My reflections for Mar. 07, 2006 - Tuesday

March 7, 2006

Reading I
Isaiah 55:10-11

Thus says the LORD:
Just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
And do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
Giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
So shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
It shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.

(The Lord assures the people through Isaiah that His word never returns to Him empty. As we reflect today upon the power and efficacy of the Word of God, let us open our hearts in a deeper way to it so that its transforming power may have grater freedom to do its work in our lives. Without this power all of our efforts will come to naught, as alone we cannot change our lives.)

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19

R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.

Meditation for Lent <== Click here

Gospel
Matthew 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
“In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This is how you are to pray:

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

“If you forgive men their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

(Multiplication of words does not ensure a greater hearing for us anywhere, let alone in the courts of the Lord. We are all aware that the most effective speech or homily or input to a group of people is one that is short, clear, concise and without self-aggrandizement. The same is true for prayer. Let us apply these simple principles to our relationship with God and I am sure we will discover a qualitative difference in our faith.)


God's special verse/thought for me today.
Today Lord is my birthday and I know You knew that because before I ask you for a birthday gift you already knew what I needed. Thank You for showering me with people inquiring about AC and it is now in Your hands to water these people and let them see the light.
Lord, You have showered me with different blessings big and small since You decided for me to come out in this world. From the day I became existent in this temporal world, You gave me a freedom of choice because You are a liberated Father who does not impose Yourself to Your children. I am very sorry Lord for offending You so many times and giving into temptations because I was weak never asked much for Your divine support so I could be strong. Lord, now that I am 39, I know that my complete surrender to you is what you've been waiting for, so you could RESTORE my whole being, my body, my mind, and my soul. Starting today and to the rest of my life, I am all Yours Lord. I am here Lord, Your humble servant surrendering myself for Your dispositon. You now fully control my life and my destiny - use me for Your good works.
I Love You Lord, You are my ONLY sure Hope, You are my Light, You are the Truth, You are the Way. I UNCONDITIONALLY ACCEPT my fate that You have destined for me for I desire now ONLY Your way and not my own way. So HELP me God, have MERCY on me. Have pity on me, I trust in You, rescue me.

my reflections
think: The most effective speech or homily or input to a group of people is one that is short, clear, concise and without self-aggrandizement.
O Lord, teach me how to pray. It is not my ability to pray that you favor me but Your presence in me is what matters most. You guide me in every way and You act through me even my prayers are Your prayers. I am nothing, I don't know anything. You are the one who controls my whole being because I've surrendered everything to You. My prayers are always answered because these are also Your prayers which the Heavenly Father always answers.

thank You Lord for: 39 years of blessings.
thank You Lord for filling us with Your words and promises.
thank You Lord for teaching us to pray.
thank You Lord for controlling my life.
thank You Lord for answering my prayers.