My reflection for Jan. 13, 2006 - Friday

January 13, 2005 – Friday

1st Reading – 1Samuel 8:4-7.10-22
All the elders of Israel came in a body to Samuel at Ramah
and said to him, “Now that you are old,
and your sons do not follow your example,
appoint a king over us, as other nations have, to judge us.”

Samuel was displeased when they asked for a king to judge them.
He prayed to the LORD, however, who said in answer:
“Grant the people’s every request.
It is not you they reject, they are rejecting me as their king.”

Samuel delivered the message of the LORD in full
to those who were asking him for a king.
He told them:
“The rights of the king who will rule you will be as follows:
He will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and horses,
and they will run before his chariot.
He will also appoint from among them his commanders of groups
of a thousand and of a hundred soldiers.
He will set them to do his plowing and his harvesting,
and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.
He will use your daughters as ointment makers, as cooks, and as bakers.
He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive groves,
and give them to his officials.
He will tithe your crops and your vineyards,
and give the revenue to his eunuchs and his slaves.
He will take your male and female servants,
as well as your best oxen and your asses,
and use them to do his work.
He will tithe your flocks and you yourselves will become his slaves.
When this takes place,
you will complain against the king whom you have chosen,
but on that day the LORD will not answer you.”

The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel’s warning and said,
“Not so! There must be a king over us.
We too must be like other nations,
with a king to rule us and to lead us in warfare
and fight our battles.”
When Samuel had listened to all the people had to say,
he repeated it to the LORD, who then said to him,
“Grant their request and appoint a king to rule them.”


Reflection from Companion – God has given us the gift of free will. This means that there are times when He must allow us to make mistakes as when the Jews demanded a king like the other nations of the earth against the will of Samuel and the Lord. This points to a certain mysterious aspect of true love that is willing to allow others the freedom to do things that may ultimately be harmful to them. Of course, we allow this only to a certain degree – you do not allow someone to kill him or her self without trying to stop them even forcefully.



My reflection by Tom Cagurangan – this is actually happening in our world where people choose their own king – their money, work, employers, and materialism. People does not really understand who is the most powerful of all. We are given by God the power of choice and most of us chooses the desire of the flesh. This is a great lesson to all us to really figure out who is our true king that we should serve. Do we serve more our mortal employers? Do we work hard and longer just to survive and earn just enough to pay the bills? How much do we spend thinking or thanking God everyday or every week? Now, let us be honest. Do we even go at least an hour to church every Sunday?
I am a humble servant of God and Jesus Christ is my Lord and my King.


PSALM – Psalm 89: 16-17, 18-19
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
For you are the splendor of their strength,
and by your favor our horn is exalted.
For to the LORD belongs our shield,
and to the Holy One of Israel, our King.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

GOSPEL – Mark 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,
it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,
not even around the door,
and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,
they opened up the roof above him.
After they had broken through,
they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him,
“Child, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
Jesus immediately knew in his mind what
they were thinking to themselves,
so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”
–he said to the paralytic,
“I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”
He rose, picked up his mat at once,
and went away in the sight of everyone.
They were all astounded
and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”



Reflection from Companion – Commitment is the name of the game when it comes to following Jesus. Nothing was going to stop these men from getting their friend into the presence of Jesus. They must have been utterly convinced of Jesus’ power to heal the paralytic for them to tear the roof off the house where Jesus was staying to get their friend to him! How often do we go to such extremes in order to be faithful to the call that Jesus has on our lives? I wonder if we have ever done anything as extreme as this.

My reflection by Tom Cagurangan – How much do we believe in Jesus Christ? Are we ready to take any trials by just living in faith? Do we really TRUST Him with all our problems? Are we sure we could rely in Him to help us prosper? Are we ready to offer everything to the Lord and just live in faith because we TRUST Him so much that He is going to take care of all our needs and even shower us with overflowing abundance?
Lord Here I am, your humble servant. I’ve offered you everything I have because I TRUST in you that you are bringing me to into a Massively Successful place. Thank you Lord for declaring High Achievement and Massive Success to your committed disciples.

My reflections(Tom Cagurangan)
Think: Commitment is the name of the game when it comes to following Jesus(from Companion by Bo Sanchez)
Yes Lord, I am committed to serve and follow you until my last breath. Sharing my daily reflections to all who are worthy is one of my commitments. Serving you in my local church is another commitment(a choir member, a lector, or a Bible sharer). My commitment to participate as often as I could in a Holy Eucharist and receiving the Body of Christ will definitely empower me. Bless me O Lord that you will make me very strong to remain committed to you. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

God’s special verse/thought for me today
I am a committed child of God and I remain truthful to Him because He is my Light my Savior, my Lord and my King

Thank You Lord for: opening my eyes that the real happiness and success in life is by being committed to serve you and by following your ways because you prosper your children who are worthy of your blessings.