Good News Reflection
Tuesday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time
March 4, 2014
Saint Casimir
Today’s Readings:
1 Peter 1:10-16
Psalm 98:1-4
Mark 10:28-31
Many that are first will be last, and the last will be first. (Mark 10:31)
Today’s Inspirational Snippet:
We need Spirit-filled discernment to identify what God wants us to give up when it’s time to let go of it.
Spirit filled discernment
MEditation from Terry A. Modica, The word among us and Mary Lorelei Vicedo Aquino
After Jesus announced how difficult it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God in today’s Gospel reading, Peter piped up with some compliment fishing of his own: “We have given up everything and followed you” (Mark 10:28). It’s as if he were saying, “Give us some credit here!” But Jesus cut him off, maybe in an effort to save Peter from embarrassing himself. Yes, you have done well, he said, and you will be rewarded.
But then Jesus spoke a simple sentence, easy to repeat, easy even to understand, but hard to take in fully: “Many that are first will be last, and the last will be first” (Mark 10:31). Peter had learned the way of the gospel as far as giving up everything to follow the Lord. But he had not yet learned that Jesus calls us to give up even our desire to achieve, our striving to be first. He calls us, in fact, to follow him all the way to the cross.
As we stand on the cusp of Lent, let’s keep this verse in mind. God is calling you to free yourself from the world and your fallen nature a little bit more. He is calling you to devote yourself to him and his kingdom a little more. But it’s easy to become proud of your Lenten observances and, like Peter, want to promote yourself.
You don’t have to argue your case before God! He sees everything you do for him, and he delights in all of it—even the smallest act of self-giving. He loves you. He wants to draw you close to himself. He rejoices in everything you do that brings you one step closer to him. So stop trying to put yourself forward. Rather, imitate him by preferring the back of the line. Don’t worry; he’ll find you. And when he does, he will usher you right into his kingdom!
We need Spirit-filled discernment to identify what God wants us to give up when it’s time to let go of it. Then we must trust Jesus as we accept the changes. Such trust always rewards us with new adventures, new paths, new friends, and new blessings that are a hundred times better than what we’ve given up.
Discernment
By Mary Lorelie Vicedo Aquino
Living in God’s Grace
Hoping and wishing all will be fair
Striving to live in just and honest life
All in the untainted conscience and soul
Prudent to live with skills and resources to accomplish desired goal
Enriching lives so we don’t get tempted to sin
We have talents and will to decrease our chances to sin
We have empowering love of God to protect us from all that is evil
Be shrewd, be clever and wise
Not to ruin our soul but to protect it each day
Know our values, our core, our skills
So we could always know how to be of guard to avoid sin and evil
Let us not be part of the dissolution and conflict
Let us be a part of peace and become a warrior for peace
Live and practice only those that are righteous and holy
To lead a life worthy of God’s blessings and purpose
God has a precious plan for all of us
Let us use all of our God-given talents and resources
To fulfill our destiny and be a full pledge disciple of Christ
A Christ warrior at heart, mind and soul
One blessed with the right approach, the right words, and the right opportunities to share the faith.
One that takes strategies to gain wisdom and courage to fulfill the goals
Be a warrior on guard to protect faith, hope and love
Building the path to the Kingdom of heaven
Father, help us to be more discerning in all we do, say and think
Lead us to a life that will make you proud
Share your blessings to everyone and share your miracles of love
Increase our hope, faith and love to fulfill our destiny set by you
Through you, with you and by you we live, we hope and we cling to your promises. Amen
“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:1-6
Prayer of the Soul
“Lord, draw me to yourself more completely during this season; help there to be more of you and less of me. Lord make me an instrument of your peace, where there is hatred let me bring love. Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is error, truth; Where there is doubt faith, Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness; joy. O Divine Master, grant I may not so much to seek, to be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understood; To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning we are pardon and it is dying that we are born to eternal life. Father, in your hands and heart I surrender all that I am, all that I am hoping to be and each and every one who I am praying for and anyone praying with me today. We are all hand in hand raising our hands to praise you and glorify you our God. Lay your hands upon us and lead us to a life worthy of all your blessings and forgiveness. Father, let is always be your will not ours. We accept and we follow because we love you our God. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, all the angels and saints. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Alleluia to you our King for the life we share today. We praise and glorify you God for all that we have, all that we wish to have and all that you have planned to provide to all of us….
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