“The great leaders of the people of God, like Moses, have always left room for doubt. You must leave room for the Lord, not for our certainties; we must be humble.” - Daily Bible Reflections February 19,2016

THE CHALLENGE

 

Leave your gift there at the altar, go first be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. – Matthew 5:24

 

       During Lent, we find ways to sacrifice. Maybe in the form of abstinence. Or maybe fulfilling a ritual or vow. I guess, at the end of the day, we are all called to go beyond our comfort zone.

       How about a different challenge this Lent? The challenge is to sacrifice our need to be right all the time so that we can grow our relationships. Here are a few examples to show us how this works:

        Your child commits a mistake again. Instead of pointing out the wrong that he did, discover what led to it by listening and understanding.

           Your spouse irritates you for the nth time. Instead of criticizing your partner, find out what his or her real intentions are and seek to understand.

       Your co-worker messed up again. Instead of pointing out the problem, understand where she’s coming from and help her find a solution.

         The basic rule of the challenge? Less pointing. More understanding. Orange Garcia (orange_garcia@hotmail.com)

 

Pope Francis Says: “The great leaders of the people of God, like Moses, have always left room for doubt. You must leave room for the Lord, not for our certainties; we must be humble.”

 

Lord, expand my heart and mind with understanding.

 

St. Conrad of Piacenza, pray for us.

 

God answers our prayers in His perfect time, in His perfect way - Daily Bible Reflections February 18,2016

PERSISTENCE IN

PRAYER

 

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. – Matthew 7:7

 

       The sky was overcast with heavy clouds. I wondered if the clouds were as heavy as the weight in my heart. There were only a handful of people inside the church, but I paid them no heed as I walked right to the front. I glared at the cross as I cried. You said that if I asked, then You will give it to me, I said. I’ve been asking for a long time, but You never gave me anything.

       At the time, I had no money, no job, no replies from the companies I sent my resumés to, and no answer from the God I gave my life to serve. His answer was silence that stretched on for months.

       But the more God kept quiet, the more I kept praying. Sometimes I prayed with faith, other times with doubt and bitter tears, but I never stopped praying. I asked but I also continued to seek for His answer in whatever form it came. I kept knocking on every door of opportunity, until finally, I was led to an open door. Blessings have poured in since.

       So don’t stop asking. Don’t stop seeking for His will. And don’t stop knocking on doors. The answer will come in His perfect time. Karren Renz Seña (karren.s@shepherdsvoice.com.ph)

 

Reflection: God answers our prayers in His perfect time, in His perfect way.

 

Father God, in all things, in all circumstances, may I always continue to seek and understand Your will, not mine. Amen.

 

Blessed John of Fiesole, pray for us.

“Although the life of a person is in a land full of thorns and weeds, there is always a space in which the good seed can grow. You have to trust God.” - Daily Bible Reflections February 17,2016

YOUR

CIRCUMSTANCES

 

Because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.” – Luke 11:32

 

       Because I’m used to “Filipino time,” I always cut it close when I go to work. Unfortunately, my new job requires me to clock in a few minutes before my time so that I can replace a workmate on time. It gives the person I work with a chance to have her own break.

       So it wasn’t surprising when my manager called me aside and asked me to come in earlier. From that time on, I’ve tried to do so, even if it meant foregoing breakfast and my other usual preparations. That experience taught me to value being on time more seriously, which is a sign of respect for people here in New Zealand.

    The chance for conversion comes to us through the people and circumstances of our everyday life. The question is, will we heed God’s instrument, or do we wait for a “bigger” or more painful messenger?

       Listen through your circumstances. It might be asking you to change something about your ways. Joyce Sosoban-Roa (jsosoban@gmail.com)

 

Pope Francis Says: “Although the life of a person is in a land full of thorns and weeds, there is always a space in which the good seed can grow. You have to trust God.”

 

Dearest Jesus, soften my heart and enable me to change when You tell me so. Amen.

 

Seven Founders of the Order of Servites, pray for us.

 

“Faith likewise offers the possibility of forgiveness, which so often demands time and effort, patience and commitment.” - Daily Bible Reflections February 5, 2016

GRACE TO FORGIVE   So Herodias harbored a grudge against John… – Mark 6:19        “Mama, you should have another baby,” Danica kidded her mom before she left for school. That morning, her parents received a dreadful phone call.        Danica died in a road accident caused by a reckless jeepney driver. When my friend rushed to the hospital, she saw her husband  quietly crying in a corner of the emergency room. He looked at her and said, “As early as now, let us find the grace to forgive.” My friend broke down.        During the wake, she told me that they decided not to press charges and instead forgive the driver. “Because we have been forgiven by Christ, we chose to forgive him, too,” she said.        Unlike Herod and Herodias whose resentment led them to kill John, my friend’s gesture of forgiveness has inspired many to get closer to God.        Just recently, I bumped into this couple at the mall. I was ecstatic to see the husband carrying a little girl in his arms. With tears in her eyes, my friend told me that God has blessed them with another child.        Just like what Danica had wished for them the day she died. Marisa Aguas (jojangaguas@yahoo.com)   Pope Francis Says: “Faith likewise offers the possibility of forgiveness, which so often demands time and effort, patience and commitment.”   Heavenly Father, help me to forgive. Not by my own efforts but only by Your grace can I do this.   St. Agatha, virgin and martyr, pray for us.