#biblereflections

[lifeundivided]

Lent Day 2 - 11 February 2016 In the Pope's Ash Wednesday homily (http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-commissions-missionaries-of-mercy-on-ash-wedn), he mentioned that the day’s readings present two invitations: 1. "To be reconciled to God"... by recognizing that we are in need of mercy. 2. “Return to me with your whole heart.” Sin keeps us far from God, but Jesus, the “story of salvation”, enables us return to Him. God truly works in amazing ways because the passage in my Discipleship study guide for today is also about two invitations! 😄🙌 (And I didn't connect it to the homily until just now, while thinking what to share) lol. See Luke 14:16-24. The Parable of the Great Feast. The host of the feast (God) sends out an invitation to his guests to come to the dinner. I read that in those times, the host would send out two invitations: 1) to invite the guests a few months in advance, then later 2) to inform them that the feast is ready. However, the invited guests last minute say that they have other things to do. Their excuses sound familiar... 1. Belongings / Ownership of material things / Financial matters 2. Food / Well-being / Jobs 3. Family matters / People / Other responsibilities They don't care / respect the host. God invites all to come to him but are we also pre-occupied with other things? The host was angry at their rejection.. He prepared a place for them but they didn't bother to come. He asks his servant to gather the poor, crippled, blind and lame, and compel others to come instead. The bible uses the word 'compel', not 'ask' or 'invite'. To compel is to strongly urge. How amazing is our God that He pursues us continuously although He knows we cannot repay him! The passage shows that the host is not satisfied with a partially full banquet hall. He wants every place at the table to be filled. I'm so very overwhelmed by God's great love for us. See how willing He is to save sinners! So God sends us two invitations: 1. To acknowledge sin and accept His mercy. 2. To return to God with your whole heart. Will you answer God's invitation?

[jiaofelia]

Vessel of Love

I'm called for the great commission: To spread the LOVE.

It is for me to be an instrument of God. To be an angel to other people. To proclaim His love.

It is not clear how I am going to do it. All I know is, God loves me. He makes me happy.

And I have to "infect" everybody with that unshakeable happiness.

How should I do that?

No to bad vibes. Share the joy among may fellow family, friends, acquaintances and even netizens. Sharing a gentle smile to strangers in the elevator might be a good start. ;)

How will you share God's love? :)

Lord, help me be sensitive to you so I'll be always reminded of Your love and to do what I can to share to others this great love. <3

[jiaofelia]

Love

“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

Being in love is not a bed of roses.

It is an overwhelming task to do.

Loving all your might. Loving by sacrificing your own selfish wants. Loving by helping and reaching out to others. Loving by being a good servant.

My marriage, my chosen vocation is teaching me that. I survive each day with His love supplying in me for this is a task He wants me to do.

God is love. He loves us no matter what.

He deserves more love than we can offer. Though our love for Him might seem enormous to us but looks like a crumb compared to His love, He will surely appreciate it.

How will you love Thee? :)

Lord, i love you so much. <3

[jiaofelia]

Mustard Seed

"..faith the size of a mustard seed.." Luke 17:6

It is one of those tiny seeds that grows into something big. 

Simple as it is, we find it fascinating and truly inspiring from stories we hear from our elders and to watching talent shows. We love stories about an ordinary to something extraordinary. 

The "it" factor is there in each and everyone of us. All it takes is cultivating it. 

Water it. Fertilize it. Protect it. Let it grow.

This means, focus. Anything you do should contribute to its growth. Remove the pests of sin. 

When it grows with fruits, it is something you can share to others as well. Plant a mustard seed of faith into them. 

How will you increase your faith? :)

Lord, let this faith grow more so I can share it to others. <3

[jiaofelia]

Labels

"..for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.." Luke 10:21

We like rules. Theories. Standards. Regulations. Policies. Subjects. And so on.

We like labels.

We created labels for us to understand and conquer because we want to make the unknown be known.

This also makes our world small & limited which makes the most mysterious things be more mysterious.

We have the God of the entire universe.

He reveals His wisdom to the childlike. He perfectly associate the trait with a child for a child is not bombarded with labels.

Sticking to labels, our own understanding, will only leave us frustrated.

But letting God's mystery humbly unfold would do otherwise. 

What should you do to be more understanding? :)

Lord, sustain in me the childlike wisdom to understand the things I cannot understand. <3

[jiaofelia]

Milk & honey

"..to give us the land flowing with milk and honey.." Baruch 1:20

I was hurt. I've been betrayed. I suffered. My expectations weren't met.

It is like tasting a very bitter, spicy, slimy concoction and your body likes to vomit it out. It is hard to take in.

Instead of being angry and unforgiving, I felt love and compassion. Instead of being vengeful and expressing my emotions further, I offered my love and tried to help this person to get back on track again.

For I am no different.

We are all sinful in nature. Though we don't deserve it, God's promise remains: He will give us the land flowing with milk and honey.

Only unstoppable love can change us anew. The people who are hardest to love are the ones who need it the most.

I love milk & honey. It is like love. It is a comforting beverage for me to mask out all the awful taste.

How will you handle a person who sinned against you? :)

Lord, give me the love & grace to forgive. <3

[jiaofelia]

Present

"..eat what is set before you," Luke 10:8

Past haunts us and the future gives us fears. Or rather, the past is our comfort zone and the future have our dreams.

We think what was and what will are overwhelming that we forget what is at hand. 

There are times that I have feelings of discontentment with what I have right now. I want to be back in the comforts of our home in Philippines, building up my dream restaurant. But I can't. I have to be in Singapore to work in the academe and accompany my husband in his graduate studies.

This is my present. And I can see it as a blessing. He is telling me that this is my time to do adjustments in my marriage, support my husband, learn from my current job, and be a servant in a church community here.

In whatever state we are in right now, this is our wheels to leave the past behind and to move on to the future.

We can't hide the fact that changes are challenging. But this is for the better. 

When we joyfully consume every bit of it, the journey is worthwhile. And you know for sure that God's mission in your life is being accomplished.

Are you grateful for your present situation? :)

Lord, give me the grace to savor the things you've blessed me with right now. <3

[jiaofelia]

Follow

"Follow me" Luke 9:59

Jesus is very straightforward.

He commanded us to follow Him. Period. 

And it means sacrificing our wants or what we think or feel like doing first. It is would be difficult. But He supplied us with love that will get us going all the way.

May we offer our whole lives to Him. 

How will you follow Him? :)

Lord, lead me to Your path <3