Daily Reflection

May 3, 2018 Thursday

FEAST OF STS. PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES
Psalter: Proper / (Red)

Ps 19:2-3, 4-5
Their message goes out through all the earth.

1^st Reading: 1 Cor 15:1-8

Let me remind you, brothers and sisters, of the Good News that I preached to you, and which you received, and on which you stand firm. By that gospel, you are saved, provided that you hold on to it, as I preached it. Otherwise, you will have believed in vain.

In the first place, I have passed on to you what I, myself, received: that Christ died for our sins, as Scripture says; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures; that he appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve. Afterward, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters together; most of them are still alive, although some have already gone to rest. Then he appeared to James, and after that, to all the apostles. And last of all, he appeared to the most despicable of them, this is, to me.

Gospel: Jn 14:6-14

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me. If you know me, you will know the Father also; indeed you know him, and you have seen him.”

Philip asked him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that is enough.” Jesus said to him, “What! I have been with you so long and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever sees me sees the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

“All that I say to you, I do not say of myself. The Father who dwells in me is doing his own work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; at least believe it on the evidence of these works that I do.

“Truly, I say to you, the one who believes in me will do the same works that I do; and he will even do greater than these, for I am going to the Father. Everything you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Indeed, anything you ask, calling upon my name, I will do it.“

Reflections

I have passed on to you what I, myself, received

Paul passed on the faith that he received. Similarly our faith in Jesus has been passed on to us by earlier generations. Not being eyewitnesses of the Risen Lord, we rely on their testimony and witness. And as we have received the faith we are missioned to pass it on to others through our words and through the witness of our lives.

How amazing that the almighty God allows his Gospel to be transmitted by frail and fragile vessels. How humbling that the Lord chooses to rely on us despite our sinfulness in order to proclaim the Gospel of salvation.

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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May 2, 2018 Wednesday

5TH WEEK OF EASTER
St. Athanasius, bishop & doctor
Psalter: Week 1 / (White)

Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
Let us go rejoicing to thehouse of the Lord.

1^st Reading: Acts 15:1-6

Some persons, who had come from Judea to Antioch, were teaching the brothers in this way, “Unless you are circumcised, according to the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Because of this, there was trouble; and Paul and Barnabas had fierce arguments with them. For Paul told the people to remain as they were, when they became believers. Finally, those who had come from Jerusalem suggested that Paul and Barnabas and some others go up to Jerusalem, to discuss the matter with the apostles and elders.

They were sent on their way by the Church. As they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria they reported how the non-Jews had turned to God; and there was great joy among all the brothers and sisters.

On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the Church, the apostles and the elders, to whom they told all that God had done through them. Some believers, however, who belonged to the party of the Pharisees, stood up and said, that non-Jewish men must be circumcised and instructed to keep the law of Moses. So the apostles and elders met together to consider this matter.

Gospel: Jn 15:1-8

I am the true vine and my Father is the vine grower. If any of my branches doesn’t bear fruit, he breaks it off; and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, that it may bear even more fruit.

You are already made clean by the word I have spoken to you. Live in me as I live in you. The branch cannot bear fruit by itself, but has to remain part of the vine; so neither can you, if you don’t remain in me.

I am the vine and you are the branches. As long as you remain in me and I in you, you bear much fruit; but apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not remain in me is thrown away, as they do with branches, and they wither. Then they are gathered and thrown into the fire and burned.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask whatever you want, and it will be given to you. My Father is glorified when you bear much fruit: it is then that you become my disciples.

Reflections

Unless you are circumcised, according to the law of Moses, you cannot be saved

Peter and many other Jewish-Christians insisted that non-Jews wanting to be baptized first had to be circumcised and adhere by the Mosaic dietary laws. Gentiles thus had to undergo Jewish initiation rites before being baptized as Christians. Paul and Barnabas on the other hand contended that Gentiles could immediately be baptized without going through Jewish initiation rituals. This was the issue that divided the Early Church as it expanded to the Gentile world. While Jesus did not leave explicit instructions on how to build his Church, his Spirit guides the Church in discerning and carrying out God’s will throughout history.

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 1, 2018 Tuesday

FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER
Psalter: Proper / (White)

Ps 90: 2,3-4,12-13,14 & 16
Lord, give success to the work of our hands.

1^st Reading: Gen 1:26—2:3

God said, ”Let us make man in our image, to our likeness. Let them rule over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over the cattle, over the wild animals, and over all creeping things that crawl along the ground.” So God created man in his image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ”Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it, rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky, over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

God said, ”I have given you every seed-bearing plant which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree that bears fruit with seed. It will be for your food. To every wild animal, to every bird of the sky, to everything that creeps along the ground, to everything that has the breath of life, I give every green plant for food.” So it was.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. There was evening and there was morning: the sixth day

That was the way the sky and earth were created and all their vast array. By the seventh day the work God had done was completed, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had done.

Gospel: Mt 13:54-58

He went to his hometown and taught the people in their synagogue. They were amazed and said, “Where did he get this wisdom and these special powers? Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t Mary his mother and aren’t James, Joseph, Simon and Judas his brothers? Aren’t all his sisters living here? Where did he get all these things?” And so they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them, “The only place where prophets are not welcome is his hometown and in his own family.” And he did not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Reflections

Isn’t he the carpenter’s son?

A carpenter in Jesus’ time worked with wood and stone. Joseph would not only have constructed and sold wooden furnishings, but would also have replaced the thatched roofing of houses and built homes made of stone, plastering them with clay. Possibly Joseph, too, worked as a contractual carpenter in the majestic city of Sepphoris, the capital of Galilee, five kilometers away from Nazareth.

Eventually, Jesus apprenticed under Joseph. Eventually, after Joseph passed away, Jesus would have provided for his widowed mother Mary by laboring with his hands. St. Joseph the Worker, teach us the dignity of human labor.

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

April 30, 2018 Monday

5TH WEEK OF EASTER
St. Pius V, pope
Psalter: Week 1 / (White)

Ps 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16
Not to us, O Lord,
but to your name give the glory.

1^st Reading: Acts 14:5-18

A move was made by pagans and Jews, together with their leaders, to harm the apostles and to stone them. But Paul and Barnabas learned of this and fled to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside, where they continued preaching the Good News.

Paul and Barnabas spent a fairly long time at Lystra. There was a crippled man in Lystra who had never been able to stand or walk. One day, as he was listening to the preaching, Paul looked intently at him and saw that he had the faith to be saved. So he said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And the man leaped up and began walking. When the people saw what Paul had done, they cried out in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come to us in human likeness!” They named Barnabas Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. Even the priest of the temple of Zeus, which stood outside the town, brought oxen and garlands to the gate; together with the people, he wanted to offer sacrifice to them. When Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their garments, to show their indignation, and rushed into the crowd, shouting, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are human beings, with the same weakness you have, and we are now telling you to turn away from these useless things, to the living God who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and all that is in them. In past generations, he allowed each nation to go its own way, though he never stopped making himself known; for he is continually doing good, giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, providing you with food, and filling your hearts with gladness.” Even these words could hardly keep the crowd from offering sacrifice to them.

Gospel: Jn 14:21-26

Whoever keeps my commandments is the one who loves me. If he loves me, he will also be loved by my Father; I too shall love him and show myself clearly to him.”

Judas — not Judas Iscariot — asked Jesus, “Lord, how can it be that you will show yourself clearly to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him; and we will come to him and live with him. But if anyone does not love me, he will not keep my words; and these words that you hear are not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.

“I told you all this while I am still with you. From now on the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I have told you.“

Reflections

THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM THE FATHER WILLL SEND IN MY NAME, WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS AND REMIND YOU OF ALL THAT I HAVE TOLD YOU.

The Holy Spirit is the most mysterious expression of the Godhead. She (Sophia) blows where she wills and accomplishes a lot of surprises in our life as persons and as a people. I am sure we have all experienced in our lives some intervention of the Holy Spirit that left us breathless and in awe — like a terminal cancer disappearing, surviving a crisis, being saved from an accident, etc. When things seemed so desperate and where things seemed hopeless, the Holy Spirit intervenes in ways we never dreamt of. When we are in the midst of a difficult decision, the Holy Spirit shows us the way we have to go and gives us the strength and daring to do what we have to do. “COME HOLY SPIRIT, AND ENKINDLE IN US THE FIRE OF YOUR LOVE!”

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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