Preach the Gospel

As Christians, we are all bound to spread the Word of God. It is our duty bring the message of God to the people. As servants of God, we shall all act according to His will. This is the message of the Gospel today.

Luke 12:39-48
39 Jesus said to his disciples: Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” 41 Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” 42And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. 45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, 46then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. 47 That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; 48 and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

Reflection:

As a follower of Christ, have you ever played your part in spreading the Good News?

Be Prepared at All Times

Following Christ is not an easy task. As Christians, we are all bound to be of service to the Lord. The Gospel for today is telling us all to be vigilant at all times and be prepared to face God and heed His call when the time of His arrival comes.

Luke 12:35-38
35 Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps 36 and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. 38 And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”

Reflection:

As disciples of Christ, it is truly difficult to follow the call of the Gospel. Are you always prepared to follow what God may have called you to do?

Be Rich in what Matters to God

Presently, people become greedy. All they think is to accumulate wealth no matter what it takes -- even if they commit crime or gain wealth through other people's expense.

Today's Gospel speaks about what really matters to God. God wants us all to be rich of the things that really matters to Him.

Luke 12:13-21
13 Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” 14 He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” 15 Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. 17 He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ 18 And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods 19 and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ 21 Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”

Reflection:

Wealth itself is not evil, however, it becomes evil if wealth becomes your master. Are you building wealth just for your self or for the glory of God?

Holy Spirit: Our Guide

Today, God wants you to know that the Holy Spirit is always with us. We shall not fear because at times of our need the Holy Spirit is there to guide us. 

Luke 12:8-12
8 Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. 9 But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. 10 Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”

Reflection:

In times of trials, do you fear? Or do you seek guidance from the Holy Spirit?

God Knows Everthing

The Gospel today speaks about how God knows everything about us. No secrets could be kept from Him.

Luke 12:1-7
1 At that time: So many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples, “Beware of the leaven — that is, the hypocrisy — of the Pharisees. 2 “There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. 4 I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. 5 I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. 7 Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”

Reflection:

What are the secret sins do you keep? God knows everything.

Share you Faith with Others

God is calling on all of us to spread His Words. Jesus called His disciples to spread His teachings. He did not do the preaching alone but He delegated the task to His disciples.

Today's Gospel is about sharing our own experience of faith to others. As followers of Christ, we need to have faith in the potential of other people to the tasks we cannot do by ourselves. 

Luke 10:1-9
1 The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. 2 He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. 3 Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. 8Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’

Reflection:

Do we reflect on our faith and share it with others?

Lead by Example not by Words

Today's Gospel is about leadership. It's message is very simple, and it is to lead by example. As for a shepherd, he must be responsible in helping his flock to lift heavy burdens. This is just the same to the leaders of the Church. Every leader shall practice what he preaches.

Luke 11:42-46
42 The Lord said: “Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. 44 Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.” 45 Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.” 46 And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”

Reflection:

As members of the Catholic church, can you boldly say that you believe and practice its teachings in your life?

On Religious Hypocrisy

Religion shall be used as an instrument to bring us closer to God. However, oftentimes religious practices become manipulative by planting seeds of fear in our hearts. Additionally, most religions are governed by guilt and has forgotten that faith must be its core focus. 

Today's Gospel speaks about the hypocrisy of man's law. Today, like the Pharisees, men make hypocritical laws forgetting about morality.

Let us not be like the Pharisees. Let us not repeat their mistakes.

Luke 11:37-41
37 After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. 38 The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. 39 The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. 40 You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? 41 But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

Reflection:

Do we really follow God's will? Are we living a life like the Pharisees? In today's modern world, you will find many quotes posted in facebook, twitter and etc. about following God. I bet most of us post such quotes, but the question is, do we really apply them in our lives? Or are we just like the Pharisees living lives in superficiality and legality?

Jesus is Our Sign

Admit it, oftentimes you ask God for signs about your decisions. Do we really need signs from God? Is Jesus not enough for the sign we are seeking? We should all think and base our decisions to the possible outcomes. God's Word is enough for a sign, and faith alone is what we all need.

Luke 11:29-32
29 While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. 30 Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here.
32 At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

Reflection:

Think about this - we should be careful in choosing each moral decision as it greatly affects the person that we become.

Following Jesus in not Easy

As Christians are ultimate purpose is to follow Jesus, and in reality this is a very difficult task. Following Jesus is not easy, but the rewards are greater than what anyone of us expects. 

Mark 10:17-30
17 As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.’ ” 20 He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” 21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “We have given up everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel 30 wh o will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.”

Reflection:

What choices are we pursuing? Are we truly aware of the consequences of our choices?

Hear the Word and Observe It

Our relationship to God is far more important than any other relationships we have. Today's Gospel talks about obedience. God is telling us that what really counts is our response to His call.

Luke 11:27-28
27 While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” 28 He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

Reflection:

Which is more important to you as of this moment? Is it your love and faith in God or your relationships to fellow humans? Which call do you listen to? Is the call of sin or the call of God?

Faith and Trust: Guardian of Salvation

Faith and trust in God are both important ingredients of our salvation. Jesus has already fulfilled His task of saving us. Now, it is our choice...Jesus is waiting for our readiness. Let's surrender our lives to His mercy. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide and bring you to a life of meant for us by God.

Luke 11:15-26
15 When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” 16Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. 17 But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. 18 And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. 19 If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. 22 But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 24 “When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ 25 But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that person is worse than the first.”

Reflection:

What kind of power rules over you. Is it God's power you obey?

Persistence and Confidence in Prayer

As Christians we should all learn about persistence and confidence in prayers. Never lose hope if it seems God is not listening. This is the message of the Gospel today.




Luke 11:5-13
5 Jesus said to his disciples: “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ 7 and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. 9 “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? 12 Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?13 If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

Reflection:

God knows what is best for you. During the times when He seems not to listen, do you easily get frustrated and give up?

The Gospel of Prayer

Oftentimes, we find it difficult to ask for help. Especially, when it comes to asking someone to help us pray. Everyone is urged to admit his own need for help. It is a true sign of humility to God.

Today's Gospel is about prayer.

Luke 11:1-4
1 Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread 4 and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”

Reflection:

Do you allot even a short time for prayer each day? If you don't, it's but time to have regular prayer daily.

Time for Action and Contemplation

Today's Gospel is all about examining your life. People need to have time for action and contemplation. Each one of us needs to reflect on what truly God is doing and telling us.

Let us all remember that those who listen to the Word of God and observe it are the ones truly blessed.

Luke 10:38-42
38 Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. 39 She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. 40 Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” 41 The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. 42 There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

Reflection:

Have you really taken time to examine your life? Have you really chosen the better things? Think about this: an unexamined life is not worth living.

Change in Blog Format

Hello,

Currently, we are changing Bread and the Word format. The author decided that this blog would focus mainly on God's Word. All the recipes will be transferred to a separate blog - projectflavors.blogspot.com. So, if you are looking for the recipes please visit Project Flavors.

As of now, we will reconstruct this blog to give readers more insight about God's Word. 

Sorry for the inconvenience.