Feb 25 2021

First reading Esther 4:17

I am alone, Lord, and have no-one but you

Queen Esther took refuge with the Lord in the mortal peril which had overtaken her. She besought the Lord God of Israel in these words:

‘My Lord, our King, the only one,

come to my help, for I am alone

and have no helper but you

and am about to take my life in my hands.

‘I have been taught from my earliest years, in the bosom of my family,

that you, Lord, chose

Israel out of all the nations

and our ancestors out of all the people of old times

to be your heritage for ever;

and that you have treated them as you promised.

‘Remember, Lord; reveal yourself

in the time of our distress.

‘As for me, give me courage,

King of gods and master of all power.

Put persuasive words into my mouth

when I face the lion;

change his feeling into hatred for our enemy,

that the latter and all like him may be brought to their end.

‘As for ourselves, save us by your hand,

and come to my help, for I am alone

and have no one but you, Lord.’

Responsorial Psalm 137(138):1-3,7-8

On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart:

you have heard the words of my mouth.

In the presence of the angels I will bless you.

I will adore before your holy temple.

I thank you for your faithfulness and love,

which excel all we ever knew of you.

On the day I called, you answered;

you increased the strength of my soul.

You stretch out your hand and save me,

your hand will do all things for me.

Your love, O Lord, is eternal,

discard not the work of your hands.

Gospel Matthew 7:7-12

Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. Is there a man among you who would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or would hand him a snake when he asked for a fish? If you, then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

‘So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets.’

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25th February 2021 Thursday 1st Week of Lent

Reflection
Esther 4:17, Matthew 7:7-12

“Never stop asking, seeking, knocking”
Jesus reminds us to never stop asking, searching and knocking because God will listen to our prayers. Yet, we have experienced that God seemed silent and that our prayers were not answered. In such moments of unanswered prayer, we might become dejected and frustrated, and we might even start doubting God. Today, Jesus invites us to trust that God our Father gives good things to those who ask Him. He does not mean that we will get whatever we ask for in prayer. Here we need to ask ourselves if we are asking for “good things”, which refers to asking for more of God and seeking His will for us.

Today, let us go to God our Father and never get tired of asking for more of His love, seeking for what He wants from us and knocking at the door for help to live each day with peace.

Questions for reflection:
Do I come before God with trust? What do I want to ask for in this time of prayer?

25 hb Februari 2021 Hari Khamis Minggu Prapaska Pertama

Renungan
Ester 4:17, Matius 7:7-12

“Jangan pernah berhenti bertanya, mencari, mengetuk”
Yesus mengingatkan kita untuk tidak pernah berhenti bertanya, mencari dan mengetuk kerana Tuhan akan mendengar doa-doa kita. Namun, kita juga pernah mengalami bahawa Tuhan kelihatan diam dan doa-doa kita tidak dikabulkan. Pada saat-saat dimana doa-doa kita tidak dikabulkan, kita mungkin merasa ditolak dan kecewa dan bahkan mungkin kita mula meragui Allah. Hari ini Yesus mengundang kita untuk percaya bahawa Allah Bapa kita memberikan yang terbaik kepada mereka yang meminta. Namun ini tidak bermakna, kita akan mendapat apa sahaja yang kita minta. Kita perlu bertanya kepada diri kita adakah kita meminta ‘hal-hal yang baik’, iaitu meminta untuk lebih mahu mengenal Allah dan mencari kehendak-Nya dalam hidup kita.

Hari ini marilah datang kepada Allah Bapa kita dan tidak pernah jemu meminta lebih banyak kasih-Nya, mencari apa yang dikehendaki-Nya dalam hidup kita dan mengetuk pintu meminta pertolongan untuk hidup dengan damai setiap hari.

Soalan renungan:
Adakah saya datang kepada Tuhan dengan penuh kepercayaan? Apakah yang ingin saya mohon saat ini?

25 Februari 2021, Orou Kaapat Minggu’ Kasaa’ PraPaska

Ester 4:17; Matius 7:7-12

Pai’ langgai’ makitaak, maguyum, manitik
Mampakara’ i Jisus ritakau ra kalo langgain makitaak, maguyum am manitik sabap ra rongogon ri Aki Kapuuno’ pakiasian takau. Kaa’, makaili’ takau ri Aki Kapuuno’ ilain ra mongkoror am pakiasian takau kalo taamon. Paat ra kalo taamon pakiasian no, maaru’ lair itakau mangiluk am mangkaus, am maaru’ lair itakau tumalimpuun manguang ri Aki Kapuuno’. Orou raiti’, mangkimait i Jisus ritakau koson mangintopot ri Aki Kapuuno’ Ama’ takau manaak ra ondo’ moonsoi no ra ulun ondo’ makitaak Riso. Sala’ ka arati’ Nano ra mangapu takau ra atan ayuk ondo’ kitaakon takau ralalom pakiasian. Gogot takau mangkuot ra inan galama’ amun ru ondo’ kitaakon takau no “baal ondo’ moonsoi”, ondo’ kuayan no makitaak kasuangon poyo intor ri Aki Kapuuno’ am maguyum ra kasagaan Nano ritakau.
Orou raiti’, ibok ongoi takau ri Aki Kapuuno’ Ama’ takau am kalo igondo’ maagui makitaak ra masuang poyo togom Nano, maguyum ra atan kasagaan Nano intor ritakau am manitik ra kulobon koson makiindangan maayag moonong orou ralalom pabansayan.

Pangkuatan ra paguangin:
Matong aku kia ra saang ri Aki Kapuuno’ pabayaan ra mangintopot? Atan kia kasagaan kuti ra makitaak paat ra pakiasian ragitio ti?

25-02-2021 Hari Empat Minggu Lent Keterubah.

Renungan
Esther 4:17; Matthew 7:7-12

“Anang badu minta, ngiga sereta nekong.”
Jesus ngingatka kitai awak enda badu minta, ngiga sereta nekong laban Allah Taala ninga sampi kitai. Tang, kitai udah kala ngasai ka Allah Taala baka ka nadai nyaut sampi kitai. Lebuh maya kitai ngasaika utai nya, kitai berasai patah semengat, irau sereta bisi penanggol pasal Iya. Saritu, Jesus ngingatka kitai awak arap ka Allah Taala ti Apai kitai deka meri utai ti badas ngagai sida ti minta ari Iya. Tang ukai reti kitai tentu deka bulih genap kali kitai minta dalam sampi. Reti utai ti disebut pasal “Utai badas” nya reti kitai deka minta rapat agi enggau Iya sereta ngiga Peneka Iya ba kitai.

Saritu, aram kitai datai mansang ngagai Allah Taala Apai lalu enda badu minta pengerindu Iya ti belimpah, begiga deka ngereja utai ti dipinta Iya ari kitai lalu nekong pintu dikena kitai diau ninting hari dalam pemaik.

Bisi aku datai ngagai Allah Taala enggau ati arap? Nama utai ti dipinta aku ba awak sembiang saritu?

2021年2月25日四旬期第一周星期四

省思
《艾四:7》
《玛七:7-12》

“不要停止祈求，寻找和敲门”
耶稣提醒我们不要停止祈求，寻找和敲门因为天主会听到我们的祈祷。也许我们体验过天主看似很安静，也没有听到我们的祈祷。当我们的祈祷没有得到回应时，我们也许会觉得被拒绝和愤怒，并且开始质疑天主。今天，耶稣邀我们信任天主会以好的事物回应向祂祈求的人。这并不代表天主有求必应。这里是提醒我们是否我们祈求”好的事物”，祈求关于天主的事并寻求祂对我们的期待。

今天，就让我们向天主祈求并不厌倦的祈求祂的爱，寻找祂要我们找到的，敲祂的门祈求我们平安过每一天。

省思题:
我是否相信天主？我在祈祷时祈求什么？

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr. Sandra Seow FMVD.