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  Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

26 June 2022 

 

First Reading: 1 Kgs 19:16b, 19-21

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11

Second Reading: Gal 5:1, 13-18

Gospel: Lk 9:51-62

 

Reflection

By: Fely Santiago

 

"Speak, Lord, your servant is listening; you have the words of everlasting life."

"Trust and obey, there's no other way." I fondly remember my late Papa with these words that he often said. He is a man of Christ. I got my spirituality from him. My Papa was a very prayerful man. And these words have also become my guiding principle in my spiritual journey. I always prefer to go where the Lord leads me because in God we can have everything. This is His promise in Matthew 6:33 "seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you."

How often do you listen to the Lord? Mostly, we come to God asking for favors. Let us also spend time in prayers just to be in God's presence and let our hearts respond to His love. Also, listen to what God may be trying to tell us and from there, we might know the answer to our prayers. Prayer is a conversation with God. It requires talking and listening. May we learn to be still and listen in our prayers, and imagine Jesus sitting beside us. I would love to picture myself in my prayer time with my head on His lap. I picture the gentleness in His eyes and the smile full of love as He gazes on me. I can be totally honest with Jesus as I tell Him of my worries and my cares. I open up my heart to Him as I tell Him of my fears and doubts. Then, I ask Him to help me to place myself fully in His care, to abandon myself to Him, knowing that He always wants what is best for me. And most importantly, I listen to His response. He often tells of how much He loves me and encourages me to put my trust fully in Him. "Magtiwala ka lang."

God wants us to experience real freedom if we put our trust and obey Him. What most often stops us from achieving freedom is our tendency to be caught up in fears and expectations about what we 'ought' or 'should' be. Our usual automatic responses tie us down and inhibit us from exploring new areas of growth. Let's ask and pray for a greater sense of inner freedom and that we might preach the fresh and challenging possibilities that God wishes us to realize. Our God is a BIG God and with Him are limitless possibilities.

Prayer

Lord, I ask for the grace to know that doing Your will is a joy because Your will is my deepest desire and You are always willing what is best for me. Thank You for the gift of freedom Lord. Grant that I may always choose to follow You. Keep me ever mindful of Your ways, of Your love and concern for all people. May I respond to Your call today. Teach me to recognize Your hand at work in my daily living. All this I pray, in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.