23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME C

-
-->
INCLUDE THE MIND!



Many people shy away from involvement in religion because they want to be independent. And religion or faith will make them mere followers, blindly obeying without understanding. Actually this fear is not unwarranted, because so many people claim to have faith but really do not understand what this faith really means for them.



The gospel today, Luke 14: 25-33, destroys this idea of blind obedience and unthinking faith. Jesus tells us that following him necessitates the active use of the brain, the mind, reasoning itself. He likened faith in him to the serious job of planning to build something important so that you won’t suffer the trap of backtracking once you are in the middle of things. He gave as inspiration the work of a king who strategizes how to win a battle or a negotiation with a powerful enemy.



Faith in the Lord involves the whole of our lives. So many people are moved only by emotions.  Some are prompted by needs or requests. Some are even attached to their religion because of fear. The heart is important. Our present situations are also vital. Pyschological and cultural factors also enter into the scenario of faith. But we should not forget that the mind must also be included. Of course, we may not understand everything at once, or comprehend all totally in our earthly life, but the Lord gave us reason to think, reflect, scrutinize and decide regarding our faith.



Do you understand your faith? Do you know why you read the Bible, pray the Rosary, go to Mass or practice devotions? More than just habits  or traditions, these are decisions we make because we know its importance in our daily lives and for our eternal destiny.



Think about your faith in Jesus! Ponder on it! Grow in understanding and appreciation of your relationship with the Lord!


Popular posts from this blog

HOLY MASS IN FILIPINO (TAGALOG)

-
Image
ANG BANAL NA MISA PAMBUNGAD NA AWIT Pari:    Sa ngalan ng Ama, at ng anak, at ng Espiritu Santo. Bayan: Amen P.         Sumainyo ang Panginoon. B.        At sumainyo rin. P.         Mga kapatid, aminin nating ang ating mga kasalanan upang tayo’y maging marapat sa pagdiriwang ng banal na paghahaing ito.             Sinugong Tagapagpagaling sa mga nagsisisi,             Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. B.        Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. P.        Dumating na Tagapag-anyayang mga makasalana’y magsisi,             Kristo, kaawaan mo kami. B.         Kristo, kaawaan mo kami. P.         Nakaluklok ka sa kanan ng Diyos Ama para ipamagitan kami             Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. B.         Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. P.         Kaawaan tayo ng makapangyarihang Diyos,             Patawarin tayo sa ating mga kasalanan,             At patnubayan tayo sa buhay na walang hanggan. B.        Amen. GLORIA/ LUWALHATI
Read more

SIMBANG GABI DAY 1: READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

-
Image
FIRST DAY: DECEMBER 16   (from the book: Where is the Child?by Fr. R. Marcos (Makati: StPauls);  pls responsibly acknowledge source when using publicly)   fr tam nguyen's photo First Reading: Isaiah 56:1-3, 6-8   Thus says the Lord: Observe what is right, do what is just, for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed.   Hay is the one who does this, whoever holds fast to it: Keeping the sabbath without profaning it, keeping one’s hand from doing any evil. The foreigner joined to the Lord should not say, “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people”; Nor should the eunuch say, “See, I am a dry tree.” And foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, to become his servants—All who keep the sabbath without profaning it and hold fast to my covenant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will
Read more

SIMBANG GABI DAY 2: READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

-
Image
SECOND DAY: December 17   (from the book: Where is the Child?by Fr. R. Marcos (Makati: StPauls);  pls responsibly acknowledge source when using publicly)   fr tam nguyen's photo   First Reading: Genesis 49:2, 8-10   Jacob called his sons and said [to them]: “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob, listen to Israel, your father. “You, Judah, shall your brothers praise—your hand on the neck of your enemies;the sons of your father shall bow down to you. Judah is a lion’s cub, you have grown up on prey, my son. He crouches, lies down like a lion, Like a lioness—who would dare rouse him? The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace from between his feet, until tribute comes to him, and he receives the people’s obedience.”     A.             Short Background on the First Reading   1. Who was Judah? Judah was one of the twelve sons of Jacob (or Israel). Jacob was considered the father of the nation of Israel and his twelve sons were cons
Read more