“After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “”This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.””Mk 1:15
Jesus’ public ministry began after John the Baptist had been arrested. The message He had was very clearly stated on verse Mk1:15. What John was preaching about the savior and messiah is at hand, is already being fulfilled by Him. But sadly, He was not recognized and people continue to look for the promised messiah. Even to this age and time, not everyone knows nor refuse to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Even in Jerusalem where He was born, raised and preached, He is not acknowledged as our Messiah.
Even in our midst among those who profess to be Christians and even Catholics, we profess with our mouth that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, but we deny Him by our actions and deeds. There is so much trickery, deceit, corruption, hatred, greed, malice, sinfulness that wraps up the world. I myself falls victim to these deadly sins despite the fact that I know Jesus is our Messiah. But I believe in His great mercy and forgiveness. All I have to do every time I sin is to repent and believe that He really loves me and He shall wipe away all my sins. His promise is eternal and all I have to do to indeed be saved is to repent and believe in His gospel.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we praise You and we thank You for giving us Your Son our Lord Jesus Christ to be our Messiah, our Savior. And we thank You Lord Jesus for your unending mercy and forgiveness that all we have to do is repent and believe and we shall be saved! Thank You Lord Jesus. Thanks You!
GIFT
Bring a friend to church! Invite them to have their confession. Have the sacrament of reconciliation too!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Faithful Friends....
“It is I, I, who wipe out, for my own sake, your offenses; your sins I remember no more.” Is 43:25
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “”Child, your sins are forgiven.”” Mk 2:5
Many times, I had some serious and many petty quarrels leading to misunderstanding and even hurting words. And I would confess, most of them though forgiven are not forgotten. I find it easy for me to forgive but not to forget. But in Is43:25, the Lord says He wipes our sins and remembers it no more. Simply said, the Lord God forgives and forgets our sins. Only God alone has this power. That is why when some of the scribes heard Jesus said He forgives the sins of the paralytic, they said He was blaspheming.
As I reflect on this passage of Mark 2:1-12, I am amazed on the love and faith of the four men who carried the paralytic, passing through the thick crowds. And when they cannot enter the door for there were too many people in the house, they climb up the roof top and tear open the roof so they can lower down their paralytic friend near Jesus. Even Jesus was awed by these men’s faith! Thus, He has told them who He really was by forgiving the sins of the paralytic, and I bet including those four friends.
Prayer
Lord Heavenly God, we ask for your mercy and forgiveness. We also ask you to give us the courage and the strength to be able to bring to You our friends and family members who are paralyzed by sin. We know that You are a loving and forgiving God and Your mercies last forever. In Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen.
GIFT
Bring a friend to church especially those who had been paralyzed by sins or concerns of this world. Try to also bring to church those who are actually physically challenged and unable to join mass or the Eucharistic celebrations.
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “”Child, your sins are forgiven.”” Mk 2:5
Many times, I had some serious and many petty quarrels leading to misunderstanding and even hurting words. And I would confess, most of them though forgiven are not forgotten. I find it easy for me to forgive but not to forget. But in Is43:25, the Lord says He wipes our sins and remembers it no more. Simply said, the Lord God forgives and forgets our sins. Only God alone has this power. That is why when some of the scribes heard Jesus said He forgives the sins of the paralytic, they said He was blaspheming.
As I reflect on this passage of Mark 2:1-12, I am amazed on the love and faith of the four men who carried the paralytic, passing through the thick crowds. And when they cannot enter the door for there were too many people in the house, they climb up the roof top and tear open the roof so they can lower down their paralytic friend near Jesus. Even Jesus was awed by these men’s faith! Thus, He has told them who He really was by forgiving the sins of the paralytic, and I bet including those four friends.
Prayer
Lord Heavenly God, we ask for your mercy and forgiveness. We also ask you to give us the courage and the strength to be able to bring to You our friends and family members who are paralyzed by sin. We know that You are a loving and forgiving God and Your mercies last forever. In Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen.
GIFT
Bring a friend to church especially those who had been paralyzed by sins or concerns of this world. Try to also bring to church those who are actually physically challenged and unable to join mass or the Eucharistic celebrations.
I Want to be Clean!
“As long as the sore is on him he shall declare himself unclean, since he is in fact unclean. He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.” Leviticus 13:46
“A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “”If you wish, you can make me clean.””Mk1:40
Have you seen a leper? Nowadays this disease is already curable. However, you still would feel that lepers still opt to live together and make their abode afar from those who are without the disease. In the past, it is more difficult both physically and emotionally for those who were afflicted with leprosy for they have to even live outside the camp or away from others. They are ostracized as unclean and any contact with them will render the person who touches them to be unclean as well.
Feeling unclean is same thing as feeling sinful. When we sin, we are actually staying away from God. We camp outside away from God because of our sins. But God never wants us to separate with him. It is our sinfulness that pulls us away from Him and not Him to us. But in spite of our sinfulness, our being a leper, we do not have to camp out from Him. All we have to do is approach Him and beg His kindness and mercy. Just like what the leper did. And I am so sure that just like the leper who begged Him, He will wash away our sins and make us free from our sins (leprosy).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we praise and thank you for your mercy and kindness. For your undying love for us, though we are sinful and tend to stay away from You. We do not even have to beg you for you already know our desires. Al we have to do is come to You and You will restore us and make us clean again. In Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen.
GIFT
Today, let us do our best to go to confession and make ourselves clean again. Pray also that many people who need repentance and reconciliation turn away from their sins and return to God.
Let us also pray for those who are actually inflicted with skin disease, that may be able to obtain healing and cleansing from their afflictions.
“A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “”If you wish, you can make me clean.””Mk1:40
Have you seen a leper? Nowadays this disease is already curable. However, you still would feel that lepers still opt to live together and make their abode afar from those who are without the disease. In the past, it is more difficult both physically and emotionally for those who were afflicted with leprosy for they have to even live outside the camp or away from others. They are ostracized as unclean and any contact with them will render the person who touches them to be unclean as well.
Feeling unclean is same thing as feeling sinful. When we sin, we are actually staying away from God. We camp outside away from God because of our sins. But God never wants us to separate with him. It is our sinfulness that pulls us away from Him and not Him to us. But in spite of our sinfulness, our being a leper, we do not have to camp out from Him. All we have to do is approach Him and beg His kindness and mercy. Just like what the leper did. And I am so sure that just like the leper who begged Him, He will wash away our sins and make us free from our sins (leprosy).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we praise and thank you for your mercy and kindness. For your undying love for us, though we are sinful and tend to stay away from You. We do not even have to beg you for you already know our desires. Al we have to do is come to You and You will restore us and make us clean again. In Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen.
GIFT
Today, let us do our best to go to confession and make ourselves clean again. Pray also that many people who need repentance and reconciliation turn away from their sins and return to God.
Let us also pray for those who are actually inflicted with skin disease, that may be able to obtain healing and cleansing from their afflictions.
Called to Preach?
“Brothers and sisters: If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it….” 1Cor 9:16
“ He told them, ““let us go on nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.”” Mk 1:38
I’ve been with people who are preachers and use the pulpit, and the multimedia to preach the gospel to many people. Some people I’ve met in the community I was in preach the gospel by their examples, and by how they put their time, treasures, and talent to spread the good news. Some uses both, and one of them is my father-in-law who is an incessant preacher. He takes all opportunity to preach the gospel. He can rattle off verses in the bible like an automatic glossary. He has spent his retirement years reaching out to people through his ministry and went to spreading the gospel on TV.
He lives what he preaches. He does not boast about it, and he does not get paid doing it. In fact he has spent his own retirement money to spread the gospel. He has taken it as an obligation imposed on him and is following the same example and purpose that Christ has come.
He inspires me to do the same as I am called for the same purpose, to spread the gospel of the Lord. How about us?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the inspiration, and the wisdom to see a clear purpose in our existence. We ask you to pour down on us your spirit of zeal that we maybe like Jesus to others in preaching and living your gospel. We ask this thorugh our Lord Jesus Christ!. Amen.
GIFT
This day do something to spread the gospel of the Lord by reading the gospel reading for the day and picking up one verse that struck you then write up your reflection. You can either post it in your FB page.
Then get together with friends and share to them your reflection. Or simply live out the message you receive from your reflections.
Pray also for your priests and preachers. Pray that they may continue to have a healthy, and upright life worthy to spread the gospel of the Lord.
“ He told them, ““let us go on nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.”” Mk 1:38
I’ve been with people who are preachers and use the pulpit, and the multimedia to preach the gospel to many people. Some people I’ve met in the community I was in preach the gospel by their examples, and by how they put their time, treasures, and talent to spread the good news. Some uses both, and one of them is my father-in-law who is an incessant preacher. He takes all opportunity to preach the gospel. He can rattle off verses in the bible like an automatic glossary. He has spent his retirement years reaching out to people through his ministry and went to spreading the gospel on TV.
He lives what he preaches. He does not boast about it, and he does not get paid doing it. In fact he has spent his own retirement money to spread the gospel. He has taken it as an obligation imposed on him and is following the same example and purpose that Christ has come.
He inspires me to do the same as I am called for the same purpose, to spread the gospel of the Lord. How about us?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the inspiration, and the wisdom to see a clear purpose in our existence. We ask you to pour down on us your spirit of zeal that we maybe like Jesus to others in preaching and living your gospel. We ask this thorugh our Lord Jesus Christ!. Amen.
GIFT
This day do something to spread the gospel of the Lord by reading the gospel reading for the day and picking up one verse that struck you then write up your reflection. You can either post it in your FB page.
Then get together with friends and share to them your reflection. Or simply live out the message you receive from your reflections.
Pray also for your priests and preachers. Pray that they may continue to have a healthy, and upright life worthy to spread the gospel of the Lord.
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