September 22, 2010
Luke 9:1-6
Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them." Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.
My reflection:
I went to mass today, and this is the reflection of Fr. Tony Labiao, Jr., our Parish priest at Saint Peter Parish, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.
He said there are 2 points of reflection on today's Gospel; first is the summoning of the Twelve and empowering them to start the Evangelization process. By empowerment, Fr. Tony meant that Jesus did not gave the Twelve just a seminar but a "formation."
Jesus lived and ate amongst the Twelve apostle and He showed them how to spread the "Word of God" while they listen and learned.
Second is the instruction: He said "Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
Fr. Tony said that when we serve God, we should not carry too much baggage or too many if's and but's feelings. What we should do is to leave it all behind and concentrate on our mission to serve, to love and to do sacrifices.
To add to what Fr. Tony said, I think we should also improve on our "Trust" side. We should totally rely on God because that is what He wanted us to do when we serve Him.
Maybe some of us are "half hearted" when the issue of Trust comes knocking on our doors. When we think that God is not doing anything on our problems or concerns, we tend to do it all by ourselves as human as we are.
But He said, "Be still and know that I am the Lord."
I remember a Catholic Lay Preacher who was invited to give a "talk" to a community in Bicol. Having short of transportation fund, he was able to raise just enough money going to Bicol. Now his problem is the transportation money going back to Manila.
Trusting the Lord, He said that "God will provide the rest." So he rode the bus to Bicol and arrived at the place where he will give the talk. After his successful talk to the community, the organizer handed him an envelope where he thought contains the transportation money to buy his ticket to Manila. On the bus home, he opened the envelope and to his surprise found that the money is not enough to pay his ticket to Manila. Saddened by the situation, he alighted the bus and started walking home. It was about 3 in the afternoon. While walking, he was praying to God, that he will be able to get back to Manila. After several kilometers of walking, and it was really getting dark in the middle of nowhere, a car stopped by him and told him, "You are the Preacher that gave the talk to us right?" Hop in. We're going to Manila. Where are you going? Why are you walking? To cut the long story short, although a bit embarassed, he told them the truth. In the end he was able to come back to Manila, safe and sound.
But life must go on for this faithful servant of God, that although he experienced such embarassment, he never thought that his God has failed him, since he was able to come back to Manila.
After a week of that incident, he received another invitation from another community. This time it is not located in the South or North of Manila but it was based in California, USA. Plane ticket and advance pocket money is on the way.
God is so good! All the time! God bless you all!
Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them." Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.
My reflection:
I went to mass today, and this is the reflection of Fr. Tony Labiao, Jr., our Parish priest at Saint Peter Parish, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.
He said there are 2 points of reflection on today's Gospel; first is the summoning of the Twelve and empowering them to start the Evangelization process. By empowerment, Fr. Tony meant that Jesus did not gave the Twelve just a seminar but a "formation."
Jesus lived and ate amongst the Twelve apostle and He showed them how to spread the "Word of God" while they listen and learned.
Second is the instruction: He said "Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
Fr. Tony said that when we serve God, we should not carry too much baggage or too many if's and but's feelings. What we should do is to leave it all behind and concentrate on our mission to serve, to love and to do sacrifices.
To add to what Fr. Tony said, I think we should also improve on our "Trust" side. We should totally rely on God because that is what He wanted us to do when we serve Him.
Maybe some of us are "half hearted" when the issue of Trust comes knocking on our doors. When we think that God is not doing anything on our problems or concerns, we tend to do it all by ourselves as human as we are.
But He said, "Be still and know that I am the Lord."
I remember a Catholic Lay Preacher who was invited to give a "talk" to a community in Bicol. Having short of transportation fund, he was able to raise just enough money going to Bicol. Now his problem is the transportation money going back to Manila.
Trusting the Lord, He said that "God will provide the rest." So he rode the bus to Bicol and arrived at the place where he will give the talk. After his successful talk to the community, the organizer handed him an envelope where he thought contains the transportation money to buy his ticket to Manila. On the bus home, he opened the envelope and to his surprise found that the money is not enough to pay his ticket to Manila. Saddened by the situation, he alighted the bus and started walking home. It was about 3 in the afternoon. While walking, he was praying to God, that he will be able to get back to Manila. After several kilometers of walking, and it was really getting dark in the middle of nowhere, a car stopped by him and told him, "You are the Preacher that gave the talk to us right?" Hop in. We're going to Manila. Where are you going? Why are you walking? To cut the long story short, although a bit embarassed, he told them the truth. In the end he was able to come back to Manila, safe and sound.
But life must go on for this faithful servant of God, that although he experienced such embarassment, he never thought that his God has failed him, since he was able to come back to Manila.
After a week of that incident, he received another invitation from another community. This time it is not located in the South or North of Manila but it was based in California, USA. Plane ticket and advance pocket money is on the way.
God is so good! All the time! God bless you all!
Edgardo Lucena Thanks Bro John. I hope you can also share your reflection. Thank you too Mine.September 23 at 1:58pm ·
May Manalaysay God is good all the time....September 23 at 11:39pm ·- Edgardo LucenaYes May. God is so good all the time. If we can just learn how to count our blessings and thank God every single day, there will be no depression, suicide, fighting, bickering and separation of marriage, etc. Let's all remember that Thanks...giving is the heart of prayer.
God bless you!See MoreSeptember 24 at 12:06am · 
Mary Jane Bugarin Anes just hold on to what Jesus Christ promises and nothing to worry he provides everything. he he he musta po regards po ke sis Len!!!September 24 at 12:55am ·- Edgardo Lucena I say Amen to that. Thanks for your sharing! God always provides! Regards to all of you too.September 24 at 1:00am ·
Marilyn Lacanilao Jesus said ,blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see GodSeptember 24 at 10:06pm ·- Edgardo Lucena Amen!
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