In your sight, Lord, the whole world is like a grain of dust that tips the scales, like a drop of morning dew falling on the ground. Yet you are merciful to all, because you can do all things and overlook men’s sins so that they can repent. Yes, you love all that exists, you hold nothing of what made in abhorrence, for had you hated anything, you would not have formed it. And how, had you not willed it, could a thing persist, how be conserved if not called forth by you? You spare all things because all things are yours, Lord, lover of life, you whose imperishable sprit is in all. Little by little, therefore, you correct those who offend, you admonish and remind them of how they have sinned so that they may abstain from evil and trust in you Lord.
We always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.
Second reading 2 Thessalonians 1:11–2:2
As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
Reflection
By Anabelle P. Balla
“Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus.”
Jesus, allow us to be in your presence and see your face.
What is your favorite picture of Jesus?
How do you imagine His face when you talk to Him in prayers?
What do you see in His eyes when He looks at you?
Deep within, I can feel eagerness to see the face of Jesus, to talk to Him. My heart yearns to be with Him, to be in His presence. I set aside time to pray every day, in the morning and in the evening. However, I often caught myself distracted, losing the intimacy of prayers. I can’t seem to reach deep enough into my soul to experience that same feeling of complete peace and overwhelming wonder. I am unable to fully focus and be truly present - mind, body and soul, when talking to the Lord. Something is missing. There’s just too many clutter in my mind, I get distracted with so many things. I seem to be always “running” out of time for prayers, I hurry and most of the time, have to do multi-tasking. Doing or thinking of something while praying.
But I know I can change this. I can choose and decide to make quality time with God. If I can make time to browse Facebook or watch Netflix then I should be able to spend uninterrupted time for praying. I have to set the place and the time. Take a deep breath and prepare myself each time before drawing close to the presence of our Almighty and ever loving God. I have to let my family know as well so they will respect that time and maybe even join me, aside from our prayer time at night.
“Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus.”
Jesus, allow us to be in your presence and see your face.
What is your favorite picture of Jesus?
How do you imagine His face when you talk to Him in prayers?
What do you see in His eyes when He looks at you?
Deep within, I can feel eagerness to see the face of Jesus, to talk to Him. My heart yearns to be with Him, to be in His presence. I set aside time to pray every day, in the morning and in the evening. However, I often caught myself distracted, losing the intimacy of prayers. I can’t seem to reach deep enough into my soul to experience that same feeling of complete peace and overwhelming wonder. I am unable to fully focus and be truly present - mind, body and soul, when talking to the Lord. Something is missing. There’s just too many clutter in my mind, I get distracted with so many things. I seem to be always “running” out of time for prayers, I hurry and most of the time, have to do multi-tasking. Doing or thinking of something while praying.
But I know I can change this. I can choose and decide to make quality time with God. If I can make time to browse Facebook or watch Netflix then I should be able to spend uninterrupted time for praying. I have to set the place and the time. Take a deep breath and prepare myself each time before drawing close to the presence of our Almighty and ever loving God. I have to let my family know as well so they will respect that time and maybe even join me, aside from our prayer time at night.
Prayer
Father, we want to see Jesus. Help us to really see His face and experience His presence in our life, everyday! In His mighty name, we pray. Amen.
Father, we want to see Jesus. Help us to really see His face and experience His presence in our life, everyday! In His mighty name, we pray. Amen.
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