Tag Archives: God’s presence

LIVING TEMPLE OF GOD

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Tuesday 9th February – Tuesday of week 5 of the year

Reflection: 1 Kings 8:22-23.27-30

LIVING TEMPLE OF GOD

“But can you. O God, really live on earth? Not even all heaven is large enough to hold you, so can this temple that I have built be large enough?”

God in his benevolence has blessed us with his presence and assured us that He is with us as “Emmanuel”. Just as King Solomon was granted the grace to build a temple for God to live in, God calls us too to recognize His presence in our Churches. He has a covenant with us and shows us his love when we live in whole-hearted obedience to him. (1 Kings 8:23b). This was an attribute of Solomon who obeyed God and longed to do his will.

God is supreme and he only knows all things. What he wants for is the best for our lives and whatever He commands us to do is ultimately for our own benefit. When we put our trust in God, we give Him the go-ahead to work in our lives. This must be our driving strength and courage while waiting on him in prayer. We must avoid anything that would rob us of our trust in God or that would encourage us to find alternatives in solving our problems outside God’s presence.

As we make our way to Gods temple especially in the Blessed Sacrament, let us always be ready to build our lives on his will, trusting in our Creator who has a perfect plan for our lives. Let us never grow weary of fellowshipping with others at public worship but be joyful in the love that binds the people of God together. The Living temple of God in our midst is a vivid sign of God’s love and mercy for his people. It’s a place of refuge and a house of deliverance. As we do that, we too will be transformed into living temples of God where he is pleased to dwell as the scripture says: “Whoever loves me will obey my teaching. My Father would love him, and my Father and I will come and live with him” John 14:23

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, make me know your covenant for my life which is your will for me. Make me planted in your presence always. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 190 – What is a Christian house of prayer?

A Christian house of prayer is both a sign of the ecclesial communion of people at a specific place and also a symbol of the heavenly dwellings that God has prepared for us all. In God’s house we gather together to pray in common or alone and to celebrate the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Whoever loves me will obey my teaching. My Father would love him, and my Father and I will come and live with him” John 14:23 GNB

Today’s Readings: 1 Kings 8:22-23.27-30; Ps 84:3-5, 10, 11; Mk 7:1-13

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GOD IS WITH US

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Saturday 20th December

Reflection: Isaiah 7: 10-14

GOD IS WITH US

When we think of God, the image that readily comes to mind is that of a great and awesome being far away in the Heavens who created all things and sustains the universe. Though we know we are his children by virtue of our baptism, we still often do not relate to him as a father; we often find ourselves obeying His commands more out of fear than out of love.

The beautiful message of this season of Christmas is that the same God who is great and mighty, the God who created all things has come to dwell amongst us as man. This is how much He loves us. He has come to live in our midst, to experience the ups and downs of daily life with us and to show us that He is not disconnected from us and unaware of the challenges of our human nature. More importantly, He has not only humbled Himself to be like us, he has raised us up from our fallen state to be like Him… to be truly children of God, bearing the same nature of the Father and heirs to His kingdom.

Dear friend, as you reflect on today’s reading, let the name “Immanuel” bring you joy and hope. Let it remind you that God truly dwells with us. Though Christ has left this world in his human nature, He is ever with us by virtue of His Spirit that dwells in our hearts. He unites Himself to us in the Eucharist, continually pours out His grace upon us so that despite the difficulties we face, we may live the holy life to which He calls us. Remember, God is truly with us!

PRAYER: Thank you dear Lord for stooping down to our level and raising us up to where you are. Please help me to always be conscious that you dwell with us so that I can face life with hope and trust. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 79 – Did Jesus have a soul, a mind, and a body just as we do?

Yes. Jesus “worked with human hands, he thought with a human mind. He acted with a human will, and with a human heart he loved” (Second Vatican Council, GS 22, 2).

HIDE A TREASURE: “For our high priest is not someone who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, for he was tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. Let us, then, with confidence approach the throne of grace, so that we will obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16 CCB

Readings for Today: Isaiah 7: 10-14; Psalm 24: 1-6; Luke 1: 26-38

HIS HELP IS NEAR

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Saturday 23rd August – Saturday of week 20 of the year

Reflection: Psalm 85: 8 -14

HIS HELP IS NEAR

We often think of God as so far away in Heaven; disconnected from us His creatures and simply desiring us to obey His commands without much interest in our day to day affairs. This however is not the case. God is a Father who is involved in the everyday affairs of you and I his children. More often times than not, it is we who do not invite Him into our affairs, our day to day activities.

Dear friend, God is not just interested in you; He is very much interested in helping you. The help He stretches out to you each day is much closer than you think and that is what today’s Psalm reminds us.

Simply make it your ambition to fear God; to please Him in all you do and you will find that in difficult moments His help will be manifested just as His word promises. His help is near to those who fear Him. (Psalm 85:9).

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for your great love for me. Please help me to trust in your help every moment of my life. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 470 – What prompts a person to pray?

We pray because we are full of an infinite longing and God has created us men for himself: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you” (St. Augustine). But we pray also because we need to; Mother Teresa says, “Because I cannot rely on myself, I rely on him, twenty-four hours a day.”

HIDE A TREASURE: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”  Psalm 46:1 RSV-CE

Readings for today: Ezekiel 43: 1-7; Psalm 85: 8-14; Matthew 23: 1-12

LIVING IN GOD’S PRESENCE

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Wednesday 2nd July – Wednesday of week 13 of the year

Reflection: Amos 5:14-15, 21-24

LIVING IN GOD’S PRESENCE

All that God has in store for us as his children is deeply rooted in our living in his presence. In God’s presence, we have all we need and are positioned to possess all that is ours as his sons and daughters. The big question is how to perpetually live in his presence. What does God looks for in his vessels? How can I become acceptable to God?

Many have missed it because they are willing to sacrifice all they have acquired in life but unwilling to sacrifice their very selves. The scripture says that silver and gold belong to God (1 Kings 20:3), all animals in the forest are his (Psalm 50:8-11). Hence, whatever you give to God is simply a return of the gifts He has given you. As wonderful as it is to give your material possession to God, it does not guarantee a deep friendship with him. Dear friends, our reading today gives us the right answer: “Make it your aim to do what is right and not what is evil, so that you may live. Then the Lord God almighty really will be with you, as you claim he is” (Amos 5:14).

God’s choice for us is an invitation to make him live in our hearts and let him fill us with the grace to do his will. Then, justice would flow like stream and righteousness like a river that never goes dry (Amos 5:24). This is God’s appeal to us today. Let us thirst for his presence and become his tool for change in our environment and our world.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I surrender my life to you today, take possession of me and breathe out your love through me to the world.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 84 – Was Mary only an instrument of God?

Mary was more than a merely passive instrument of God. The Incarnation of God took place through her active consent as well.

 HIDE A TREASURE: “Whoever loves me will obey my teaching, My Father will love him, and my Father and I will come to him and live with him” John 14:23 GNB

Readings of Today: Amos 5:14-15, 21-24; Psalm 50:7-13, 16-17; Matthew 8:28-34