We do not really know we are growing. I find that this is very true. The growth is so invisible. It grow in our sleep. We have to really do a review and see if we have really grow. I have ask myself this question, have my faith grow after I am baptized. My answer is that I really do not know. I do not really know if I have more faith in the lord now, and know him more. The question is now how do I grow then.
JS
I wanted to skip today reading totally as I think it is the same old thing. The one that tell us to have the word sink into us. Then as I read again, this verse struck me “‘Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?” It struck me as this is the very basic of parables. The one that tell us to reflect deeply into this parables. We should always ask ourselves if we really understand it, and not assume we understand it. We may be thinking we know about it but if we do not take an effort to understand it, we will never be able to truly know about the lord.
Do we have a strong man that is guarding our house? So many times in our life we are trying to guard our house on our own that we forgot about God. He is the best protector. After some reflections, I always remember of the times I feel down or get into an argument are always the time that I have let my guard down and let Satan get the better of me. Can we then let God have full control of our life.
JS
hear his own voice speaking, because you are to be his witness before all mankind
Are our ears and eyes his witness? Have we recognize the lord our God with what we see and hear. Do we talk about them? Do we openly proclaim about him? Paul did what was unacceptable in his time. He did it because he recognize and acknowledge God. How about us now? We may be persecuted by friends and others but of a different extent then are we willing to stand up and tell people about it. Let us ask St Paul to give us this courage to stand up and proclaim God’s mercy.
JS
Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. This is so well written. A lot of us practice the faith like following a written list of rules. Tradition is important in our faith and also the commandments. But the important portion here is why are we following it. Do we know if our action glorify God’s name. We should not do what we do because we were told to do it. One such practice is eating before mass. Do we do it because we were told to or do we do it so we can feel closer to God. We should take this time to pray and reflect on our practice.
JS
This is the power of “Free Will”. I felt it is not so much about Jesus willing to cure the leper but the leper asking to be cured. I felt that this week is about opening our hearts and allowing God to work within us. God is ever willing to let his grace upon us but whether we want it to happen. But again in the way he want it and not for us to want it. It is his will to be done and not ours. Only by really opening ourselves and trusting him can he work his miracles and see his promises being fulfilled in our life.
JS
People are looking for Jesus after they know and see Jesus’s power. This set me thinking about what we always say about searching for God and finding God. So the question is that which come first. Finding him or knowing about him. I believe we already know or heard about him and then we start our search for him. This will then raise another point is our reaction when we see or heard about Jesus. I believe most of us have encounter friends rejecting hearing about God, for them they would never start the search. This mean that the state of our heart will play a part when we hear about God. Are we open to him and let us be moved by him. We will then start this journey of searching for him.
It is only in this search can we have a more close relationship with him. Let us pray for ourselves in this search.
JS
It is so true as written in today reading that everything is visible to us that it is in God’s hand. We are so much into ourselves that we have forgotten about what God can do for us. We tend to think ourselves and angels, we can do anything. What the readings is reminding today tell us that although it may seem that we are above everything but we are still below God. If everything is in his command, we should then allow him to take command. I notice that for me when under pressure or tiredness, I tend not to spend the time to ask God for his direction and take things in my own hand. By analyzing too much or impulse decision does not do me any good. It is in trusting in God and letting him take charge will relieve me of my stress and pressure.
JS
Yesterday was the day of Baptism of the Lord, today we read that St John the Baptist being arrested and Jesus started calling the 1st disciple. Today is the start of the week and we see Jesus starting a new Journey in the history of the Church. Now is also a period where I start my new journey in Life. Leaving what I have and build in Singapore to start afresh here in Hong Kong. Somewhere I am familiar in language and transport to somewhere I am not familiar at all. Same for Jesus. He started his ministry fresh. No prior experience, just pure faith and helpers. Today reminded me that I would really need a community and people around me to help me. By asking, I will get the help. This period of time could mark the change for me to move to the next level of faith and my journey.
JS
What is God’s message for me today?. I am struggling with the choice of house, we have let go of an unit which I like and something that I felt was a choice that God wanted me to take but I did not take it. There is now another unit which come along but I do not have the same feel as before but instead it is the feel of fear that come to me. I am aware that by waiting will do both myself and my wife well but the fear of not having a place to stay is much higher. Letting this o will also meant that I have to pay a much higher price for the next one which I am already doing so by taking this one. The phase that keep ringing in my ear now is “Be not afraid”. Have I not understand the miracle of the loaves? I think the message to me is that if I make a choice of “Fear” and not “Love”, it is not from God. God never want us to live in fear. I know and trust in the lord. He will in the end give me what is best for us.
JS
God is love. It is so deep to think about knowing God is knowing love. How do we make the difference? God iive within us and only when we show love to others are we showing the “Godly” side of us. Many of us including myself have always show the “Me” side and not the “God” side. Although I say that i know God but I am not showing that I truly know him as I do not show the side of me that reflect God. Why then are we afraid to Love or not showing Love. Jesus today tell us not to be afraid to Love. He have shown that having just a little bread and fish, he fed many. He have shown that it is enough to give your little bit and he will fill up the rest.
JS
To Sin is not knowing him. These are very harsh words. In life, I have always trying to give reasons for my sins and brush it off. I always tell myself that I know God and God is in me. There is no issues at all about that. Today John tell us that it is not true. We should always stay focus on the Lord and his love and when we fully know and understand him more, we want to be more like him and we are able to maintain a better relationship with him and in him. This is like baptizing in his name and love and we to Sin no more.
JS
Today see another day that speak about truth and lie. John speak about a truth that point at God, a truth that no one can denied or take away.
St John the Baptist know that he is a only a messenger and he know the truth about Jesus. He take nothing away from God for himself. Now can we also point it to the lord and know hide in shame. Recognize him, acknowledge him and praise him.
We start the year with him.
JS
