Daily Reflection

July 18, 2018 Wednesday

15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green)

Ps 94:5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 14-15
The Lord will not abandon his people.

1^st Reading: Is 10:5-7, 13b-16

Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger, the staff of my fury!

Against a godless nation I send him, against a people who provoke my wrath I dispatch him, to plunder and pillage, to tread them down like mud in the streets.

But the mind of his king is far from this, his heart harbors other thoughts; what he wants is to destroy, to make an end of all nations.

For the king says: “By my own strength I have done this and by my own wisdom, for I am clever. I have moved the frontiers of people, I have plundered treasures, I have brought inhabitants down to the dust, I have toppled kings from their thrones. As one reaches into a nest, so my hands have reached into nations’ wealth. As one gathers deserted eggs, so have I gathered the riches of the earth. No one flapped a wing or opened its mouth to chirp a protest.” Does the axe claim more credit than the man who wields it? Does the saw magnify itself more than the one who uses it? This would be like a rod wielding the man who lifts it up; will those not made of wood, be controlled by the cudgel? This is why Yahweh Sabaoth is ready to send a wasting sickness upon the king’s sturdy warriors. Beneath his plenty, a flame will burn like a consuming fire.

Gospel: Mt 11:25-27

On that occasion, Jesus said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I praise you; because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to simple people. Yes, Father, this was your gracious will. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father; and no one knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.“

Reflections

Woe to those enact unjust laws and issue oppresive decrees!

In our First Reading, the Lord announces the destruction of Assyria for invading Israel, plundering her treasures and killing her inhabitants. The Lord is angered by the abuse of power and oppression of the weak. This is righteous anger or divine indignation.

We, Filipinos, are uncomfortable with anger, because for many of us every expression of anger is sinful, “Masamang magalit.” And yet God reveals to us that the proper moral response to corruption and oppression is moral indignation, which is not a sin but a virtue. To be angry over the exploitation of the weak is a virtue.

Daily Reflection 2018

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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

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July 17, 2018 Tuesday

15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green)

Ps 48:2-3a, 3b-4, 5-6, 7-8
God upholds his city forever.

1^st Reading: Is 7:1-9

When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, king Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah, king of Israel, laid siege to Jerusalem but they were unable to capture it.

When the news reached the house of David, “Aram’s troops are encamped in Ephraim,” the heart of the king and the hearts of the people trembled as the trees of the forest tremble before the wind. Yahweh then said to Isaiah: “Go with your son and meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman’s Field.

Say to him, “Stay calm and fear not; do not lose courage before these two stumps of smoldering firebrands — the fierce anger of Rezin the Aramean and the blazing fury of the son of Remaliah. You know that Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted against Judah, saying: Let us invade and scare it, let us seize it and put the son of Tabeel king over it. But the Lord Yahweh says: It shall not be so; it shall not come to pass. For Damascus is only the head of Aram and Rezin the lord of Damascus.

“Samaria is only the head of Ephraim and Remaliah’s son is only the lord of Samaria. Within fifty-six years, Ephraim will be shattered and will no longer be a people. But if you do not stand firm in faith, you, too, will not stand at all.”

Gospel: Mt 11:20-24

Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which he had performed most of his miracles, because the people there did not change their ways. “Alas for you Chorazin and Bethsaida! If the miracles worked in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I assure you, for Tyre and Sidon; it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? You will be thrown down to the place of the dead! For if the miracles which were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would still be there today! But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

Reflections

the people there
did not change their ways

How do we reconcile the image of the compassionate Jesus who heals the sick and forgives the sinner with that of the wrathful Jesus who denounces the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida? Anger is not always antithetical to love. Many times, anger is due to love. We are angered by the actions of people we care for.

Jesus’ anger toward his people was rooted in his deep love for them. Nonetheless, his love did not diminish. In dealing with the woman caught in adultery, he clearly distinguished the sin from the sinner. The sin he condemned; the sinner he forgave.

Daily Reflection 2018

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

July 16, 2018 Monday

15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green/White)

Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 & 23
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

1^st Reading: Is 1:10-17

Hear the warning of Yahweh, rulers of Sodom. Listen to the word of God, people of Gomorrah.”

“What do I care,” says Yahweh “for your endless sacrifices? I am fed up with your burnt offerings, and the fat of your bulls. The blood of fatlings, and lambs and he-goats I abhor, when you come before me and trample on my courts. Who asked you to visit me?

I am fed up with your oblations. I grow sick with your incense. Your New Moons, Sabbaths and meetings, evil with holy assemblies, I can no longer bear. I hate your New Moons and appointed feasts. They burden me. When you stretch out your hands I will close my eyes; the more you pray, the more I refuse to listen, for your hands are bloody. Wash and make yourselves clean. Remove from my sight the evil of your deeds. Put an end to your wickedness and learn to do good. Seek justice and keep in line the abusers; give the fatherless their rights and defend the widow.”

Gospel: Mt 10:34—11:1

Do not think that I have come to establish peace on earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Each one will have as enemies, those of one’s own family.

Whoever loves father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me. And whoever loves son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me, is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life, for my sake, will find it.

Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes him who sent me. The one who welcomes a prophet, as a prophet, will receive the reward of a prophet; the one who welcomes a just man, because he is a just man, will receive the reward of a just man. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones, because he is my disciple, I assure you, he will not go unrewarded.”

When Jesus had finished giving his twelve disciples these instructions, he went on from there, to teach and to proclaim his message in their towns.

Reflections

Whoever loves father
or mother more than me,
is not worthy of me

Jesus encourages harmony within the family. His perplexing harsh words about enmity among family members underscores the urgency of proclaiming and committing oneself to the Kingdom of God, which takes precedence over other values and responsibilities.

We, Filipinos, have a distorted sense of loyalty to the family. We coddle family members who are drug pushers or corrupt politicians. We are mute against their philandering or illegal business practices. We tacitly tolerate their sinful behaviors.

Jesus challenges us to choose between speaking for the values of the Kingdom or silently supporting the vices of our family.

Daily Reflection 2018

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

July 15, 2018 Sunday

15TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green)

Ps 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14
Lord, let us see your kindness,
and grant us your salvation.

1^st Reading: Am 7:12-15

Amaziah then said to Amos, “Off with you, seer, go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there by prophesying. But never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is a king’s Sanctuary and a national shrine.”

Amos replied to Amaziah, “I am not a prophet or one of the fellow prophets. I am a breeder of sheep and a dresser of sycamore trees. But Yahweh took me from shepherding the flock and said to me: Go, prophesy to my people Israel.

2^nd Reading: Eph 1:3-14

Blessed be God, the Father of Christ Jesus our Lord who, in Christ, has blessed us from heaven, with every spiritual blessing.

God chose us, in Christ, before the creation of the world, to be holy and without sin in his presence.

From eternity he destined us, in love, to be his adopted sons and daughters, through Christ Jesus, thus fulfilling his free and generous will. This goal suited him: that his lovingkindness, which he granted us in his beloved might finally receive all glory and praise.

For, in Christ, we obtain freedom, sealed by his blood, and have the forgiveness of sins.

In this, appears the greatness of his grace, which he lavished on us. In all wisdom and understanding, God has made known to us his mysterious design, in accordance with his loving-kindness, in Christ.

In him, and under him, God wanted to unite, when the fullness of time had come, everything in heaven and on earth.

By a decree of him, who disposes all things, according to his own plan and decision, we, the Jews, have been chosen and called, and we were awaiting the Messiah, for the praise of his glory.

You, on hearing the word of truth, the gospel that saves you, have believed in him. And as promised, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit, the first pledge of what we shall receive, on the way to our deliverance, as a people of God, for the praise of his glory.

Gospel: Mk 6:7-13

Jesus then went around the villages, teaching. He called the Twelve to him, and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over evil spirits. And he ordered them to take nothing for the journey, except a staff: no food, no bag, no money in their belts. They were to wear sandals and were not to take an extra tunic.

And he added, “In whatever house you are welcomed, stay there until you leave the place. If any place doesn’t receive you, and the people refuse to listen to you, leave after shaking the dust off your feet. It will be a testimony against them.”

So they set out to proclaim that this was the time to repent. They drove out many demons and healed many sick people by anointing them.

Lectio Divina

Read: Amos is acutely conscious of his call from God and asserts the same. In fact, everyone has received a call from God to share in His holiness. In the Lord’s Prayer, we are invited to pray for God’s Name remaining holy here on earth as in heaven.

Reflect: Today’s passage from the letter to the Ephesians beautifully captures God’s dream for us and the entire world. It is God’s dream that we share in his holiness, receive forgiveness of our sins and every spiritual blessing, become his sons and daughters, and be bathed in His grace. Even before we ask, He knows our heart’s desires. We are all called to be prophets to announce this dream to the world. And, our prayer must primarily be a praise of God and His dream of the Kingdom, and a simple statement of our needs more for us to be aware of our indebtedness to God than for God to be reminded.

Pray: Ask God for the gift of awareness of our call to share God’s holiness on earth.

Act: Recite the Lord’s Prayer meditatively.

Daily Reflection 2018

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

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