January 11, 2013

First Reading – 1 Jn 5:14-21

….. If we know that he hears us whenever we ask, we know that we already have what we asked of him.

A passage of faith that should be claimed especially in times of doubt.  This new year, more than any material wanting, I ask for Wisdom and Humility.  Material possessions rut but I will be a hypocrite not to want those too, but more than anything else in the world I want Wisdom and Humility.  This will greatly improve my relationships with the people I love, with the people I come in contact with, and my relationship with my Creator.

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Responsorial Psalm – The Lord takes delight in his people

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Gospel:  Jn 3:22-30

” It is necessary that He increase but that I decrease.”

Envy has been a part of human existence since time immemorial.  It existed way before the world was even created.  It was the very thing that drives Lucifer to be greater than God.  It was what pushes Cain to kill his brother Abel.  What is it in the human heart that wants us to be greater than anyone else?  I could not fathom and I may not find the answer in my lifetime.  So instead of spending my waking hour trying to figure it out, I will find a cure to overcome one of the 7 deadly sins.

Like John who uttered, “It is necessary that he increase but that I decrease,”  when he refers to Jesus when he was asked why they were both baptizing.  A perfect humility and submission of man’s limit and God’s greatness.

In order to increase God in our lives, we must decrease.  Decreasing is not lowering our value but the opposite.  It is using our full potential for God’s glory.  Envy will not have any place in our lives if we are grateful of our own God given potential.  Let us help one another recognize our own uniqueness so we can live full lives instead of comparing ourselves with another.

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Dear Lord,

Let me sow gratefulness where there is envy.  Give me Wisdom to distinguish true Humility from not.  Humility is not insecurity, humility is knowing the right time to speak.  Envy is comparing yourself to others, humility is recognizing and being happy with other people’s success.  I need both, Wisdom and Humility.  Wisdom to determine if my humility is true humility.

To God be the glory, all the time.