Recognition day
The story is told about two elderly men who met at the elevator. They sort of recognized each other, then one of them awkwardly said: “I think I know you, but I’m not sure. Ah, was it you, or your brother who died?”
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In today’s Gospel (John 13: 31-33, 34-35), Jesus, on how we can be recognized as His disciples, said: “This is how you will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” People will know we are Christians by our love. If people see, hear, and experience love in us and through us, then they will recognize (Latin recognoscere—know again) that we are disciples of Christ.
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“I give you a new commandment: Love one another.” It has been 200 years ago that our Lord gave us this commandment. The problem is that for many of us, this commandment is still new, like a new pair of shoes that is still new, because it is still unused, or is slightly used.
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“Love God with all your heart, with all your strength, with all your soul. And love your neighbor as yourself” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Let us examine ourselves today if we are truly loving God, loving our neighbor, and ourselves.
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GLORIFY GOD. We give glory to God by giving Him due praise and obedience to His will. Sincere prayer and good deeds are pleasing to God. Sin is not pleasing to God. Pride and selfishness make us glorify ourselves and make us turn away and rebel against our loving God.
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DIGNIFY OTHERS. Loving others starts with mindfulness and respect for the rights of others. We dignify others if we do not use, abuse or manipulate them. Let us stop hurting others in our thoughts, in our words, and in our deeds. On a more positive note, let us keep going the “extra mile” and keep going the “extra smile,” especially to the lost, the least, and the last among us.
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SANCTIFY YOURSELF. Love of God and love of others flows from God’s grace. A sincere relationship with God, overflows to true love of neighbor and oneself. To sanctify ourselves means we avoid whatever is not good for our souls, and to continue to take the road of humility, forgiveness, patience, generosity, and joy. Let us constantly choose the “roads less traveled,” in our journey to God’s heart.
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Let’s make today a recognition day. Today, try to remember and know again who you are. Go back to your original goodness, your hopes and dreams. Can you still recognize yourself? Can your friends and loved ones still recognize you? Can God still recognize you? What has happened to you? What have you become?
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Today, recognize the people who have been part of our journey. Acknowledge them, appreciate, and be grateful to all people who have helped us or endured us through the years.
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Recognize also, especially today, the Lord who is the source of all we are and all we have. In gratitude let us promise Him to live the rest of our lives, the best of our lives. “As for me and my home, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
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The tagalog word “kilala” could mean: “kilála”—to know someone, with stress on the second syllable, to be close to someone, to be intimate with someone; “kilalá” is with the stress on the final syllable means to be known, to be famous, to be admired. We choose what we want to make out of ourselves. We can choose the way of the heart i.e., to be human and to love, or we can choose the way of the world, i.e., to be selfish, and to be proud.
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When you and I come before God, will He still recognize us, will our sufferings, faults, warts, and all? Yes, He will, as long as we continue to love and keep on loving through it all.
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Will the Lord still recognize our country the Philippines and what has become of us as a nation? The Lord’s message remains the same: “Come back to me with all your heart; don’t let sin keep us apart.” (Hosea)
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, help us to recognize You more, and Your presence in us, and in one another. Amen.
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momentswithfrjerry@gmail.com
