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After several months, I was finally able to go to the Catholic Church for the anticipated Sunday service. They moved their Sunday service time from 9-10 a.m to 10-11 a.m. I have to work tomorrow from 11a.m. to 8p.m. and in order to be at work on time I have to leave the house at about 10:00 a.m.
I brought Peter and Jonei with me and as usual, Peter’s short attention span made him play with the hymnals and the missalettes. I came there to have my me and the Lord time and I couldn’t have it because I was constantly telling him no and pointing to Jonei the words the Priest were saying. I could not concentrate much until I offered it to the Lord.
When it was communion time, I made sure they remembered to put their crossed arms on their shoulders so the Priest could just bless them. Peter’s first reaction after seeing me receive the holy communion was “what does it taste like? I told him he would know when it’s time for him. Jonei also asked me when will it be time for them to receive it. I said she has to have the proper catechism first then she could have her first communion.
What I wanted to share with you today is how I felt earlier – frustrated because I get distracted and shamed because Peter might be distracting somebody else. I was right because on the way out, as I was happy that people were telling Jonei how good she sings, a lady told me to control Peter because he was distracting her. I apologized to her. But as we pass by Msgr. Francis, he told me “thank you for bringing them to the church.”
I wanted to bring up my kids the way my mom brought me up in faith. I want them to know the Catholic way but since I have been doing the children’s time at the New Vision Church on Sundays, I don’t get to do it much; only on times like these when the Lord allows me to. And then you will hear comments that makes you feel bad. On the way home, I was replaying the scene in my mind and wondered whether I should have told the lady “that’s the reason why we do not come often ma’am, because I can’t control my kids to act like kids.”
It is hard for kids to stay focused for 10 minutes, let alone at least one whole hour. But God knows what He is doing. I try to praise Him even when I don’t feel too good physically and emotionally. He is still God and has to be praised in everything. He deserves it.
Now I know why today’s reading says to continually offer God a sacrifice of praise. When we do not feel like it and we still praise Him, that becomes a sacrifice pleasing and wonderful in His eyes.
Yes, even when I do not feel like working because it is a Sunday and I’d rather be in church, I need to go and do my job the best I can because that is what God expects of me. I can worship Him even at work. I can have my God and me time on my 45-minute drive to work.
Are you having difficult times? Does it feel like storming to you? Praise God even in storm and be still. Know that He is God, He knows what He is doing and everything will come out good in the end. Just trust Him. He loves you more than you’ll ever know.
“Father in heaven, help me to praise you when I can’t breathe right ’cause my allergies are acting up; when I feel lazy, when I cry; when I am upset and mad at the world. Let me praise You despite the bad times because I still couldn’t count the many blessings You have bestowed on me from birth. And just for waking up today, let me praise You. In the mighty name of Jesus, with the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Meditation: Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21
Brothers and sisters:
Through Jesus, let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise,
that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have;
God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.
Through Jesus, let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise,
that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have;
God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.
Obey your leaders and defer to them,
for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account,
that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow,
for that would be of no advantage to you.
for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account,
that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow,
for that would be of no advantage to you.
May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead
the great shepherd of the sheep
by the Blood of the eternal covenant,
furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will.
May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
the great shepherd of the sheep
by the Blood of the eternal covenant,
furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will.
May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
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