29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)
Ps 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94
Lord, teach me your statutes.
1st Reading: Rom 7:18-25a
I know, that what is right, does not abide in me, I mean, in my flesh. I can want to do what is right, but I am unable to do it. In fact, I do not do the good I want, but the evil I hate. Therefore, if I do what I do not want to do, I am not the one striving toward evil, but sin, which is in me.
I discover, then, this reality: though I wish to do what is right, the evil within me asserts itself first. My inmost self, agrees and rejoices with the law of God, but I notice in my body, another law, challenging the law of the spirit, and delivering me, as a slave to the law of sin, written in my members. Alas, for me! Who will free me from this being, which is only death? Let us give thanks to God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord!
So, with my conscience, I am a servant of the law of God, and with my mortal body, I serve the law of sin.
Gospel: Lk 12:54-59
Jesus said to the crowds, ”When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming‘; and so it happens. And when the wind blows from the south, you say, ‘It will be hot‘; and so it is. You superficial people! You understand the signs of the earth and the sky, but you don‘t understand the present times. And why do you not judge for yourselves what is fit? When you go with your accuser before the court, try to settle the case on the way, lest he drag you before the judge, and the judge deliver you to the jailer, and the jailer throw you into prison. I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.”
REFLECTION:
There are people who are experts in various fields, but fail in spiritual aspect for they are unable to see God‘s hand working in their lives. They mistakenly thought that everything they have achieved is just a product of their own efforts. Evidently, they forget about God‘s providence. Thus, many well-educated people become prone to skepticism or unbelief; many popular individuals tend to lead an immoral life; many rich persons are getting blinded by greed; and many talented folks are using their talents in a wrong way. These attitudes are without difference from that of the Pharisees and of the crowd as stated in the gospel.
Let us remember how God‘s hands work in our life today! In everything that we do we must be aware of God‘s presence; in everything that we achieve we should thank God for this blessing; and in every decision that we make we must ask God for His guidance. Let God become part of everything that we have, for truly we can achieve nothing without his merciful love.
As Christians, do we accept Jesus in our lives wholeheartedly? Do we acknowledge the Giver of all that we have? How often do we thank God?
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.
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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
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