Driven by faith

Sept. 22, 2016

Title: Driven by faith

Gospel: Luke 9:7-9
Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, "John has been raised from the dead";  others were saying, "Elijah has appeared"; still others, "One of the ancient prophets has arisen."
But Herod said, "John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see him.

 Reflection:

“Herod was greatly perplexed and he kept trying to see him.”

The meaning of greatly perplexed is unable to understand something deeply. When I read the gospel for today it sparkled some interest in me to research more about what happened in the past so I can further understand what it is trying to tell me. I then found out that Herod the tetrarch in our story was the son of Herod the great, the one who initiated Massacre of the Innocents when Jesus was born. So who is this Herod the tetrarch and why is it that he felt greatly perplexed as described?

I googled and read more about him and the history of this big “Herod” family. Well do we remember the time during Herod’s birthday when Salome danced and entertained his guests? In return, he offered her any request to be fulfilled as long as she asks of it. Salome followed her mother’s (Herodias) request and Herod fulfilled it which resulted in beheading John the Baptist and placing the head on the platter. I believe during that time, Herod felt powerless since he cannot take back what he has said but after hearing the current news of John being raised from the dead, he wondered even more and decided to see him if it was true.

In our life there are situations that make us feel greatly perplexed in which we have no control and sometimes we question God why it is happening to us. There are everyday circumstances wherein it is difficult for us to understand or accept some happenings because it exceeds our capacity unlike God who created everything. When we feel that we are in a perplexed situation, let us remember that we cannot change it but we can change our perception towards it. We can change how we think and act according to the will of God. We should always have faith and constant prayer in believing that God always know what is best for us, he will provide what we need even if we don’t ask it and everything is possible for Him.

John the Baptist lived his life fulfilling the mission that God created him to do while King Herod was powerless and doubtful of his beliefs. As members of this community and as Roman Catholics, it is never easy to choose the better part in everything but we walk by faith and not by sight. We may not understand but God willingly allows it to happen because of a greater purpose behind it. By his grace, he will reveal that purpose to us through the Holy Spirit as we continue journeying with him. We are anointed and called by God through our names and each of us has a mission to fulfill while we are here. We are not an accident and God has planned all of this before we are born. Let’s be reminded that everything here on earth is temporary but our God and His love is permanent. Let’s walk and be driven by our faith for God will lead to us to where he has destined us to be. Take courage and find that purpose you we can live a life pleasing to God and in turn bring back the glory that He alone deserves.

And for all of this, may God be praised.

Welcome to KFC UAE!

CFC Kids For Christ Ministry - UAE
Welcome to CFC Kids For Christ Ministry!!

The CFC Kids For Christ MISSION-VISION:
"BRINGING KIDS TO THE LORD AND BUILDING A BRIGHT NEW WORLD."

Our service in KFC as ROCK facilitators was inspired by the verse from Mark 10:14
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

In serving at KFC, ROCK means Reaching out Christ to Kids. Jesus is commanding us to do the same, to lead Him closer to the Kids that they may know and be more like Him. Let us become an instrument of God's love especially to the future generation of CFC and God's favorite ministry!! Let us take part in fulfilling God's great and wonderful plan for the youngest members of our community!

Experience Jesus' great and unstoppable love and invite kids to be part of the KFC ministry.
You can pray and decide to become a ROCK Facilitator today! :)

KFC Ministry Cluster C Dubai UAE
KFC Song: Called to love
Photo/Video credits to the owners

Youtube video link: https://youtu.be/ZosTNhZmpSU

Love is the Answer

 

Date: June 2, 2016
Gospel: Mark 12:28-34 New International Version (NIV)

The Greatest Commandment

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

Reflection:

Jesus clearly said in the Gospel: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

If Jesus would tell me those words, I would have asked him: “Lord how do I love like you did? How easy can loving others be? How can I express that love? Please help me to understand the kind of love that you are teaching and in return to do it because I don’t know.”

I have a hard time understanding what love is and its definition depends on each person’s experience and story. Love for me is complicated and I guess it’s my weakness and it’s also what I lack within me (I think so). Growing up, I had longed to feel and experience the kind of love that makes you feel warm, joyful, contented and the kind of love that people fight for. I had been finding that love and I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to understand that love is simple, that love can be described as a sacrifice and being selfless like what Jesus did for all of us on the cross.

We are 7 in the family and our parents were ex OFWs. They had provided a great life for all my siblings. They gave what they think was deserved by us and we are blessed for all the sacrifices that they did. They gave us the best even if it cost them more time working and being away from us. In the absence of our parents, we grew up with other people taking care of us. We know that they love us because they are working hard to send us to great schools for us to have a better future. I guess my parents showed that love in a different way that I did not understand it before.

2 years ago, our parents have retired and our eldest sister has a family of her own. I, being the 2^nd eldest child, felt that it is my responsibility to provide for the needs of my parents and my sibling. I know that it’s my turn to sacrifice since I believe that sharing my resources is one way where I can extend my love to them despite the distance. There are times that the efforts I put cannot be appreciated and somehow that makes me feel sad. There are moments that make me feel burdened that I just want to give up trying. Sometimes there are unexpected situations that I need to sacrifice my own desires so I can provide more for their urgent needs. A lot of times I find myself complaining, worrying about my future and helplessly crying if I cannot take it in anymore. It is very hard but by the grace of God, He makes it possible. I guess during those trying times, God is testing as to how I can give more to my family. He is checking my heart if I can love and think of my family more than my own self.

Following the command of God is easy but loving others can be so hard. Why is it so hard? I realized that love can never be forced, never be explained completely through words, but expressed through actions and can only be felt from our heart. Some people say that if it doesn’t hurt then it’s not real love. At first love can hurt, but in the end it can be tolerable and somehow it will be meaningful because you freely gave and sacrificed it. I realized that God is measuring my capacity to love through my family and He wants me to continue giving and be selfless in serving my own family.

I have been serving the community for 11 years now and I believe God wants me to also serve my family. I am thankful that God made me realized how important it is to love and accept my family. I admit that I had neglected them when I joined the YFC community because I thought and felt unloved before. Through my services in SFC and KFC, God made me appreciate and value their presence more. Despite the unexplained wounds, God removed the pains and hurts that I had buried beneath my heart. He has healed and made me realize that it is time to let go, time to forgive and be forgiven, time to heal and time to express my way of love to the people closest to me. He has replaced the burdens in my heart with inner peace and joy that there’s no more room for pain, fear and negativity. I am still a work in progress and I pray that may God give me the mercy and grace to continue what he was entrusted me and that may I never get tired of trying.

Everyone is created uniquely and we are blessed by love in different ways. We are indebted to love as God has loved us despite our faults, failures and past. In all our worries and problems, God is the answer because God is love. Believe that he hears our prayers and assures us that difficulties are there for a reason and he will reveal His great plan in his perfect time. May we continue to love others more even if it hurts and obey him in all circumstances while we rejoice, pray and give Him thanks.

And for that, may God be praised!

 

 

In whatever questions and situations that we will encounter,

let's remember that love is always the answer.

For our God is love and love is God,

therefore we can never go wrong for Love conquers all.