Do you work for yourself alone? Do it for God and others, and God and others will work for you - Daily Bible Reflections August 31,2013

WORK ETHICS

 

“Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.” – Matthew 25:23

 

I was in the corporate world for more than 20 years. I started from the bottom, working up the corporate ladder through hard work and continuing education. My basic belief was focusing not on myself but on serving others, in this instance, the company I worked for. Eventually, I became a businessman and learned even more about stewardship — a Christian way of doing business. That is, making the business work for others, my stakeholders — employees, my clients, my supplier — and most especially for God. God blessed my businesses. That gave my being a businessman greater meaning and value.

       Taking on more and more responsibilities has become second nature to me since I started by accepting smaller ones. My community appointed me council head and thereafter made me chairman of the Kerygma Conference, the country’s biggest annual Catholic learning event. I accepted readily.

       My basic belief that brought me success and significance is simple: being selfless, and serving God and others reap joyful dividends for me — financially and spiritually. Rolly España (rnespana@nwineskin.com)

 

Reflection: Do you work for yourself alone? Do it for God and others, and God and others will work for you.

 

Father in heaven, I thank You that I am managing Your big business, which is to love.

 

Sts. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, pray for us.

May all those who come behind us find us faithful - Daily Bible Reflections August 30,2013

AGNES P. DE GUZMAN aka KUNE

 

As you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God. – 1 Thessalonians 4:1

 

I was shocked to read a text message telling me that Kune had passed away. With loving memories, I remembered Agnes P. De Guzman, or Kune as I fondly called her. She was an untiring, compassionate, humble and vibrant member of the God’s Beloved Community, who would come once a month to minister to us at the Correctional Institution for Women.

       Whenever Kune led praise and worship, I would get goosebumps. Before I know it, I’d be in tears and would fall to the floor, slain by the Holy Spirit.

       “May you live your lives the way you have learned from us,” she said as her parting message in one of her talks. She also shared that her ultimate dream was to acquire a lot and build a nice shelter for her immediate family.

       Her message lingered in my mind as I viewed her remains in the dream house she had acquired before her demise due to cancer. Kune, you will always be an inspiration not only to me but also to those whose lives you’ve touched behind bars. Beth A. Corral (bethcorral_0330@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: May all those who come behind us find us faithful. May the fire of our devotion light their way. May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe. And the life we live inspire them to obey. (from the song “Find Us Faithful” by Steve Green)

 

Lord Jesus, may we persevere in living good lives according to what we have learned from You.

 

St. Jeanne Jugan, pray for us.

Do you trust God to deliver you in times of trouble? - Daily Bible Reflections August 29,2013

Memorial of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, Martyr

 

HR MATTERS

 

“They will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. – Jeremiah 1:19

 

One of the first things I did as a human resources manager in the previous company I worked for was to reorient employees with existing company policies. I found out that although there were existing policies, they were not implemented. So I had to remind them of these before issuing disciplinary actions.

       Many employees still got angry when they received disciplinary actions after violating company policies. I prayed to the Lord for strength and courage to do what the owners wanted me to do — to build a better company culture and institute policies. It was a difficult task to accomplish especially since most of the employees had been working there for years while I was just newly hired.

       God showed His faithfulness to me in the months that followed. God helped me and the owners right-size the company, which enabled us to get rid of the bad apples in the organization. He blessed my efforts by enabling some of the employees to see the value of what I was doing. Some employees even became my friends after realizing that I was just doing my job as HR manager. Praise God for being my Deliverer! Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag (teregmps@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: Do you trust God to deliver you in times of trouble?

 

Lord, please help me fight my battles. Be my strength and courage. Be my Deliverer.

 

St. Sabina, pray for us.

Do you hear God’s mercy shout today? Daily Bible Reflections August 28,2013

MERCY SHOUT!

 

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.” – Matthew 23:27

 

He was young, physically active and appeared to be in the pink of health.

       But on June 22, 2002, this 33-year-old St. Louis Cardinals pitching star was found dead in his Chicago hotel room. An autopsy revealed that he had a 90 percent blockage in two of three coronary arteries, an enlarged heart and a blood clot in one of the arteries. His appearance misled many to think that he was physically healthy.

       People pretending to be well but are terribly sick in the spiritual sense — this is the definition of a hypocrite. In the heart of Jesus, His condemnation of hypocrisy was never driven by hatred of the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees. His was a wake-up call from the love of God who wants to reach out, to heal and to share His glorious destiny.

       Yes, even if we think we’re full and well, God is faithful. He will do whatever it takes to wake us up, until His hope that we admit our brokenness and receive the healing of God is fulfilled. And when we respond, His mercy shout becomes a roar of joy in His Kingdom. Jon Escoto (faithatworkjon@gmail.com)

 

Reflection: Do you hear God’s mercy shout today?

 

Father, amidst my illusions of completeness and strong leadership, open my ears to hear Your shout today. And please don’t stop until I come to You. Thank You.

 

St. Augustine, bishop and doctor of the Church, pray for us.

God will demand more from the one who has been entrusted with much - Daily Bible Reflections August 27,2013

IN TRUST FOR (ITF)

 

“Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites...” – Matthew 23:23

 

Years ago, a pastor and his wife took a baby from a children’s home under the pretext of adopting her. They raised her while brainwashing her into believing that God wanted her to be their family’s servant. For 20 years, she served them while she was being abused, until she called the police.

       God has appointed us into positions of authority — whether we are preachers, pastors, teachers, older siblings, doctors, lawyers or ministry heads. But that authority goes hand in hand with the responsibility to care for and guard the welfare of the people placed under our power.

       Sometimes, the power that comes with the position of authority can intoxicate people so much that it leads to  abuse. So when you’re tempted to abuse your authority, remember Jesus’ warning to such people when He said, “You serpents... how will you escape the sentence of hell?” Ronna Ledesma (ronna_ledesma@yahoo.com.ph)

 

Reflection: God will demand more from the one who has been entrusted with much.

 

Father, grant me wisdom and temperance in all my dealings with the people You’ve placed under me.

 

St. Monica, pray for us.

Do you pray for others or just for your own concerns? - Daily Bible Reflections August 26,2013

PRAYING FOR OTHERS

 

We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers. – 1 Thessalonians 1:2

 

I learned a very creative and fulfilling way to pray the rosary from Bo Sanchez. For each bead, you mention the name of a loved one or a specific intention that you can imagine in your head while praying. So for that particular bead, you picture the person you’re praying for. It gives a lot more meaning to the repetitive Hail Marys.

       I tried applying this once when I prayed the rosary with a friend. We each mentioned the name of a loved one with every other bead. By the time we reached the fifth decade, we were mentioning whole families and groups because we were running out of beads! We realized we had so many people to pray for that there weren’t enough Hail Marys to lift all of them up.

       Praying for others is a concrete way of loving them. This exercise helped me to feel their concerns and journey with them. It also made me forget myself for a while and be focused on the needs of others.George Tolentino Gabriel (george.svp@gmail.com)

 

Reflection: Do you pray for others or just for your own concerns?

 

Lord, I lift up to You the intention of my loved one right now: (mention their name and their intention).

 

St. Joseph Calasanz, pray for us.

Look back at the past trials that you have overcome. What did you learn from them? - Daily Bible Reflections August 25,2013

WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

 

Endure your trials as “discipline;” God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline? – Hebrews 12:7

 

My good friend and radio program co-host, Tita Jovie, lives a life that is full of trials. If I thought my life was a soap opera, hers is the longest running prime time teleserye.

       Her journey from childhood to grandmotherhood has been a nasty roller coaster ride. I wish I could narrate her entire life story here, but trust me when I say that it’s one big tearjerker.

       Tita Jovie always says there’s a hidden blessing in every trial that comes her way, so much so that she accepts them with open arms.

       Her saintly ways inspire me to search for the blessings in my own share of trials. What’s in it for me, Lord? I would find myself asking. And I guess my burdens grow lighter when I acknowledge that God is teaching me a good lesson, or that He’s molding me into a stronger and better person.

       If you’re carrying a heavy burden today, trust that there is something to learn from it. When the tears in your eyes have dried, you will clearly see the blessing. Besides, He never gives us something we cannot handle, right? Nova Arias-Sevilla (nova.svp@gmail.com)

 

Reflection: Look back at the past trials that you have overcome. What did you learn from them?

 

Lord Jesus, help me to see the blessing in every difficulty and the lesson in every activity under the heavens.

 

St. Louis of France, pray for us.

 

Do we really love God with our all? In what aspects of our lives have we not loved Him the way we should? - Daily Bible Reflections August 23,2013

MY ALL FOR YOU

 

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” – Matthew 22:37

 

I was thinking of what to share in relation to the verse above when God inspired me to listen to a song written by John Keating of the Servants of the Word entitled “My All for You.” I played the CD and listened to it repeatedly while reflecting on the verse.

       My all for you, all else left behind.

       Single of heart, single of mind, single of vision,

       Consumed by a single goal:

       To know and love and serve you with all my soul!

       My all for you, you’ve paid the price.

       In grateful love I offer in Christ:

       A sacrifice of life outpoured

       In undivided devotion to you, My Lord!

       The song reminded me of the truth that the reason we give our all to God is because He gave His all to us first, including His only Son. It is when we experience this truth in our lives that we are moved by gratitude to give our all to Him as well. As the Scripture says, “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). May we experience God’s love profoundly so we would be moved to love Him with our all, all our days. Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag (teregmps@yahoo.com)        

 

Reflection: Do we really love God with our all? In what aspects of our lives have we not loved Him the way we should?

 

Heavenly Father, teach me to love you in the same way that you love. Give me the courage to love courageously so I can give my all to You at all times.

 

St. Rose of Lima, virgin, pray for us.

Do not judge from appearance or from lofty stature - Daily Bible Reflections August 22,2013

Memorial of the Queenship of the Virgin Mary

 

FROM BEASTLY TO BEAUTY!

 

“Many are invited, but few are chosen.”– Matthew 22:14

 

The movie Beastly is about Kyle, a handsome, robust, witty and filthy rich young man. In other words, he was perfect. But he was also cocky, arrogant and rude.

       Does it really come with the territory that the beautifully perfect are also haughty and mean? Will the outwardly beautiful always be inwardly horrible? Is there hope?

         There is.

       Second Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we who… reflect the Lord’s glory are being transformed into His likeness from glory to glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

          How will transformation happen?

       When we realize that “many are called, but few are chosen.” This heavenly privilege is revealed only to the humble. The “chosen” are those who humbly let God work from within them. They respond in gratitude expressed through loving service. Because when we serve, we move from selfishness to selflessness.

       Then we make our lives beautiful — from the inside out.

       Realize that you are called.

       Serve, for you are chosen! Obet Cabrillas (kpreacherobet@gmail.com)

 

Reflection: “Do not judge from appearance or from lofty stature… Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.” (1 Samuel 6:7)

 

Lord, teach me to value internal character over external beauty.

 

St. Andrew the Scot, pray for us.

What or who are your other gods? Are you willing to shun them for Jesus? - Daily Bible Reflections August 17,2013

SHUN OTHER GODS

 

“Far be it from us to forsake the Lord for the service of other gods.” – Joshua 24:16

 

In my mind and in my heart, it is my desire to declare my love for God through my words and my life. It’s far from my mind to ever turn my back on Him to serve other gods.

       But I didn’t realize that there are times when I unknowingly serve other gods. Like when I prefer to spend longer hours on Facebook instead of reading a spiritual book that I’ve never gotten around to finish. Or when I extend my nap time instead of calling a friend who had expressed a need to talk to someone. Or when I busy myself with “nonstop” cleaning rather than spending time with my family. Or when I make excuses instead of responding to a prompting to do a charitable act. Or when I spend on useless stuff rather than saving money. Or when I complain instead of being thankful and prayerful. My list can go on and on.

       It’s shameful to think that during those instances, I served other gods. My prayer is that I can shun these other gods from my life and remain faithful to my one true God — and yield my heart to serve, love and obey Him. Sol Saura (sol_saura@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: What or who are your other gods? Are you willing to shun them for Jesus?

 

Lord, give me the strength to reject the other gods in my life.

 

St. Joan of the Cross, pray for us.

 

God Whispers - August 16, 2013

Oftentimes, you are the solution to the problem you complain about.
 
Using you,
God
 
P.S.  You can’t imagine the immeasurable scope of My power in you who believe (Ephesians 1:19).

In marriage, God has joined a man and a woman to create a family that will forever be united by that covenant - Daily Bible Reflections August 16,2013

ONE SOURCE

 

“So they are no longer two, but one…” – Matthew 19:6

 

Not so long ago, a cousin of mine, whom I was not so familiar with, died. The event prompted me to look into my dad’s family tree because I felt so sad about not having known much about my cousin. I was moved to tears when I found a picture of my dad and his siblings with their respective spouses posted by another cousin. My dad and his siblings were very close. There was a unique bond among them that amazes me until now. When each of them started their own lives and had their own families, they lived far from one another but they never grew apart. You will be amazed how they were able to constantly get in touch with one another before the time of cellular phones and the Internet.

       From the union of two people, Marciano and Consuelo, a family unit was created that has branched out to a lot of generations. Our generation may not be as close as my dad and his siblings, but as much as possible, I try to be in touch with the rest of the family. With the Internet, my own family gets to meet new cousins and reconnect with old ones. After all, we all came from two wonderful people whom God has united to become one. Mae Ignacio (maemi04@aim.com)

 

Reflection: In marriage, God has joined a man and a woman to create a family that will forever be united by that covenant.

 

Lord, thank You for unions that You have brought together. May we be reminded that no matter what trials we go through, we will have each other to count on.

 

St. Stephen of Hungary, pray for us.

The Blessed Virgin Mary always points to her Son. See if your devotion to Mama Mary indeed leads you more to Jesus - Daily Bible Reflections August 15,2013

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

SOMETHING ABOUT MARY

 

“Behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.” – Luke 1:48

 

I’m sorry but I really can’t understand those who criticize us Catholics for loving and specially honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus. (And for the nth time, we do not worship her.) She herself said in the Bible that “all ages will call me blessed.”

       If you read the whole of the Canticle of Mary, it is the greatness of the Lord that she proclaims. She declares she is a “lowly handmaid” who will be called blessed because the “Mighty One has done great things for her.”

       Why, even the Angel Gabriel greeted her, “Hail, favored one. The Lord is with you.” And her cousin Elizabeth, “filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.’”

       But importantly, take note that Mary, and those who call her blessed, point to God.

       So if there’s really something about Mary, it’s how she leads us more to her Son, Jesus.

       So we take those cues and especially honor her, and proclaim the Mighty One who did great things for her. Alvin

Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: The Blessed Virgin Mary always points to her Son. See if your devotion to Mama Mary indeed leads you more to Jesus.

 

“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you…”

 

St. Alipius, pray for us.

For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:11) - Daily Bible Reflections August 14,2013

Memorial of St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, priest and martyr

 

COUPLE POWER

 

“Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” – Matthew 18:20

 

As members of the Executive Council of Servant Leaders (ECSL) of our community Bukas Loob sa Diyos (BLD), my husband Raul and I have been traveling to different BLD districts. If you have experienced what it is like to be spending the night in the home of someone you’re meeting for the first time, you have lived the life of a true follower of Christ.

       It’s not easy, especially if you are a visitor in the U.S. where your hosts do all the domestic chores. In your mind, you become an extra member of their household with extra food to cook, extra dishes to wash, and extra cleaning to do. But one draws strength from God’s Word, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

       This love never failed to manifest itself in every BLD district we visited. Carlito and Evelyn were not an exception as they welcomed us into their home in Los Angeles with open arms, attending to all our needs. They were God’s answer to our conjugal prayer at the start of every pastoral visit. Mari Sison-Garcia (mari_sison_garcia@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:11)

 

Lord, whenever you choose to send us, give us the grace and the courage to say, “Here I am! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).

 

St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, priest and martyr, pray for us.

While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about - Daily Bible Reflections August 13,2013

BUDGET TOY FOR DYLAN

 

“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18: 3

 

When our grandson Dylan was a toddler, I often bought toys for him. Until his parents told me to stop wasting money because he already had too many toys. But I really got a kick out of Dylan looking so happy when I bought him toys so I promised his parents I would buy only inexpensive ones.

       One day, while we were in a toy store together with his parents, I told Dylan he should pick a toy that costs only P100. Quickly, the boy picked a toy and asked me, “Does this cost P100?”

       When I said no, he obediently returned the toy to its shelf. The poor boy went round and round the store, trying in vain to find a toy within our budget.

       I felt so sorry for Dylan that when his parents were not looking, I bought him the toy he liked, which was way beyond our budget. Yup, bad me.

       Reflecting on today’s Gospel, I wish to be like little Dylan — so pure, so innocent, so obedient — what Jesus said we should be if we want to enter heaven. But while we’re still in this world, we get more than what we pray for. That’s how  uch Jesus loves His faithful and obedient children. Cynthia U. Santiago (cusantiago@gmail.com)

 

Reflection: While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about. (Angela Schwindt)

 

Lord, help me to be pure and innocent in a world filled with corruption and sin.

 

St. Pontian, pope, and Hippolytus, priest, martyrs, pray for us.

List down the different ways you love and serve God - Daily Bible Reflections August 12,2013

TO LOVE GOD WITH OUR ALL

 

“Love and serve the Lord, your God, with all your heart and all your soul....” – Deuteronomy 10:12

 

To do what the above verse says is a challenge. But over the past 15 years of serving in my Catholic community, I’ve learned a lot about how to apply this verse. Here are five ways we can love and serve God with our whole being:

1. Make Him number 1 in our lives — not our spouses, our children, our parents, our boyfriends (or girlfriends), our pets, etc.

2. Offer up everything in our lives to Him — our past, present and future; our strengths and weaknesses; our joys and pains; our deepest, darkest secrets and sins — everything, big and small!

3. Spend time with Him every day in prayer and Scripture reading. If you love someone, you’d want to be with that person every day, and get to know him better.

4. Tell others about Him. If you love someone, you’d want others to know about him, right?

5. Share His love with others. This is one of the best ways we can show God we love Him — by drawing more people to love Him, too. Tina Santiago-Rodriguez (teachermamatina@gmail.com)

 

Reflection: List down the different ways you love and serve God. Compare your list with the one stated on this page.

 

Lord, please help me to love and serve You with my whole heart and whole being all the days of my life.

 

St. Louis of Toulouse, pray for us.

What seeds have you sown lately? - Daily Bible Reflections August 10,2013

Feast of St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr

SOWING THE SEED OF KINDNESS

 

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. – 2 Corinthians 9:6

 

“Stop fighting!” cried little Johnny to some brawling children, but they just ignored him. Furious, he was about to jump into the fight when a radiant Gentleman appeared to him and told him to use kindness — not blows — to win over the children.

       The Gentleman told the confused Johnny that He will give him a teacher. Then a Lady appeared. She told him to watch, and suddenly, the children turned into wild beasts. She instructed Johnny to be humble, strong and energetic so he could do for her children what he was about to see. The beasts turned into gentle lambs!

       Johnny cried when he awoke for he did not understand his dream.

       Johnny developed his athleticisms, practiced tight rope walking, mastered juggling and other skills as he grew. He then ministered to imprisoned youths and abandoned street children combining his talents with a Marian hymn, a Bible story or a retelling of the homily. He sowed bountiful kindness that transformed him into St. John Bosco, father and teacher of the youth. He reaped seven saints and 19beatifications, among them St. Dominic Savio. Don Bosco truly lived out his dream. Leo Villarico (leovrico@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: What seeds have you sown lately?

 

Lord, make me sow bountifully the seeds of kindness and Your love.

 

St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr, pray for us.

A cross can be anything. Mood swings, tardiness, dwelling on past hurts. What’s your cross? - Daily Bible Reflections August 9,2013

WHAT’S YOUR CROSS?

 

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” – Matthew 16:24

 

Bill pushes himself to work hard beyond what’s reasonable. Why? He believes his work should reflect the excellence of his God. And he wants clients to get the best.

       But he gets mad when he doesn’t achieve the results he wants. He wants to control people and processes and be responsible for the output. While clients love him because he delivers, people working with him fear him, the control freak. That’s his cross. He knows that now.

       He constantly reminds himself that relationships are more important than work output. More than a God of excellence, his God is a God of love. When he focused on that, things began to change. He continued to give his best but he surrendered the results to God. Every time he got frustrated, every time he’d want to scold the staff, he’d die to himself and allow his need to take the backseat.

       This liberated him, gave him inner peace and made him a happier person. Carlo Lorenzo (carloflorenzo@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: A cross can be anything. Mood swings, tardiness, dwelling on past hurts. What’s your cross?

 

Lord Jesus, You carried the heaviest cross to save me. Thank You. As I carry mine, use it to bless me and the world.

 

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, pray for us.

Listen to and trust in God’s Word - Daily Bible Reflections August 8,2013

HIS BETTER PLAN

 

“You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” – Matthew 16:23

 

There are times in our lives when we question what happens to us. This is especially true when bad things happen to us. Sometimes, though, God allows these things to happen because He has a greater purpose.

       When my family and I were asked to leave our mission area in Timor Leste earlier than what my husband and I had discerned for and decided on, I was honestly very disappointed. It took quite some time for me to “let go and let God,” because I felt that our Timorese brothers and sisters still needed us. I even questioned the wisdom of the elders in our community.

       I praise God though that, by His grace, I learned to surrender to His will. Little did I know that God had a better, brighter plan for me and my family. He wanted us to return to Manila for His greater glory to be revealed — so we could serve in our community more fully and, in my case, proclaim His Word through my current job at Shepherd’s Voice! Tina Santiago-Rodriguez (teachermamatina@gmail.com)

 

Reflection: Listen to and trust in God’s Word: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, My thoughts higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

 

Lord, I know that You have the best plan for my life. Help me to see beyond the bad things in my life and focus on all the good. I trust in Your thoughts and ways. Amen.

 

St. Dominic, priest, pray for us.