Sunday Gospel Reflection
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Luke 6:17, 20-26 | Feb. 13, 2022
Jesus Teaches and Heals
Josie Gonzalez
“Jesus looked at his disciples and said, ‘Happy are you poor; the Kingdom of God is yours! Happy are you who are hungry now; you will be filled! Happy are you who weep now; you will laugh! Happy are you when people hate you, reject you…all because of the Son of Man! Be glad when that happens…a great reward is kept for you in heaven.’” (Luke 6:20-23)
“Let go, Let God.” Simple, madaling sabihin, madaling tandaan pero mahirap gawin! Mahirap talagang sumunod sa Panginoon. Madali kumapit sa materyal, sa kapangyarihan, sa pera, sa yaman. Pero nariyan ba ang Panginoon? Diyan ba natin Siya makikilala?
The Lord God tells us to let go and trust Him. To strip ourselves so we may follow Him completely in mind, spirit, and soul with an open heart. Am I a good follower of Christ? I try to and tell myself many times over that He is the only way to everlasting joy. His heavenly Kingdom is ours for the taking, a divine gift from our Father, if we tread the narrow road. Yes, a road that is rough with pain and hunger, potholes of hate and rejection along the way, stony and dusty; but the Lord said, “Come to me, all of you who are tired and heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Many times, I fall but I get up. We can if we let go and let God.
What is our calling? Saan be tayo tinatawag ng Diyos? Is our way of life focused on helping others? Or are we so busy enriching ourselves with the mundane rather than that which is spiritual and pleasing to the Almighty Father?
Today’s Gospel tells us that what we have in this present world, the material riches we now enjoy, power and wealth and clout are nothing but perishable. Wala tayong madadala o mabibitbit pagsumakabilang-buhay na tayo kung kaya’t ang dapat nating pagtuunan ng panahon at atensyon ay ang Salita ng Diyos. Isabuhay natin ito.
The Lord God invites us to rest in Him. Are we ready? Where are we spiritually? Pagnilayan natin ito. I am blessed to do the Gospel reflection every second Sunday of the month. It is an important part of my spiritual journey. It is knowing God and loving Him and asking Him to pick me up and carry me through as I bear my pains, my hurts, my fears, and worries. But didn’t He say, “Be not afraid, I am with you”?
Mama Mary, too, our intercessor, ang ating tagapamagitan kay Hesukristo, reminds us not to fear anything saying, “Are you not in the folds of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms?”
Yes, many times I fall prey to human weakness but bounce back by praying to the Almighty for strength and wisdom.
Our journey with the Lord is a process that never stops until that time when we meet Him in heaven. Let’s give this some thought.
As we travel the narrow road, let’s walk with Christ Jesus in joyful silence, in solitude, in peace with our neighbors, hand in hand with our family and loved ones, with a giving heart, a forgiving mind, loving friends and foes alike, enjoying this vast universe and thankful for God’s blessings to mankind; all these, while we listen to His voice reminding us to live a life of purpose and meaning. As we journey with the Lord, let’s close our eyes to all the distractions around us, paying attention instead to that tiny voice saying “follow me.”
Saan tayo? Where am I in all this? I reflect and meditate and share my personal experiences and realizations during the two and a half years I have been doing Gospel reflections, hoping I am able to pass on lessons I have learned along the way. Lessons like joining our crosses in life to that of Jesus’ and leaving them there in total surrender. Not easy to humble ourselves but it is “freeing”. Strengthening our prayer life is good for the soul; it is leveling up our eternal aspirations and moving away from the physical and material of what is here and now.
Great! Pero saan na tayo? Saan na ako? Lessons learned, yes…but are they practised? Naiisakatuparan ko ba ang mga leksiyon na ito o bukang bibig ko lamang?
Our God is a forgiving God. His love for us is beyond words.
But we have to leave our life of sin. Pray unceasingly. Repent and seek forgiveness.
Gusto ng Diyos na makasama tayo sa kanyang Kaharian. May oras pa tayo para magsisi at humingi ng Kanyang kapatawaran.
May oras pa nga ba tayo? This very moment, yes; repent and sin no more. Beyond, only the Almighty Father knows.
A blessed Sunday!
——
Artwork: Jesus Teaching by the Seashore by James Tissot
