10th Sunday in Ordinary Time
10 June 2018
| Second reading 2 Corinthians 4:13–5:1 |
|---|
Just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture – “I believed, and so I spoke” – we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Jesus came to the house with his disciples; and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.”
He called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” – for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
He called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” – for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
By Bernard M. Borja
I have experienced working in a corporation, with a regular 8 hours, 5 days in a week. When I started, the workload seems light. As I grow in the company, my tasks and responsibilites
increased. There were times that I extended my working hours to finish some tasks. I even
brought home some of it just to meet a deadline.
I was raised well enough to know that having a job is very important. My father taught me to
value a job given. He always said that it is a life mission entrusted to us especially when it's
about working for something more valuable.
My father told me stories about his childhood and how he worked hard to support his own
education. It seems his life mission was entrusted to him early, that he grew up having that
principle of working hard for something valuable. I remember during my childhood, he spent
most of his time going to office for work. He always has the strength to work even on extended hours, and still gives time for us to spend with him on a Sunday. He has always inspired me to work hard for my dreams.
But there were times when he was criticized not only by other people in his work, but also by his relatives. People around him were saying that he's working greedily and that his strength is not going to last long. They kept telling him things which can discourage him and bend his
principles. Even us, his family, were trying to convince him to slow down. We were concerned about his health especially when we noticed he is working beyond hours, not being able to give more time for a vacation. But he was determined to go on and keep moving forward.
I realized that his strength and determination has always been about something he valued most - family. His life mission. One of the greatest things he has been working for all his life.
Jesus worked hard for the Church. He selflessly went beyond His comfort zone especially the time when He went home, but crowds gathered to hear His teachings. People around Him had different concerns and some are just trying to put Him down. Though different from the way the scribes want Jesus to slow down, His family's concern was about Him working beyond what's needed. They asked for Him because they were concerned that He might get physically drained doing His mission (especially when the crowd gathered and it was impossible for Him and His disciples to eat).
Hard work is what God has been doing ever since the beginning. And He does this, maybe even beyond what is needed, for our greater good. As we are created in His likeness, we too, have inherited this. Being in work mode almost all the time seems easier when we do it for something more valuable especially for our loved ones.
Prayer
I have experienced working in a corporation, with a regular 8 hours, 5 days in a week. When I started, the workload seems light. As I grow in the company, my tasks and responsibilites
increased. There were times that I extended my working hours to finish some tasks. I even
brought home some of it just to meet a deadline.
I was raised well enough to know that having a job is very important. My father taught me to
value a job given. He always said that it is a life mission entrusted to us especially when it's
about working for something more valuable.
My father told me stories about his childhood and how he worked hard to support his own
education. It seems his life mission was entrusted to him early, that he grew up having that
principle of working hard for something valuable. I remember during my childhood, he spent
most of his time going to office for work. He always has the strength to work even on extended hours, and still gives time for us to spend with him on a Sunday. He has always inspired me to work hard for my dreams.
But there were times when he was criticized not only by other people in his work, but also by his relatives. People around him were saying that he's working greedily and that his strength is not going to last long. They kept telling him things which can discourage him and bend his
principles. Even us, his family, were trying to convince him to slow down. We were concerned about his health especially when we noticed he is working beyond hours, not being able to give more time for a vacation. But he was determined to go on and keep moving forward.
I realized that his strength and determination has always been about something he valued most - family. His life mission. One of the greatest things he has been working for all his life.
Jesus worked hard for the Church. He selflessly went beyond His comfort zone especially the time when He went home, but crowds gathered to hear His teachings. People around Him had different concerns and some are just trying to put Him down. Though different from the way the scribes want Jesus to slow down, His family's concern was about Him working beyond what's needed. They asked for Him because they were concerned that He might get physically drained doing His mission (especially when the crowd gathered and it was impossible for Him and His disciples to eat).
Hard work is what God has been doing ever since the beginning. And He does this, maybe even beyond what is needed, for our greater good. As we are created in His likeness, we too, have inherited this. Being in work mode almost all the time seems easier when we do it for something more valuable especially for our loved ones.
Prayer
Dear Father,
Thank you for giving Your all for us to live life in full. We ask forgiveness for the times we do not value the blessings You have for us. May we learn to value our life mission and do it lovingly for the greater good. Send us Your Spirit and ignite our hearts to work hard and spread Your great love to others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Thank you for giving Your all for us to live life in full. We ask forgiveness for the times we do not value the blessings You have for us. May we learn to value our life mission and do it lovingly for the greater good. Send us Your Spirit and ignite our hearts to work hard and spread Your great love to others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Tell us what you feel...