Daily Bible Reflections - April 23,2013

ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED

 

“If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” – John 10:24

 

Will I accept this service in our community? Should I continue to entertain this suitor? Which dress should I wear — the red or the pink?

If God has spoken plainly to some people in the past, can He also speak plainly to me when I’m in a dilemma?

I have asked God all these questions before — from the life-changing questions to the mundane or even vain. Believe me, He has answered them all... but not always plainly. Many times, He gives His answers through circumstances, the people around me or my prayer time. On a few occasions, He made things plain and clear. It really doesn’t matter much how He speaks. What’s more important is that our hearts are ready to listen to His voice and we obey Him.

Did I accept the service being asked of me? Yes. God spoke to me through my circumstances and Scripture.

Did I continue to entertain that suitor? Yes. God spoke to me through someone I know.

Which dress did I wear? I wore the red one; because God spoke plainly to me through a song.

Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag (teregmps@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: Do you recognize God’s voice when He speaks to you?

 

Lord Jesus, speak to my heart. Please be my guide.

 

St. George, martyr, patron of England, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections - April 22,2013

FULL LIFE IN BEING CHILDLIKE!

 

“I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10

 

Babies have special powers to captivate anyone. They have tantalizing eyes that can melt you with their gaze. They have little cute noses whose sneezes can make you giggle. They have angelic smiles and laughter. They have an amazing appetite. (I always wonder how babies get chubby just by taking milk.)

What’s even more amazing is their capacity to love you back.

Through their little eyes.

Through their little smiles.

Through their little gestures.

Babies are living wonders because they never lose their sense of wonder. They are little packages of hope!

Pablo Picasso once said that every child is an artist. The challenge is how to keep this artist alive for the rest of your life.

Someone said that in heaven, there’s a sign that says: “For Children Only. Adults Not Allowed!”

You want to live life to the fullest?

Avoid childishness; practice childlikeness.

Because from a pure heart comes a full life! Obet Cabrillas (kpreacherobet@gmail.com)

 

Reflection: Are you childish and immature, or childlike and pure?

 

My Father in heaven, let me live like Your child here on earth.                                   

 

St. Adalbert of Prague, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections - April 21,2013

MORE THAN ASKING

 

“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” – John 10:27

 

Today, as soon as I open my eyes, the first thing that comes forth from my lips is, “Thank You, Lord.”

Many years ago, when I was in the middle of a financial crisis, waking up was a struggle for me. I knew that as soon as I awoke, the problem would hit me right in the eye. I had credit card debts, and I was also being hounded by investors of a failed business that my cousin and I had put up. Those were dark days for me, and all I would do was worry, cry and get mad. I didn’t know where or whom to turn to.

I couldn’t even tell my husband. But one day, he found out and talked to me. His words hit me hard. “Have you asked God to help you? I’m sure He talks to you, but do youlisten?” Then he led me to pray. As we did, my whole body, especially my heart, was on fire. Because as I laid out my problems to Him, a different calmness took over me. The key to prayer, which I learned that day, was to talk to God and then listen.

As I listened to God, I also learned to trust in Him until my faith became stronger.

Prayer is much more than asking. To pray is also to listen and to follow Him. Chelle Crisanto (ellehcmaria@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: We are the sheep of the Lord. Listen to His voice because we know that no one can snatch us out of His hand.

 

Lord, I need to learn from You. Speak to me and fill my heart with the humility to obey.

 

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

Daily Bible Reflections - April 19,2013

SIDELINE

 

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” – Acts 9:4

 

I was once hard-line with my convictions. I subscribed to an ideology that placed me “left of center” in the political spectrum and I reveled in my belief that I was serving my country by being “radical,” by joining farmers and the marginalized in protest marches against the oppressive administration, and supporting the ousting of foreign military bases in the country. I may not have persecuted Christians but I turned away from Jesus and made an ideology my way of life.

I try to place myself in Paul’s shoes at that very moment when Jesus asked him the life-changing question in the above verse. “Dina, Dina, why have you forgotten Me? Why did you choose an ideology over Me?” I could only bow my head in shame and cry tears of remorse. While change for the good was what I had intended to help bring about, there’s no excuse for purposely pushing Jesus to the sideline.

I look back to my “old life” and feel no regret but only thankfulness to Christ who called me by name. He healed me of my “blind” belief and taught me the divine ideology: only faith in Him will bring about real change and lead us to eternal life. Dina Pecaña (dpecana@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ would take the slums out of people, and then they would take themselves out of the slums. (Ezra Taft Benson)

 

Forgive me, Jesus, for the times I chose lesser things over You.

 

Blessed Luchesio and Buonadonna, pray for us.