The story is told about a little boy who said to his father: “Dad, did you know that in some countries, you don’t know who your wife is until you get married?” With a sigh, the father responded: “It’s like that everywhere, son …”
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How well do we really know the person of Jesus? Do we have a deep insight not only of His works and teachings but especially of His person, His character? If we really are His followers, then, let us become more and more like Him in our thoughts, words, and deeds.
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In today’s Gospel (Mark 6:30-34), we can learn who Jesus was: A man of prayer. A man of compassionate heart. A man with a mission. Consequently, we who follow Him must have prayer, a compassionate heart, and a mission in life.
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PRAYER. The Lord told His disciples who were so busy: “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). This underlines the importance and necessity of prayer in a disciple’s life. Without prayer, we may become professionals and functionaries who end up living vain, empty, proud, compartmentalized, and transactional lives. Please remember that, while the work of our hands is important, let us not forget the love in our hearts. We are not mercenaries; we are disciples and missionaries with a Master.
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COMPASSIONATE HEART. When Jesus saw the vast crowd, “His heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34). We who follow the Lord must not become arrogant, angry, proud, selfish, comfortable, and privileged disciples. More than our wisdom or eloquence, our people are looking for followers of Christ who have the time, the heart, the understanding, and the patience of Jesus. If we do not go the “extra mile” and give the “extra smile,” then who are we and what are we?” Let’s stop being impressive, and start being expressive! As someone said it so well: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” (Theodore Roosevelt). May the people we meet, encounter God in us, and may we become GEMs i.e., God Encounter Makers/Medium, in any way we can.
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MISSION. The whole life of Jesus was a mission to spread the Good News of the Father’s love. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that those who believe in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:16). We who follow Jesus must have a strong sense of mission to go to the world and preach the Gospel to all creation. What are you doing, what have you done for the Lord? Is the Lord in your life agenda? Or is your life all about yourself? What have you done, what have you shared, what have you sacrificed for the Lord? Today, let us all pray: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). May we all choose God above all false gods in this life. Sana. Sana all.
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May people know, remember, or be reminded of God when they see, meet, or talk with us. May we bring God in our thoughts, words, and deeds. May we all continue, in whatever way to be witnesses of God’s presence and love in our present day and time. More and more, may we see every moment as a GEM (God Encounter Moment), and may we all strive to be a GEM (God Encounter Maker/Medium), and that’s how discipleship goes on and on.
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I remember Papa and Mama telling us when we were children “lalaingan yo,” which means give your very best. They were aware that they didn’t have the resources to help prepare us for the future, but they kept telling us to be good (“agsingsingpet”), to study hard (“agadal nga nalaing”), and to pray always (“agkararag kanayon”). They told us to give our best effort, and I am so grateful for their encouragement and challenge. Today, perhaps it would be good for us to ask ourselves: Am I giving my best effort for God? Am I living a grateful life that never forgets service and sharing with others, and payback time to the Lord for all that He has done and given to us?
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If the Lord had done for us even just one of what He had done, that would have been enough. Hence, the Hebrew concept of “Dayenu,” which teaches us to be grateful to God with humility, sincerity, and joy. To God, we say: “Lord, thank you for your so many blessings; we cannot demand for more. If more blessings come, thank you! If some are taken away, thank you just the same. Amen.”
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A moment with the Lord.Lord, help us to be your children who pray, who are compassionate, and who carry your message of love. Amen.
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