FOODFORTHOUGHT

MAYBE

Author Unknown

November 10, 2012

Maybe God wanted us to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so
that when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful
for that gift.

Maybe when the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we
look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been
opened for us.

Maybe the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing
with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best
conversation you've ever had.

Maybe it is true that we don't know what we have got until we lose it, but
it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it
arrives.

Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you
back. Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart;
but if it does not, be content it grew in yours.

It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone,
and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.

Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades
away. Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to
make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want
to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real.

Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to
be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you
want to do.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you
strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy.

Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it
probably hurts the other person, too.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they
just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched,
and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of
people who have touched their lives.

Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss and ends with a tear.

The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't go
on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.
Live your life so that when you die, you are the one who is smiling and
everyone around you is crying.

NOVEMBER 11, 2012
32ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – B

1 Kgs 17:10- 16 / Heb 9:24-28 / Mk 12:38-44 or 12:41-44

1 KINGS 17:10- 16
So Elijah went to Zarephath. On reaching the gate of the town, he saw a widow gathering sticks. He called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel that I may drink." As she was going to bring it, he called after her and said, "Bring me also a piece of bread." But she answered, "As Yahweh your God lives, I have no bread left but only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am just now gathering some sticks so that I may go in and prepare something for myself and my son to eat—and die." Elijah then said to her, "Do not be afraid. Go and do as you have said, but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me; then make some for yourself and your son. For this is the word of Yahweh, the God of Israel, `The jar of meal shall not be emptied nor shall the jug of oil fail, until the day when Yahweh sends rain to the earth." So she went and did as Elijah told her; and she had food for herself, Elijah and her son from that day on. The jar of flour was not emptied nor did the jug of oil fail, in accordance with what Yahweh had said through Elijah.

HEBREWS 9:24-28
Christ did not enter some sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself. He is now in the presence of God on our behalf. He had not to offer himself many times, as the High Priest does: he who may return every year, because the blood is not his own. Otherwise he would have suffered many times from the creation of the world. But no; he manifested himself only now at the end of the ages, to take away sin by sacrifice, and, as humans die only once and afterwards are judged, in the same way Christ sacrificed himself once to take away the sins of the multitude. There will be no further question of sin when he comes again to save those waiting for him.

MARK 12:38-44
As he was teaching, he also said to them, "Beware of those teachers of the Law, who enjoy walking around in long robes and being greeted in the marketplace, and who like to occupy reserved seats in the synagogues, and the first places at feasts. They even devour the widow's and the orphan's goods while making a show of long prayers. How severe a sentence they will receive!" Jesus sat down opposite the Temple treasury, and watched the people dropping money into the treasury box; and many rich people put in large offerings. But a poor widow also came and dropped in two small coins. Then Jesus called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all those who gave offerings. For all of them gave from their plenty, but she gave from her poverty, and put in everything she had, her very living."

REFLECTION
The widows in today's first reading and Gospel allow us to reflect on our own generosity. Although destitute and vulnerable, they are still able to give themselves totally with full faith in God's providence.

How generous are we? The widows remind us of a fundamental reality, that is, "Even in our poverty and oppression, we are joyfully in the hands of our loving God." We continue to entrust ourselves to God who will never abandon and forsake us.

Moreover, these widows are able to confirm the real candidates in God's kingdom as seen in the Beatitudes where Jesus considers the poor, the persecuted for his sake, the meek, and the peacemakers as the blessed – such joyful and good news to those who are sometimes scorned and looked down upon in our world. He then expands this criterion for those qualified in his kingdom to anyone who does good to the least brethren, as clearly explained in Chapter 25 of Matthew. In serving these "nobodies," we do it to Jesus. Jesus commands us to help our neighbor — to constantly strive to redress the grievances of those who are abandoned or alone, alienated and marginalized, to protect the dignity of the poor and to stand with the oppressed as they attempt to become free of that which oppresses them. Christ emptied himself and became poor, so that we might become rich. Jesus constantly ministered to the poor and the sick, to the outcasts of society.

One challenge then is to reflect on what or who becomes our treasure. Is it material things in life such as money, property, academic degrees and professional status that give us dignity and security? These can all disappear without warning. Or is it God? In the end, what really matters is that people take care of each other. Especially for the nobodies, by treating and welcoming them, we truly bring out the very meaning and heart of Jesus' commandment to love one another.

We may also reflect as to what prevents us from being generous. In our Catholic communities today, are we generous even with our remarks and comments about others? Can we let go of everything to give ourselves totally into God's hands with the sure conviction that God will give us the support we need? When we give, do we do it with love and devotion? When a lot of us do that, our faith will be confirmed!

Let us pray for enlightenment. May we realize what is preventing us from being as generous as the widows, and may we give ourselves to others even more.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Bubi Camus
- Alfonso Marquez
- Tito Torres, Mon Torres, Fleur Torres, Eden dela Cruz, Mommy Carmen Rafinan, Lorraine
- Renan Lacida
… for the personal intentions of
- Flor
- Josheil Dapo
- Flor
- Timea
- Diane, Kristen, Denese, Mary Ann M, Delores, Ed D, Gene & Donna L, Euegene R, Fr Larry
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Eden D. Chua
… for families who are in need of healing
… for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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