First Reading: IS 49:14-15
Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me; my LORD has forgotten me." Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 62:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
Second Reading: 1 COR 4:1-5
Brothers and sisters:
Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal; I do not even pass judgment on myself; I am not conscious of anything against me, but I do not thereby stand acquitted; the one who judges me is the Lord. Therefore do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God.
Gospel: MT 6:24-34
Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a Jesus said to his disciples: "No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?'or 'What are we to wear?'
All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."
Reflection
By Bernard M. Borja
A short story about "amusing assumptions":
Boy (texting a girl she got introduced with): Hi there :) I hope we can be friends.
Girl: Friends? Tapos mag-uusap tayo lagi? Tapos lalabas tayo at magkasama tayo gagawa ng masasayang bagay? Tapos magugustuhan kita? Tapos mahuhulog loob ko sa 'yo? Tapos aamin ako na mahal kita? Tapos sasabihin mo friend mo lang ako? And then I'll be broken hearted? Tapos iiwas ka na? And I will be depressed? Kasi hindi ko kayang mawala ka? Tapos mapapariwara na ako? At hindi ko na malalaman kung ano gagawin ko sa buhay ko? Iisipin ko wala na magmamahal sakin? Tapos gugustuhin ko na lang mawala sa mundo? Hmm... No, thanks! We cannot be friends.
Boy: ...
***
Another short story about "preparation":
A young man received an email message from a wealthy businessman who offers him an exclusive training about building a business and a partnership after the training. The young man immediately gets a paper and a pen, lists all that he will do, and began thinking for the next three days about what could happen if he fails during the training. A lot of questions sprouted from his mind that eventually made him worried than being excited. On the fourth day, he has finished listing all that he needed to be prepared. As he felt confident that he is now ready for the training, he called the businessman who offered him the training and partnership, only to find out that the offer has expired a day before. It says in the message to reply within three days to confirm.
***
There are events in our life that greatly affect us even though it did not really happen. It could have a good or bad impact depending on how we expected it to be. Expecting to be successful in career, which may motivate a person to strive more to achieve a certain goal, can make him/her better. The same way that expecting to be loved in return of loving a person so much may lead to a broken heart.
The mysteries of tomorrow have always held us to trust that something good will happen or worry that it might be a difficult future. In trusting, we believe that we are on our way to a brighter day. It gives us a feeling of joy that reinforces our faith, knowing that everything will be alright. In worrying, we are often looking at ourselves going on a different path that may lead us to harm. Whenever we trust, we are actually preparing ourselves to become better because this brighter vision gives us strength. Whenever we worry, we are putting unnecessary stress in our heart and mind, by expecting an ill outcome, which drains our strength even before that situation happens (and most of the time never really happens).
You may already have heard of a man who came across with the angel of death on his way home. When the angel of death saw the man, he told him, "I will take 10 lives in this village tonight." The man was so scared that he ran into the village and told every single household what the angel of death told him. The villagers were so scared and they locked their doors for the night to pass. When dawn came, the man learned that 50 people died in his village. He ran outside and saw the angel of death about to leave the village. The man shouted, "You deceived us! You said you will only take 10 lives! But 50 people died last night!" The angel of death shook his head and told the man, "I only took 10. The other 40 died of worrying."
Most of us want to be in control of everything that happens to us. We strongly stick to our plans and to whatever we expect to happen. It is right that we need to have plans for the future. But oftentimes, we just focus on these plans and we just expect things to be like how we wanted it. In this way, we are not able to open our hearts to God's surprises. And as hurting as we may realize, we do not trust God that He really provides everything we need. That He always answers our prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread." and He never fails to do so.
***
One last story
A group of friends went out for a lunch,
Friend 1: Saan tayo kakain?
Friend 2: Kayo?
Friend 3: Kahit saan...
Friend 1: Saan nga?
Friend 4: Kung saan masarap.
Friend 5: Kayo na bahala...
End of story
--- In this story, they are not really worried if they have something to eat. But this is just an example of "multiplied worries" that sometimes lead to hunger even though provisions are already there.
By Bernard M. Borja
A short story about "amusing assumptions":
Boy (texting a girl she got introduced with): Hi there :) I hope we can be friends.
Girl: Friends? Tapos mag-uusap tayo lagi? Tapos lalabas tayo at magkasama tayo gagawa ng masasayang bagay? Tapos magugustuhan kita? Tapos mahuhulog loob ko sa 'yo? Tapos aamin ako na mahal kita? Tapos sasabihin mo friend mo lang ako? And then I'll be broken hearted? Tapos iiwas ka na? And I will be depressed? Kasi hindi ko kayang mawala ka? Tapos mapapariwara na ako? At hindi ko na malalaman kung ano gagawin ko sa buhay ko? Iisipin ko wala na magmamahal sakin? Tapos gugustuhin ko na lang mawala sa mundo? Hmm... No, thanks! We cannot be friends.
Boy: ...
***
Another short story about "preparation":
A young man received an email message from a wealthy businessman who offers him an exclusive training about building a business and a partnership after the training. The young man immediately gets a paper and a pen, lists all that he will do, and began thinking for the next three days about what could happen if he fails during the training. A lot of questions sprouted from his mind that eventually made him worried than being excited. On the fourth day, he has finished listing all that he needed to be prepared. As he felt confident that he is now ready for the training, he called the businessman who offered him the training and partnership, only to find out that the offer has expired a day before. It says in the message to reply within three days to confirm.
***
There are events in our life that greatly affect us even though it did not really happen. It could have a good or bad impact depending on how we expected it to be. Expecting to be successful in career, which may motivate a person to strive more to achieve a certain goal, can make him/her better. The same way that expecting to be loved in return of loving a person so much may lead to a broken heart.
The mysteries of tomorrow have always held us to trust that something good will happen or worry that it might be a difficult future. In trusting, we believe that we are on our way to a brighter day. It gives us a feeling of joy that reinforces our faith, knowing that everything will be alright. In worrying, we are often looking at ourselves going on a different path that may lead us to harm. Whenever we trust, we are actually preparing ourselves to become better because this brighter vision gives us strength. Whenever we worry, we are putting unnecessary stress in our heart and mind, by expecting an ill outcome, which drains our strength even before that situation happens (and most of the time never really happens).
You may already have heard of a man who came across with the angel of death on his way home. When the angel of death saw the man, he told him, "I will take 10 lives in this village tonight." The man was so scared that he ran into the village and told every single household what the angel of death told him. The villagers were so scared and they locked their doors for the night to pass. When dawn came, the man learned that 50 people died in his village. He ran outside and saw the angel of death about to leave the village. The man shouted, "You deceived us! You said you will only take 10 lives! But 50 people died last night!" The angel of death shook his head and told the man, "I only took 10. The other 40 died of worrying."
Most of us want to be in control of everything that happens to us. We strongly stick to our plans and to whatever we expect to happen. It is right that we need to have plans for the future. But oftentimes, we just focus on these plans and we just expect things to be like how we wanted it. In this way, we are not able to open our hearts to God's surprises. And as hurting as we may realize, we do not trust God that He really provides everything we need. That He always answers our prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread." and He never fails to do so.
***
One last story
A group of friends went out for a lunch,
Friend 1: Saan tayo kakain?
Friend 2: Kayo?
Friend 3: Kahit saan...
Friend 1: Saan nga?
Friend 4: Kung saan masarap.
Friend 5: Kayo na bahala...
End of story
--- In this story, they are not really worried if they have something to eat. But this is just an example of "multiplied worries" that sometimes lead to hunger even though provisions are already there.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, Thank You for reminding us to trust in the provisions of Our Father. That He already knows and provides everything we need. We are sorry for expecting more than we should have and worrying about what tomorrow could bring. Teach us to be more trusting that we may see that You alone are enough for us. That in You alone, we can go on and live our life to the fullest. Amen.
Dear Jesus, Thank You for reminding us to trust in the provisions of Our Father. That He already knows and provides everything we need. We are sorry for expecting more than we should have and worrying about what tomorrow could bring. Teach us to be more trusting that we may see that You alone are enough for us. That in You alone, we can go on and live our life to the fullest. Amen.
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