if I would have done the same.

Sometimes compassion is not translated to action. Yes, you may feel sorry for the person, but actually doing something to help a person is a whole different thing. But these guys did not just act, they acted in a different level. Probably others will try to bring him to Jesus, but after seeing the house full, will say to the person – Sorry, a lot of people already. Maybe you’re not meant to be healed today. But not these guys. These guys went all the way to the roof, and brought the man down, resulting to him being healed.

It is not always easy to serve God. It is not always easy doing things for others. Sometimes God gives us challenges not to dishearten us, but to inspire, encourage and strengthen us. We just need to be firm and have faith, and be willing to do things out of our comfort zones. 

How is my faith in God? When things are difficult, how Do I react? Do I give up, or do I still have faith like the people in the gospel? Is my faith strong enough to bless other people as well? Am I willing to step out of my comfort zone for other people? 

May we be inspired by the men, whose love, faith, will and determination to bring the paralyzed man to Jesus, despite the challenges brought healing to the man, and glory to God.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for the inspiring message and challenges to start the week! Lord, I ask that you give me opportunities to strengthen my faith. I have been praying for an increase in faith, and may i have it. I also ask that you help me bring others to you, no matter how difficult or challenging it may be. Give me the will and determination to help not only when it’s comfortable, but more importantly when it is difficult to. Help me to be ready to step out of my comfort zone to help others, to bring them closer to you, and to serve you. It may not always be easy, but it is worth the effort to bring others to You. As I live my faith, may I not be dishearten by challenges, but take it as it is – challenges to build and develop my faith. Amen

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

https://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2018/12/faith-of-others.html

Daily Readings

• DECEMBER 4, 2022
• December 5, 2022
• DECEMBER 6, 2022

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Monday of the Second Week of Advent

Lectionary: 181

Reading I

Is 35:1-10

    The desert and the parched land will exult;
        the steppe will rejoice and bloom.
    They will bloom with abundant flowers,
        and rejoice with joyful song.
    The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,
        the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
    They will see the glory of the LORD,
        the splendor of our God.
    Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
        make firm the knees that are weak,
    Say to those whose hearts are frightened:
        Be strong, fear not!
    Here is your God,
        he comes with vindication;
    With divine recompense
        he comes to save you.
    Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
        the ears of the deaf be cleared;
    Then will the lame leap like a stag,
        then the tongue of the mute will sing.

    Streams will burst forth in the desert,
        and rivers in the steppe.
    The burning sands will become pools,
        and the thirsty ground, springs of water;
    The abode where jackals lurk
        will be a marsh for the reed and papyrus.
    A highway will be there,
        called the holy way;
    No one unclean may pass over it,
        nor fools go astray on it.
    No lion will be there,
        nor beast of prey go up to be met upon it.
    It is for those with a journey to make,
        and on it the redeemed will walk.
    Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return
        and enter Zion singing,
        crowned with everlasting joy;
    They will meet with joy and gladness,
        sorrow and mourning will flee.

Responsorial Psalm

85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14

R.    (Isaiah 35:4f)  Our God will come to save us!
I will hear what God proclaims;
    the LORD –for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
    glory dwelling in our land.
R.    Our God will come to save us!
Kindness and truth shall meet;
    justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
    and justice shall look down from heaven.
R.    Our God will come to save us!
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
    our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
    and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R.    Our God will come to save us!

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold the king will come, the Lord of the earth,
and he himself will lift the yoke of our captivity.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 5:17-26

One day as Jesus was teaching,
Pharisees and teachers of the law,
who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem,
were sitting there,
and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. 
And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed;
they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence. 
But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd,
they went up on the roof
and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles
into the middle in front of Jesus. 
When Jesus saw their faith, he said,
“As for you, your sins are forgiven.” 

Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves,
“Who is this who speaks blasphemies? 
Who but God alone can forgive sins?” 
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply,
“What are you thinking in your hearts? 
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 said to the one who was paralyzed,
“I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” 

He stood up immediately before them,
picked up what he had been lying on,
and went home, glorifying God. 
Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God,
and, struck with awe, they said,
“We have seen incredible things today.”

Prepare to be Bold and Proclaim

The WORD today reminds me that my inner preparation for Christmas should also lead me to be bold and proclaim God in and through my life. 

Last week, the first Sunday of Advent, we were reminded to prepare for Christmas. This Sunday, God wants us to take a step further – do so something aside from preparing. We cannot just prepare and prepare. We cannot be stuck in preparation and not actually execute it. This is similar to analysis paralysis. We need to do something concrete.

Our inner preparation should lead into proclamation of God.

The gospel reminds us that we should live it. We are given an example of who to follow. John the Baptist proclaimed God through his life. Before he proclaimed God, he was in the dessert. He was there when he was asked to proclaim God. What was he doing in the dessert? Same as what we are trying to do – to prepare spiritually. John was preparing himself and his spirit to become one with God, to be filled with God. However, he did not end there. When God’s word came to him, his preparation enabled him to have the boldness to proclaim God’s word. He went out and proclaimed the need for repentance in the whole region of Jordan. Same with us, as God asked us to prepare, he is also asking us to proclaim his word. He is asking us to go out to the world and spread his word, his love, and his goodness. 

We should proclaim God through our lives. 

We cannot be preparing forever. Our preparation should make us more intimate with God. And as we become more intimate with God, as we get to know him more, as we feel his love and protection, we should be ready and willing to be bold and go out to the world. As we become one with God, we should be willing to obey him and proclaim him, and share him to others. As we do this, we need not be an expert in faith. We just need to know and have a personal relationship with God. Sometimes, we feel we are inadequate or incomplete. God is faithful, and he will continue to be with us and guide us as we serve Him.

With the pandemic, interaction may be limited. But social media is very much alive. We can proclaim him in other means. By how we live. By how we treat others. By what we post and how we react. Different times call for different ways of proclaiming God. 

Just as we should prepare and proclaim him, so should we repent. It is part of preparation. The gospel still reminds us that we need to repent. Prepare. And proclaim him to others, not just because God tells us to, but because we want others to be prepared, repent, and eventually be saved as well. 

How ready am I for Christmas? How is my preparation for Jesus and for Christmas? How can I prepare myself more for Christ? What is he telling me today? 

May we be ready to go out, be bold, and proclaim God to others.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday, Thank you for knowing me. Thank you for guiding me. Thank you for the reminder, for telling me how you want me to progress. Sorry for the times I stop at preparation. Sorry for not being willing to be bold and proclaim you to others. Lord, help me do my best in preparing for Christmas. And give me your spirit and enable me to be bold and proclaim you. There are a lot of reasons why I do not do it. Sometimes I feel scared, that I am not worthy or I am not the right person to do it. Sometimes I just feel tired to act. Sometimes, I just don’t know how. Lord, guide me. Show me the ways I can be bold and proclaim you through the way I live and treat others. Magnify my actions and my words so that it may glorify you. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

• DECEMBER 3, 2022
• December 4, 2022
• DECEMBER 5, 2022

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Second Sunday of Advent

Lectionary: 4

Reading 1 

Is 11:1-10

On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
a spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
a spirit of counsel and of strength,
a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
but he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land's afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra's den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.
On that day, the root of Jesse,
set up as a signal for the nations,
the Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious.

Responsorial Psalm 

Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

R. (cf. 7)  Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king's son;
he shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
R. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Reading 2 

Rom 15:4-9

Brothers and sisters:
Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, 
that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures 
we might have hope.
May the God of endurance and encouragement 
grant you to think in harmony with one another, 
in keeping with Christ Jesus, 
that with one accord you may with one voice 
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, 
for the glory of God.
For I say that Christ became a minister of the circumcised
to show God's truthfulness, 
to confirm the promises to the patriarchs, 
but so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
As it is written:
Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles
and sing praises to your name.

Alleluia 

Lk 3:4, 6

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths:
all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel 

Mt 3:1-12

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea
and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:
A voice of one crying out in the desert,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
John wore clothing made of camel's hair 
and had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey.
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea,
and the whole region around the Jordan
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.
And do not presume to say to yourselves, 
'We have Abraham as our father.'
For I tell you, 
God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.
Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit 
will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, 
but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.
I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand.
He will clear his threshing floor 
and gather his wheat into his barn, 
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."