Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

1ST WEEK OF ADVENT
St. Ambrose, bishop & doctor
Psalter: Week 1 / (White)

Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14
The Lord is my light and my salvation.

1^st Reading: Is 29:17-24

In a very short time, Lebanon will become a fruitful field and the fruitful field will be as a forest.

On that day the deaf will hear the words of the book, and out of the dark and obscurity the eyes of the blind will see.

The meek will find joy and the poor among men will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

For the tyrant will be no more and the scoffers gone forever, and all who plan to do evil will be cut down — those who by a word make you guilty, those who for a bribe can lay a snare and send home the just empty-handed.

Therefore Yahweh, Abraham‘s redeemer, speaks concerning the people of Jacob: No longer will Jacob be ashamed; no longer will his face grow pale.

When he sees the work of my hands, his children again in his midst, they will sanctify my name, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and stand in awe of the God of Israel.

Those who err in spirit will understand; those who murmur will learn.

Gospel: Mt 9:27-31

 As Jesus moved on from there, two blind men followed him, shouting, ”Son of David, help us!” When he was about to enter the house, the blind men caught up with him; and Jesus said to them, ”Do you believe that I am able to do what you want?” They answered, ”Yes, sir!”

Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, ”As you have believed, so let it be.” And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus gave them a stern warning, ”Be careful that no one knows about this.” But as soon as they went away, they spread the news about him through the whole area.

Reflections

The Gospel speaks about two blind men going after Jesus calling after him in desperation: ”Have compassion on us, Son of David!” There is already an element of trust in calling Jesus and to his healing power. When they catch up with Jesus, he asks them ”Do you believe that I can do this?” Without their trust in him, Jesus cannot do anything for them. These men say they do believe. ”Your faith deserves it, so let it be done for you.” They get their sight back. They can now see. Jesus tells them not to say anything about it. Jesus is not interested in being a sensation, he does not want people to have a wrong idea of his real mission. But they ignored his appeal and went about telling everyone of what had happened. There is more here than healing here. What we have here is not just the restoration of their capacity to see. They have gained in-sight. They can really see with the eyes of faith. They can see who Jesus really is, the Word of God, the healing presence of God and they simply have to share that experience with everyone else. It is not something that they can keep to themselves. Today is a day for us to be aware of our own blindness by taking for granted many times to see our God-given blessings. If we are to celebrate Christmas properly, we must learn how to listen to God‘s Word, with understanding and acceptance, and learn how to see deeply into the meaning of his life as it is presented to us. And it starts right with the recognition of what God gives to us every day – food, health, family, friends and the beauty of the earth.

Daily Reflection 2018

Bible Diary ® is a product of 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 (57^th 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

 

Bible Diary ® 2018
Copyright © 2O17 
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
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1ST WEEK OF ADVENT
St. Nicholas, bishop
Psalter: Week 1 / (Violet/White)

Ps 118:1 & 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

1^st Reading: Is 26:1-6

An oracle concerning Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is destroyed! When you return from Kittim you will hear the news and wonder.

Keep silent, merchants of Sidon, all you inhabitants of the coast. Your messengers passed over the sea, across the wide oceans; the grain of Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was your income and you were the fair of the nations.

Be ashamed, O Sidon, refuge on the sea! The queen of the sea wonders: ”Have I not had labor pains and brought forth children? Have I not nourished young men and brought up daughters?”

Those in Egypt will be in anguish when they learn the fate of Tyre.

You who dwell on the coast lands, wail as you pass over to Tarshish.

Gospel: Mt 7:21, 24-27

 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord! Lord!‘ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my heavenly Father.

”Therefore, anyone who hears these words of mine, and acts according to them, is like a wise man, who built his house on rock. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house. But it did not collapse, because it was built on rock. But anyone who hears these words of mine, and does not act accordingly, is like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain poured, the rivers flooded, and the wind blew and struck that house; it collapsed, and what a terrible collapse that was!”

Reflections

Jesus mentions what is the essential quality of a true disciple. He or she is not to be measured merely by what he says or what he prays. It is not enough, for instance, to keep saying ”Lord, Lord…” That by itself will not bring a person to commune with God. The true disciple is someone who is totally united to God in heart, soul and mind. Such a person is one who listens to Jesus and begins to live a different lifestyle and behavior. To listen to Jesus is to live like him. It is to accept fully and integrate into one‘s being the liberating truth of his message of love and forgiveness. To live a Christian life only on the surface is like building a house on sand. We see that happening frequently when we begin to compromise our values for the sake of our own comfort and security. We fall away very quickly because our faith is not anchored in Jesus. Our values are caught by the dominant market economy of having more and consuming more. The call is to be like that sensible person who builds his house on rock, the firm foundation that is the words and deeds of life, a life built on truth and love.

Daily Reflection 2018

Bible Diary ® is a product of 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 (57^th 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

 

Bible Diary ® 2018
Copyright © 2O17 
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

1ST WEEK OF ADVENT
Psalter: Week 1 / (Violet)

Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

1^st Reading: Is 25:6-10a

On this mountain Yahweh Sabaoth will prepare for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, meat full of marrow, fine wine strained.

On this mountain he will destroy the pall cast over all peoples, this very shroud spread over all nations, and death will be no more. The Lord Yahweh will wipe away the tears from all cheeks and eyes; he will take away the humiliation of his people all over the world: for Yahweh has spoken.

On that day you will say: This is our God. We have waited for him to save us, let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. For on this mountain the hand of Yahweh rests.

Gospel: Mt 15:29-37

 From there, Jesus went to the shore of Lake Galilee, and then went up into the hills, where he sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the dumb, the blind, the lame, the crippled, and many with other infirmities. People carried them to the feet of Jesus, and he healed them. All were astonished when they saw the dumb speaking, the lame walking, the crippled healed, and the blind able to see; and they glorified the God of Israel.

Jesus called his disciples and said to them, ”I am filled with compassion for these people; they have already followed me for three days and now have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away fasting, or they may faint on the way.” His disciples said to him, ”And where shall we find enough bread in this wilderness to feed such a crowd?” Jesus said to them, ”How many loaves do you have?” They answered, ”Seven, and a few small fish.”

Jesus ordered the people to sit on the ground. Then, he took the seven loaves and the small fish, and gave thanks to God. He broke them and gave them to his disciples, who distributed them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the leftover pieces filled seven wicker baskets.

Reflections

The readings are about the abundance of blessings that comes from God and the richness of Jesus‘ compassion. This is what salvation or fullness of life means – the fulfilling of all our needs: spiritual, emotional, social and physical. In the Gospel, full of trust and confidence, people bring their lame, the crippled, the blind and dumb. Jesus healed them all and the crowds were amazed. We witness here what Jesus stands for: the compassion of God and his desire that the sick and the excluded be healed and given full attention. They have been with him for three days and are hungry. They must be fed. There‘s not much to feed them with – seven loaves of bread and a few fish. It is enough for Jesus. At the end seven baskets are still left uneaten. All this reflect the care and mercy of God for his people. And yet, where is it happening in so many parts of the world today? We see more indifference than care for the weak and the marginalized. There is a crucial element in today‘s Gospel we cannot overlook. It was not Jesus but his disciples who distributed the food. In our world, there is an abundance of resources and food. If there is hunger, malnutrition and other unmet basic needs, it is because we, God‘s stewards, are failing in our task of distribution and sense of justice. If there is hunger and suffering and death, it is not the work of God; it is our failure to share our resources as a community. We have kept the goods of the earth for ourselves. Christmas is a time of giving. We could ask ourselves: To whom are we giving? With whom are we sharing our resources? Perhaps we could widen the circle this Christmas with gifts that mean life or death for the poor and the excluded.

Daily Reflection 2018

Bible Diary ® is a product of 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 (57^th 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

 

Bible Diary ® 2018
Copyright © 2O17 
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

1ST WEEK OF ADVENT
St. John of Damascus, priest
Psalter: Week 1 / (Violet/White)

Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

1st Reading: Is 11:1-10
From the stump of Jesse a shoot will come forth;
from his roots a branch will grow and bear fruit.
The spirit of the Lord will rest upon him —
a spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a spirit of counsel and power,
a spirit of knowledge and fear of Yahweh.
Not by appearances will he judge,
nor by what is said must he decide,
but with justice he will judge the poor
and with righteousness decide for the meek.
Like a rod, his word will strike the oppressor,
and the breath of his lips slay the wicked.
Justice will be the girdle of his waist,
truth the girdle of his loins.
The wolf will dwell with the lamb,
the leopard will rest beside the kid,
the calf and the lion cub will feed together
and a little child will lead them.
Befriending each other, the cow and the bear
will see their young ones lie down together.
Like cattle, the lion will eat hay.
By the cobra‘s den the infant will play.
The child will put his hand into the viper‘s lair.
No one will harm or destroy over my holy mountain,
for as water fills the sea
the earth will be filled with the knowledge of Yahweh.
On that day the ”Root of Jesse” will be raised as a signal for the nations. The people will come in search of him, thus making his dwelling place glorious.

Gospel: Lk 10:21-24

 At that time, Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and said, ”I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and made them known to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. I have been given all things by my Father, so that no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son, and he to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said to them privately, ”Fortunate are you to see what you see, for I tell you, that many prophets and kings would have liked to see what you see, but did not see it; and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

Reflections

St. Luke today does record that Jesus ”rejoiced in the Holy Spirit”, the only time that he does so. And He rejoices because of the overwhelming experience of intimacy and communion with God. We get just a glimpse here of the awesome intimacy that Jesus has felt with God. Just think how incredibly strong that bond must have been, since it was enough to accept the consequences of being God‘s beloved. It gave him the courage to love without condition, to forgive his enemies, to violate the Sabbath to stress the weight of mercy and healing over violations of sacred laws and finally to accept the cross as the ultimate test of his fidelity to God. What do we rejoice in? When we are happy, it is usually because something good has happened to us, or we have received something we wanted, or we have done something good for another. But it is usually more about us than God, who is the One who really loves us without counting the cost and loves us by giving his life to us. Let us ask Jesus today to teach us the secret of His Heart. How can we grow in our love for God today? Pope Francis says: ”We are not Christian ”part-time,” only at certain moments, in certain circumstances, in certain decisions; no one can be Christian in this way. We are Christian all the time! Totally! May Christ‘s truth, which the Holy Spirit teaches us and gives to us, always and totally affect our daily life. Let us call on him more often so that he may guide us on the path of disciples of Christ. Let us call on him every day. I am making this suggestion to you: let us invoke the Holy Spirit every day; in this way the Holy Spirit will bring us close to Jesus Christ.”

Daily Reflection 2018

Bible Diary ® is a product of 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 (57^th 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

 

Bible Diary ® 2018
Copyright © 2O17 
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