Our Own Understanding vs. God's Wisdom

Twenty-eighth Sunday in

Ordinary Time

10 October 2021 

 

First Reading: WIS 7:7-11

Responsorial Psalm: PS 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

Second Reading: HEB 4:12-13

Gospel: MK 10:17:30 or 10:17-27

 

Reflection

By: Bernard Borja

 

How often do we really discern, and beg for the grace of wisdom from God, in our decisions in life? And how seldom do we listen, and acknowledge the movements of the Spirit, for us to respond to God's call?

It is very common nowadays for people to say that their decisions in life are based on "God's Will". We can even see people who use bible verses for them to justify and convince other people that they are obeying God's commandments. While it is good that we follow and obey God, do we also check if our intention to follow is only for ourselves? Do we carefully listen when we pray, "Give US this day OUR daily bread and forgive US OUR trespasses..." and that God wants us to live for others?

Jesus taught us that following and observing God's commandments must not only be for our own benefit. We cannot say we fully observe the commandment "you shall not kill" if we agree on laws on which taking a life is justified as necessary. One cannot say that he or she does not steal, if he or she helps a person who steals to justify that the person did it for the common good. Same thing with sharing information on the internet that are pure lies (like what the so-called trolls do), we are not really obeying the commandment that we shall not bear false witness if we do this. When we do not go through a process of discernment of asking for God's wisdom in our decisions, our intentions become our own goals alone and only for our benefit. It also becomes worse when we already have a sense of what God wants but we still choose to pursue our own understanding. In the Gospel today, the man who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, still chose to live for himself even when Jesus already told him what he needs to do.

Oftentimes, we ask God for wisdom especially in our decisions. But when we hear God's voice, we harden our hearts because we still forget to trust Him. Jesus knew that the man lacks trust in God. He offered the man an opportunity to deeply understand that God's commandments are not to be observed selfishly, but obeying means we also keep in mind other people's benefits. Jesus assured us that there is no one who has given up anything for His sake who will not receive a hundred times more of heaven's treasures. We only need to trust in His words and to listen carefully in our prayers. As the letter to the Hebrews says, the Word of God is able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. God continues to listen to our prayers and knows deeply the desires of our hearts. This is why we need to trust and acknowledge that we need God's wisdom in our decisions in life, and for us to say that we are really observing and obeying God's commandments.

Prayer

 

Send us Your Spirit, dear Lord for us to know the path that we need to take, to follow Jesus closely. We beg for the grace of Your wisdom, for us to be more trusting to You as we respond to Your calling. Grant us a pure heart, so that we may learn to live for others as we observe and obey Your commandments not for ourselves, but for the good of all. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.

 

Live Life For Others

Fifth Sunday of Easter
2 May 2010


The Lord has truly risen, alleluia.


First reading Acts 14:21-27 3
Paul and Barnabas went back through Lystra and Iconium to Antioch. They put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith. ‘We all have to experience many hardships’ they said ‘before we enter the kingdom of God.’ In each of these churches they appointed elders, and with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.
They passed through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. Then after proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia and from there sailed for Antioch, where they had originally been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
On their arrival they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the pagans.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 144:8-13

Second reading Apocalypse 21:1-5
I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, ‘You see this city? Here God lives among men. He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he will be their God; his name is God-with-them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past has gone.’
Then the One sitting on the throne spoke: ‘Now I am making the whole of creation new’ he said. ‘Write this: that what I am saying is sure and will come true.’

Gospel John 13:31-33,34-35
When Judas had gone Jesus said:
‘Now has the Son of Man been glorified,
and in him God has been glorified.
If God has been glorified in him,
God will in turn glorify him in himself,
and will glorify him very soon.
‘My little children,
I shall not be with you much longer.
You will look for me,
And, as I told the Jews,
where I am going, you cannot come.
I give you a new commandment:
love one another;
just as I have loved you,
you also must love one another.
By this love you have for one another,
everyone will know that you are my disciples.’

Reflection
By Elizabeth R. Eguia

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus has given a new commandment and that is to “Love one another.”This is a challenge to you and me especially during the times when we are all busy with our own plans, fulfilling our own goals in life, occupied with our own stressful jobs. Have we realized if this the life God wants us to follow?

I was at home yesterday and I came across with this movie in HBO. I have not watched it fully but was able to capture the message it tries to relay, not realizing at first that this will help me in writing this reflection. There was this guy who can see ghosts. He was trying to avoid them because he was afraid and cannot understand why he can see them all. Until one day while in the office, a friend of him asked him to look at the ceiling. There the quote of Albert Einstein was posted ,"Only a life lived for others is worth living". At that point he realized that a part of his life's mission is to help each of those ghosts to be at peace by helping them have one last moment with their loved ones. One after the other, all these ghosts became happy and they disappeared after each of them knew their loved ones are okay after their last message was relayed. The guy who became the instrument for the ghosts felt at peace and was happy too, realizing he did something for others and it only took small and simple sacrifices from him.

Just like this man, we are pre-occupied with our own self. Day in and day out, our minds are focused on self goals, self concerns and we don't see the people around us who maybe needing our help and love.

It could only require a smile or a hug from us to someone who maybe needing it at that precise moment when they are alone or sad. As we continue to celebrate Easter, let our hearts rejoice by spending or sharing our lives with others.

Dear God, thank You for the message You have given to us for this day. Continue to remind us of our mission and that is to spend a part of our lives for others. Continue to guide and show us the lives of the people You want to touch so we can give You glory and honor. Amen.

Next on God-speak
Life is Beautiful