Reflection: Do you want to become a missionary for God? Start your mission within yourself. Lord, You search much deeper within, through the way things appear. You’re looking into my heart… 1ST READING Paul is not averse to using a little emotional blackmail to serve his purpose. It is much better if we can convince people to do what we want them to do without it. However, sometimes we are left with little choice when people unreasonably refuse to do their part in a particular project. Let us pray that we will always do our part in spreading the Good News. Philemon 7-20 7 Beloved: I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed by you, brother. 8 Therefore, although I have the full right in Christ to order you to do what is proper, 9 I rather urge you out of love, being as I am, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus. 10 I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, 11 who was once useless to you but is now useful to both you and me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the Gospel, 14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary. 15 Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord. 17 So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me. 18 And if he has done you any injustice or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will pay. May I not tell you that you owe me your very self. 20 Yes, brother, may I profit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. GOSPEL I love the idea that the “Kingdom of God” is among us. This conjures up within me the vision of the glories and splendor of heaven descending on earth for us to enjoy. I also believe that this is what God wants but He is not able to act on this desire because we lack the expectation that He wants the best for us at all times. Faith is not just positive thinking. When it comes to God, there is no reason to be negative in our expectations of His desires for us. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord: whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit. GOSPEL FOR TODAY NOVEMBER 13, 2014 Luke 17: 20-25 20 Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, 21 and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.” 22 Then he said to his disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23 There will be those who will say to you, ‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’ Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. 24 For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 25 But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.” think: When it comes to God, there is no reason to be negative in our expectations of His desires for us.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 23:00:59 +0000
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