THE REAL WINNER

The Real Winner

 

“The Lord will be the judge.” – 1 Samuel 24:16

 

Miss California, Carrie Prejean, could have won the title of Miss USA 2009 if not for her answer to a touchy subject on same-sex marriage during the question and answer portion of the pageant. She knew that the particular judge asking the question was a homosexual and she could have easily answered it to please the judge. Instead, she chose to stand by her convictions. “In my country and in my family, I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman.”

God bless her. She may not have brought home the pageant’s crown but surely she’s a winner in God’s eyes.

It’s a shame how many of us, even those who claim to have a personal relationship with God, are easily swayed by the popular beliefs of the majority even if it goes against our Christian beliefs. Sometimes, we are willing to set aside, or even give up, our Christian values especially when confronted with an awkward situation when there’s a need to stand by our faith. Our actions are not to be dictated by our so-called peers and friends, but by God who is our Lord and Savior. In the end, it is not the impression we make on people that matters but the judgment of God on the way we live our lives. Jane Gonzales (mjsg2468@yahoo.com)

 

REFLECTION:

Are we willing to be ridiculed in defense of our Christian values?

 

Heavenly Father, I pray for courage and strength to always stand by my faith. Amen.

 

 

DO YOU RESPOND WHEN JESUS CALLS YOU?

 

I believe Jesus summons us all into the wilderness at various times of our lives. Being called to reflect a little more constantly and without distraction as we set time aside for a retreat means that God gets to speak to our spirits and forms us in His ways in a stronger and more effective way. This formation in the quiet is essential in our growth in holiness. Many will respond by saying that they are too busy. I truly believe it is all a matter of priorities.

Jesus made it a number one priority to draw aside from ministry from time to time in order to “recharge His batteries” so to speak; to ensure that His relationship with His Father in heaven was always in good shape. We have to take our cue from Him and prioritize time aside with God in prayer each day and every now and then treat ourselves to a retreat where the focus is God alone. This is all a matter of life and death for our souls. Without such time with God, our spirits will wither away, consumed with the worries and anxieties of the world.

In the Gospel today, we read that Jesus retreats into the hills before making one of the most important decisions of His life — the choice of His apostles. Herein lies the future of His ministry once He returns to the Father. That the Church is still functioning today, 2,000 years later, is a testimony to the fact that He made a good choice. When we make big decisions we must be willing to do the groundwork that will ensure that we make a good decision. Part of that groundwork is setting aside time in prayer to consult what God might want to say to us about the issue at hand.

I wonder how faithful we are to really putting before God the decisions of our lives. Or do we make them and then ask God to bless them? These are very different approaches. The first is a recipe for good decision-making; the second for disaster. We cannot expect God to “make things better” just because we have committed to them — He may not be committed to the path of action we have chosen.Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

Reflection Question:

Do I consult God enough about the decisions I make in my life?

 

Holy Spirit, please speak into the decisions I make in my life so that I will be confident that what I do have the blessing of God and are not just according to my own will.

 

St. Blaesilla, pray for us.