Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

1ST WEEK OF ADVENT
St. Francis Xavier, priest
Psalter: Week 1 / (White)

Ps 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

1^st Reading: Is 2:1-5

The vision of Isaiah, son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In the last days, the mountain of Yahweh‘s house shall be set over the highest mountains and shall tower over the hills.

All the nations shall stream to it, saying, ”Come, let us go to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and we may walk in his paths. For the teaching comes from Zion, and from Jerusalem the word of Yahweh.

He will rule over the nations and settle disputes for many people. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not raise sword against nation; they will train for war no more.

O nation of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of Yahweh!”

Gospel: Mt 8:5-11

 When Jesus entered Capernaum, an army captain approached him, to ask his help, ”Sir, my servant lies sick at home. He is paralyzed and suffers terribly.” Jesus said to him, ”I will come and heal him.”

The captain answered, ”I am not worthy to have you under my roof. Just give an order and my boy will be healed. For I myself, a junior officer, give orders to my soldiers. And if I say to one, ‘Go!‘ he goes; and if I say to another, ‘Come!‘ he comes; and if I say to my servant, ‘Do this!‘ he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was astonished; and said to those who were following him, ”I tell you, I have not found such faith in Israel. I say to you, many will come from east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven.“

Reflections

The person asking for help is a centurion, a soldier and presumably not a Jew. Yet he has great faith in Jesus. He asks Jesus to cure a servant who has become paralyzed. Jesus immediately responds that he will go and cure him. ”No, no,” replies the centurion. ”I am not worthy that you should come to my house. Just say the word and my servant will be healed.” (Words very familiar to us in the prayer before communion.) Jesus is astonished at the faith of this pagan: ”Nowhere in Israel have I found faith like this!” The faith that Jesus expects is not an acceptance of doctrines and laws. It is rather a gesture of total trust and surrender by which people commit themselves to the power of God – in this case, the power of God in Jesus. Christ asks for this faith especially when he works his miracles, which are acts of mercy and signs of his mission and witnessing to the kingdom. Faith in Jesus is the first condition for healing to take place. For many of Jesus‘ hearers who could not see the presence of God in Jesus, lacking was the act of faith that puts God at the center of one‘s heart. Even the disciples were slow to believe. In the book, The Crucified God, Jurgens Moltmann writes: ”Our faith begins at the point where atheists suppose that it must end. Our faith begins with the bleakness and power which is the night of the cross, abandonment, temptation, and doubt about everything that exists! Our faith must be born where it is abandoned by all tangible reality; it must be born of nothingness, it must taste this nothingness and be given it to taste in a way no philosophy of nihilism can imagine.”

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 SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Psalter: Week 1 / (Violet)

Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

1^st Reading: Jer 33:14-16

 “The days are coming when I shall fulfill the promise that I made in favor of Israel and Judah.

In those days and at that time I will cause to sprout the shoot of righteousness from David‘s line; he will practice justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will experience salvation and Jerusalem will live in safety. He will be called Yahweh-Our-Righteousness.

2^nd Reading: 1 Thes 3:12 — 4:2

May the Lord increase, more and more, your love for each other and for all people, as he increases our love for you. May he strengthen you, internally, to be holy and blameless before God, our Father, on the day that Jesus, our Lord, will come with all his saints.                    

For the rest, brothers, we ask you, in the name of Jesus, the Lord, and we urge you, to live in a way that pleases God, just as you have learned from us. This you do but try to do still more. You know the instructions we gave you on behalf of the Lord Jesus.

Gospel: Lk 21:25-28, 34-36

 Then there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations, perplexed when they hear the roaring of the sea and its waves. People will faint with fear at the mere thought of what is to come upon the world, for the forces of the universe will be shaken. Then, at that time, they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

So, when you see things begin to happen, stand erect and lift up your heads, for your deliverance is drawing near.

Be on your guard: don‘t immerse yourselves in a life of pleasure, drun­kenness and worldly cares, lest that day catch you unaware, like a trap! For, like a snare, will that day come upon all the inhabitants of the earth. But watch at all times and pray, that you may be able to escape all that is going to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Lectio Divina

Read: Days of justice, righteousness, salvation, and safety, as promised, are around the corner. Be watchful and pray in the midst of frightening events so that you will outlive them and be united with the Son of Man. In short, live in a way that pleases God.

Reflect: The good things of promise are not necessa­rily pac­kaged in attractive envelopes; they often come in the midst of frightening events. This is good news: Even when the world seems to fall apart and the foundations of our lives are shaken, the people of promise who have lived a life good enough to please the Lord do not need to panic: in the midst of such tragedies, something new and good is being born for them.

Pray: Pray for the gift of discer­ning God‘s blessings even in the midst of trials and struggles.

Act: The season of Advent has begun. Plan how you want to observe this season.

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

34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Blessed Virgin Mary
Psalter: Week 2 / (Green/White)

Ps 95:1-2, 3-5, 6-7ab
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!

1^st Reading: Rev 22:1-7

Then, he showed me the river of life, clear as crystal, gushing from the throne of God, and of the Lamb. In the middle of the city, on both sides of the river, are the trees of life, producing fruit twelve times, once each month, the leaves of which are for healing the nations.

No longer will there be a curse; the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and God‘s servants will live in his presence. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of lamp, or sun, for God himself will be their light, and they will reign forever.

Then, the angel said to me, ”These words are sure and true; the Lord God, who inspires the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon.”

”I am coming soon! Happy are those who keep the prophetic words of this book.”

Gospel: Lk 21:34-36

 Be on your guard: don‘t immerse yourselves in a life of pleasure, drunkenness and worldly cares, lest that day catch you unaware, like a trap! For, like a snare, will that day come upon all the inhabitants of the earth. But watch at all times and pray, that you may be able to escape all that is going to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Reflections

Anticipation and anxiety go hand in hand. These are two reactions to a life under pressure. The latter sees only fear and darkness. While the other sees light and hope. We can never fully predict hardships or disastrous events along the way. Life offers all kinds of test and struggle. What is needed is to ask ourselves what are our core values and what really matters in our lives. We can live a high moral life, as if tomorrow does matter. Or we can choose to live as if tomorrow does not matter. And we can pray for the strength to live through the darker days or we take things for granted. Ultimately we can live as if Jesus is fully present and it matters to hold on his words. We can begin to take our responsibilities seriously and stop blaming anyone with what is happening with our lives. Choose one area in your life that makes you fearful and anxious. How can faith turn your fear in this area into an act of trust in God‘s care? What we are called to do is simply to trust that everything will be fine and that we can see blessings in our families and communities. The blessings could be so ordinary like good health or caring friends. All that is called for is to have time for silence within and be filled with gratitude. Richard Rohr says: ”To become aware of God‘s presence in our lives, we have to accept what is often difficult, particularly for people in what appears to be a success-driven culture…Wisdom teachers from many traditions have recognized that we human beings do not naturally see; we have to be taught how to see.”

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

FEAST OF ST. ANDREW, APOSTLE
Psalter: Proper / (Red)

Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11
The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.

1^st Reading: Rom 10:9-18

You are saved, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and, in your heart, you believe that God raised him from the dead. By believing from the heart, you obtain true righteousness; by confessing the faith with your lips, you are saved. For Scripture says: No one who believes in him will be ashamed. Here, there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; all have the same Lord, who is very generous with whoever calls on him. Truly, all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

But how can they call upon the name of the Lord without having believed in him? And how can they believe in him, without having first heard about him? And how will they hear about him, if no one preaches about him? And how will they preach about him, if no one sends them? As Scripture says: How beautiful are the feet of the messenger of good news. Although, not everyone obeyed the good news, as Isaiah said: Lord, who has believed in our preaching? So, faith comes from preaching, and preaching is rooted in the word of Christ.

I ask: Have the Jews not heard? But, of course, they have. Because the voice of those preaching resounded all over the earth, and their voice was heard, to the ends of the world.

Gospel: Mt 4:18-22

 As Jesus walked by the lake of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come, follow me; and I will make you fish for people.”

At once they left their nets and followed him.

He went on from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them.

At once, they left the boat, and their father, and followed him.

Reflections

Jesus began to choose disciples to participate with Him in proclaiming the Kingdom of God and sharing God’s love and compassion with everyone. Jesus chose these men and changed their life-directions. He chose these unschooled, unsophisticated and simple fishermen to be His change agents in the world. Jesus did not call the qualified, the smart and the perfect. All he wan­ted from them was their readiness and ­willingness to be initiated and formed by his way of life. He took them as they were and patiently took them to unlearn their old ways and begin to learn what it meant to serve others without lording over them. The process was not easy and at the end, they even betrayed and abandoned him. He never gave up on them. He believed in them until the end. Jesus chooses ordinary people, like you and me, to be his follo­wers. By His grace and mercy, he invites all to trust in Him and be his witnesses of his caring presence in the world; to believe in the truth of his word and deeds in spite of opposition and indifference to his counter-cultural values; to serve him through our loving service to those around us and to faithfully and joyfully follow wherever He leads us. Through the life-giving words and deeds of Jesus, God invites us to be his own messengers to the world today. If we respond freely to his call, God makes us his partners and grants to each of us, disciples, the compassion, power, courage, strength and joy to be “fishers of men and women today!” If we respond to him like the early disciples, he will remain faithful to us until the end.

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