Readings from USCCB website
WE'RE ALMOST THERE!! How many times have we asked our parents that on a road trip. This is the week that we light the pink candle on the Advent Wreath and we are almost there. Remember to keep focus on the true meaning of this season of Advent but especially for the upcoming Christmas Season. It so easy for us to get wrapped up on the hustle and bustle of the worldly version of Christmas. But remember "Jesus IS the reason for the season"
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Reflection on Sunday Readings. 2nd Sunday of Advent. December 5, 2010
Readings from USCCB website
We are fastly approaching the Celebration of the birth of our Lord and we are reminded again this Sunday's Readings to "make straight the road". We are doing to prepare for Jesus to come again?
The second reading was particularly interesting to me. Romans 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.
Are we doing enought to welcome people like Christ welcomed us? Because we may be the only Jesus that person may ever see.
We are fastly approaching the Celebration of the birth of our Lord and we are reminded again this Sunday's Readings to "make straight the road". We are doing to prepare for Jesus to come again?
The second reading was particularly interesting to me. Romans 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.
Are we doing enought to welcome people like Christ welcomed us? Because we may be the only Jesus that person may ever see.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Reflection on Sunday Readings. 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time. November 14, 2010
Readings from the USCCB website
Have you ever look at current events and start to think that the end of the world is coming? This has crossed my mind many times. Sometimes through the natural disasters that have happened: Tsunami in Indonesia, Earthquake in Haiti, or Hurricane Katrina. Or maybe because of the recent wars: Iraq and Afghanistan. But it crosses my mind also in the way that our world has changed even my lifetime in regards to morality and the persecutions of even being Catholic these days. Could Jesus be coming again soon? Do I get scared when I think about. Of course. But I try not to let the fear overcome me and live for God everyday.
This Sundays readings talk about the end times and the fear that is associated with the end times. We are familiar with this fear especially when bad things happen in our lives, or when we are persecuted. We don't want to feel the pain and dispair ever again. So how do we overcome that fear and not let it control us? We do so by the way we live everyday. Even though we feel that we are being treated unjustly by following God. The Psalm this week is "The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice". And if we live our call to holiness everday we are confident that in his coming again that we will all be judged accordingly. If we claim to follow Jesus Christ, God will give every opportunity to do so. And the devil will take every opportunity to prevent you. So what are you going to do?
Have you ever look at current events and start to think that the end of the world is coming? This has crossed my mind many times. Sometimes through the natural disasters that have happened: Tsunami in Indonesia, Earthquake in Haiti, or Hurricane Katrina. Or maybe because of the recent wars: Iraq and Afghanistan. But it crosses my mind also in the way that our world has changed even my lifetime in regards to morality and the persecutions of even being Catholic these days. Could Jesus be coming again soon? Do I get scared when I think about. Of course. But I try not to let the fear overcome me and live for God everyday.
This Sundays readings talk about the end times and the fear that is associated with the end times. We are familiar with this fear especially when bad things happen in our lives, or when we are persecuted. We don't want to feel the pain and dispair ever again. So how do we overcome that fear and not let it control us? We do so by the way we live everyday. Even though we feel that we are being treated unjustly by following God. The Psalm this week is "The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice". And if we live our call to holiness everday we are confident that in his coming again that we will all be judged accordingly. If we claim to follow Jesus Christ, God will give every opportunity to do so. And the devil will take every opportunity to prevent you. So what are you going to do?
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Reflection on Sunday Readings - November 7, 2010. 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Readings from USCCB Website
We have three more weeks left in our church year which ends with the Feast of Christ the King. So next three's Sunday gospels has turned our focus back on the end times. In the first reading, a whole family would rather die than violate God's law. Sounds familiar in our world today. There are times where you might find yourself being persecuted for your faith. But there is something more in this world as God promises. Keep your eyes on God even though persecutions are not fun. He is the God of the living not of the dead.
We have three more weeks left in our church year which ends with the Feast of Christ the King. So next three's Sunday gospels has turned our focus back on the end times. In the first reading, a whole family would rather die than violate God's law. Sounds familiar in our world today. There are times where you might find yourself being persecuted for your faith. But there is something more in this world as God promises. Keep your eyes on God even though persecutions are not fun. He is the God of the living not of the dead.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Reflection Sunday Readings - 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time. October 31, 2010
Readings from the USCCB website
This is Sunday is Halloween, but actually it is the day before "All Saints Day" also known as "All Hallows Eve". This Sunday readings again show us that God is ever faithful and will not leave us even when we think that we are abandoned. He will not give up on us because He loves us. He is mercy filled. He comes back again and again to remind us that he will never give up on us, even when we have turned our backs on him.
The Gospel reading is a familiar one about Zacchaeus who a tax collector. He was so eager to see Jesus that he climbed up a sycamore tree. Jesus saw him and invited himself to his house and many of the people who witnessed it were upset because tax collectors were people who extorted money from people, and felt that Zacchaeus was not worthy enough to spend time with Jesus. But Jesus went anyways, and Zacchaeus repented to Jesus and offered to give half of his entire possessions to the poor and repay four times the amount to anyone he has wrongfully took money from. Jesus came to his house to save him.
If you have sinned, it is never too late to repent. Time and time again God will be there for us and always call upon us, even when we don't want to acknowledge him. Let us ask for help from the saints to help us to be "saint-like" and praise God for his faithfulness and love.
This is Sunday is Halloween, but actually it is the day before "All Saints Day" also known as "All Hallows Eve". This Sunday readings again show us that God is ever faithful and will not leave us even when we think that we are abandoned. He will not give up on us because He loves us. He is mercy filled. He comes back again and again to remind us that he will never give up on us, even when we have turned our backs on him.
The Gospel reading is a familiar one about Zacchaeus who a tax collector. He was so eager to see Jesus that he climbed up a sycamore tree. Jesus saw him and invited himself to his house and many of the people who witnessed it were upset because tax collectors were people who extorted money from people, and felt that Zacchaeus was not worthy enough to spend time with Jesus. But Jesus went anyways, and Zacchaeus repented to Jesus and offered to give half of his entire possessions to the poor and repay four times the amount to anyone he has wrongfully took money from. Jesus came to his house to save him.
If you have sinned, it is never too late to repent. Time and time again God will be there for us and always call upon us, even when we don't want to acknowledge him. Let us ask for help from the saints to help us to be "saint-like" and praise God for his faithfulness and love.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Reflection of Sunday Reading - October 24, 2010. 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Reading from USCCB Website
This weekend's Gospel reading is the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. The Pharisee went the temple and said a prayer to himself thanking God that he is not like the rest of humanity then went on to say a list of things he did good. Where as the tax collector humbly prayed to be merciful for he is a sinner. Humility is not putting ourselves down or letting other people step all over us. Humility is more about thinking of others than yourself. The second reading, St. Paul is at the end of his life and praising God for his life, and not listing all of the good things that he did. He recognizes that God was his strength through his journey and that he was an instrument of God. See this video
This weekend's Gospel reading is the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. The Pharisee went the temple and said a prayer to himself thanking God that he is not like the rest of humanity then went on to say a list of things he did good. Where as the tax collector humbly prayed to be merciful for he is a sinner. Humility is not putting ourselves down or letting other people step all over us. Humility is more about thinking of others than yourself. The second reading, St. Paul is at the end of his life and praising God for his life, and not listing all of the good things that he did. He recognizes that God was his strength through his journey and that he was an instrument of God. See this video
Monday, October 11, 2010
Reflection of Sunday Readings - October 17, 2010. 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Link to USCCB website for Readings
As humans we want things right here, right now. We want to answers quickly. We even want things in return for the things that we do. We want to be rewarded. This Sunday's reading tells about being persistence in our faith. Faith is about constant, steady, prayer. It's not a sprint it is a marathon. It is ok to go to God persistently as long as our hearts are pure.
I remember when I was a young adult and was so confused about where my life was and where it might be headed. Every time that I went to church, I would pray for the courage, patient, and guidance to follow "His Will", not "My Will". I would consistently pray that prayer and eventually my prayers were answered. At the time, I was afraid of where God would lead me. But when I finally understood the difference between "His Will" vs "My Will" in my life, I understood that where ever He led me, it would be right path. So now as an adult, I still pray that prayer, but with so much more openness and trust.
As humans we want things right here, right now. We want to answers quickly. We even want things in return for the things that we do. We want to be rewarded. This Sunday's reading tells about being persistence in our faith. Faith is about constant, steady, prayer. It's not a sprint it is a marathon. It is ok to go to God persistently as long as our hearts are pure.
I remember when I was a young adult and was so confused about where my life was and where it might be headed. Every time that I went to church, I would pray for the courage, patient, and guidance to follow "His Will", not "My Will". I would consistently pray that prayer and eventually my prayers were answered. At the time, I was afraid of where God would lead me. But when I finally understood the difference between "His Will" vs "My Will" in my life, I understood that where ever He led me, it would be right path. So now as an adult, I still pray that prayer, but with so much more openness and trust.
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