Daily Word - February, 26th 2019

Mk 9: 30-37

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 

He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

Sir 2: 1-11

My child, when you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity. Cling to him, forsake him not; thus will your future be great. Accept whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient; For in fire gold is tested, and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation. Trust God and he will help you; make straight your ways and hope in him. You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy, turn not away lest you fall. You who fear the Lord, trust him, and your reward will not be lost. You who fear the Lord, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy. Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the Lord and been disappointed? has anyone persevered in his fear and been forsaken? has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed? Compassionate and merciful is the Lord; he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble, and he is a protector to all who seek him in truth.

What Touched my Soul

I've included this passage of the Sirach book today because it touched my soul in many ways today.

- Our God is a God of Love although the book refer fear. I like to think of it more like respect and realization that God is the Lord and the One we should adore, respect and take as our Master. We are nothing more than God's instrument in this world.

- In "misfortune be patient". How many times we end up questioning God for our misfortunes? Questioning why us? Questioning our faith in Him. This Bible text tell us that we must be patient and trust that if we trust in God we will end up being saved.

- Trust in God, have faith like a child have in his father.

- Trust and Faith is a common place in this reading from Sirach an yesterday's Gospel where Jesus urges us to have Faith and put our life into God's hands. Before going through the martyr of the cross Jesus gave us a beautiful lesson of humility and abandonment: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." (Luke 22:42). I like to think that the first part of Jesus words were is human form to talk to the Father, but the abandonment feeling expressed by " ... yet not my will, but yours be done." is for me a very strong example of faith and trust.

- Abandon ourselves in the arms of our Lord. Allowing him to rule our lives. Be patient in misfortune and hope in the Lord. Thank God and rejoice for His favor in fortune. As the Psalmist say: "Lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters: (Psalm 23: 2)

- Today Gospel touched me in the sense that we humans tend to compare ourselves in mundane ways. Jesus lead His disciples , and us, to be aware that what matters is the radical view of the frailties behind the masks we use everyday. We followers of Christ must look under that. What is important is be here for our brothers and sisters, serve and make the other happy. Lose our life to earn it latter is a God promise - "Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it." (Mt 10:39)