Setting Expectations

 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

30 January 2022

 

First Reading: JER 1:4-5, 17-19

Responsorial Psalm: PS 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15-17

Second Reading: 1 COR 12:31--13:13 or 1 COR 13:4-13

Gospel: LK 4:21-30

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

 

I was serving at the Manila Cathedral many years ago when I bumped into a fellow parishioner. She was delighted to know that I was serving at the Mother Church of the Archdiocese and of the whole country. She then encouraged me to keep up the good work so that our parish would be malakas (influential) in the Archdiocese. After our conversation, I felt bad. While appreciating her words of encouragement, her expectation does not make sense.

In today's Gospel, we read how Jesus' town mates were praising Him for His preaching. However, Jesus knew their ulterior motives. He knew that they were expecting Him to perform miracles. He knew that by making signs and wonders in His own remote town, Nazareth would become a popular place. Therefore, the Lord rejected their wishes: "No prophet is ever accepted in his own country." Indeed, as the Gospel would tell us, the people intended to throw Him down the cliff. We too can behave like Our Lord's town mates. We pray, we attend this and that church activity, etc. However, when our prayers are not answered or something goes wrong, we lie low. Why do we follow Jesus? Is it because of His teachings? If so, do we accept His teachings 100% or do we cherry-pick those teachings that suit us? Setting expectations on Jesus according to our own terms and conditions won't work. Remember the rich man who wanted to follow the Lord, but could not part ways with his wealth? Following Jesus is like a sheep placing all its trust to the shepherd. Let us take courage in what God told the prophet in today's First Reading: "They will fight against you but shall not overcome you, for I am with you." (Jeremiah 1:19). We follow Jesus because of Jesus.

Prayer

Lord, Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Cleanse us of every imperfection; strengthen us in our desire for Your Word that we may follow You because of You. Amen.

 

Presence

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 21 July 2019
First reading Genesis 18:1-10

The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on-since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.”

Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.”

Second reading                                                          Colossians 1:24-28

I am happy in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to the divine commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them, God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Gospel                                                                         Luke 10:38-42

Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Reflection

By Jose Paulo M. Gonzales

Today’s Gospel shows us how we can lose track of what is important in place of something we think is more expected of us. Like how our sister in faith, Martha of Bethany, acted when Jesus stopped over at their home. We sometimes forget to be like her sister, Mary.

At work, it may be difficult to listen to a colleague when we are too concerned with what we need to do next. 

In school, it may be difficult to participate actively in class when our attention is diverted to what the outline and the content of a certain paper should be.

With our friends, it may be difficult to engage when we are busy to thinking of what to say, even when our friends only want our company.

Sometimes we choose to do what seems most important even when what is needed from us is simply our presence, our attention.

To make a situation work is not bad on its own. After all, preparations help make an event a more delightful experience. However, the fixation becomes a problem when it takes the place of what we should be prioritizing which is listening and being really present at the moment.

We can get lost in the preparations, but we can also be as distracted when we are not in charge of the preparations anymore—when at an event, we come as spectators.

How many times do we catch ourselves swept by how realistic the special effects are in a movie, how fluid the animations are, how masterful the sequencing of events to make a majestic story, but remembering only so little about the lines of the key characters and the lessons from their experiences?

How many times have we heard someone—or even ourselves—lost in the motif, the songs, the layout, the adornments, the entire preparation in a wedding, but could recall only little from his friend—the groom’s message for the bride during the Mass, or the bridesmaid’s heartfelt dedication at the reception?

When someone visits our homes, when someone vents out a negative encounter, when someone recounts a positive experience they treasure… what they could be expecting from us is not how we set the table or  how we organize the furniture or the elaborate intricacies with which we prepare the meal, but simply a listening ear,  someone who is really present.
We nab from ourselves the chance to enjoy someone’s company when we fixate on activities in the sideline. 

We rob from ourselves the privilege to grace somebody else’s presence when we focus too much on the preparations, on the details, on the mechanics. When we do not realize what is most appreciated from us which is to simply be with our visitor, to listen to our friend, and to engage with them attentively.

When was the last time we listened to someone actively as Mary did? Have we listened to someone intently today?

Prayer

Father God, thank You for Your message to us today.

Thank You for the liberty we find in Your call for us to come as we are, to listen to You and not mind other things when we are in Your company. 

May You grant us the grace to listen to You intimately and for us to find a confidant in You whom we can freely share our thoughts and daily activities.

Please grant us the grace to listen to You first before we take our turn to speak, because Your message is more important than ours, and for us to listen first to our brothers and sisters too so that we can show them that their message is important to us. 

May You give us the grace to know when to speak and carry out Your Word, so that our listening bears fruit. 

May we never lose sight of what’s most important in our daily situations.

Thank You so much, Father. May Your Name—Your Glory, be adored forever.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Expect the Best in 2012 and Bless Others

First Reading: Num. 6:22-27

The LORD said to Moses:

"Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace! So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them."

Res. Psalm: Psalms 67:2-3 5, 6, 8

Second Reading: Gal. 4:4-7

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption. As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

Gospel: Luke 2:16-21 

So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.

When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Reflection

By Fely Santiago

“The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let His face shine upon you and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!“

I’d like to start this reflection with the lyrics of a song by Jose Mari Chan which is very fitting to open the year 2012.And I believe this was also inspired from the same verse from Numbers:

May the good Lord bless and keep you,

whether near or far away.

May you find that long-awaited golden day today.

May your troubles all be small ones,

and your fortune ten times ten.

May the good Lord bless and keep you 'til we meet again.

May you walk with sunlight shining

and a bluebird in ev'ry tree.

May there be a silver lining

back of ev'ry cloud you see.

Fill your dreams with sweet tomorrow.

Never mind what might have been.

May the good Lord bless and keep you..

What an inspiring words to open the New Year! Whatever happened in 2011 whether good or bad is PAST! For amidst all the uncertainties around us because of financial crisis, calamities, loss of job, loss of a loved one, we should remain hopeful. That’s what the new year brings – HOPE. The Lord will bless us. The buffet of blessing is upon us. It’s up to us to stand up and pick up what we want -- growing spiritual life, better health, financial freedom, enhanced family relationships, flourishing career,  new friends, more opportunities to serve and many more. What it requires is faith and action!

Expect only the best this new year. God has given us the power within to make 2012 the best year of our life! The choice is yours. You call the shots. And you can do it very easily, right now!
 All you have to do is set the most powerful intention you can ever set in your life, which is that you will focus only on what you want, think only about what you want, and talk only about what you want. Decide right now to focus only on the positive. And with all your might, with all your strength, with all your willpower - you will focus on your desires! Then offer it to the Lord everyday in prayers.

You will discover that life and all of God’s creation will adjust to your faith and action! Expect the BEST for the coming year and all your dreams will surely come true in God’s perfect time.

But it should not stop there. God gives us blessings so we can bless others! Like the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God and of us all, share the blessings you receive. Go out and serve God’s people. Be a blessing to others. Be Jesus to others. You can share whatever you have. Share you time, talents and treasures and an avalanche of blessings will surely come back to you so you can share and bless others MORE!

A super blessed and truly rich 2012 everyone!

Prayer

Lord, I welcome the New Year with great hope because all these years You have been with me. Thank you for all the blessing, especially the gift of Mary as my mother. Inspired by example, I expect the BEST in 2012! Mold me to be the best that I can be. Like her, use me to serve and bless more people. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.