For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? (Matthew 5:46) - Daily Bible Reflections June 14,2016

RANTINGS OF A

WRITER

 

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” – Matthew 5:44

 

     “If you’re horrible to me, I’m going to write a song about it, and you won’t like it. That’s how I operate.”

       I couldn’t help chuckling when I read this quotable quote from young, beautiful singing sensation Taylor Swift.

       I am a writer. I blog. And I admit, I am sometimes tempted to operate like Taylor Swift says she does. You know — when people do horrible things to me, I feel like writing something they won’t like.

       I’ve had my share of rejections and persecutions. I get angry. I weep and gnash my teeth. I rant to someone who would empathize with me, take my side. I rant and rant before God.

      And then, I somehow hear today’s reading: “Love your enemies.” I roll my eyes and rant some more — that what God is telling me to do is not that easy.

     But at the end of the day, all I do is this: write — not my actual rantings — but just how I rant.

    And well, I pray today’s Psalm 51… Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love… Cynthia U. Santiago (cusantiago@gmail.com)

 

Reflection: For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? (Matthew 5:46)

 

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

 

St. Albert Chmielowski, pray for us.

If anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. – Matthew 5:41 - Daily Bible Reflections June 13,2016

GO THE EXTRA MILE!

 

If anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.  – Matthew 5:41

 

     In my experience, there are five types of poverty mentality. The Trapped Belief says, “I was born poor and will remain poor for the rest of my life.”

       The Juan Tamad Belief, says, “No amount of effort can make me rich, so I will just be lazy for the rest of my life.”

       The Wish-Ko-Lang Belief says, “My only chance to become rich is to win the lotto or Who Wants to Be a Millionaire show.”

      The Rich-Is-Evil Belief says, “I hate the rich and don’t want to become rich. The rich demean and oppress the poor.”

      Finally, the Con Belief says, “Because the rich are evil, let’s cheat and steal from them so they’ll be as miserable as us.”

     But the Gospel teaches there’s a sure-fire way to become affluent. And that’s to go the extra mile! We don’t just give what we can. We give our very best and never stop improving, never stop growing, never stop giving. This is what Anglican theologian John Wesley meant when he said, “Work… earn… save… give as much as you can.”

      Real wealth is enriching your life so that you can enrich others. Go the extra mile, my friend, and all these things shall be added unto you. Obet Cabrillas (kpreacherobet@gmail.com)

 

Pope Francis Says: “When we are generous in welcoming people and sharing something with them — some food, a place in our homes, our time — not only do we no longer remain poor: we are enriched.”

 

Bless me, Lord, that I can work, earn, save and give as much as I can.

 

St. Anthony of Padua, priest and doctor of the Church, pray for us.

Do you have a personal relationship with God? Search for Him in the simple things and realize how big His love for you is - Daily Bible Reflections June 10,2016

SEARCH AND LISTEN

 

After the earthquake, there was fire — but the Lord was not in the fire; after the fire, there was a tiny whispering sound. – 1 Kings 19:12

 

       Hubert was going through a difficult time. He was in desperate need for a job. One Sunday afternoon, he tuned in to a radio program that announced job opportunities. He had planned to take notes but fell asleep soon after. He woke up listening to a Catholic radio program where I serve as a co-anchor.

       Our program airs testimonies of people who met God and now have a relationship with Him. Hubert began to listen to our program every Sunday afternoon. Then He came to one of our prayer meetings and has since been a regular attendee. Things in his life started to fall into place after he started a relationship with Jesus.

       Hubert’s story reminds us that God does not always come in big, grand ways. Elijah didn’t find God in the fearsome fire and earthquake but in a “tiny whispering.” Hubert did not meet God in a big worship concert or through a powerful preacher. He accidentally listened to a radio program as he was searching for a solution to his personal problems. Finding God became the starting point in solving his problems. Alvin Fabella (alvinfabella@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: Do you have a personal relationship with God? Search for Him in the simple things and realize how big His love for you is.

 

Lord, make me sensitive to the nuances of Your movement in my life.

 

Blessed Joachima, pray for us.

 

God is the best business partner. Glorify Him with your work and He will steer your endeavors to greater heights - Daily Bible Reflections May 31, 2016

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed

Virgin Mary

 

GOD, OUR SALES

AGENT

 

“The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name.” – Luke 1:49

 

       At the Christmas party of our family’s business, Papa always gives a speech to thank our employees for a fruitful year. He also encourages them for another year of hard work ahead. We do not have a dedicated sales agent to get and develop new accounts, yet we always close the year with numerous projects and satisfied clients.

       In his speech last year, my heart overflowed with joy and gratitude when he made an interesting remark. “We don’t have a sales agent. Only God is our Sales Agent.”

       Prospects and projects come smoothly for the business because Papa never fails to instill in all of us the true source of our blessings. Such faith and hard work has brought the business to new heights, which benefits not only our family but, more importantly, our employees.

       God has been faithful to us because this month, we celebrate 22 years of serving the Philippine food industry. Ruby Albino (r_jean07@

yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: God is the best business partner. Glorify Him with your work and He will steer your endeavors to greater heights.

 

Lord, we trust in Your faithful love. Amen.

 

St. Mechtildis, pray for us.