Daily Bible Reflections - February 6,2013

A KING WHO BELIEVES IN ME

 

Endure your trials as “discipline.” – Hebrews 12:7

 

I was asked long ago how one should face the many trials we encounter in the world. As we all know, being a Christian is not a bed of roses. I answer the question through a poem I wrote entitled “Bravery”:

Ahead of me is a battle

Created for me to fight

Thousands of foes will attack

I will be hit, they won’t be light

My face will touch the ground

My spirit will shout in pain

But my trembling knees won’t give up

I will not die in vain

For inside me is a great desire

To finish the battle within

Though wounded, I will stand up

I must conquer, I must win

I do this not for my sake

Nor for arrogance or pride

But for a King who believes in me

Who knows that I could fall, but will not hide.

I still use this poem to remind me that I should press forward, even in the midst of trials and failures, because I have a King who believes in me. Emmanuel Calayan (emmanuel_calayan@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: How is the Lord disciplining you right now?

 

Lord, thank You for disciplining me that I may share in Your holiness.

 

Sts. Paul Miki and Companions, martyrs, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections - February 4,2013

HANG IN THERE!

 

Some were tortured and would not accept deliverance, in order to obtain a better resurrection… – Hebrews 11:35

 

I have a confession to make. During the 2011 Kerygma Conference Grand Feast, I bailed out from the choir midway through the program. The heat had triggered my dizziness. Wind couldn’t squeeze through the four rows of singers in front of me and about six rows at my back. The sight of people jumping up and down and the swaying of the stage made my head whirl all the more.

I also pitied the people around me. Every time I raised my hand in praise, I accidentally bopped the girls in front. When I stepped back, I crushed someone’s toes behind me. To give them more space, two friends and I snuck out during the break. We continued singing to the Lord on solid ground, fanned by a cool breeze.

As I watched the choir onstage, I was filled with both admiration and shame. Through all that discomfort, there they were singing with joyous abandon!

We face many trials when we serve. The servants who don’t buckle under are the ones who win over many souls for the Lord. Lella M. Santiago (mirellasantiago@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: Are you experiencing service burnout because of difficulties? Focus on the reason why you serve.

 

Lord, when things get tough in my service to bring others to You, help me to take it one soul at a time.

 

St. Joseph of Leonissa, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections - February 3,2013

NOT ANY LESS GREAT

 

So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. – 1 Corinthians 13:13

 

It was supposed to be our pre-Valentine outreach with streetkids from He Cares Foundation. Along the way, they taught us their definition of love.

“Why don’t you want to take a bath?,” one of the volunteers asked one young girl. “Because this is my sister’s dress,” the girl replied.

“I promise not to curse anymore,” said one boy, when we discussed what to do as our Valentine promise.

“Why do they ask for cellophane when they sit down to eat?,” I asked Daryl, the housefather. “Because they want to bring the food to their mother,” he said.

If we judge the topic of love by the amount of attention it gets in songs, movies, books and everywhere else, we can easily conclude that it is the greatest. But “greatest” is not necessarily popular. So on that day in February, I learned the various ways of showing love.

And it wasn’t any less great for being different from what I am used to. Just like Jesus—who offered His life for love of me. Joy Sosoban (jsosoban@gmail.com)

 

Reflection: God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

 

Dearest Jesus, as You are Love Himself, grant me the grace to show love.

 

St. Blasé, bishop and martyr, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reflections - February 1,2013

SHOWING JESUS

 

And the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. – Mark 4:27

 

When I was in college, I had a friend with whom I had lunch almost every day for two years. Let’s call him Bill. During those lunches, I’d share my faith with him. But no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t seem to convince Bill to follow Jesus. He said he had a lot of doubts. He had many other problems and he wasn’t ready to commit. But even if we didn’t agree about spiritual things, we enjoyed our friendship.

We talked about sports, girls, cars, girls, music, and…did I mention girls? (After all, we were college guys!)

When I dropped out of college, we lost touch.

And I never heard of Bill again.

Eleven years later, I was walking in a mall and guesswho I saw — Bill! I asked him how he was, and he gave me the shock of my life. He said he was a Christian missionary!

I couldn’t believe my ears.

He then said five words that made my heart leap for joy: “Thanks for showing me Jesus.”

For those two years that I had lunch with the guy, it seemed like nothing was happening.

But what showed him Jesus?

Our friendship. Bo Sanchez (bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com)

 

Reflection: Have you shown Jesus to anyone? Why not start now?

 

May my every word and deed reflect You to others, Lord Jesus.

 

St. Ansgar, bishop, pray for us.