October 12, 2010
Dear Kristina,
When you give, it must hurt you. When you give, it must shake you up. When
you give, it must disturb your existence. When you give, it must wake you
up from your complacency. When you give, it must rock you so much, it
creates a hunger in you to keep on gaining what you have given so that you
can keep on giving.
Blessings,
God
P.S. Kristina, that is why this pain heals. This pain gives joy. This pain
blesses you.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Be Motivated By Your Strengths
Dear Kristina,
Be motivated by your strengths, not by your weaknesses. Be motivated by your loves, not by your fears.
Have a blast,
God
P.S. Kristina, if you're driven by your weaknesses and fears, you can still succeed, but you will end up angry, lonely and fearful at the top of the mountain. That's not you. Because that's not me, Kristina.
Have a blast,
God
P.S. Kristina, if you're driven by your weaknesses and fears, you can still succeed, but you will end up angry, lonely and fearful at the top of the mountain. That's not you. Because that's not me, Kristina.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Today's Gospel: Whatever you need to do to grow in faith, start doing it now.
G O S P E L
This parable not only challenges us to ensure that we express gratitude for the goodness of God towards us, but it also reminds us that so often in the past, it is foreigners that have shown the way for those who are supposed to be the people of faith. It is shameful that this is the case as it is men and women of faith who ought to be the example for the foreigner — the one who supposedly has no faith. At least he has manners, which is more than can be said for the other nine.
Luke 17:11-19
11 As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him 13 and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” 14 And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; 16 and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? 18 Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” 19 Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”
my reflections
t h i n k : Whatever you need to do to grow in faith, start doing it now.
This parable not only challenges us to ensure that we express gratitude for the goodness of God towards us, but it also reminds us that so often in the past, it is foreigners that have shown the way for those who are supposed to be the people of faith. It is shameful that this is the case as it is men and women of faith who ought to be the example for the foreigner — the one who supposedly has no faith. At least he has manners, which is more than can be said for the other nine.
Luke 17:11-19
11 As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him 13 and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” 14 And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; 16 and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? 18 Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” 19 Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”
my reflections
t h i n k : Whatever you need to do to grow in faith, start doing it now.
Today's Psalm: God Reveals His Saving Power
P S A L M
Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
R: The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) 2 The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. 3 He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. (R) All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. 4 Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. (R)
Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
R: The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) 2 The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. 3 He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. (R) All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. 4 Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. (R)
ARE YOU A LEPER?
One of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice. – Luke 17:15
Lepers were outcasts. They were treated as foremost sinners, manifestations of which were obvious on their skin. Today’s “spiritual lepers” don’t stand at a distance. They mingle with people and appear normal. Yet inside they’re the ones decaying with compounded sins and feelings of emptiness. The symptoms? Let’s spell out L-E-P-E-R:
L-ust satisfies the cravings of the body, both food and sexual, leading to poor health and at worst depression.
E-nvy desires what others have while ignoring what one has. Shakespeare coined the expression “green-with-envy” because this tarnishes one’s soul with insatiable want.
P-ride makes people oblivious of others. They deprive themselves of authentic joy earned through service.
E-nticements create the saddest people who can only afford the costly things. Real happiness is both costless and priceless.
R-esentment accounts for the things that hurt and brings on physical maladies. The saying is true: the best cure is forgiveness.
Are you a LEPER? What’s your symptom? Avail of God’s healing mercy and grace. Obet Cabrillas (kpreacherobet@gmail.com)
REFLECTION:
What symptoms of sinfulness do I feel right now? It might be time to approach the throne of grace.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, and deliver me from the roots of decay inside me.
Lepers were outcasts. They were treated as foremost sinners, manifestations of which were obvious on their skin. Today’s “spiritual lepers” don’t stand at a distance. They mingle with people and appear normal. Yet inside they’re the ones decaying with compounded sins and feelings of emptiness. The symptoms? Let’s spell out L-E-P-E-R:
L-ust satisfies the cravings of the body, both food and sexual, leading to poor health and at worst depression.
E-nvy desires what others have while ignoring what one has. Shakespeare coined the expression “green-with-envy” because this tarnishes one’s soul with insatiable want.
P-ride makes people oblivious of others. They deprive themselves of authentic joy earned through service.
E-nticements create the saddest people who can only afford the costly things. Real happiness is both costless and priceless.
R-esentment accounts for the things that hurt and brings on physical maladies. The saying is true: the best cure is forgiveness.
Are you a LEPER? What’s your symptom? Avail of God’s healing mercy and grace. Obet Cabrillas (kpreacherobet@gmail.com)
REFLECTION:
What symptoms of sinfulness do I feel right now? It might be time to approach the throne of grace.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, and deliver me from the roots of decay inside me.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Unsatisfied Desires Can Bring Change
Dear Kristina,
Are you unsatisfied? That's a gift. Because only unsatisfied desires can stir you to change.
Disturbing you,
God
P.S. Find out why you're unsatisfied. I'm certain it will lead you to me, Kristina.
Are you unsatisfied? That's a gift. Because only unsatisfied desires can stir you to change.
Disturbing you,
God
P.S. Find out why you're unsatisfied. I'm certain it will lead you to me, Kristina.
Things I Didn't Know About Spiritual Hypothermia
October 9, 2010
Dear Kristina,
Some people have spiritual hypothermia. They’ve become so comfortable in
life, they’ve become soft. They’ve become lax. They’ve become sleepy. And
their life has become meaningless. They have no more burning dreams in
their lives. And they’ve started to die a slow death.
Not about you,
God
P.S. Keep awake, Kristina.
Dear Kristina,
Some people have spiritual hypothermia. They’ve become so comfortable in
life, they’ve become soft. They’ve become lax. They’ve become sleepy. And
their life has become meaningless. They have no more burning dreams in
their lives. And they’ve started to die a slow death.
Not about you,
God
P.S. Keep awake, Kristina.
You're Always A Winner - Just Face Your Fears
Dear Kristina,
What are you afraid of? Unless you face your fears, you will never defeat the imaginary monsters in your head. So go. Take that step. Push through it.
I'll never leave you,
God
P.S. When you face your fears, even if you fail, you've won. Your monsters have been defanged. The road is now clear to try again. In my heart, you're always a winner, Kristina.
Thank You God. Amen.
What are you afraid of? Unless you face your fears, you will never defeat the imaginary monsters in your head. So go. Take that step. Push through it.
I'll never leave you,
God
P.S. When you face your fears, even if you fail, you've won. Your monsters have been defanged. The road is now clear to try again. In my heart, you're always a winner, Kristina.
Thank You God. Amen.
GOD’S GOOD HANDS
Jesus always has a surprise coming for those who follow Him. In the Gospel today, they thought they had already grasped fully the person of Jesus by praising the womb that carried Him. But Jesus would always raise it to the highest level. Not that He disregarded the praise given to His mother, but He wanted His disciples to realize that blessedness is not determined by biological relations.
“Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and live it.” In the Beatitudes, Jesus enumerated who are blessed. The common idea of being blessed is to possess riches, power, authority and other things that are treasured in this world. Unfortunate is one who is wanting of those things. But the Lord Jesus corrects that idea. To be blessed is to be a listener and follower of the Word of God. The blessedness is not in one’s status but in how it is lived. If you are poor because of your faithfulness to God (not wanting to acquire riches by stealing, deceiving, or killing), you are blessed. Just the same, if you are rich, happy, free and popular, you can be blessed if you attained your status as a result of living your faith well.
Therefore, we cannot simply be comfortable with the sacraments we receive. Together with those sacraments are the graces that will help us become sanctified — the tasks to live them. One who receives the forgiveness of God in the sacrament of reconciliation must try hard not to sin anymore and prove to God that he is worthy of forgiveness. A participant in the Eucharist must be aware of the presence of Christ in his life when he receives the Lord in communion. The sacrament of marriage makes the couple a witness to the love of Jesus for the Church and vice versa. Depending on the graces of the sacraments, the baptized Christian is expected to live them and not just be contented with having received them, and await them to magically transform him. Let us live up to being called Christians (followers of Christ). Following Him can only happen when we have heard, understood and lived His Word. No matter how difficult it can be at times, our best move is still to follow it. And in doing so, we will be in the best of hands — the hands of God. Fr. Benny Tuazon
Reflection Question:
How much do you trust God especially in difficult situations? Do you rely on His Word? Do you see yourself in His good hands?
I thank You, Lord, for keeping me in the palm of Your hands. Guide me thay I may be worthy to be called Your follower. Amen.
St. Louis Bertrand, pray for us.
Source: Today's Gospel Reflections c/o KerygmaFamily at http://kerygmafamily.com/
“Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and live it.” In the Beatitudes, Jesus enumerated who are blessed. The common idea of being blessed is to possess riches, power, authority and other things that are treasured in this world. Unfortunate is one who is wanting of those things. But the Lord Jesus corrects that idea. To be blessed is to be a listener and follower of the Word of God. The blessedness is not in one’s status but in how it is lived. If you are poor because of your faithfulness to God (not wanting to acquire riches by stealing, deceiving, or killing), you are blessed. Just the same, if you are rich, happy, free and popular, you can be blessed if you attained your status as a result of living your faith well.
Therefore, we cannot simply be comfortable with the sacraments we receive. Together with those sacraments are the graces that will help us become sanctified — the tasks to live them. One who receives the forgiveness of God in the sacrament of reconciliation must try hard not to sin anymore and prove to God that he is worthy of forgiveness. A participant in the Eucharist must be aware of the presence of Christ in his life when he receives the Lord in communion. The sacrament of marriage makes the couple a witness to the love of Jesus for the Church and vice versa. Depending on the graces of the sacraments, the baptized Christian is expected to live them and not just be contented with having received them, and await them to magically transform him. Let us live up to being called Christians (followers of Christ). Following Him can only happen when we have heard, understood and lived His Word. No matter how difficult it can be at times, our best move is still to follow it. And in doing so, we will be in the best of hands — the hands of God. Fr. Benny Tuazon
Reflection Question:
How much do you trust God especially in difficult situations? Do you rely on His Word? Do you see yourself in His good hands?
I thank You, Lord, for keeping me in the palm of Your hands. Guide me thay I may be worthy to be called Your follower. Amen.
St. Louis Bertrand, pray for us.
Source: Today's Gospel Reflections c/o KerygmaFamily at http://kerygmafamily.com/
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