BABY STEPS

BABY STEPS

 

Like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk, so that through it you may grow into salvation. – 1 Peter 2:2

 

When my son Lance was born, I got so excited to see him grow that I had to remind myself to take it one step at a time. Newborns are not yet fully developed and their diet should depend on their developmental stage. No iron in their milk for the first six months. Begin feeding solids at six months but only with pureed foods. No honey, egg whites or spinach at least for the first year. So much to consider! But now, when I see Lance so healthy, I know that my diligence paid off.

When I first became a Christian, my relationship with God filled me with so much joy that I wanted to give up everything. But because I was not ready, when I received His calling I thought the task was too much and I quit even before I began.

I learned from my mistake. I got back to basics and took baby steps. First by getting to know Him again through readings and prayer, then by looking deep into myself and discovering who I am. After I had done these, God gave me opportunities to serve and this time, I said yes. Cecilia Lim cez_lim@yahoo.com)

 

REFLECTION:

No matter what stage of spiritual growth you’re in, enjoy God’s pampering and give yourself a chance to learn more.

 

Lord, let Your words nourish me and help me grow.

 

BLESSING OR CURSE

 

We love to bless and be blessed. We believe in blessings.

Some curse and are cursed. Some believe in curses.

Do you believe in curses? If you do not, then why do you believe in blessings? Is it our belief that makes either blessings or curses work?

Curses are as real as blessings. If we have faith when we curse, that which we curse is accursed indeed. If we have faith when we bless, that which we bless is truly blessed. Be generous so as to bless. Be careful so as not to curse. Be loving so as to be a blessing. Why curse anyway? But Jesus cursed the barren fig tree. He did! It was because, being barren, the fig tree already ceased to be a blessing long before it was cursed. By cursing the fig tree, Jesus brought to consciousness what the fig tree really had already become: a curse.

Be fruitful and be a blessing. Do not be a curse. But we are not fig trees. When we are barren, there is still hope for us to heal and bear fruit in due time. And this is Good News!

Be healed and bear fruit. Bear fruit and bless. To be healed, we need to be cleansed as Jesus cleansed the temple with its maladies for it to be truly what it should be — a house of blessing, never a den of thieves. Be cleansed and be what you should really be. Be what you are truly meant to be and bless others.

To be cleansed, we must pray. Prayer purifies us with the presence of God. This is grace. Pray and be purified. Be in the presence of God and bless others.

To bless, we must love. Love makes us the presence of God in the world. This is virtue. Love and be a blessing. Be the presence of God and bless others.

Are you a blessing or a curse?Fr. Bobby Titco

 

Reflection Question:

Am I a blessing or a curse? Am I fruitful or barren?

 

Beginning today, Lord Jesus, I will pray not only for You to bless me but for You to transform and use me to be Your blessing to others. Be it far from me that I become a curse to

anyone. Amen.

 

St. Wiliam of Gellone, pray for us.