Friends, the problem is not with the giver. The problem is with the receiver. God has given us everything we will ever need to have a good life. He already made them available to us. When we ask someone for prayer, it’s not to change the mind of God but for our faith to increase. The more we ask others to pray with us, the more our faith increases. And the moment our faith reaches perfection, our miracle happens.

Today, when you lift up your petitions to God and ask someone to pray for you, believe and trust that He already knows what you need—just like a toddler who has complete trust in his father.

Now, get ready to receive your miracle. Randy Borromeo (randyborromeo@gmail.com)

Reflect: Do you treat God like a vendo machine—the more you put in, the more you will get? What does it mean to trust in Him fully?

Dear Lord, teach me to trust You, to have confidence that You know what I need even before I ask for them.

Blessed Angela Salawa, pray for us.

Isaiah affirms that the Word of God is active and powerful—it will accomplish the purpose for which it was spoken. Do we really believe this? Trust in the power of God’s Word makes us effective in proclaiming the Gospel, like a successful salesman who truly believes in the product he or she is promoting.

Isaiah 55:10-11

10 Thus says the Lord: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, 11 so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.

PSALM

Psalm 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19

R: From all their distress, God rescues the just.

3 [4] Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. 4 [5] I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) 15 [16] The Lord has eyes for the just, and ears for their cry. 16 [17] The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. (R) 17 [18] When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. 18 [19] The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. (R)

GOSPEL

God is patient in listening to us even if it takes us time to get to the point. However, it is much better for us and for Him if we are specific in what we pray for. There is no point in rambling when you can summarize your prayer in a sentence or two. Our directness will not hurt or offend God. This is fine with Him as long as we speak with humility and truth.

GOSPEL ACCALAMATION

One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Matthew 6:7-15

7 Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name, 10 thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread; 12 and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; 13 and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

think: What have you been praying for to God? Be clear with what you are asking for.

 

 

FILLED, FULL, NOT VOID

For one who loves nature, every line, every word, every image of Isaiah is so concrete and graphic. Yesterday, we referred to clouds, and paraphrasing Joni Mitchell, we need to see the bigger picture if we are to fully understand God’s will for us. Today, we hear about rain and snow, and about them being fertile and fruitful, giving seeds for the sower and bread to the one who eats.

One thing that iGen people are familiar with is “augmented reality.” Snapchat has made augmented reality a hot and popular consumer item. I am no geek, but what little I understand about it is simply what it says—value-added reality, reality with a plus, reality with an additional twist, and if you will, reality made to appear more than it really is.

It is, however, reality that never lasts. What one posts in Snapchat automatically self-deletes after a short while, and the trick is to post another augmented reality for one’s friends and contacts to see and appreciate while it lasts. It is productive all right, but it results in something with little retentive value. It comes as easily as it goes.

But not so God’s Word. Isaiah, who embodies prophecy to the utmost, assures us: “So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.”

It is one of my favorite passages not only because it is graphic and concrete and chock-full of rustic images, but because it is a powerful message of hope. In a world filled with so much bad and fake news, with planet Earth according to many scientists close to reaching tipping point ecologically speaking, where big bully countries ride roughshod on smaller or poorer ones—there just seems to be little hope left.

But that is me talking—not God. According to Isaiah’s prophecy, God’s word is not just augmented reality that self-destructs. It is augmented reality plus, plus. It speaks of fulfillment, and it simply means filled, full, not void. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

------- REFLECTION QUESTION -------

What role does God’s Word play in your daily life?

I trust in Your Word, Lord. May it be fulfilled in my life. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _____________________________