27TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 2 / (Green/Red/White)
St. Callistus I, pope & martyr / Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary
Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12
Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
1st Reading: Jl 4:12-21
Rise up, O people, and come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, nations. Bring a sickle for the harvest is ripe; come and tread, for the wine press is full, and the vats overflow; so great is their wickedness!
Multitudes and more multitudes in the Valley of Verdict! The day of Yahweh is near in the Valley of Verdict! The sun and the moon become dark, the stars lose their radiance. Yahweh roars from Zion and raises his voice from Jerusalem; heaven and earth are shaken. Indeed, Yahweh is a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the Israelites. You will know that I am Yahweh, your God, dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain. Jerusalem will be a holy place; and foreigners will never pass through there again.
On that day, the mountains shall drip wine and the hills flow with milk; all the streams of Judah will run with water; and a fountain will spring from the house of Yahweh, and water the valley of Shittim.
On the other hand, Egypt will be devastated; and Edom will become a deserted wasteland, because they committed violence against Judah, and shed innocent blood in their country. But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem through all generations. And I shall avenge their blood and not leave it unpunished, for Yahweh dwells in Zion.
Gospel: Lk 11:27-28
As Jesus was speaking, a woman spoke from the crowd and said to him, ”Blessed is the one who gave you birth and nursed you!” Jesus replied, ”Truly blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it as well.”
REFLECTION:
When my mother was still alive, she told me many times that her friends, classmates and co-workers in the church praised her because of me being a priest. The late archbishop Legaspi many times spoke that blessed are those who have priests or nuns in the family. Indeed, it is true. When I was ordained a priest, many greeted my mother. During my silver sacerdotal anniversary, more praised her. On her death that blessedness was even more manifested when masses were celebrated in our residence everyday one after another by bishops and priests. Because of her granddaughter nun, religious sisters flock to our residence. During the funeral, hundreds of priests and bishops concelebrated with the archbishop. The entire city said, truly blessed is the family that has a priest and a nun.
Mary, the mother of Jesus is praised and considered blessed because of her son, Jesus. However, for Jesus, ”Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” More than being a biological mother, Mary is blessed among women because she listened to the word of God, pondered it and acted on it.
It is said that blood is thicker than water. For Jesus, it is not that much. ”He who does the will of my Father, is my mother, my brother, my sister” (Mk. 3:34-35)Blessedness can be attained by all.
Daily Reflection
Daily Gospel ® is a product Claretian Publications, a division of Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. (CCFI) which is a pastoral endeavor of the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines that brings the Word of God to people from all walks of life. CCFI aims to promote integral evangelization and renewed spirituality that is geared towards empowerment and total liberation in response to the needs and challenges of the Church today.
CCFI is a member of Claret Publishing Group, a consortium of the publishing houses of the Claretian Missionaries all over the world: Bangalore, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Chennai, Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Madrid, Macao, Manila, Owerry, São Paolo, Varsaw , Yaoundé.
Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
Readings and Reflections
Copyright © 2O16
Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.
U.P. P.O. Box 4, Diliman,
1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (63-2) 921-3984
Fax: (6352) 921-7429
Email: ccfi@claretianpublicationscom
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.claretianph.com
October 15 (Sunday)
