Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26
I tell you, if your sense of right and wrong is not keener than that of the Lawyers and the Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.You have heard, that it was said to our people in the past: Do not commit murder; anyone who murders will have to face trial. But now, I tell you: whoever gets angry with a brother or sister will have to face trial. Whoever insults a brother or sister is liable, to be brought before the council. Whoever calls a brother or sister “Fool!” is liable, of being thrown into the fire of hell. So, if you are about to offer your gift at the altar, and you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there, in front of the altar; go at once, and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.Don’t forget this: be reconciled with your opponent quickly when you are together on the way to court. Otherwise he will turn you over to the judge, who will hand you over to the police, who will put you in jail. There, you will stay, until you have paid the last penny.

Reflections
“Make peace with your brother.”Surpassing the righteousness of the lawyers and the Pharisees is a tall order coming from Jesus Christ. Those spiritual leaders of Israel are far above the many follo­wers of Jesus in many respects. They have been trained to inter­pret every sentence or word in the Hebrew Bible. Knowing more about the meaning of the sacred scriptures gives them the advan­tage of becoming good practi­tioners of religion. The limited knowledge of the common people makes them do only that much.Can Jesus’ disciples really sur­pass the sense of right and wrong of the experts? Yes. They can do more than sticking only to the interpreta­tions of the experts. The disciples do not need to be scholars to do it.Jesus asks from his disciples to do doable things like making peace with their brothers whom they have offended. If they humble themselves, they can easily do that. They must be quick to reconcile with others whom they gravely of­ fended. Christians cannot do much when imprisoned because of fai­ lure to be reconciled with those who have filed a case against them. Christians must not neglect the basic need to show respect in speech, to be peacemaker and be reconciled with others.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16
You are the salt of the earth. But if salt has lost its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It has become useless. It can only be thrown away and people will trample on it.You are the light of the world. A city built on a mountain cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and covers it; instead, it is put on a lampstand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, your light must shine before others, so that they may see the good you do, and praise your Father in heaven.

Reflections
“You are the light of the world.”The passage is part of Jesus’ dis­course on the Mount of Beatitudes. He says “… You are the light” after shouting out to the crowds the eight beatitudes. Jesus’ listeners are considered light of the world. They are instruments of Jesus in giving light to the world. They must not be ashamed to shine. They must speak out, make Jesus’part of their conversation with other peo­ple they encounter on the way. In Galilee, where Jesus speaks there are many Gentiles. The Gentiles must see the light.The disciples do not work un­derground, keeping secret their ac­tivities which court suspicion. Jesus reminds them, “let your light shine before others.” They must work in the open. The purpose is that others may see their good deeds, leading them to glorify God.We Christians must monitor how we live our faith. Do we shine in the midst of other people? Do people detect something good and deep in us? Do they listen to our words?If they appreciate what we are saying and doing and they want more from us, our lights must be shining brilliantly before them. If they are now praising God because of our good deeds, our light must be shining.If we are not listened to and not recognized as Christians and don’t lead others to praise God, we are ac­tually coward and closet Christians.Blessed are we if our lights shine before others.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. He sat down and his disciples gathered around him. Then he spoke and began to teach them:Fortunate are those who are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Fortunate are those who mourn; they shall be comforted. Fortunate are the gentle; they shall possess the land.Fortunate are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.Fortunate are the merciful, for they shall find mercy. Fortunate are those with pure hearts,for they shall see God.Fortunate are those who work for peace; they shall be called children of God.Fortunate are those who are persecuted for the cause of righteousness,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Fortunate are you, when people insult you and persecute you and speak all kinds of evil against you because you are my followers.Be glad and joyful, for a great reward is kept for you in God. For that is how this people persecuted the prophets who lived before you.

Reflections
“Fortunate are you…”In Matthew, the 8 Beatitudes is the first of the teachings of Je­sus when he starts his prophetic ministry in Galilee. The Beatitudes is also an appropriate beginning of his series of long discourses to the crowds. Towards the end of Matthew’s gospel, the beatitudes will be reechoed in the Last Judg­ment.  The purpose of religion, dis­cipleship or following Jesus is transformation. The desired trans­formation is how each follower shows mercy and compassion to the poor and the needy till the end. Religion is not so much in the pompous liturgical celebrations, correct doctrines and belonging­ness to the true church, but the actual practice of it.Each Christian should seek then to become poor in spirit, to mourn because something is wrong, to become gentle, to hunger for justice, to be merciful, etc. The Beatitudes is intimately connected with the corporal works of mercy.True religion is best practiced in serving the poor in the peri­pheries, binding their wounds, and making them feel they are loved by God, bringing them the Word of God and being present among them. Surely God will con­sider us fortunate and blessed. He will welcome us into his kingdom at the end.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: John 14:15-16, 23b-26 (or John 20:19-23)
If you love me, you will keep my commandments; and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever, Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him; But if anyone does not love me, he will not keep my words; and these words that you hear are not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.I told you all this while I am still with you. From now on the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I have told you.

Reflections
Lectio Divina
READ: The Holy Spirit des­ cends upon the apostles like a strong wind and in the form of tongues of fire. His coming cannot be ignored. He is here to declare to the people coming from the different places that the apostles are enabled to evangelize them in their own languages.
REFLECT: The Spirit enables us to see beyond race, gender, social status and religion. He can unite us all who are dif­ ferent from one another. The Spirit comes as Jesus pro­ mised before his ascension. It may well be helpful if you recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in your heart and in the people who interact with you with love and devotion. Awareness of his presence among us lead us to renew ourselves and to respect and care for one another. Nobody monopolizes the Holy Spirit.
PRAY: Lord, help me feel the presence of the Holy Spirit within me. Help me also re­ cognize his presence in other people who fear you. Give me the courage, wisdom and strength to communicate the good news to other people and to be one always with my fellow believers.
ACT: Help build your commu­ nity. Recognize their gifted­ ness. Get involved in the new evangelization.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019