Daily Bible Reflections - March 5,2013

QUICK TO FORGIVE

 

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” — Matthew 18:21

 

“Papa, I left my Gameboy inside the movie theater!” my son Jason said. It had been almost 10 minutes since we left the moviehouse. We ran back to the theater. The next batch of moviegoers were already filing in. I was anxious we wouldn’t find his Gameboy anymore.

We rushed to the place where we had been seated but we only saw empty seats. My emotions were shifting from anxiety to anger when Jason said, “Papa, please forgive me for losing my video game.”

I didn’t know how to react. I just replied, “Don’t worry, it’s just a toy.” Then, as if on queue, the maintenance man approached us and asked if we were looking for a video game. He told us to proceed to their office so we could claim it.

Jesus teaches us to forgive repeatedly because God is always willing to forgive us. His concept of forgiveness is very different from ours. We are choosy about who to forgive while He forgives all who return to Him. While we take longer to pardon, God forgives immediately. God’s great love for us will always surpass our sins, whether big or small. Alvin Fabella (alvinfabella@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: When you ask God for forgiveness, do you also remember to forgive those who have offended you?

 

Lord, when I’m tempted to withhold forgiveness, remind me that You forgive my sins even when I don’t deserve it.

 

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

Daily Bible Reflections - March 4,2013

FEET OF CLAY

 

The man was also a valiant warrior, but he was a leper. – 2 Kings 5:1

 

In my blog, My B.A.G. of Miracles, I started a series entitled “Manual for Servant Leaders Who Insanely Love to Serve God Despite Harassments and Frustrations.” The working title is just for fun, but you get my drift.

The guidelines on servant leadership were inspired by my own foibles and experiences. As the art of managing fellow servants is quite different from corporate management, I thought recording my observations and reflections might help others who are anointed to lead.

Servant leaders have a big heart for the Lord and brave many challenges in the course of service, but we are far from perfect. We are sometimes afflicted by “leprosy” or human flaws that impair our leadership. When people look up to us, they get a peek at our feet of clay.

But, imperfect though we may be, we are not hopeless cases. Just as the Lord healed Naaman of his leprosy when he obeyed Elisha, He also corrects our flaws when we follow His guidance. Are we called to be more humble, loving and considerate? As we wash our sins in His river of forgiveness, we are made clean. Lella M. Santiago (mirellasantiago@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: Do you love to serve or do you serve to be loved?

 

Lord, as I go into the battlefield, let me be mindful of Your commands.

 

St. Casimir, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections - March 3,2013

THE ROCK ON WHICH WE STAND

They drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was the Christ. – 1 Corinthians 10:4

December 18, 2011 was a very busy Sunday for me. I had volunteered to serve during the two healing Masses of our Catholic community as one of the pray-over servants. With a series of Christmas parties a few days before, leaving early from the house, and a full day ahead, it was late in the day when someone asked me, “Have you heard the news?” It was only then that I learned of the devastation called Sendong. It struck the people of Cagayan de Oro and neighboring areas, surprising residents while they were asleep.

Sendong has become one of the Philippines’ worst natural disasters in two decades, with more than 1,000 people killed and the same number still missing. It was also considered the worst storm of 2011.

Life is uncertain. You never really know what kind of storm will wallop you from somewhere. But for as long as our spiritual foundation is Jesus, as long as He is the rock on which we stand, we can declare that though the foundation of the earth may be moved, still we can stand strong. Joy Sosoban (jsosoban@gmail.com)

Reflection: God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken and mountains quake. (Psalm 46:2-3)

You are the Rock of Ages. In You we stand, though the earth be moved, O Lord.

St. Katharine Drexel, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections - March 1, 2013

DON’T GIVE UP ON YOURSELF

 

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” — Matthew 21:42

 

One day, there was a little girl who planted a rose plant. She watered it daily until a little bud appeared.

She was so happy! The little red bud had so much promise, and she wondered when the bud would blossom into a rose. But upon closer examination, the little girl saw that the rose plant was growing thorns — sharp, ugly, prickly thorns. She liked the rose but she hated the thorns. So she decided not to water the plant anymore. And the rose bud never bloomed because the plant died.

I thank God that He isn’t like that little girl.

There’s a beautiful rose within you. It’s just covered with thorns. But despite those thorns, God knows better. It’s part of who you are.

And with patience, He will water you — until that rose blossoms. And then He will get the rose and cut the thorns — and put it in a vase — for all the world to see your beauty.

Right now, you may feel as though nothing is happening in your life, that none of your dreams are coming true.

Don’t give up, because God doesn’t give up on you. Bo Sanchez (bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com)

 

Reflection: Do you always stumble? Do you feel that nothing’s happening in your life? Be patient. God is at work.

 

Help me to always trust, Lord, that You are doing something when nothing seems to be happening.

 

St. David of Wales, bishop, pray for us.