Filled to Give

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/021817.cfm) reminds me that as God fills me, I should be ready to give back to others. 

When we experience great moments, we want to stay there forever. Major accomplishments and achievements. Happy moments. Family celebrations. Graduation. Promotion. Wedding. Surprise party. Retreats. These are moments we wish we could stay in forever. However, it is not possible. We have to go back to reality and continue with life. This is probably the three felt in the gospel. 

In the gospel, we see an account of Jesus’ transfiguration. Jesus chose to reveal a glimpse of his glory to three of his closest friends, the big three of the apostles – Peter, James and John. They saw Jesus transfigured, and saw Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets, with him. What an amazing sight it must have been. Then to cap it off, they heard God’s voice – “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.”  Probably they were thinking that Wow! this Jesus is indeed the real thing. 

We see how great and powerful God is. We see how anointed and glorious Jesus is. This should lead us to remember and be thankful to Jesus and God. God loves us so much that he sent his only Son to be separated with him in his glory and become one like us. How special we really are!

However, this should not end here. We cannot freeze that moment. We have to get back to reality. We have to get back to life and act, and get our hands dirty. Knowing how great God is, knowing how glorious Jesus is, is not enough. In the latter part of the gospel, the three wanted to build tents and stay in the mountain. Of course, it was such a glorious sight, a spiritually high moment. But Jesus said no. Jesus asked them to come down the mountain. What does it tell us? Just as Jesus told the three to go down, we too should go back to reality. We should go back into the world and live the gospel. Preach the gospel. It is not enough that we know and experience how great God is. We should also go back and proclaim him to other people. That’s the challenge. That’s the work we need to do.

The work is hard. It may be challenging. But it is worth it. We should take comfort in the first reading. We should have that faith - to realize what you hope for, and believe in things our eyes cannot see. We just need to have faith that as we do our part, as we work for God's kingdom, God uses us and our actions to bring glory to him. That it will all be worth it. 

Do I believe God is really all powerful, all glorious? Do I know and appreciate how much God loves me? When do I experience God in a special way? Am I willing to go back to reality and work to proclaim his greatness? Where is he calling me to preach? How? Do I have faith in Him?

May we always remember how great God is, and may this lead us into serving him by proclaiming him to others. 

Father God,

Thank you today. thank you for giving me another day to live and to serve you. Thank you for reminding me of how great the God I am serving. Sorry for the times I get contented with just knowing you. Sorry for the times I am unwilling to act for you. Lord, help me respond to your call. Alam ko mahirap, minsan gusto ko nalang magdasal mag isa, or masaya na ako sa experience ko sa iyo, or I just want to live right and not care about others. But Lord, I know you want me to act. I know you want me to move. I know you want me to make disciples for you. So I ask you Lord to give me faith to step out of my comfort zone and do what you want, so I can do my part in building your kingdom. Bless my work. Bless my actions.  Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

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February 18, 2017
Saturday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 340

Reading 1 Heb 11:1-7

Brothers and sisters:
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
Because of it the ancients were well attested.
By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God,
so that what is visible came into being through the invisible.
By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice greater than Cain's.
Through this, he was attested to be righteous,
God bearing witness to his gifts,
and through this, though dead, he still speaks.
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death,
and he was found no more because God had taken him.
Before he was taken up, he was attested to have pleased God.
But without faith it is impossible to please him,
for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists
and that he rewards those who seek him.
By faith Noah, warned about what was not yet seen,
with reverence built an ark for the salvation of his household.
Through this, he condemned the world
and inherited the righteousness that comes through faith.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 10-11

R. (see 1) I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

Alleluia Mk 9:6

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The heavens were opened and the voice of the Father thundered:
This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 9:2-13

Jesus took Peter, James, and John
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
"Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents:
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
then from the cloud came a voice,
"This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
Suddenly, looking around, the disciples no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant.
Then they asked him,
"Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
He told them, "Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things,
yet how is it written regarding the Son of Man
that he must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt?
But I tell you that Elijah has come
and they did to him whatever they pleased,
as it is written of him."

Take Up His Cross and Follow

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/021717.cfm) reminds me that I should take up my cross as I follow Jesus. 

There are a lot of organizations in school that students can choose from. These organizations recruit members and organize activities for them. However, not all those who sign up and register as members become active and participate. Some would just sign up for the sake of signing up but not become involved with the org. Technically, they can declare that they are members of the org, even if they are not involved. This works in the world, but not with God. 

Real followers of God are very involved. They experience pain for Him. 

In the gospel, Jesus said that whoever wants to follow God must deny himself and take up his cross. Hindi lang basta basta sumunod sa Diyos. Merely Saying that you are a follower of God is not enough. We should be ready to walk the talk. We should be ready to suffer for God. Not because cause he wants us to suffer or he enjoys seeing us in pain, but because we should be ready to experience what he experienced in this world. Taking up our cross. Bearing our share of pain and suffering for Christ. He suffered in this world because he was not of this world. As his followers, we should be ready to experience this as well. 

We should also learn how to deny ourselves. Denying ourselves of what we want. Denying ourselves of what is easy and enjoyable. Denying ourselves of our own desires, of our own will...and submitting to God. Submitting to God our dreams. Our desires. Our plans. Denying ourselves, humbling ourselves, and proclaiming that God, his will, his plans, are high in our life. 

May we take time to reflect what it means for us to follow God, and may we be ready and willing to do what it takes. 

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 am not willing to suffer for you. Sorry for the times I am not willing to deny myself for you. Help me humble myself. Help me always be ready and willing to deny myself and carry my cross as I follow you. As I do sol use me to bring glory to you. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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February 17, 2017
Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 339

Reading 1 Gn 11:1-9

The whole world spoke the same language, using the same words.
While the people were migrating in the east,
they came upon a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there.
They said to one another,
"Come, let us mold bricks and harden them with fire."
They used bricks for stone, and bitumen for mortar.
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city
and a tower with its top in the sky,
and so make a name for ourselves;
otherwise we shall be scattered all over the earth."

The LORD came down to see the city and the tower
that they had built.
Then the LORD said: "If now, while they are one people,
all speaking the same language,
they have started to do this,
nothing will later stop them from doing whatever they presume to do.
Let us then go down and there confuse their language,
so that one will not understand what another says."
Thus the LORD scattered them from there all over the earth,
and they stopped building the city.
That is why it was called Babel,
because there the LORD confused the speech of all the world.
It was from that place that he scattered them all over the earth.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 33:10-11, 12-13, 14-15

R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
From his fixed throne he beholds
all who dwell on the earth,
He who fashioned the heart of each,
he who knows all their works.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Alleluia Jn 15:15b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I call you my friends, says the Lord,
for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 8:34—9:1

Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the Gospel will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
What could one give in exchange for his life?
Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words
in this faithless and sinful generation,
the Son of Man will be ashamed of
when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

He also said to them,
"Amen, I say to you,
there are some standing here who will not taste death
until they see that the Kingdom of God has come in power."

Who Is God in Your Life

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/021617.cfm) makes me examine who God is in my life. 

Parents are very fond of their children, especially babies. And as they start to talk, parents love to ask their children to say their name. Daddy. Mommy. Papa. Mama. They love to their their children calling their name. They love the fact that their children know who they are. This is probably what God wants from us as his children. 

The gospel shows us Jesus asking the disciples the question: Who am I to you? He asked them who other people said he was, but it was really not important to Jesus. What matters to him is who his disciples see him for. Who he is to his disciples. Peter proclaimed that Jesus is the Christ of God. Jesus then affirmed it, and reminded them that even though he is such, he will have to suffer in the hands of people – telling them that they would suffer too as his followers, but with the assurance of victory when Jesus told them he will be raised on the third day.

Today, God is asking us the same question: Who am I to you? It does not matter what other people say Jesus is. It does not matter what sins we have committed in the past. It does not matter what we intend to do in our lives. What matters for Christ is our answer to his question. And we can only say he is our God if we have an intimate and personal relationship with him. if we don’t pray, if we don’t hear mass and take the sacraments, if we don’t read the bible, if we don’t experience Jesus, we cannot honestly say that he is our God. Probably we can say that other people say he is, or other people say he is a great and loving God, but unless we build an intimate relationship with Him, we cannot say the same.

We are challenged today.

Proclaiming who Jesus is for us is not a one time decision. we cannot just say he is our God and forget about it. We need to constantly work on our relationship with God. We need to constantly be conscious of how we live our lives. Our relationship with God today will not automatically extend until forever. We need to do our part. Otherwise, we may be like Peter who one moment proclaimed who Jesus was, and the other referred to as satan by Jesus because he was not willing to submit to God's plans.  

Who is Jesus to you? Who is Jesus in your life? Do you put Him first in your life? Do you believe that He is the all loving, all merciful, all powerful God? Do you believe that He can work great things to and through you? Do you work on your relationship with God? Do you do it constantly?

May we find it in our hearts to answer him like Peter did – that he is Christ the God, that he is God in our lives. May we work to have an intimate and personal relationship with Him, and work harder to maintain and grow it.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder snd challenge. I praise and adore you for who you are. Lord, I am so blessed that you are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, and that no matter what I do, you will not love me less. I am so grateful to be worshiping the same God that Peter worshiped, and I believe that you will use me in a mighty way the same way you used Peter for your glory. Lord, sorry for the times you are not God in my life. Sorry for putting others above you. Sorry for not having the desire and will to work on my relationship with you. Lord, I ask that you help me live proclaiming that you are the Messiah, that you are my God, so that I can bring people to you and glorify you. Help me build and sustain an intimate and personal relationship with you. This I ask in Jesus name, Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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February 16, 2017
Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 338

Reading 1 Gn 9:1-13

God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them:
"Be fertile and multiply and fill the earth.
Dread fear of you shall come upon all the animals of the earth
and all the birds of the air,
upon all the creatures that move about on the ground
and all the fishes of the sea;
into your power they are delivered.
Every creature that is alive shall be yours to eat;
I give them all to you as I did the green plants.
Only flesh with its lifeblood still in it you shall not eat.
For your own lifeblood, too, I will demand an accounting:
from every animal I will demand it,
and from one man in regard to his fellow man
I will demand an accounting for human life.

If anyone sheds the blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed;
For in the image of God
has man been made.

Be fertile, then, and multiply;
abound on earth and subdue it."

God said to Noah and to his sons with him:
"See, I am now establishing my covenant with you
and your descendants after you
and with every living creature that was with you:
all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals
that were with you and came out of the ark.
I will establish my covenant with you,
that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed
by the waters of a flood;
there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth."
God added:
"This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come,
of the covenant between me and you
and every living creature with you:
I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign
of the covenant between me and the earth."

Responsorial Psalm Ps 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23

R. (20b) From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
"The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die."
R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
The children of your servants shall abide,
and their posterity shall continue in your presence,
That the name of the LORD may be declared in Zion,
and his praise, in Jerusalem,
When the peoples gather together,
and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.

Alleluia Jn 6:63c, 68c

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 8:27-33

Jesus and his disciples set out
for the villages of Caesarea Philippi.
Along the way he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that I am?"
They said in reply,
"John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others one of the prophets."
And he asked them,
"But who do you say that I am?"
Peter said to him in reply,
"You are the Christ."
Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He began to teach them
that the Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed, and rise after three days.
He spoke this openly.
Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples,
rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." 

Not Giving Up on You

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/021517.cfm) reminds me that Jesus will never give up on me. 

Almost everything in life should be learned. Even the simplest things. When we were kids, we did not know how to walk. It took multiple attempts and multiple failures before we were able to walk and run. Even eating. It was a slow process of learning how to eat. That is why we should never give up at once when we do not succeed.

Jesus never gives up on us. 

In the gospel, the people brought a blind man to Jesus. It is interesting to see that Jesus took him away. He did not immediately heal him. He did not just touch him, like the people begged him to. He took him away outside the village. Away from the people. He wanted to have this intimate and personal experience with the man, away from the crowd, the spectators. When they were alone, he put spittle in the man's eyes and his hands. And when he still could not see clear, Jesus did not give up on him. He did not get mad. Instead, he did it a second time until the man saw clearly. 

God will never give up on you. God will never be frustrated at you. 

Usually, when Jesus heals, immediate results follow. Healing of sick people. Cleansing from demons. Even raising up from the dead. However, it was a different case with this blind man. Probably he did not have enough faith in Jesus. Probably his focus was not all on Jesus. Probably he just had a lot of concerns, fears and worries even when he was with Jesus. But Jesus did not give up on him. Nag effort ulit si Jesus para sa kanya. And that's what he will do to and for us, especially when we are hard to deal with. God will never let us go. God will be patient with us. God will be with us. Until we are better. Until we come to our senses. 

May we always remember that God will never give up on us, no matter what the situation is. And may this lead us to come to him whatever state we may be in. 

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 that you will never give up on me. Lord, sorry for the times I give up on myself. Sorry for being too hard on myself. And sorry for not coming to you for help. Help me be like the blind man. Help me humble myself and come to you. As I do, i know you will mold me and transform me to be pleasing to you. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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February 15, 2017
Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 337

Reading 1 Gn 8:6-13, 20-22

At the end of forty days Noah opened the hatch he had made in the ark,
and he sent out a raven,
to see if the waters had lessened on the earth.
It flew back and forth until the waters dried off from the earth.
Then he sent out a dove,
to see if the waters had lessened on the earth.
But the dove could find no place to alight and perch,
and it returned to him in the ark,
for there was water all over the earth.
Putting out his hand, he caught the dove
and drew it back to him inside the ark.
He waited seven days more and again sent the dove out from the ark.
In the evening the dove came back to him,
and there in its bill was a plucked-off olive leaf!
So Noah knew that the waters had lessened on the earth.
He waited still another seven days
and then released the dove once more;
and this time it did not come back.

In the six hundred and first year of Noah's life,
in the first month, on the first day of the month,
the water began to dry up on the earth.
Noah then removed the covering of the ark
and saw that the surface of the ground was drying up.

Noah built an altar to the LORD,
and choosing from every clean animal and every clean bird,
he offered burnt offerings on the altar.
When the LORD smelled the sweet odor, he said to himself:
"Never again will I doom the earth because of man
since the desires of man's heart are evil from the start;
nor will I ever again strike down all living beings, as I have done.
As long as the earth lasts,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
Summer and winter,
and day and night
shall not cease."

Responsorial Psalm Ps 116:12-13, 14-15, 18-19

R. (17a) To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
or:
R. Alleluia.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
R. To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
or:
R. Alleluia.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the eyes of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
R. To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
or:
R. Alleluia.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people,
In the courts of the house of the LORD,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
R. To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia Eph 1:17-18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to his call.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 8:22-26

When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida,
people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.
He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.
Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked,
"Do you see anything?"
Looking up the man replied, "I see people looking like trees and walking."
Then he laid hands on the man's eyes a second time and he saw clearly;
his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly.
Then he sent him home and said, "Do not even go into the village."

I Forgot

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/021417.cfm)  reminds me that I should never forget all the great things God has done for me. 

Early 2015, we were so spiritually high. During Pope Francis’ visit, people were all smiles, all were extra patient despite the traffic or road closures, all were extra nice. However, it did not stay that way for so long, for after a few days we had news of the death of 44 SAF men. People were so mad, annoyed and frustrated with the government. It was as if the Pope did not visit us, and we forgot what he told us.

Negative situations can lead us to easily forget all the good God has done for us.

It seems easy to forget God’s goodness and blessings. In the first reading, after God gave them everything, we see that man eventually became wicked and forgot God, thus God destroyed almost everything. In the gospel, we see the apostles seemingly forgetting the power of Jesus, and was focused only on what they think, on what they understand. 

A lot of times, we too are like this. We forget everything God has done for and to us. We forget his love and goodness. We forget all the times he got us out of trouble, and the times he provided for our needs. We get stuck on what we think, we focus on what we understand. We let situations dictate how we react, and not anchor our behavior on our faith. God is patient, but we should not test his patience, and live pleasing God and following his commands.

May we remember all the good God has done to and for us, especially when life’s challenges overwhelm us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and experience your love. Thank you for all the blessings and the goodness you have consistently been providing me. I am sorry for the times I let myself be drowned with my emotions and with the situation, that it leads me to forget you. Sorry for forgetting. Open my mind and my heart, and may I always remember all the good you have done to and for me. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/02/when-we-dont-understand.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/02/of-not-understanding_18.html

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February 14, 2017
Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop
Lectionary: 336

Reading 1 Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10

When the LORD saw how great was man's wickedness on earth,
and how no desire that his heart conceived
was ever anything but evil,
he regretted that he had made man on the earth,
and his heart was grieved.

So the LORD said:
"I will wipe out from the earth the men whom I have created,
and not only the men,
but also the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air,
for I am sorry that I made them."
But Noah found favor with the LORD.

Then the LORD said to Noah:
"Go into the ark, you and all your household,
for you alone in this age have I found to be truly just.
Of every clean animal, take with you seven pairs,
a male and its mate;
and of the unclean animals, one pair,
a male and its mate;
likewise, of every clean bird of the air, seven pairs,
a male and a female,
and of all the unclean birds, one pair,
a male and a female.
Thus you will keep their issue alive over all the earth.
Seven days from now I will bring rain down on the earth
for forty days and forty nights,
and so I will wipe out from the surface of the earth
every moving creature that I have made."
Noah did just as the LORD had commanded him.

As soon as the seven days were over,
the waters of the flood came upon the earth.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 29:1a and 2, 3ac-4, 3b and 9c-10

R. (11b) The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Give to the LORD, you sons of God,
give to the LORD glory and praise,
Give to the LORD the glory due his name;
adore the LORD in holy attire.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The God of glory thunders,
and in his temple all say, "Glory!"
The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Alleluia Jn 14:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord;
and my Father will love him
and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 8:14-21

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread,
and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.
Jesus enjoined them, "Watch out,
guard against the leaven of the Pharisees
and the leaven of Herod."
They concluded among themselves that
it was because they had no bread.
When he became aware of this he said to them,
"Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread?
Do you not yet understand or comprehend?
Are your hearts hardened?
Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?
And do you not remember,
when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand,
how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?"
They answered him, "Twelve."
"When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand,
how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?"
They answered him, "Seven."
He said to them, "Do you still not understand?"

Signs

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/021317.cfm) reminds me of the importance of knowing and recognizing signs from God. 

Road signs are very important and helpful, especially if one is not familiar with the road. It tells motorists where to go, how to go there, what the rules, are, etc. They help keep people safe. However, signs would only be able to do that if motorists know what the signs mean, and if these signs are followed properly. 

Sometimes, or a lot of times, we want those kinds of tangible signs from God too.

Why not?

Who would not want affirmation or assurance of what God wants us to do in a specific situation? Who would not want what God wants us to choose, or where he wants us to go? Even people in the bible asked for signs from God.

However, it can also be taken out of bounds.

In the gospel we see Jesus telling the Pharisees about asking for signs. He told them that no sign will be given to them. Why? While it is normal to ask for signs, it becomes bad if the heart is closed to God’s signs. It is bad if the heart wants God to conform to what we want, not for us to be open to what God wants. This was probably what was in the hearts of the Pharisees as they argued with Jesus. They probably did not believe in Jesus and his signs, his works. They probably wanted a sign based on their own expectations and standards. They wanted God to conform to what they want, that’s why Jesus said no sign will be given to them as he sighed from the depth of his spirit. Probably out of frustration. Probably out of sadness. 

Signs will only be useful if recognized and followed.

Aside from being open to what the signs tell us, we should also know how to recognize signs. Drivers are supposed to take examinations to familiarize themselves with road signs. Research should be done. Else, signs would be useless. In the same way, we should also exert time and effort to know God more, so we can recognize his answers and his signs for us, and not just be closed to our idea of signs.

How about us? Do we ask for signs and do what we can – reading the bible, praying, receiving the sacraments, to know what God wants us to do and how God wants us to live our lives? If we ask for signs, are we open and sensitive to get and recognize signs not just based on what we want, but what God wants? Or do we want God to conform to what sign we want from Him?

May we always be open to God's signs, humble enough to receive him and not want him to conform to what we want. And may we take time to strengthen our relationship with Him so it would be easier to know and identify his signs.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I don't recognize your signs. Sorry for being close minded to what you want, and for expecting you to do what I want. Sorry for not doing enough work to get to know you. Lord, I pray that you always make you presence alive in my life. Help me do my part so I will always be sensitive to you. May I work and do my part to build a strong and personal relationship with you, so that I would know you more and recognize you, instead of just asking for signs. And may I always be open and humble to accept your will in my life, especially when your answers are different from my prayers. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ.

-g-

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February 13, 2017
Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 335

Reading 1 Gn 4:1-15, 25

The man had relations with his wife Eve,
and she conceived and bore Cain, saying,
"I have produced a man with the help of the LORD."
Next she bore his brother Abel.
Abel became a keeper of flocks, and Cain a tiller of the soil.
In the course of time Cain brought an offering to the LORD
from the fruit of the soil,
while Abel, for his part,
brought one of the best firstlings of his flock.
The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
but on Cain and his offering he did not.
Cain greatly resented this and was crestfallen.
So the LORD said to Cain:
"Why are you so resentful and crestfallen.
If you do well, you can hold up your head;
but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door:
his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master."

Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out in the field."
When they were in the field,
Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Then the LORD asked Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?"
He answered, "I do not know.
Am I my brother's keeper?"
The LORD then said: "What have you done!
Listen: your brother's blood cries out to me from the soil!
Therefore you shall be banned from the soil
that opened its mouth to receive
your brother's blood from your hand.
If you till the soil, it shall no longer give you its produce.
You shall become a restless wanderer on the earth."
Cain said to the LORD: "My punishment is too great to bear.
Since you have now banished me from the soil,
and I must avoid your presence
and become a restless wanderer on the earth,
anyone may kill me at sight."
"Not so!" the LORD said to him.
"If anyone kills Cain, Cain shall be avenged sevenfold."
So the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest anyone should kill him at sight.

Adam again had relations with his wife,
and she gave birth to a son whom she called Seth.
"God has granted me more offspring in place of Abel," she said,
"because Cain slew him."

Responsorial Psalm Ps 50:1 and 8, 16bc-17, 20-21

R. (14a) Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth,
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
"Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always."
R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
"Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?"
R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
"You sit speaking against your brother;
against your mother's son you spread rumors.
When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes."
R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

Alleluia Jn 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 Mk 8:11-13

The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus,
seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.
He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said,
"Why does this generation seek a sign?
Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."
Then he left them, got into the boat again,
and went off to the other shore.

Higher Standards

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/021217.cfm) reminds me that God wants me to have higher standards as I live for Him. 

In some schools, there is an honors class. The brightest students of the batch are gathered in one class. Usually, teachers expect more from them. They have more difficult examinations, homework and projects. Sometimes, they have different or more advanced lessons too. This is why participants in competitions are usually taken from this class. 

 God wants us to be in this class as well - on our spiritual life. 

In the gospel, Jesus tells us that God wants more from us. Like the students in the honors class, we are subjected to the same things as all human beings. However, just as the expectations from the honor students are higher, God also expects more from us who are following Him. God expects more from his children.

Killing is bad, we all know that. But in the gospel, Jesus tells us that even just getting angry is bad – because it can eventually grow into something more, which could eventually lead into killing. God wants a higher standard for us, that instead of just not killing, we should not allow ourselves to be tempted into even thinking of that. This is not just with killing – it is true with other aspects of our lives as well, with our prayer life, almsgiving, forgiveness, chastity, and concern for others.

In the gospel, we also see that before offering anything to God, we should first reconcile with others who we have conflict with. This means that God wants us to come to him clean and in the best possible state we can. God is more concerned with our heart rather than our offering to him. We can fast and offer sacrifices, but if we hold grudges against others, if we keep ill feelings, and if we withhold expressions of love to others, then our fasting will not be as pleasing to him. Again, higher standards for us, his children. 

May we be inspired to have higher standards of living for God,  and be up for the challenge of living it. Just as the students in the honors class are usually sent to competitions, may we be ready and willing to prepare, so God can send us to spread his love and kingdom on earth.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another day to experience your love. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I do not follow this. Sorry for being lazy and complacent. Lord, I ask that you help me live in a way you want me to. Help me live with higher standards, not to show that I am better than others, but to tell you just how much I love you. Help me be ready and willing to go the extra mile, to do the extra actions, so my life would be more pleasing to you. Help me and use me to build your kingdom on earth. amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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February 12, 2017
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 76

Reading 1 Sir 15:15-20

If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you;
if you trust in God, you too shall live;
he has set before you fire and water
to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand.
Before man are life and death, good and evil,
whichever he chooses shall be given him.
Immense is the wisdom of the Lord;
he is mighty in power, and all-seeing.
The eyes of God are on those who fear him;
he understands man's every deed.
No one does he command to act unjustly,
to none does he give license to sin.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34

R. (1b) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
You have commanded that your precepts
be diligently kept.
Oh, that I might be firm in the ways
of keeping your statutes!
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Be good to your servant, that I may live
and keep your words.
Open my eyes, that I may consider
the wonders of your law.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes,
that I may exactly observe them.
Give me discernment, that I may observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Reading 2 1 Cor 2:6-10

Brothers and sisters:
We speak a wisdom to those who are mature,
not a wisdom of this age,
nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away.
Rather, we speak God's wisdom, mysterious, hidden,
which God predetermined before the ages for our glory,
and which none of the rulers of this age knew;
for, if they had known it,
they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written:
What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard,
and what has not entered the human heart,
what God has prepared for those who love him,
this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.

For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.

Alleluia cF. mt 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 5:17-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter 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.

"You have heard that it was said,
You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin,
tear it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
And if your right hand causes you to sin,
cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

"It was also said,
Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.
But I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife - unless the marriage is unlawful -
causes her to commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

"Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all;
not by heaven, for it is God's throne;
nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head,
for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.'

Anything more is from the evil one."