Surrender Your Control to Jesus' Will

Twenty-fifth Sunday in

Ordinary Time

19 September 2021 

 

First Reading: WIS 2:12, 17-20

Responsorial Psalm: PS 54:3-4, 5, 6 and 8

Second Reading: JAS 3:16-4:3

Gospel: MK 9:30-37

 

Reflection

By: Theresa Ballo

 

Imagine that you are one with the disciples following Jesus and you hear from Him how He would suffer yet you see calmness as he laid out all the negative things that will happen to Him in this journey, wouldn't we be exactly like the disciples questioning a lot of things? In your heart, there's a belief that you are actually following a man who performed wondrous miracles. Will you express your doubts? I felt the hesitations from these disciples in controlling themselves to ask questions to Jesus. They cannot understand why the Son of God, all powerful that He is, would accept suffering and even death on the cross.

Maybe just like the disciples, we also fail to really listen to Jesus. We only focus ourselves on suffering and death where in fact He also speaks about His resurrection. Sometimes we think that asking questions would make us stupid and uninformed. We are too proud of ourselves to acknowledge vulnerability. We seek answers but are reluctant to do things that will give clarity to our confusion by simply asking a question.

The good news we have today is that in many moments of our lives, we are like the child Jesus carried. Most of the time, we do not understand or do not know many things happening around us. Jesus holding a child, the ultimate symbol of not knowing, not understanding, immature and underdeveloped but one who would completely trust and believe his caregiver. And that I think is the invitation, no matter how big or small our questions in this life. It is only in the eyes of a child that we see wonder. It is only through wonder that we can feel the glory and greatness of the Father. We need not to fear because we are in the presence of our Savior. A quote would say, "perfect love casts out all fear."

Forget our selfish ego. Forget pride. Forget being in control. Arise each day. If some things in your life are difficult, just breathe. Breathe in the Holy Spirit's air that someone is taking care of you. Be aware of the many you can be thankful for in the day, but ultimately leave it to God to make it happen. This spiritual struggle of being in control and letting go is a tug-of-war with our own ego. All our stories are coming true, and that for me is the Good News. I once told my mentees, do not get distracted by focusing on getting it right all the time. Step back, come back and continue your journey, your story. Be humble. Allow Jesus to come into our lives. Continue self-emptying, by giving to others, so later on, God can fill us up with His glory and power. Are you ready to humble yourself and serve as Jesus did?

Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, by Your cross You have revealed Your glory and triumph over the sin and death. May I never fail to see Your glory and victory in the cross. Help me to lessen my need for control and surrender my life to Your will so I can follow in Your way of holiness. Amen.

 

Quiet! Be Still.

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 21, 2015

We are the people of the Lord, the flock that is led by his hand: come, let us adore him, alleluia.

First reading                                      Job 38:1,8-11

From the heart of the tempest the Lord gave Job his answer. He said:

Who pent up the sea behind closed doors

  when it leapt tumultuous out of the womb,

when I wrapped it in a robe of mist

  and made black clouds its swaddling bands;

when I marked the bounds it was not to cross

  and made it fast with a bolted gate?

Come thus far, I said, and no farther:

  here your proud waves shall break.

Psalm                                              Psalm 106:23-26,28-32

Second reading                              2 Corinthians 5:14-17 

The love of Christ overwhelms us when we reflect that if one man has died for all, then all men should be dead; and the reason he died for all was so that living men should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised to life for them.

  From now onwards, therefore, we do not judge anyone by the standards of the flesh. Even if we did once know Christ in the flesh, that is not how we know him now. And for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation; the old creation has gone, and now the new one is here.

Gospel                                               Mark 4:35-41 

With the coming of evening, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let us cross over to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind they took him, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. Then it began to blow a gale and the waves were breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped. But he was in the stern, his head on the cushion, asleep. They woke him and said to him, ‘Master, do you not care? We are going down!’ And he woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Quiet now! Be calm!’ And the wind dropped, and all was calm again. Then he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?’ They were filled with awe and said to one another, ‘Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him.’

Reflection

By Fely C Santiago

“Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”

God is in CONTROL. He will guide us by His grace in the perfect life He desires for us. I just arrived from Rome. In the Mass we attended in one of the chapels at  St Peter’s Basilica, the message from the readings that really struck me was “God delivers us from our fears and with God nothing is impossible”. What a fitting message and great reminder while we were in the seat of the Catholic faith, where Pope Francis resides, the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica! While touring the place, I am awed and amazed at how could this structure came about. What talent, what skill was used to create this magnificent place. It can only come from our God. Truly with God nothing is impossible.

Everyday we are also  surrounded with everything that makes us fearful. While in Dubai, as I watched TV, I always hear the news about ISIS every time I open the news. So many negative news around the world. It is so much fearful. What if…what if? Then here in the Philippines, there is the potential of a great earthquake to happen that could affect Metro Manila. Again, what if..what if?

If we really just focus on our fears, we get paralyzed. But the readings today reminds us to be still, to be quiet. Just hold on to Jesus. God is in control. We should not be terrified but remain steadfast in our faith and trust in God. 

I have learned to journey this life with thanksgiving. Just enjoy each moment. Celebrate life to the fullest in whatever circumstances we are in. Enjoy each season of our life. Just like a tree that withers in winter, then leaves and flowers start sprouting in spring, come full blown in summer only to fall again in autumn and the cycle continues. Same with our life. Do not sweat on the small stuff. Value your relationships. Enjoy life and live it to the full. Meet new friends. Serve people and be a blessing to all. Do not let fear rule our life. Stay in faith. God is good all the time! He is always in control. 

Let me share with you the lyrics of the song "You Are Mine" by David Haas. What a very reassuring words from our loving God!

I will come to you in the silence
I will lift you from all your fear
You will hear My voice
I claim you as My choice
Be still, and know I am here

I am hope for all who are hopeless
I am eyes for all who long to see
In the shadows of the night,
I will be your light
Come and rest in Me

Chorus:
Do not be afraid, I am with you
I have called you each by name
Come and follow Me
I will bring you home
I love you and you are mine

Prayer

Our dearest Lord, thank You for always being there for us. Deliver us from our fears and give us the grace to put our trust in You. Give us a childlike trust so we can overcome all the storms in our life. Help us to be still and treasure every moment that we have. Life is short. Help us make the most of it by taking risks so we can reach our highest potential for Your glory. All these we ask in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Leave it with God!

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
December 8, 2014
At the time of her conception Mary received a blessing from the Lord and loving mercy from God her saviour.

First Reading: Genesis 3:9-15,20

After Adam had eaten of the tree the Lord God called to him. ‘Where are you?’ he asked. ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden;’ he replied ‘I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.’ ‘Who told you that you were naked?’ he asked ‘Have you been eating of the tree I forbade you to eat?’ The man replied, ‘It was the woman you put with me; she gave me the fruit, and I ate it.’ Then the Lord God asked the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman replied, ‘The serpent tempted me and I ate.’

  Then the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this,

‘Be accursed beyond all cattle,

all wild beasts.

You shall crawl on your belly and eat dust

every day of your life.

I will make you enemies of each other:

you and the woman,

your offspring and her offspring.

It will crush your head

and you will strike its heel.’

The man named his wife ‘Eve’ because she was the mother of all those who live.

Psalm: Psalm 97:1-4

Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-6,11-12

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ.

Before the world was made, he chose us, chose us in Christ,

to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in his presence,

determining that we should become his adopted sons, through Jesus Christ

for his own kind purposes,

to make us praise the glory of his grace,

his free gift to us in the Beloved,

And it is in him that we were claimed as God’s own,

chosen from the beginning,

under the predetermined plan of the one who guides all things

as he decides by his own will;

chosen to be,

for his greater glory,

the people who would put their hopes in Christ before he came.

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God’ ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’ And the angel left her.

Reflection

By  Pietro S. Albano

These past few days I have been worried about the Philippines, especially those areas to be hit by typhoon Ruby.  I kept on telling my wife about this. At first she was just agreeing with my view, but last night, she told me "Daddy, it is beyond your control. All you can do now is to pray. Leave it with God!". 

Being in control has always been a temptation for man. Our first parents fell from that trap.  Then comes worrying. See how Adam and Eve reacted when God searched for them in the garden?

By God's grace, Mary's immaculate conception in the womb of her mother exempted her from falling into the same trap and from its ill effects.  Which is why she willingly accepted God's invite to be His mother. No ifs or buts. No craving for control. She represents "the people who would put their hopes in Christ before he came" (Ephesians 1:12).

Prayer

God our Father, cleanse our hearts from all that prevents us from trusting You.  Through the example and prayers of Mary Immaculate, may we always remember that nothing is impossible to You.  On her feast day today, we renew our trust in You! Amen.