Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

Gospel: Luke 17:1-6
Jesus said to his disciples, “Scandals will necessarily come and cause people to fall; but woe to the one who brings them about. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck. Truly, this would be better for that person, than to cause one of these little ones to fall.
Listen carefully: if your brother offends you, tell him, and if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he offends you seven times in one day, but seven times he says to you, ‘I’m sorry,’ forgive him.”
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” And the Lord said, “If you have faith, even the size of a mustard seed, you may say to this tree, ‘Be uprooted, and plant yourself in the sea!’ and it will obey you.

Reflections
“Increase our faith.”
When his soldier-father was stationed in Italy, St. Martin learned about Christianity and was swiftly attracted to it and became a catechumen. At the age of 15, being a son of a veteran soldier, he was obliged to render military service. It was at this time that a famous incident involving him happened. One winter day, as he was on his way to a town, he noticed near the gate a beggar without any protection from the cold begging alms. Since he had nothing with him, he took his sword and divided his winter cloak into two; he used one piece to wrap around the shivering beggar. That night he saw in a dream Jesus, surrounded by angels, wearing half of his cloak and heard him said, “Martin, while even a catechumen, gave me half of his cloak”. This paved the way for his con- version. He lived an austere life of a hermit and later was named, by popular acclamation, bishop of Tours in France. Many miracles were attributed to him and he was known for his piety, courageous preaching, and training of priests. He died on November 8 with eyes and hands raised to heaven, and was buried on this day in the year 400.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Luke 20:27-38
Then some Sadducees arrived. These people claim that there is no resurrection, and they asked Jesus this question, “Master, in the law Moses told us, ‘If anyone dies leaving a wife but no children, his brother must take the wife, and any child born to them will be regarded as the child of the deceased.’ Now, there were seven brothers: the first married, but died without children. The second married the woman, but also died childless. And then the third married her, and in this same way all seven died, leaving no children. Last of all the woman died. On the day of the resurrection, to which of them will the woman be a wife? For all seven had her as a wife.”
And Jesus replied, “Taking a husband or a wife is proper to people of this world, but for those who are considered worthy of the world to come, and of resurrection from the dead, there is no more marriage. Besides, they cannot die, for they are like the angels. They are sons and daughters of God, because they are born of the resurrection.
Yes, the dead will be raised, as Moses revealed at the burning bush, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. For God is God of the living, and not of the dead, for to him everyone is alive.”

Lectio Divina
READ: The mother and her seven sons in the first reading persevered in their persecution sustained by their faith in the promise of God of eternal life for those who die for his laws. In the gospel, some Sadducees questioned Jesus about the resurrection. St. Paul encourages constancy in faith and endurance in Christ.
REFLECT: The Christian view of life after death is clear. There is resurrection. But the Lord cautions us that it is only for those who will be deemed worthy. Only for those who will remain loyal and steadfast despite difficulties and even tortures.
PRAY: Lord, grant me a strong resolve to be yours until death.
ACT: There are many in the world who are persecuted for their Christian faith. Offer a moment of prayer for them today.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: John 2:13-22
As the Passover of the Jews was at hand, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple court he found merchants selling oxen, sheep and doves, and money-changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple court, together with the oxen and sheep. He knocked over the tables of the money-changers, scattering the coins, and ordered the people selling doves, “Take all this away, and stop making a marketplace of my Father’s house!”
His disciples recalled the words of Scripture: Zeal for your house devours me like fire.
The Jews then questioned Jesus, “Where are the miraculous signs which give you the right to do this?” And Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then replied, “The building of this temple has already taken forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?”
Actually, Jesus was referring to the temple of his body. Only when he had risen from the dead did his disciples remember these words; then they believed both the Scripture and the words Jesus had spoken.

Reflections
“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”
Every Roman Catholic bishop has a church in his title. We call this church a“cathedral” because the cathedra (Latin: chair) of the bishop, the symbol of his authority, especially his teaching authority, is there. A cathedral usually serves as the central church in a diocese. For the Holy Father, as Bishop of Rome, his cathedral is the Lateran Basilica. And because this is the Pope’s cathedral, it is called omnium ecclesiarum Urbis et orbis, mater et caput, the mother and head of all churches in Rome and in the world. This celebration of its dedication by the whole church reminds us of the communion and oneness of the Church of Christ whose visible head in the world is the Bishop of Rome.
Today then is an opportunity for us to thank the Lord for the gift of his church. This church has become our mother who nurtures us in faith, who strengthens us with the sacraments, who unites us as brothers and sisters, who prays for us, and who reminds us with unwavering commitment that our goal is heaven. In return as her children, let us love, cherish, obey, and protect her.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Luke 16:1-8
At another time Jesus told his disciples, “There was a rich man, whose steward was reported to him because of fraudulent service. He summoned the steward and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? I want you to render an account of your service, for it is about to be terminated.’
The steward thought to himself, ‘What am I to do now? My master will surely dismiss me. I am not strong enough to do hard work, and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I will do: I must make sure that when I am dismissed, there will be people who will welcome me into their homes.’
So he called his master’s debtors, one by one. He asked the first debtor, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ The reply was, ‘A hundred jars of oil.’ The steward said, ‘Here is your bill. Sit down quickly and write fifty.’ To the second debtor he put the same question, ‘How much do you owe?’ The answer was, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ Then the steward said, ‘Take your bill and write eighty.’
The master commended the dishonest steward for his astuteness: for the people of this world are more astute, in dealing with their own kind, than are the people of light.

Reflections
“the people of this world are more astute, in Dealing with their own kind, than are the people of light.”
It must be second - nature in man to be clever. And man knows that this ability can come in handy and help a lot in difficult times. The master commended the steward in the gospel. This was not, for sure, an approval of the fraudulent nature of his dealings with others. He was praised for being clever. He was practical and he used his head to make friends to give himself the assurance that when he finds himself in tight situations or in dire need later, there are people he can turn to. Jesus used this illustration to bring home an important point. If we have the ability to establish ties, friendships, and networks among our fellow human beings for the sake of security and other benefits, why don’t we do it to God? If we are after what our friendship with others can give, why don’t we also run after what our friendship with God can offer? If we think that material benefits are good, we should also know that spiritual benefits are even better. I would like to presume that the Lord had this thought at the back of his mind: if we work hard to be friends with God, then we are truly clever.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019