Only On God

The WORD today reminds me that I should put my faith only on God.

They say that in Philippine politics, there are only results – those who won, and those who were cheated on. There are a lot of reasons people give for losing. They do not want to accept the fact that they indeed lost. This is also sometimes how we generally are. As the saying goes, kung gusto madaming paraan, kung ayaw madaming dahilan. IF you want it, there are many ways how to do it, but if you don’t want it, there are many excuses. However, with our spiritual life, this should not be the case. Excuses should not be given

There are no valid excuses for not standing up for the faith.

In the first reading, we see that Daniel and his friends trusted only on God. They had faith that God will bless them and keep them healthy, despite not getting the usual food allotted to them. They stood up for their faith. They did not give excuses for not standing up for the faith – that they are forced to eat unclean food, that they need the energy food gives so they can do their work and glorify God, that they had no choice but to eat unclean food. They stood up for the faith. They trusted only on God. And they were rewarded.

Sometimes, we think too much. Sometimes we analyze too much. We think that our faith, that our service to God is dependent on so many things. We sometimes think we need to be rich to be able to give to God’s kingdom. We sometimes think that we should live of this world to be able to survive and be successfull. The first reading shows us otherwise, that God is more powerful than anything. The gospel shows us otherwise, and how much God values our giving, no matter the amount. We think we need connections to work for God’s kingdom. We justify not serving the poor by saying we need rest to do our work well. There can be many excuses for not doing God’s work, for not standing up for the faith, but we are reminded today that none of these is valid.

God is all powerful. His power is not dependent on anything or anyone. And as we work for him, as we serve him, as we put our faith in him, we should remember that we too should not focus on other things. Our service to God and the effectivity of our actions are not dependent on worldly things. We just need to focus on God and trust in Him, and he will do the rest

Do I know God’s power? Do I realize how mighty powerful he is? Do I believe in his love and power? Do I let worldly things affect me and my faith in God?

May we remember God's power and goodness, and have faith only in Him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I give a lot of excuses for not standing up to my faith and not doing your work. Sorry for the times I forget that you are all powerful and all glorious. Help me remember to just put my faith in you as I do your work. Give me the strength to always be brave for you. Give me the wisdom to always focus on you, no matter what happens in this world. May I live only for you. May I focus only on you. Amen.

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

https://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2018/11/two-small-coins_26.html

Daily Readings

November 25 2019

«

 November 24  |  November 26 »

Monday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 503

Reading 1 DN 1:1-6, 8-20

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came
and laid siege to Jerusalem.
The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
and some of the vessels of the temple of God;
he carried them off to the land of Shinar,
and placed the vessels in the temple treasury of his god.

The king told Ashpenaz, his chief chamberlain,
to bring in some of the children of Israel of royal blood
and of the nobility, young men without any defect,
handsome, intelligent and wise,
quick to learn, and prudent in judgment,
such as could take their place in the king's palace;
they were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans;
after three years' training they were to enter the king's service.
The king allotted them a daily portion of food and wine
from the royal table.
Among these were men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah.

But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself
with the king's food or wine;
so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement.
Though God had given Daniel the favor and sympathy
of the chief chamberlain, he nevertheless said to Daniel,
"I am afraid of my lord the king;
it is he who allotted your food and drink.
If he sees that you look wretched
by comparison with the other young men of your age,
you will endanger my life with the king."
Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief chamberlain
had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah,
"Please test your servants for ten days.
Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Then see how we look in comparison with the other young men
who eat from the royal table,
and treat your servants according to what you see."
He acceded to this request, and tested them for ten days;
after ten days they looked healthier and better fed
than any of the young men who ate from the royal table.
So the steward continued to take away
the food and wine they were to receive, and gave them vegetables.

To these four young men God gave knowledge and proficiency
in all literature and science,
and to Daniel the understanding of all visions and dreams.
At the end of the time the king had specified for their preparation,
the chief chamberlain brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.
When the king had spoken with all of them,
none was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah;
and so they entered the king's service.
In any question of wisdom or prudence which the king put to them,
he found them ten times better
than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom.

Responsorial Psalm DANIEL 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56

R.(52b) Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages."
R. Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever."
R. Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you on the throne of your Kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."
R. Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."
R. Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever."
R. Glory and praise for ever!

Alleluia MT 24:42A, 44

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stay awake!
For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 21:1-4

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, "I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood."

Saving King

The WORD today reminds me that Christ is a saving king.

When we hear the word king, what usually comes to mind are the kings of the world – with crown of gold, jewels, with a lot of servants and powerful in his kingdom. However, Christ our King is different

Christ is a saving King.

In the first reading, we see that God sent David to bring the people back to God. He wants us back into his kingdom, into his presence. Why? Not because he needs servants or knights to defend him but because he wants us to be saved, to be happy, to be prosperous. The only way we could have all these is if we are back in his arms, in his goodness, in his kingdom.

The second reading reminds us of Jesus Christ’s power and dominion. He came before all things. All things are subject to him. All things are under him. We are reminded of his power and his place in this world, and in our lives. He is indeed a real mighty king.

In the gospel, we see the repentant thief. During his last moments in this world, he recognized Christ, and made him king in his life. Talk about being saved by the bell. Jesus saw how sincere and repentant the sinner is, and immediately granted him salvation. We also see how powerful Jesus is to be able to say the words: “Today, you will be with me in Paradise”

In as much as we are reminded of Jesus’ kingship, he does not want us to end there. We should go beyond knowing that Jesus is king and that he loves us and wants to save us. We should not only know that Jesus is king, we should also proclaim and live it

We can only proclaim and live Christ's kingship if he is king of our hearts.

God is the king of the universe, but He also wants to be the king of our hearts. He is all powerful, but he does not have power over our hearts and our decisions. God wants to also be the king of our lives. That is what we should work on as well. our everyday decisions,  our everyday words and actions, we tell him who our king is. We tell him who we are – are we of this world, or of God.

In our lives, a lot of people and things are trying to take away the place of Jesus as our king. A lot of temptations, and false kings. Like the repentant thief, may we recognize him amidst all these, and take it a step further to always recognize and make him king in our lives. Only then can we proclaim him. 

Who is Christ in my life? Is he my king? Is he really the king in my life? How do I proclaim his kingship in my life? How can I make him more alive in this world?

May we make Christ the king of our lives so we can proclaim and share him with others.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for this weekend. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for all the lessons and realizations. Lord, sorry for the times I do not make you my king. Sorry for the times I ignore you. Sorry for the times I do not proclaim you. Lord, I pray that you help me to be sensitive to you. may I always recognize you and make you the only king in my life. Help me proclaim you. Help me bring you to others and spread your kingdom here on earth. Use me to make your kingdom and your saving love more real and more alive. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

November 24 2019

« November 23  |  November 25 »

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Lectionary: 162

Reading 1 2 SM 5:1-3

In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said:
"Here we are, your bone and your flesh.
In days past, when Saul was our king,
it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them back.
And the LORD said to you,
'You shall shepherd my people Israel
and shall be commander of Israel.'"
When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron,
King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD,
and they anointed him king of Israel.

Responsorial Psalm PS 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5

R. (cf. 1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
"We will go up to the house of the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Reading 2 COL 1:12-20

Brothers and sisters:
Let us give thanks to the Father,
who has made you fit to share
in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.
He delivered us from the power of darkness
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the blood of his cross
through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

Alleluia MK 11:9, 10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 23:35-43

The rulers sneered at Jesus and said,
"He saved others, let him save himself
if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God."
Even the soldiers jeered at him.
As they approached to offer him wine they called out,
"If you are King of the Jews, save yourself."
Above him there was an inscription that read,
"This is the King of the Jews."

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
"Are you not the Christ?
Save yourself and us."
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,
"Have you no fear of God,
for you are subject to the same condemnation?
And indeed, we have been condemned justly,
for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,
but this man has done nothing criminal."
Then he said,
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
He replied to him,
"Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise."

Infinite Wisdom

The WORD today reminds me of God’s infinite wisdom.

There are prestigious award giving bodies in existence today. These institutions look for greatness before awarding people - either whose work has impacted a lot of people, or those who have discovered great things. We look up especially to those who discover things and answers that impact and help a lot of people. In the gospel, we see something similar happening to Jesus.

In the gospel, people were trying to trap and make fun Jesus. The Sadducees, who do not believe in the resurrection, presents Jesus with a hypothetical scenario. They want to prove a point that there really is no resurrection, as opposed to what Jesus was saying. They wanted to prove that there could possibly be no resurrection where a woman will be wife of seven men, because based on the law, that’s what was supposed to happen. That situation does not make sense. They also want to discredit Jesus from the increasing number of people who are beginning to take notice of him. They want to embarrass and humiliate Jesus. They thought they had Jesus cornered because they quoted the law which Jesus would not go against. They thought Jesus would not know the answer to their question, and people would see they they are smarter than Jesus. And they could prove the point that there really is no resurrection. We then see how great God is.

God's wisdom is infinite.

We see and realize that Jesus is really God in human form. We see his wisdom by his answer, answer that others could not think of or could not explain. Jesus tells them upfront that they are misled. They did not understand the resurrection. It is NOT a continuation of life on earth. In the resurrection, we will be like angels. We will be spiritual beings. We will not be bound by time and space. We will not have the human relationships we had here on earth. Yes there will be love, as God is love, but not earthly love.

Just as the Sadducees quoted Moses in their question, to prove his point and his wisdom, Jesus also quoted Moses in explaining and answering them. Some people believed at that time that immortality was connected with the existence of the physical body. Thus, the Sadducees did not believe that the patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob still exist or are immortal. Jesus quotes the Scripture – I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This means He is the Present and living God. And that these people are alive, that they are resurrected, thus the present tense. God did not say I WAS the God. I AM the God means HE is still alive until now, that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are also alive in their resurrection until now, and that he is the same God who guided Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

God is a God of the living, not of the dead. And he is alive until now.

We see how infinite God's wisdom is. In seemingly impossible situations, Jesus not not escapes, but glorifies God. He corrected the wrong notion of the sadducees, and explained how powerful and loving God is

God’s wisdom is infinite. In the first reading, we saw that King Antiochus may have had his way. It seems that he had his ways. However, God is wise, and his perfect time will come. His wisdom sees what is going to happen, so we just need to trust in Him.

We are asked to live a holy life not according to our standards and through our efforts, but through the grace of God. As we remember to live a life based on God’s grace, we will remember to give him back all the honor, glory and praise. We strengthen our faith not for our benefit, but for God’s work and his people, as we allow ourselves to be used by God to proclaim his kingdom. And that just as Jesus escaped the trap set by the Sadducees, we too can experience that if we remain close to God and bask in his word, presence and glory.

Do I believe that God is living and present here in this world? Am I living my life like he is present and living in me?  Do I always focus on Him, his love and power, as I work to give him glory and serve Him? How can I make God more alive and living to the people I interact with?

May we always remember that God is alive, and think of a way we can make him more alive through us today!

Father  God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another inspiring message. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you that you are a living God. Thank you that you are always with me during times of troubles and persecution. Lord, sorry for the times I forget. Sorry for doubting you. Help me remember your love and greatness especially when times are tough. you are there with me even if I don’t always feel it. May I never forget all that you have done for me and my loved ones.  May I always have that faith in you, and live my life in honor and glory of you – the one true living God. Help me build and work on my relationship with you. And  I ask that you use me to make your love more real and more alive to others. Amen.

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

November 23 2019

«

 November 22  |  November 24 »

Saturday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 502

Reading 1 1 MC 6:1-13

As King Antiochus was traversing the inland provinces,
he heard that in Persia there was a city called Elymais,
famous for its wealth in silver and gold,
and that its temple was very rich,
containing gold helmets, breastplates, and weapons
left there by Alexander, son of Philip,
king of Macedon, the first king of the Greeks.
He went therefore and tried to capture and pillage the city.
But he could not do so,
because his plan became known to the people of the city
who rose up in battle against him.
So he retreated and in great dismay withdrew from there
to return to Babylon.

While he was in Persia, a messenger brought him news
that the armies sent into the land of Judah had been put to flight;
that Lysias had gone at first with a strong army
and been driven back by the children of Israel;
that they had grown strong
by reason of the arms, men, and abundant possessions
taken from the armies they had destroyed;
that they had pulled down the Abomination
which he had built upon the altar in Jerusalem;
and that they had surrounded with high walls
both the sanctuary, as it had been before,
and his city of Beth-zur.

When the king heard this news,
he was struck with fear and very much shaken.
Sick with grief because his designs had failed, he took to his bed.
There he remained many days, overwhelmed with sorrow,
for he knew he was going to die.

So he called in all his Friends and said to them:
"Sleep has departed from my eyes,
for my heart is sinking with anxiety.
I said to myself: 'Into what tribulation have I come,
and in what floods of sorrow am I now!
Yet I was kindly and beloved in my rule.'
But I now recall the evils I did in Jerusalem,
when I carried away all the vessels of gold and silver
that were in it, and for no cause
gave orders that the inhabitants of Judah be destroyed.
I know that this is why these evils have overtaken me;
and now I am dying, in bitter grief, in a foreign land."

Responsorial Psalm PS 9:2-3, 4 AND 6, 16 AND 19

R. (see 16a) I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will declare all your wondrous deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, Most High.
R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.
Because my enemies are turned back,
overthrown and destroyed before you.
You rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
their name you blotted out forever and ever.
R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.
The nations are sunk in the pit they have made;
in the snare they set, their foot is caught.
For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
nor shall the hope of the afflicted forever perish.
R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.

Alleluia SEE 2 TM 1:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 20:27-40

Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,
came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying,
"Teacher, Moses wrote for us,
If someone's brother dies leaving a wife but no child,
his brother must take the wife
and raise up descendants for his brother.
Now there were seven brothers;
the first married a woman but died childless.
Then the second and the third married her,
and likewise all the seven died childless.
Finally the woman also died.
Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be?
For all seven had been married to her."
Jesus said to them,
"The children of this age marry and remarry;
but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age
and to the resurrection of the dead
neither marry nor are given in marriage.
They can no longer die,
for they are like angels;
and they are the children of God
because they are the ones who will rise.
That the dead will rise
even Moses made known in the passage about the bush,
when he called  'Lord'
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
and he is not God of the dead, but of the living,
for to him all are alive."
Some of the scribes said in reply,
"Teacher, you have answered well."
And they no longer dared to ask him anything.

Against God

The WORD today reminds me that no one can go against God.

I believe that everything that happens in this world is because of God, or if not directly because of him, happened with God’s permission. I am reminded of Job, the faithful servant who experienced probably every bad thing that can happen to a person. He was a loving servant, and he had blessings. However, everything was taken away from him except his life. When the devil wanted to try Job, he had to ask God’s permission to inflict pain and suffering. God agreed, knowing that Job is faithful – he just told the devil that he can do anything except to take Job’s life.

No one can fight God. No one can go against his plans and his timing.

In the gospel, we see again an account of Jesus driving away people in the temple. Of course, this insulted the religious authorities at that time – the Chief Priests, Scribes and Pharisees. They were insulted and challenged that they wanted to put Jesus to death. However, they could not do it because it was not yet God’s time for it. It was not yet in God’s plans to put Jesus to death. No matter how powerful they may be, they cannot go against God. This should remind us to have faith and trust in God, for other people, no matter how powerful they may be in this world, cannot stop God’s plans for you.

Sometimes we get intimidated with worldly power. People in power and authority do not always use their position in the proper way. We see a lot of abuse. And sometimes, we think that these people in power can hinder God from fulfilling his purpose and plans for us. Sometimes we feel that powerful people are the ones stopping our promotion, our career growth, or our plans for God’s kingdom.  They may have worldly power over these things, but we should remember that they do not have power over God. They can only do what God allows them to do. They can only influence things in the level approved and allowed by God. They cannot stop God’s plans from being fulfilled in our lives.

What are my concerns and fears in life? Am I afraid that people in this world are more powerful than God? Do I fear the power of other people? What is God telling me today?

May we be comforted by the fact that no one, no matter how powerful and influential they may be, can stop God’s plans from being fulfilled.

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 stressed with things of this world. Sorry for the times I get intimidated by people in power and authority. Sorry for the times I think that they are stopping your great plans from being fulfilled in my life. Sorry for forgetting that no one is more powerful than you. Help me to always be reminded of this. Nothing will happen without your permission, so I will continue to focus on you, continue to love you and continue to serve you for I have faith that in your perfect time, your great plans will come true in my life. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/03/who-can-stand-against.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/03/who-can-stand-against.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2012/07/in-his-time.html

Daily Readings

November 22 2019

« November 21  |  November 23 »

Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr
Lectionary: 501

Reading 1 1 MC 4:36-37, 52-59

Judas and his brothers said,
"Now that our enemies have been crushed,
let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it."
So the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion.

Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month,
that is, the month of Chislev,
in the year one hundred and forty-eight,
they arose and offered sacrifice according to the law
on the new altar of burnt offerings that they had made.
On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had defiled it,
on that very day it was reconsecrated
with songs, harps, flutes, and cymbals.
All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven,
who had given them success.

For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar
and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices
of deliverance and praise.
They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns and shields;
they repaired the gates and the priests' chambers
and furnished them with doors.
There was great joy among the people
now that the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed.
Then Judas and his brothers and the entire congregation of Israel
decreed that the days of the dedication of the altar
should be observed with joy and gladness
on the anniversary every year for eight days,
from the twenty-fifth day of the month Chislev.

Responsorial Psalm 1 CHRONICLES 29:10BCD, 11ABC, 11D-12A, 12BCD

R.(13b) We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
"Blessed may you be, O LORD,
God of Israel our father,
from eternity to eternity."
R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
"Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory.
For all in heaven and on earth is yours."
R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
"Yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty;
you are exalted as head over all.
Riches and honor are from you."
R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
"You have dominion over all,
In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all."
R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.

Alleluia JN 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 19:45-48

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out
those who were selling things, saying to them,
"It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer,
but you have made it a den of thieves."
And every day he was teaching in the temple area.
The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile,
were seeking to put him to death,
but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose
because all the people were hanging on his words.

Just Fury

The WORD today reminds me that evil in this world should anger and move me into action.

Two weeks ago, on November 9, we saw how Jesus got mad at the people disrespecting God’s temple. This moved him into anger, into destroying things in the temple. Today, we see someone doing something similar.

In the first reading, we see the just fury of Mattathias. He was firm in faith in the face of powerful people asking him to change and go against God in favor of the king. He was not enticed with worldly rewards. And Eventually his zeal and just fury led him to kill a traitor in faith, as well as the king’s messenger. He eventually invited others who have the same stand in the faith to join him in the desert and live there, leaving all possessions in the city.

This reminds me again that we should act against the evils of this world.

God wants us to do something. We are God’s hands in this world. We are warm bodies that can do something to make things better. It is easy to find fault or point out the evil and injustices. It is easy to complain. However, doing something concrete about it is not easy. It is something not everyone does. But it is something God wants us to do.

However, we should balance things. Evil should not be fought with evil. Mattathias did something extreme by killing people, but we need not do something that extreme or drastic. God placed us where we are for a reason, and we should be able to do good wherever we are, even in our own simple way.

Do I love God only when it is comfortable and easy, or do I love him even when things are challenging? What is he reminding me today? How can I live my faith?

May we be challenged to act and do something against the evil in this world.

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 complain and do nothing about it. Sorry for the times I just find fault, but fail to do something to improve it. Help me become the person you want me to be. Stir in me zeal for you. stir in me just fury, that I may do something concrete about things instead of just complaining. May my actions, no matter how small they may be, make the situation better through your grace. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflection:

https://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2018/11/unrecognized.html

Daily Readings

November 21 2019

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 November 20  |  November 22 »

Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lectionary: 500

Reading 1 1 MC 2:15-29

The officers of the king in charge of enforcing the apostasy
came to the city of Modein to organize the sacrifices.
Many of Israel joined them,
but Mattathias and his sons gathered in a group apart.
Then the officers of the king addressed Mattathias:
"You are a leader, an honorable and great man in this city,
supported by sons and kin.
Come now, be the first to obey the king's command,
as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah
and those who are left in Jerusalem have done.
Then you and your sons shall be numbered among the King's Friends,
and shall be enriched with silver and gold and many gifts."
But Mattathias answered in a loud voice:
"Although all the Gentiles in the king's realm obey him,
so that each forsakes the religion of his fathers
and consents to the king's orders,
yet I and my sons and my kin
will keep to the covenant of our fathers.
God forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments.
We will not obey the words of the king
nor depart from our religion in the slightest degree."

As he finished saying these words,
a certain Jew came forward in the sight of all
to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein
according to the king's order.
When Mattathias saw him, he was filled with zeal;
his heart was moved and his just fury was aroused;
he sprang forward and killed him upon the altar.
At the same time, he also killed the messenger of the king
who was forcing them to sacrifice,
and he tore down the altar.
Thus he showed his zeal for the law,
just as Phinehas did with Zimri, son of Salu.

Then Mattathias went through the city shouting,
"Let everyone who is zealous for the law
and who stands by the covenant follow after me!"
Thereupon he fled to the mountains with his sons,
leaving behind in the city all their possessions.
Many who sought to live according to righteousness and religious custom
went out into the desert to settle there.

Responsorial Psalm PS 50:1B-2, 5-6, 14-15

R.(23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth,
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
and fulfill your vows to the Most High;
Then call upon me in time of distress;
I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me."
R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

AlleluiaPS 95:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 19:41-44

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
"If this day you only knew what makes for peace–
but now it is hidden from your eyes.
For the days are coming upon you
when your enemies will raise a palisade against you;
they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.
They will smash you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave one stone upon another within you
because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."