November 26, 2014

The Gospel of Lk 21:12-19

         

      Reflection: 

      In today’s gospel Jesus teaches us how we face our challenges in life. as we live in the world, it is our responsibility to do something for betterment of one’s life. Jesus teaches us to trust in him that we can do something according to our talents and abilities. It is also a call for us that we should persevere in order to achieve our goal.  Sometimes our weaknesses hinder us but we should remember God entrusted each one of us a particular gift in order to nourish and development it. 

        Thus, If we work it out this gift as we live in the world, we are guaranteed that God will be satisfied in doing the best of what we can do for the life that is given to us

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"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

                                                                       -Martin Luther King, Jr.

November 25, 2014, tuesday

The Gospel of Luke 21:5-11

Reflection:

In today’s gospel Jesus teaches us how we live our lives at the present not what will happen tomorrow. The important thing here is how we can do the now because it will show us what will be our future. If we will not do our best in the present time, our goal in life will not be achieved. Sometimes our fear hinders us to continue our goal but we should remember that God is with us in everything that we do.

I would like to site a quote from the movie Kung Fu Panda.

It goes this way:

Po: Maybe I should just quit and go back to making noodles.

Oogway: Quit, don't quit? Noodles, don't noodles? You are too concerned about what was and what will be. There is a saying: yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present."

THE CARING WORD OF GOD

THE CARING WORD OF GOD

The apostolic exhortation of Pope Benedict XVI talks about how important is the Word of God to our everyday life. The Holy Father asserts that the Word of God must be treated full respect because it gave us the thoughts of God’s works throughout the history until the present time. It also shows how can we be closer to Him, and may enlighten us to encounter our different trials and difficulties.

Pope Benedict XVI wrote also this kind of exhortation because of the time that we are facing in the present time. Some of us are not conscious of the Word of God; they are just taken it for granted. They never think of how important the message of God is. Some of us ignore such Word of God because they have the lack of appreciation, and reverence to the Father. They ignore it because of different events that emerge in our society today such as the rise of technologies. The new age also affects the miss interpretation of the Word of God that’s why there are a lot of different religious sects in the present. Pope Benedict XVI wrote the possible solution in today’s problem that the church faces. One of this is through preaching the Word of God fervently and precise so that the people may fully understand it. The mission of the church is to elaborate each of the Word of God Carefully to value the good works of God. We all know that it takes time to understand the message but the important is that we gradually grasp the good deeds that are given, and to live it. The responsibility given by us from the Heavenly Father is in our hands to share the good works of Jesus Christ. Each one of us is entrusted to take it seriously so that we may not fear the threats that are ahead of us.

It is also written in the exhortation there must be an inter-religious dialogue to ensure that we are one even though we have different religion. For example here in the Philippines we have different religious sects but we must be able to connect to each other as one nation. It is also our duty as a Christian to share on what we have learned on what we believe to those people who doesn’t have faith in God.

The letter that I have read leads me to the reflection that I need to deepen my understanding about my faith because of the fears. The fear of what will happen to me in the future; the fear of what will I do for that situations; and the fear of what will they say about me. I felt this kind of feeling because I have the lack of trust to God. That’s why there is still continuous understanding about my faith to God, and I consider myself to listen more carefully the Word of God. The Word of God is really a tool which I can use for the betterment of my life. For example in the book of Job, Job didn’t let go his faith to God even though he suffers from different trials and difficulties that is given to him. Job has still the faith that he will be protected from all of the troubles that he encountered. The faith of God still remains in Job because he knows that God loves him.

The story of Job inspires me to continue my vocation to the Priesthood no matter what it takes. Though I have this anxiety, but I still have the courage that I can do my responsibilities. I will face the challenges that are given to me because God knows that I can do it. I may have downfalls in my experiences but I keep on standing up, and work it out again for the sake of my goal in life. I will just remember that God loves me as I am. The book of job is only one of the many teachings of the word of God that I have experienced. I have a lot more of the experiences that I have towards the Word of God. That’s why it is important that I need to listen the word of God because it teaches me how I may able to do my good deeds in life. It enables me also to remind that He is always besides me whenever I go. I just need to acknowledge Him that he is there helping me as I face our challenges. I just need to be silent for a while, and listen to God as he talks to me of what I can do for my life, and how can I handle it.

Therefore, God is alive, and He is always with me, and He never forgets me wherever I go.  Through the word of God that makes me remember that He is there present in me. I cannot see Him physically but I felt His never ending love to me. I need to give importance to the word of God, and to be conscious enough that I will not just listen to it but to do what is right to value it. I just need to contemplate of what I have heard or read so that I may deepen my faith, and know more about the God that I believed.