Daily Bible Reflections- March 08, 2012

Mommy and Inday

 

“My son, remember that in your lifetime you were well-off while the lot of Lazarus was misfortune. Now he is in comfort and you are in agony.”– Luke 16: 24

 

At age 54, Mommy succumbed to cancer. For her 10th death anniversary, I made a video of snippets from her youth until adulthood and memoirs from family and friends.

On her 20th death anniversary, I watched the video again. This time around, I was struck by Inday’s testimonial. You see, Inday was Mommy’s loyal household help and my yaya(nanny). She was already in her late 30s when she finally left us to start her own family. It was providential that I found her years later to hear her stories. She intimated, “Lourdes was a good person. She never treated me as her maid but made me feel like I was part of her family. Sheeven gave me a pearl. She said it was her inheritance for me.”

Mommy’s kindness to a person when others would have shown apathy or could have maltreated them because of their status in life earned for her a special place in Inday’s heart. She also earned her place by the Lord’s side. As her only daughter, I strive to emulate her and do little good deeds for the day, every day. Marie Franco (mariefranco_pie@yahoo.com)

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REFLECTION:

Little acts of kindness have a reaping effect in God’s hands.                                                                                          

 

Lord God, let me praise and honor You through little acts of random kindness I do to people around me.

 

St. John of God, religious, pray for us.

 

Daily Bible Reflections- March 07, 2012

what’s best

 

“What is it you want?” – Matthew 20:21

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” my father asked me when I was five years old. I answered, “I want to be a cowboy!”

It’s a good thing my dad didn’t take my answer seriously. If he did, he would have saved up for a horse for me to ride when I grew up. Imagine me walking in a mall wearing a cowboy suit and going around riding a horse.

I thank God that my father knew what was best for me. In fact, he believed in me so much that when I was six, he asked me again what I would like to become when I grew up.

I answered confidently, “Papa, I don’t want to be a cowboy anymore. I want to be an astronaut!”

When I changed my mind, he didn’t force that cowboy decision on me. God is your Father. He knows you very well.

It’s a good thing He doesn’t answer all our prayers.

If He did, our lives could be such a mess.

God desires your best always.

Trust Him. Arun Gogna (gognaa1@yahoo.com)

 

REFLECTION:

What do you really want in life? Are you sure?

 

I thank You, Lord, for not answering all my prayers. I put my trust in You.

 

Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections- March 06, 2012

Example That We Set

 

“Do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.” – Matthew 23:3

 

My Mama, God bless her soul, has passed away but she set a good example for me and my brother while we were growing up. She asked us to speak kindly to each other and never to utter curse words. I never heard my parents quarrel because they would do it in their room. And when she exhorted us to serve each other, she would set the example by serving us first during mealtimes. I have many weaknesses, but I’ve always tried to abide by the little kindnesses that my mother demonstrated.

Because there are people who look up to me (whether I like it or not), it gives me pause for thought that I might be leading others away from God by the life that I live, just like the Pharisees in the verse above. Wouldn’t it be a terrible thing to live seemingly like a Christian and then be found to be a fake when you get to the other side?

As we look at our own lives, let us ponder on the example that we set through our thoughts, words and deeds. And let us strive to do better.  Joy Sosoban (jsosoban@gmail.com)

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REFLECTION:

What kind of example have I set for my family and friends?

 

Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. May You increase and I decrease.

 

Servant of God Sylvester of Assisi, pray for us.

 

 

Daily Bible Reflections- March 05, 2012

YOU ALWAYS RECEIVE MORE THAN WHAT YOU GIVE

 

“Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands — all that you can hold.” – Luke 6:38

 

Our prayer group was doing an outreach project in a public hospital in Rizal. Since it was December, we decided to visit the pediatric ward. In each room, we sang Christmas carols, talked to the sick children, chatted with their parents, gave them simple gifts and prayed over them.

I felt the happiness of those we visited. But I was still looking for the scene that would make our outreach extra special.

On our way out, the facilitator told us that we missed one room. As we entered the room, a three-year-old patient welcomed us with a smile. I approached his bed and he showed me a toothless grin followed by a contagious giggle. His name was Dexter. When I gave him the gift, he said thank you and even rendered us a song. He was sick but he was a very happy child. I even heard him laugh as we were leaving the room.

Dexter made our outreach special. We gave him a gift, sang to him and prayed over him. But the joy he gave us that day outdid all the things we presented.  Alvin Fabella (alvinfabella@yahoo.com)

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REFLECTION:

God loves a cheerful giver. Do something good to a stranger today.

 

Lord, let me be an instrument of Your love and joy today.

 

St. John Joseph of the Cross, pray for us.