Deepen that faith!


Thursday of week 1 in Ordinary Time, II


Mark 1:40-45

In spite of carrying the Ark of the Covenant as they used to do it in times of war, the Israelites lost to the Philistines heavily.

In the Gospel, after curing the leper, Jesus instructed him not to tell anyone; the man nevertheless told everyone.

The readings orient us to the proper way of serving the Lord.  First, let us respect the holy things of the Lord.  They are not for superstitious display; they are meant for us to be open to God's presence.

Second, Jesus wasn't prohibiting the leper just because he didn't want to announce the miracle; he invites the man to enter into a deeper reality of his healing - not just the curing of the disease but open to God's saving grace.

Third,  offering. What Jesus wants is offering as a fruit of healing.  Offering is the manifestation of a concrete faith by which we can declare that we are true Christians.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ngayon isasama kita sa paraiso

Sinambit na ni Kristo ang ikalawang huling salita, "Ngayon isasama kita sa paraiso." Sinabi niya ito sa rurok ng kanyang paghihirap, sa panahong pati ang salaring nasa kanyang kaliwa'y tinutuya siya, "iligtas mo ang iyong sarili pati na kami." Sa krus, nakita pa rin ni Hesus ang dalisay na puso ng kanyang kapwa, "Hindi ka ba nahihiya sa iyong sinabi.  tayo ay nagkasala, ngunit wala siyang kasalanan." Handa na yung isang salarin na siya maparusahan.  Ang tanging kanyang nasambit na lamang ay, "Panginoon, alalahanin mo na lamang ako sa iyong kaharian." May dalawang uri ng pagtugon sa Panginoon.  Yung isa'y nanunuya, nang-iinsulto, sakim, makasarili, namimilit na siya'y iligtas at pagaanin ang buhay, Kahit ang iba'y naghihirap, siya'y hindi. Yaong isa nama'y humigingi ng tawad, mapagkumbaba.  Doon sasabihin ni Hesus, "Ngayon, isasama kita sa paraiso." Yaong isa, naniniwala sa paraisong nilikha ng Diyos noo
Read more

Nag-uumapaw na pag-ibig ng Diyos

Image
Kabanal-banalang Puso ni Hesus John 19:31-37 Sa Dakilang Kapistahan ng Kabanal-banalang Puso ni Hesus, binubuksan tayo sa isang katotohanan na ang Diyos ay pag-ibig; hindi lamang ito pag-ibig sa nibel ng isipan kundi pag-ibig sa mismong nibel ng buhay, nanunuot, nagbabasbas, at namumunga rin ng wagas na pag-ibig. Mula sa unang pagbasa, sa aklat ni propeta Hosea, ang Israel ay tinuring niyang kanyang anak, pinalaya, pinalakad, at tinuruan.   Ngunit nagdurugo ang kanyang puso sa galit; hindi nakikinig and Israel.   Ano ang kanyang gagawin?  Hindi niya sisirain ang Ephraim.  Sapagkat siya'y Diyos, hindi tao. Ito ang pag-ibig ng Diyos: kung nakakaranas tayong magkasala, andyan siya upang tayo'y patawarin at patuloy na buhusan ng pag-ibig.  Ang tugon natin?  Paghingi ng tawad. Ikalawa, ang pag-ibig ng Diyos ay pinaapaw ng Espiritu Santo sa puso natin, kung kaya't nakikilala natin si Kristo at malaman ang kanyang pagliligtas.  Ang pag-ibig ng Diyos ay kasingtulad ni H
Read more

3 best ways to love God

Friday of the 3rd week of Lent Mark 12:28-34 God invites to a new life.  He calls us to forgiveness and conversion. However, we are not faithful to God.  We turn to our wealth, fame, and others for comfort and meaning.  These will not save us.  Only living in God would save us. When the good scribe affirmed Jesus' answer, he was truly speaking from his heart.  This is what it really means to be a good person: love God above all things and show that you mean it. So how do we show our love for God?  These three things are the consequences of God's love. First, We are led to love others with the love we treat ourselves.  All of us know what is good for us.  But to guide us toward the greater good, want we want should apply equally to what others want. Second, love others with the love God has for us.  Always bask in the sea of God's love.  How does God love?  Immerse in the stories of Jesus.  Ultimately, the more exposed we are to him, the more he changes our l
Read more