God's Message For You - 26 March 2019
Rey Dionela
READINGS for 2019-03-26
DidacheĀ |Ā CompanionĀ |Ā Sabbath
Ā SHARE THE LOVE Then Peter came to him and asked, āSir, how often should I forgive a brother who sins against me? Seven times?ā āNo!ā Jesus replied, āseventy times seven!ā ā Matthew 18:21-22 There was an elder in a community who was so holy and righteous, it was like everything he said was anointed by heaven. Everyone adored him because of his eloquence, wisdom, and charisma. Everything was heaven until Jack, a community member, was hired by the company this elder works for. Jack got the shock of his life when he witnessed his beloved elder act like Adolf Hitler, a real-life corporate dictator who talked down to his staff and always quarreled with others. Jackās faith was further shaken when he met another boss in the office who was a nonbeliever but was gentle, kind, understanding, empowering, and worked as a team player that everyone in the company loved. Sadly, this elder is a hypocrite who acts good in community but is evil elsewhere. If we donāt appreciate the mercy we receive from God and share this with others, we might end up like him. But take heart. Godās love is unlimited. His mercy will never run dry. Friend, whatever grace and love you receive from God, share it immediately with others. See how this will create a blessing cycle in your life.Ā JPaul Hernandez (jpa...@yahoo.com) Reflect:Ā Who are the three people in your life who need to experience Godās love through your kindness? Father, please increase my capacity to love so that I may reflect Your goodness to every person that I meet. Amen. Blessed Didacus of Cadiz, pray for us. |
1st READINGĀ The words of Daniel are prophetic. The Temple sacrifices have been taken away from the Jews because they have been exiled. So, Daniel speaks of the only sacrifice left to the peopleāthat of a contrite heart and humble spirit. Like Daniel, the Beatitudes speak of our hearts being surrendered to God andĀ His calling for us. As we reflect on Danielās words, let us discover what God is telling us. Daniel 3:25, 34-43 25Ā Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud:Ā 34Ā for your nameās sake, O Lord, do not deliver us up forever, or make void your covenant.Ā 35Ā Do not take away your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one,Ā 36Ā to whom you promised to multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the shore of the sea.Ā 37Ā For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins.Ā 38Ā We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no burntĀ offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you.Ā 39Ā But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received;Ā 40Ā as though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks,Ā or thousands of fat lambs, so let our sacrifice be in your presence todayĀ as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.Ā 41Ā And now we follow you with our whole heart, we fear you and we pray to you.Ā 42Ā Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy.Ā 43Ā Deliver us by your wonders, and bring glory to your name, O Lord.ā PSALM Psalm 25:4-5, 6, 7, 8, 9 R: Remember your mercies, O Lord. 4Ā Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths,5Ā guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.Ā (R)Ā 6Ā Remember that your compassion, O Lord, and your kindness are from of old.Ā 7Ā In your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord.Ā (R)Ā 8Ā Good and upright is the Lord; thus he shows sinners the way.Ā 9Ā He guides the humble to justice, he teaches theĀ humble his way.Ā (R)Ā GOSPELĀ Godās mercy and love are at their strongest when shared with others. We multiply blessings as we share themāthe more blessings we share, the more people we touch. If we overcome our selfishness, there would no longer be disparities of wealth, and the world would be a better place for us. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart; for I am gracious and merciful. Matthew 18:21-35 21Ā Peter approached Jesus and asked him, āLord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?āĀ 22Ā Jesus answered, āI say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.Ā 23Ā That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants.Ā 24Ā When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.Ā 25Ā Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt.Ā 26Ā At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, āBe patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.āĀ 27Ā Moved with compassion, the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.Ā 28Ā When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, āPay back what you owe.āĀ 29Ā Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, āBe patient with me, and I will pay you back.āĀ 30Ā But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt.Ā 31Ā Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair.Ā 32Ā His master summoned him and said to him, āYou wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.Ā 33Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?āĀ 34Ā Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt.Ā 35Ā So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.ā think:Ā āForgiveness is the final form of love.ā - Reinhold Niebuhr ______________________________Ā Ā ______________________________Ā Ā ______________________________Ā Ā Ā T O D A YāS BLESSING LISTĀ thank You, Lord, for:Ā ____________________Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Read the Bible in one year - Genesis 37-39Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā |
Ā UNLI-FORGIVENESS The āunliā culture in Philippine setting was set offĀ by the phenomenon of āunli-rice,ā started by a famous chain that offered mainly roasted chicken dishes. Soon, more than rice was offered on an unlimited basis. Today, the Gospel speaks of unli-forgiveness.Ā This was a far cry from whatāonce upon a timeāwas the cap to forgiving others who repeat the same offense: the cap of three times. Beyond three, one had the right to withhold forgiveness. Or so the rabbis of old thought. The Lord didnāt bat an eyelash answering Peterās question: āHow often must I forgive?ā Without hesitation, the Lord answered, āNot seven times, but seventy-seven times.ā In short, there was no cap. It was a case of unli-forgiveness, a boundless willingness to forgive oneās brother (or sister). Let us be honest. ItĀ flies in the face of earthly common sense and day-to-day experience. It is hard to ignore the way politicians ram down our throats their multiple agenda, always made to appear like the peopleās will. It is hard to loveālet alone forgiveāthose who consistently do us wrong or take advantage of us, or who continuously mislead us by doling out fake news, or by defending what is indefensible, simply because the dear leader has to be protected. It is hard to forgive those who have crossed us repeatedly, but who do not everĀ find it in their hearts to at least acknowledge their faults and wrongdoings. And in this age of runaway social media, populated by haters andĀ flamers, it is hard to forgive those who do rash judgment on us on the basis of one honest post, just because you donāt belong to the group associated with those in power, or those who want to get back once more in power. There is, to be honest, unli-hatred and non-acceptance in the world. Peopleās anger, especially in social media, seems to be limitless.Ā The Lord tells us in no uncertain terms how not to be co-opted by the mainstream. Go āunliā in terms of forgiveness.Ā Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB ------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS ------- Is there a person in your life who repeatedly does you wrong? What does todayās Gospel say to you? Just as You repeatedly forgive me of my transgressions, Lord, may IĀ find it in my heart to forgive others too. Amen. Today, I pray for: ______________________________ |