THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE

“Whoever does the will of God...” – Mark 3:35

I applied for a position at a university in Baguio City. I knew I was qualified because of my college and master’s degree. My vast experience in the academe also added to my confidence that I was going to be hired.

During my job interview, the personnel manager found out that I had a seizure disorder, an illness I’ve had since birth. I surmised that this was her basis for rejecting my application.

My world crumbled because I wanted the job badly. My wife and mother consoled me by saying that God’s plans were better for sure. They said the job was most probably not meant for me. I chose to believe in what they said and entrusted everything to God.

Weeks later, I applied for a position in another university. I was hesitant at first because of my recent experience. But with a faith-filled heart, I gave them my resume.

Guess what? I got the job! I’m happy at work and I get along well with my co-teachers and other work mates. The students are cooperative. My workload is light.

I learned from this experience that the only way to live is to give everything to God — to say a heartfelt yes to His divine will. Dho Rimando (dougsterrimando@yahoo.com.ph)

Reflection: Do you want to be happy? Say yes to the Lord always.

All to Jesus, I surrender. All to Him I freely give.                                                                                                            

Servant of God Brother Juniper, pray for us.

Obedience to the will of God is more important than abstract sacrifices. This does not mean that we do not have to make sacrifices but that they should be related to God’s will, rather than abstract sacrifices for the sake of sacrifices. The best sacrifice we can make is embracing God’s will for us, which often means denying our own desires, particularly those that are directed to our pleasure.

Hebrews 10:1-10

1 Brothers and sisters: Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of them, it can never make perfect those who come to worship by the same sacrifices that they offer continually each year. 2 Otherwise, would not the sacrifices have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, once cleansed, would no longer have had any consciousness of sins? 3 But in those sacrifices there is only a yearly remembrance of sins, 4 for it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats take away sins. 5 For this reason, when he came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offering and sin offerings you took no delight. 7 Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, Behold, I come to do your will, O God.’” 8 First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in. These are offered according to the law.” 9 Then he says, “Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. 10 By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 10, 11

R: Here am I Lord; I come to do your will.

1 [2] I have waited, waited for the Lord, and he stooped toward me, 3 [4] and he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God. (R) 6 [7] Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not; 7 [8] then said I, “Behold I come.” (R) 9 [10] I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O Lord, know. (R) 10 [11] Your justice I kept not hid within my heart; your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of; I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth in the vast assembly. (R)

Jesus Himself calls our attention to the importance of His Father’s will in our lives. It is obedience that is at the heart of the call of discipleship. A disciple does not determine where he goes or what he should be doing — it is the Master that does that. The wisdom of God and how our lives mesh with those of the other disciples of Jesus is probably beyond our understanding, or at the very least, very difficult to understand fully. Let us pray for the faith to trust in God’s goodness towards us.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

31 The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside they sent word to Jesus and called him. 32 A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” 33 But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 35 For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

think:  It is obedience that is at the heart of the call of discipleship.

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ___________________________

The Gospel for today speaks of the “controversy” concerning Jesus and His relatives. When informed that His relatives were outside waiting for Him, Jesus responded in a way that seemed like He was disowning His relatives: “Who are my mother and my brothers?...These are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does the will of God is brother and sister and mother to me.” Obviously, His townmates recognized Jesus’ relatives and His origin.

But where did the Messiah really come from? What and where is His origin?

People in the Bible are often named after their places of origin. Simon of Cyrene, Mary of Magdala, Simon of Arimathea. Jesus, too, for a time was designated by the place of His origin, thus, Jesus of Nazareth. But you will notice that later on in His life and ministry that Jesus will come to be known as the Christ, from the Greek Christos, meaning the Anointed, the Messiah, the One sent by the Father. Jesus came to be known not only by His physical origin but, more so, by His spiritual and divine lineage.

We, too, have a spiritual lineage. That is why, even though we have different names, we all share a common name: Christian. We are to be known not only by our physical places of origin and consanguinity. We are to be known by our truthfulness to our spiritual lineage, by our observance of the will of God as revealed by Jesus, our Brother. Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How have you lived up to your name as a Christian? Have you given a good accounting of your spiritual lineage?

Lord, teach me to judge my life and the life of others as You do, so that we may be worthy of the love and salvation that You have for us.