Too many people today are going around with low self-esteem, feeling inferior like they don't have what it takes. They are living a lie. And as long as we have a poor self-image, we're not going to experience God's best. In order to be all that God has called us to be, we have to see ourselves as chosen, valuable and victorious.

Saturday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Habakkuk 1:12-2:4

Psalm 9:8-9, 10-11, 12-13

M atthew 17:14-20 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and kneeling before him said, (15) "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. (16) And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." (17) And Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." (18) And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. (19) Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" (20) He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this  mountain, `Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will  be impossible to you."

Meditation by Elizabeth Furlong

I type this Reflection fresh from participating in a three-day conference sponsored by the Midwest office of Catholic Relief Services held at The Cenacle Retreat Center in Chicago. Diocesan ministers and university faculty and campus ministers from twelve states have spent three days sharing stories of faith, of compassionate journeys, of tenacity, and, of healing. These themes are present in today’s Gospel Reading.

There are four groups of ‘actors’ in today’s Story – the suffering son, the compassionate father, the self-evaluative disciples, and Christ. One theme for reflection is Christ’s question, “How long will I endure you?”  That question can apply to many aspects of our lives. For example, how long do we endure those with whom we disagree?; those whom we work with or are responsible for in some manner (parent, caregiver) and are frustrated  with some of their behaviors?;  and, so forth. Do we demonstrate Christ’s patience of enduring?  And, at that moment, do we do what Christ did, i.e., do the appropriate problem-solving and compassionately meet others’ needs?

A second theme to reflect on is the self-evaluative behavior of the disciples. There is a strong lesson here for all in the church, laity, women religious, and clergy. Are we self-evaluating our lives as disciples?

A third theme is the compassion and the tenacity of the father to care for a son who had suffered much. He was a compassionate advocate for his biological son. The conference I just participated in calls us forth to be the same compassionate advocates for all in the global family, not just biological families.

Which ‘actor’ do you identify with in this story? Christ who endured and compassionately met someone’s need? The disciples who self-evaluated?  (One of the conference attendees called us daily to a self-evaluation of how well we radically live the Gospel.) The tenacious father? (Symbolic of all who show compassion and persistently advocate for those who suffer.) Or, the son who suffers and needs compassion and advocacy?  Or, are you all four?

Supplementary Reading

Chosen

For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world…  -  Ephesians 1:4

G od chose you before the foundations of the Earth. Before the worlds were ever formed, He knew you. And, He didn't create you to be average. He didn't create you to barely get by. No, He created you to excel! Not only has He chosen you, but He has equipped you with everything you need to live His abundant life. He has deposited seeds of greatness inside every person. But in order to tap into those seeds of greatness, you have to believe this and act on it.

Too many people today are going around with low self-esteem, feeling inferior like they don't have what it takes. They are living a lie. And as long as we have a poor self-image, we're not going to experience God's best. In order to be all that God has called us to be, we have to see ourselves as chosen, valuable and victorious.

Today, meditate on this truth. Let it sink down deep into your heart. Let it build confidence and security in you. As you understand your value, you'll rise up higher and higher into the life of victory He has prepared for you!

Father God, thank You for choosing me. Thank You for equipping me. Help me to see myself the way You see me. Show me your ways that I may walk with You in confidence and trust all the days of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen. - Joel & Victoria Osteen

GOD BLESS US ALL!

O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.

For past gospel meditations, you may visit the following:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=216458741502#!/home.php?sk=mynotes

http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com