God's Message For You - 31 March 2019
Rey Dionela
READINGS for 2019-03-31
Fourth Sunday of Lent GOD’S EMISSARY We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors. – 2 Corinthians 5:20 It was a thing of the past. During the Friendster era and early Facebook stage, I was fond of posting my topless, nearly seductive photos online. More than 10 years ago, I was a hard-core narcissist, enjoying the “privilege” of self-expression without being responsible. Years later, I decided to follow Jesus sincerely. I now serve Him and lead the spiritual community I was called to belong and minister to. I’ve turned away from any remnants of my past. Not only did I make the effort to change my image online, I also strove to be the person God wants me to be in public and in private. I realized that to be a good Christian and an ambassador for Christ, I need to be reconciled with Him and change my ways. Because others will follow not what I say but what I do, I asked God to continue to transform me. Today, when I post on social media or when I meet people in person, I remind myself that I am God’s emissary here on earth. Therefore, I need to be responsible for my actions—both online and offline. Aben Garlan (ma...@abengarlan.com) Reflect: When you have interactions with people online or offline, do they see God in you? Father God, teach me to be responsible with my words and actions. May everything that I say and do reflect Your love for the people around me. Amen. St. Stephen of Mar Saba, pray for us.
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1st READING The wandering years of the Israelites in the desert is about to end. The punishment for their complaining and unfaithfulness is over, and the Lord makes a way for the people to enter the Promised Land. There are two accounts of the entry into Canaan—by force and by infiltration. Let us thank the Lord who is faithful to lead us to where we need to be. Joshua 5:9, 10-12 9 The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.” 10 While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth of the month. 11 On the day after the Passover, they ate of the produce of the land in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain. On that same day 12 after the Passover on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased. No longer was there manna for the Israelites, who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan. PSALM Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 R: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. 1 [2] I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 3 [4] Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. 4 [5] I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) 2nd READING Paul reminds the Corinthians that they are ambassadors for Christ and ministers of reconciliation. Every baptized person is called to these ministries. Let us always be witnesses and share the mercy of God with others. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 17 Brothers and sisters: Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. GOSPEL Jesus talks to anyone who is willing to listen. His spending time with tax collectors and sinners is scandalous in the eyes of the righteous Pharisees. However, the Good News of Salvation is for all, and Jesus makes sure that everyone hears it. Let us minister to all without exceptions. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION I will get up and go to my Father and shall say to him: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.” Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 1 The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, 2 but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So to them Jesus addressed this parable: 11 “A man had two sons, 12and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. 13 After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. 14 When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. 15So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. 16 And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave himany. 17 Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. 18 I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ 20So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filledwith compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ 22 But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. 25 Now the older son had been out in the field, and on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. 26 He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. 27 The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. 30 But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ 31 He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. 32But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’” think: Who are the people you avoid mingling with? Why? ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST thank You, Lord, for: ____________________
Read the Bible in one year - Exodus 4-6
My Monthly recollection
What were the most important words the Lord gave to me this month? 77 _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
What were my greatest blessings this month? _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
What are my most pressing needs for next month? _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ |
MERCY OVER JEALOUSY The context of today’s Gospel, a story told and re-told “seventy-times seven times,” is filled with clashing images. Publicans and sinners were attracted to the Lord. His call to self-giving and love softened even hardened sinners like them, and they approached the Lord. The Pharisees and scribes were there. They were green with envy and jealousy. They could not understand why Jesus rubbed shoulders with and even welcomed known sinners. Ah! Jealousy! The world is full of it. We all are guilty of it at some point in our lives. We cannot understand why some people always get a break while others seem to have more than their fair share of work, of woes, and worries. The machinery called jealousy is a well-oiled one. It was present in the Old Testament. It was operational during the times of the Lord. And the older brother in today’s parable was obviously stricken by the virus. He would hear nothing of the celebration. He wouldn’t even go inside the house to at least go through the motions and feign celebrating together with his father. I feel convicted. For truth to tell, I act at times like the envious Pharisees and scribes whose inability to tame their runaway egos end up doing the game called blame. Yes, it was the father’s fault. How could he not even give me a small cake to celebrate with friends, or at the very least a bottle of wine? How could he bend over backwards to welcome a brother who has totally betrayed his father’s trust and walked out of the house? And here I was sweating it out like mad, and trying with might and main to at least give the impression I was loyal to the family! How could I have been taken so much for granted all this time by my own father? The elder brother’s rants were valid. Every man has a right to his feelings, and feelings are neither right nor wrong. Something wrong made right? Nah! It is a story of mercy over jealousy! Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB ------- REFLECTION QUESTION ------- Is jealousy or envy eating you up right now? Ask God for the wisdom to see things from His perspective. You know my thoughts and my feelings, Lord. May mercy and love always reign in me. Amen. Today, I pray for: ____________________________ |