Daily Reflection

May 23, 2018 Wednesday

7TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green)

Ps 49:2-3, 6-7, 8-10, 11
Blessed are the poor in spirit;
the kingdom of heaven is theirs!

1^st Reading: Jas 4:13-17

Beloved: Listen now, you who speak like this, “Today or tomorrow we will go off to this city and spend a year there; we will do business and make money.” You have no idea what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? No more than a mist, which appears for a moment and then disappears. Instead of this, you should say, “God willing, we will live and do this or that.” But no! You boast of your plans: this brazen pride is wicked. Anyone who knows what is good, and does not do it, sins.

Gospel: Mk 9:38-40

John said to him, “Master, we saw someone who drove out demons by calling upon your name, and we tried to forbid him, because he does not belong to our group.” Jesus answered, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in my name can soon after speak evil of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.“

Reflections

You have no idea what tomorrow will bring

James compares human life to a mist that only appears momentarily. In our youth we think we possess our lives and that life is endless, so we go about establishing our kingdoms. But as we age and deteriorate, we confront our mortality. Some rage against our contingency by exerting every effort to perpetuate themselves or their memory. Others fall into despair or cynicism, thinking nothing ultimately matters. We pray to be grateful for every moment of our limited years and surrender our lives to the Giver of Life who will ultimately draw us into his eternity.

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.

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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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May 22, 2018 Tuesday

7TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. Rita of Cascia, religious
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green/White)

Ps 55:7-8, 9-10a, 10b-11a, 23
Throw your cares on the Lord,
and he will support you.

1^st Reading: Jas 4:1-10

What causes these fights and quarrels among you? Is it not your cravings that make war within your own selves? When you long for something you cannot have, you kill for it, and when you do not get what you desire, you squabble and fight. The fact is, you do not have what you want, because you do not pray for it. You pray for something, and you do not get it, because you pray with the wrong motive, of indulging your pleasures. You adulterers! Don’t you know that making friends with the world makes you enemies of God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy.

Can you not see the point of the saying in Scripture: “The longing of the spirit, he sent to dwell in us, is a jealous longing?” But God has something better to give, and Scripture also says, God opposes the proud but he gives his favor to the humble. Give in, then, to God; resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God and he will come close to you. Clean your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you doubters. Recognize your distress, be miserable and weep. Turn your laughter into tears and your joy into sadness. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will raise you up.

Gospel: Mk 9:30-37

After leaving that place, they made their way through Galilee; but Jesus did not want people to know where he was because he was teaching his disciples. And he told them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, but three days after he has been killed, he will rise.” The disciples, however, did not understand these words and they were afraid to ask him what he meant. Who is the greatest?

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, Jesus asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they did not answer, because they had been arguing about who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve and said to them, “If someone wants to be first, let him be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child, placed him in their midst, and putting his arms around him he said to them,

“Whoever welcomes a child such as this in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me, but the One who sent me.”

Reflections

God opposes the proud
but he gives his GRACE
to the humble

We’d like to think that the Lord is our only joy and our only aspiration. Yet, the letter of James informs us that our cravings make war within ourselves. We long for many things — and not solely yearn for the Lord. We pursue happiness elsewhere — as we do not seem to be contented with the assured love of God. The truth is that our hearts are divided. We know that the Lord is our true joy, yet we seek delight elsewhere. We know the Lord assures us of his infinite love, yet we pursue finite creatures, seeking fulfillment elsewhere.

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

May 21, 2018 Monday

7TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. Christopher Magallanes, priest
& Companions, martyrs
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green/Red)

Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15
The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

1^st Reading: Jas 3:13-18

If you consider yourself wise and learned, show it by your good life, and let your actions, in all humility, be an example for others. But if your heart is full of bitter jealousy and ambition, do not try to show off; that would be covering up the truth; this kind of wisdom does not come from above, but from the world, and it is earthly and devilish. Wherever there is jealousy and ambition, you will also find discord, and all that is evil. Instead, the wisdom that comes from above is pure and peace-loving. Persons with this wisdom show understanding, and listen to advice; they are full of compassion and good works; they are impartial and sincere. Peacemakers, who sow peace, reap a harvest of justice.

Gospel: Mk 9:14-29

When they came to the place where they had left the disciples, they saw many people around them and some teachers of the law arguing with them. When the people saw Jesus, they were astonished and ran to greet him.

He asked, “What are you arguing about with them?” A man answered him from the crowd, “Master, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit, deaf and mute. Whenever the spirit seizes him, it throws him down and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth and becomes stiff all over. I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they could not.”

Jesus replied, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him.

As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it shook and convulsed the boy, who fell on the ground and began rolling about, foaming at the mouth. Then Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “From childhood. And it has often thrown him into the fire and into the water to destroy him. If you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.”

Jesus said to him, “Why do you say, ‘If you can?’ All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately, the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe, but help the little faith I have.”

Jesus saw that the crowd was increasing rapidly, so he ordered the evil spirit, “Dumb and deaf spirit, I command you: Leave the boy and never enter him again.” The evil spirit shook and convulsed the boy and with a terrible shriek came out. The boy lay like a corpse and people said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and the boy stood up.

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive out the spirit?” And he answered, “Only prayer can drive out this kind, nothing else.”

Reflections

Leave the boy and never enter him again

From our perspective, the boy’s convulsion was likely due to epilepsy. However, for the Jews of Jesus’ time, they were caused by evil spirits that battled with God over the cosmos, the earth and our bodies. Bodily chaos could only be rectified by God’s intervention.

God’s healing is a grace which, however, requires faith. As the father of the boy humbly begged Jesus, “help the little faith I have,” we too humbly come before the Lord. Despite our scientific advances, knowledge and goodwill, we have mired ourselves in personal and global chaos. Lord, reverse our chaos and establish your shalom.

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

May 20, 2018 Sunday

PENTECOST SUNDAY

Psalter: Proper / (Red)

Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
Lord, send out your Spirit,
and renew the face of the earth.

1^st Reading: Acts 2:1-11

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. And suddenly, out of the sky, came a sound, like a strong rushing wind; and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. There appeared tongues, as if of fire, which parted and came to rest upon each one of them. All were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

Staying in Jerusalem were religious Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered, all excited, because each heard them speaking in his own language. Full of amazement and wonder, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it, that we hear them in our own native language? Here are Parthians, Medes and Elamites; and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia; Pontus and Asia; Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt; and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene; and visitors from Rome; both Jews and foreigners who accept Jewish beliefs, Cretians and Arabians; and all of us hear them proclaiming in our own language what God, the Savior, does.”

2^nd Reading: 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 (or Gal 5:16-25)

I tell you that nobody inspired by the Spirit of God may say, “A curse on Jesus,” as no one can say, “Jesus is the Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. There is diversity of gifts, but the Spirit is the same. There is diversity of ministries, but the Lord is the same. There is diversity of works, but the same God works in all. The Spirit reveals his presence in each one with a gift that is also a service.

As the body is one, having many members, and all the members, while being many, form one body, so it is with Christ. All of us, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, have been baptized in one Spirit, to form one body, and all of us have been given, to drink from the one Spirit.

Gospel: Jn 20:19-23
(or Jn 15:26-27; 16:12-15)

On the evening of that day, the first day after the Sabbath, the doors were locked where the disciples were, because of their fear of the Jews. But Jesus came, and stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you!” Then he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples, seeing the Lord, were full of joy. Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” After saying this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! Those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; those whose sins you retain, they are retained.”

Lectio Divina

Read: The Event of Pentecost and the Birth of the Church: the Holy Spirit descends on the apostles who are transformed into the messengers of the Gospel. In the gospel, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit and breathes on the disciples. Paul reminds us that all gifts, ministries, and works are the handiwork of the Holy Spirit with the purpose of producing spiritual fruit in us and making us into one body of Christ.

Reflect: Pentecostal event is the reverse and a corrective of the Tower of Babel event (Gen. 11:1-9). In attempting to build the Tower, humanity took it upon itself the task of unifying the world without any reference to God, but their efforts ended in great crisis, leading to scattering of the peoples – exactly the opposite of what they had intended. In the Pentecost, God gathers the people around and bestows on them the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit to unite all into one body in Christ. In our modern embrace of globalization, it is good to remember that we cannot make a world community of our own without reference to God and the assistance of the gifts and fruits of the Spirit of God. For He alone can unite us.

Pray: Pray for the world to pivot itself on God, recognizing His primacy and centrality.

Act: Do a faith-sharing at the family dinner table tonight.

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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