Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

25TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. Wenceslaus, king & martyr /
St. Lorenzo Ruiz of Manila, martyr & Companions, martyrs
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green/Red)

Ps 144:1b & 2abc, 3-4
Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

1st Reading: Eccl 3:1-11
There is a given time for everything and a time for every happening under heaven:
A time for giving birth, a time for dying; a time for planting, a time for uprooting.
A time for killing, a time for healing; a time for knocking down, a time for building.
A time for tears, a time for laughter; a time for mourning, a time for dancing.
A time for throwing stones, a time for gathering stones; a time for embracing, a time to refrain from embracing.
A time for searching, a time for losing; a time for keeping, a time for throwing away.
A time for tearing, a time for sewing; a time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time for loving, a time for hating; a time for war, a time for peace.
What profit is there for a man from all his toils?
Finally I considered the task God gave to the humans.
He made everything fitting in its time, but he also set eternity in their hearts, although they are not able to embrace the work of God from the beginning to the end.

Gospel: Lk 9:18-22

 One day, when Jesus was praying alone, not far from his disciples, he asked them, “What do people say about me?” And they answered, “Some say, that you are John the Baptist; others say, that you are Elijah; and still others, that you are one of the prophets of old, risen from the dead.” Again Jesus asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.” Then Jesus spoke to them, giving them strict orders not to tell this to anyone.

And he added, “The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the elders and chief priests and teachers of the law, and be put to death. Then after three days he will be raised to life.”

Reflections

Who do you say that I am?

To answer the question of Jesus, all that is needed is to walk with him and find the answer along the way. The way of discipleship is to keep walking and allowing the Master to lead and allowing myself to be led. The invitation to come and see is not simply a personal affair with Jesus; it is to come and see with cosmic eyes! Pope Francis in Laudato Si brings this movement when he reflects on what is happening with the earth. Jesus’ humanity is intimately connected with the earth, with people and with his work. His relationship with the Divine is intertwined with everything he saw and touched.

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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25TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. Vincent de Paul, priest
Psalter: Week 1 / (White)

Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 & 17bc
In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

1st Reading: Eccl 1:2-11
All is meaningless — says the Teacher — meaningless, meaningless!
What profit is there for a man in all his work for which he toils under the sun?
A generation goes, a generation comes and the earth remains forever. The sun rises, the sun sets, hastening towards the place where it again rises. Blowing to the south, turning to the north, the wind goes round and round and after all its rounds it has to blow again.
All rivers go to the sea but the sea is not full; to the place where the rivers come from, there they return again.
All words become weary and speech comes to an end, but the eye has never seen enough nor the ear heard too much.
What has happened before will happen again; what has been done before will be done again: there is nothing new under the sun.
If they say to you, “See, it’s new!” know that it has already been centuries earlier.
There is no remembrance of ancient people, and those to come will not be remembered by those who follow them.

Gospel: Lk 9:7-9

 King Herod heard of all this, and did not know what to think, for people said, “This is John, raised from the dead.” Others believed that Elijah, or one of the ancient prophets, had come back to life. As for Herod, he said, “I had John beheaded. Who is this man, about whom I hear such wonders?” And he was anxious to see him.

Reflections

He was anxious to see him

Herod’s desire to see Jesus was driven curiosity, fear and anxiety. To see Jesus is to be inspired by his words and deeds. His way is caring and healing presence. Herod’s method of eliminating and silencing enemies was the exact opposite of Jesus‘ message of loving enemies and promoting non-violence. The way to meet Jesus is to have the eyes of faith that can see in the person of Jesus the presence and power of God. Let us ask to see Jesus today, a seeing that leads to a total acceptance of his way of life and following him all the way, through the cross, and seeing the power of his way of truth-telling and non-violence as the way forward in bringing a new world of justice and peace. Herod’s way is a dead-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

25TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Sts. Cosmas & Damian, martyrs
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green/Red)

Ps 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163
Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.

1^st Reading: Pro 30:5-9

Every word of God is true, he is a shield in whom man can find refuge. Add nothing to his words lest he rebuke you and take you for a liar.

O God, two things I beg of you, do not deny me them before I die. Keep lying and falsehood far away from me, give me neither poverty nor riches. Give me just as much food as I need lest, satisfied, I deny you and say, “Who is Yahweh?” Or else, out of necessity, I steal and profane the name of my God.

Gospel: Lk 9:1-6

 Then Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to drive out all evil spirits and to heal diseases. And he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He instructed them, “Don’t take anything for the journey, neither staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and don’t even take a spare tunic. Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place. And wherever they don’t welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust from your feet: it will be as a testimony against them.”

So they set out, and went through the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

Reflections

Jesus sends the twelve dis­ciples on mission. It is the first time he has sent them out on their own without his being with them. Basically, they are to do exactly as their Master does. They are given power to heal illnesses and proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom. They are to travel lightly and not to bring anything with them which would make travelling heavy and difficult. No walking staff, or purse, or food, or money, nor even a change of clothing. It is understood that the people will support them in return for the services they render. The radicality of the mission is not so much that they travel with less but to trust in God’s providence. What they have to carry is their faith in God who will be with them in carrying the mission entrusted to them. It is God’s mission.

The same mission is entrusted to each one of us. We are called, individually and in community, to proclaim the Gospel by word and witness. We are called to help liberate people from suffering and addictions of all kinds. We are called to be instruments of healing and wholeness in our little ways and making a difference in people’s lives. We are called to live lives of simplicity and open to recognize peoples’ hospitality.

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

25TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green)

Ps 119:1, 27, 30, 34, 35, 44
Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.

1^st Reading: Pro 21:1-6, 10-13

In the hands of Yahweh, the heart of the king is like running water; he directs it wherever he wishes.
To the eyes of man all his ways are honest but it is Yahweh who weighs the heart.
To do what is upright and just pleases Yahweh more than sacrifice.
Haughty looks, proud heart, the light of the wicked is sin.
The plans of a hardworking man result in earnings; poverty is for those who act too hastily.
To make a fortune by means of deceit is like running after the wind; the end is death.
The soul of the wicked desires nothing but evil; not even his friend is treated with compassion.
When the mocker is punished the ignorant man grows wise; when the wise man is instructed he grows in knowledge.
The Just One watches the house of the evildoer and hurls the wicked into misfortune.
He who is deaf to the poor man’s cry will not be heard when he himself calls out.

Gospel: Lk 8:19-21

 Then his mother and his relatives came to him; but they could not get to him because of the crowd. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and wish to meet you.” Then Jesus answered, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

Reflections

My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it

Jesus established a different criterion of relationships – from blood or race to one that is marked by God’s word. There is a lot of meaning in the words of the message: “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside…” Mary is not being excluded here or other family members. The challenge is belonging to a new family that is no longer based on blood ties. Mary responded to the invitation of God by being chosen to be the mother of God’s Son but perhaps even more in her saying ‘Yes’ (“Let it happen to me according to your word”), in her unswerving ‘Yes’ to God’s invitation and in her standing by her Son to the very end when all the rest had fled. Our discipleship, too, is not determined by our being born into a Catholic family or just by being baptized or by observing the external requirements of our faith but by our total commitment to the Gospel and to an unconditional following of Jesus. Only then can we truly be said to be his brother or sister.

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