Remember I mentioned that I went to my mom's cousin's wedding on Saturday?

Something has been bugging me ever since actually..
My mom's uncles and aunties (meaning my grand-uncles and grand-aunties) and her cousins were all going on about how pretty I am and how I look like a celebrity (?!?!?). Being the very self-conscious me, I have been looking back at those scenes from a third party's point of view. And I realized that I was just smiling away, not saying things like '还好啦' and being humble. Then I remembered that I hardly do that '还好啦' anymore when people praise me for my looks. I don't know why.. I don't think I'm very attractive cos I have like fats everywhere and really I don't have enough clothes that can conceal my fats.

And another thing is that I'm not exactly fond of this particular uncle and auntie.. They brag too much and always make their children sound superior to the rest of us cousins. I mean, they are really doing well but.. Okay for instance, the auntie was asking my cousin and I how many driving lessons we had to take before we went for the test. My cousin said 25 or 27 and I really can't remember, so I said about 20+ too. Then she went on to say she booked 19 lessons for her daughter and pretty sure she can pass in less than 19. Do you see what I'm saying?

Then, to link back to my main issue here, that uncle was standing right behind us when this grand-uncle said to my mom that he has such a pretty grand-niece that looks like a celebrity. And I wasn't being humble! Will my uncle look down on me even more, because I didn't say '还好啦'? :(


But I received this email reflection today. And it made me feel better. It was as if God was answering to my thoughts. Heehee.

This reflection is podcast at:
http://gnm.org/DailyReflections/podcasts/

Good News Reflection
Thursday of the Fourth Week in Lent
March 26, 2009

Today's Readings:
Exodus 32:7-14
Psalm 106:19-23
John 5:31-47
http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/032609.shtml
Audio:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_03_26.mp3

Reflection: Receive your Father's praise

How do you feel when you're complimented? Embarrassed? This typical reaction happens because we fail to realize that it is God our Father who is praising us. In today's Gospel passage, Jesus makes it clear that the only praise that really matters is that which originates from the Father, and such praise is very important.

Praise is good. We were made in the image of a God who values being praised. But because we're afraid that it's not humble to accept compliments, we quickly negate the affirmation. Well guess what. That's telling the people who compliment us that they're liars. And it initiates the game of "If I say I'm not worthy of your praise, then you'll try to convince me that I am indeed worthy of it, and I'll get more attention from you as we drag this out longer."

What a mess! Pride gets confused with humility. True humility means accepting praise and acknowledging that ultimately the credit goes to God. True humility means affirming those who compliment us by accepting their kind words and good intentions.

Jesus said that the Father's praise gives testimony about the Son's worth. Jesus was NOT implying that John's affirmation was invalid. On the contrary, he reminded the Jews about John's testimony precisely because it was very important indeed. But greater than John's praise was the Father's. The one who sent Jesus into the world was the best one to judge how well he was fulfilling his calling.

You, too, have been sent by the Father. You, too, have been commission and empowered to give Jesus to the world by using all of the gifts that he has given you, i.e., all of the good that is in you. If you're doing this to the best of your current ability, and if you're obeying the Father to the best of your awareness, repenting when you slip into sin, the Father is praising you just like he praised his Son, Jesus.

No less than that!

Because we cannot hear his voice audibly, he speaks to us through people. We will hear him if we're listening to what he's saying to us through the people that he's putting in front of us today. If they affirm what is true in us, if they encourage us and build us up, it's the Father himself who's ministering to us. We must not reject his caring words!

Let your Father embrace you with his loving praise: Accept the affirmation of others. And when people tear you down or discourage you, remember that it's only God's opinion of you that really matters, and he likes you far more than they do!

Today's step on the Lenten journey: List as many compliments as you can remember receiving in the past couple of months.

© 2009 by Terry A. Modica
For PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:
http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may listen to your word attentively and obey it joyfully. Amen." © 2009 by Don Schwager

><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>

+ "If we wish to make any progress in the service of God we must begin every day of our life with new eagerness. We must keep ourselves in the presence of God as much as possible and have no other view or end in all our actions but the divine honour." + St. Charles Borromeo

><> "Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you, all things are passing, God is unchanging. Patience gains all; nothing is lacking to those who have God: God alone is sufficient." <>< St. Teresa of Avila

+ “Keep your eyes on Jesus, and view everyone else through His eyes!” + Terry Modica

><> "If we wish to evangelize the world, each one of us must begin by trying to become a saint." <>< Archbishop John Patrick