How are your relationships? Are they pleasing to God? - Daily Bible Reflections February 27,2015

SAVING GRACE

“Go first and be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” – Matthew 5:24

       My girlfriend and I were driving to Tagaytay one weekend to serve in a retreat. I can’t remember now what sparked our fight but we were soon irritated at each other. Tempers rose and we hurled hurtful words at each other. By the time we reached the venue, neither of us wanted to budge from our seats.

       And then it hit us. We couldn’t give what we didn’t have. So we held each other’s hands and calmed down. We humbly prayed to God for forgiveness, peace, healing and understanding. We asked God to remain at the center of our relationship. We reconciled and left all the hurt behind.

       We got out of the car refreshed and grateful to God. That weekend turned out to be one of the best retreats we had ever served in. It was full of healing, anointing and ease.

       I thank God for His saving grace at that moment. He reminded us that before we begin to love and serve others, we should love and serve our own relationships first. Didoy Lubaton (christianlubaton@yahoo.com)

Reflection: How are your relationships? Are they pleasing to God?

Lord, in my desire to love and honor You, make me remember that giving love and honor to my brother or sister is what You want me to do.

St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you…”– Matthew 7:7 - Daily Bible Reflections February 26,2015

THE AWESOME POWER

OF AS KING IN PRAYER

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you…”– Matthew 7:7

       At a seminar my wife and I attended, the speaker told us to write down our dreams. Dreaming is free anyway, so we wrote crazy things like a European trip, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, establishing an orphanage, putting up a family business, and other outrageous fantasies.

       I was poor and jobless then. The company I worked for had just closed down. My wife was a full-time homemaker. So those dreams were really wild. But the speaker told us to pray about them daily and believe God had already granted them.

       That blew my mind. But obey the speaker’s instructions we did. And so we asked God — and asked again and again. Lo and behold, each and every one of those crazy dreams turned into reality. We were transformed from being blessed to becoming

blessers and mighty believers.

       Ours indeed is a big God and His blessings are limitless. We just have to ask, pray and persist in praying. So go ahead, ask God. Rey Ortega (reylindo.ortega@gmail.com)

Reflection: When you ask God for something huge and ambitious, do you pray timidly, doubting that you don’t deserve what you’re asking for? Or do you believe that God’s deepest desire is to make you happy and whole? Believe the latter.

Lord God, I love You and I know that You love me. I offer to You my dreams and I thank You in advance for granting them.

St. Porphyry of Gaza, pray for us.

Many people pay attention to their physical bodies than their spiritual life. Don’t forget: your body will waste away but your spirit lives forever - God Whispers February 26,2015

Many people pay attention to their physical bodies than their spiritual life. Don’t forget: your body will waste away but your spirit lives forever.


Prioritize the eternal,
God



P.S. What kind of diet are you feeding your soul?

What sign will you show Jesus to tell Him that you really love Him? - Daily Bible Reflections February 25,2015

DIVINE SIGN

“…no sign will be given it…” Luke 11:29

       I once heard this story about a priest.

       During his ordination, right before he marched to the altar to give his final vows, he uttered a prayer to the Lord to give him a sign if He really wanted him to be a priest. He asked for the sign of white flowers. But as he marched, he only saw red flowers. He was expecting that the sampaguita (white flower) girl would enter the church as she usually does. But that day, she wasn’t around.

       The ordination continued. Still, there was no sign. When he prostrated himself for his final vows, the Lord spoke to him. “You are looking for a sign? Before you were born in your mother’s womb, I chose you. When many of your seminary friends were leaving the seminary, I gave you the strength to continue. Do you remember? Some priests and bishops said you were not fit to be a priest. But now you are the only one to be ordained from your batch. And yet you still ask for a sign? Now, I would like you to give Me a sign!”

       Today this priest, Fr. Alex Balatbat, is one of the most loved priests of our time. Arun Gogna (gognuts@yahoo.com)

Reflection: What sign will you show Jesus to tell Him that you really love Him?

Lord Jesus, may I be a true sign of Your great love for mankind.

Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio, pray for us.

Do you take time to pray for the needs of others in the same way that you ask God to help you with your need? - Daily Bible Reflections February 24,2015

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

“Give us today our daily bread.” – Matthew 6:11

       I vividly remember my short encounter with her during our prayer group’s outreach program at a government hospital. She looked extremely shy when I first saw her. She tried to cover her face with the pillow when I smiled at her. She remained silent when I asked for her name. I handed her a sandwich but she just stared at it. I showed her a book. She pointed to the side of her bed as if to say, “Just leave it there.”

       I learned from a nurse that the young girl attempted suicide a few days ago. She refused to talk to anyone since her confinement. Then our leader announced that our outreach program was ending in a few minutes. I looked at the shy patient again. This time, her pillow covered only half of her face. She looked curious. I approached her bedside, closed my eyes, clasped my hands and said a short vocal prayer for her healing. I took one final glance at her. She smiled back. I realized that this young girl needed not a sandwich, a book or a Christmas carol. She needed a prayer.

       God also knows what we need each moment. This is the reason why He teaches us to pray for our “daily bread.” He does not want us to worry about tomorrow. His love assures us that He will provide whatever we need at the moment we need it. Alvin Fabella (alvinfabella@yahoo.com)

Reflection: Do you take time to pray for the needs of others in the same way that you ask God to help you with your need?

Lord, thank You for providing for what I need each day. Amen.

Blessed Luke Belludi, pray for us.