Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

OCTAVE EASTER, THURSDAY
Psalter: Proper / (White)

Ps 8:2ab & 5, 6-7, 8-9
O Lord, our God,
how wonderful your name.

1^st Reading: Acts 3:11-26

Gospel: Lk 24:35-48

 Then the two told what had happened on the road to Emmaus, and how Jesus had made himself known, when he broke bread with them.

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood in their midst. (He said to them, “Peace to you.”) In their panic and fright they thought they were seeing a ghost, but he said to them, “Why are you upset, and how does such an idea cross your minds? Look at my hands and feet, and see that it is I myself! Touch me, and see for yourselves, for a ghost has no flesh and bones as I have!” (As he said this, he showed his hands and feet.)

 Their joy was so great that they still could not believe it, as they were astonished; so he said to them, “Have you anything to eat?” And they gave him a piece of broiled fish. He took it, and ate it before them.

 Then Jesus said to them, “Remember the words I spoke to you when I was still with you: Everything written about me in the law of Moses, in the prophets and in the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

And he said, “So it was written: the Messiah had to suffer, and on the third day rise from the dead. Then repentance and forgiveness in his name would be proclaimed to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.

Reflections

PEACE BE TO YOU!

I am sure you have noticed that after the Resurrection, Jesus always greeted his disciples in his apparitions with: PEACE BE WITH YOU. That is actually the most beautiful wish we could give to anyone. To have peace means to have overcome one’s conflicts, one’s doubts, one’s struggle, one’s worries. In other words one has come to a state of contentment and joy. When Jesus greets his disciples with these words, he is like telling them — you have no more cause to worry, to be afraid, to be anxious, to be troubled. I have overcome death not only for myself but for you. Although you will still remain in the world, don’t be afraid: I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD. So now, you can live in peace, not as the world gives, but as I give it to you. When we give each other the greeting of peace at Holy Mass, we remind each other of Christ’s greeting and of his assurance that we, too, can now live steeped in divine contentment.

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
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OCTAVE EASTER, WEDNESDAY
Psalter: Proper / (White)

Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.

1^st Reading: Acts 3:1-10

Gospel: Lk 24:13-35*

 Two followers of Jesus were going to Emmaus, a village seven miles from Jerusalem, and they talked about what had happened. While they were talking and arguing about what had happened, Jesus came up and walked with them, but their eyes were not able to recognize him.

He asked, “What is it you are talking about?” The two stood still, looking sad. Then the one named Cleophas answered, “Why, it seems you are the only traveler to Jerusalem who doesn’t know what has happened there these past few days.” And he asked, “What is it?” They replied, “It is about Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet, you know, mighty in word and deed before God and the people. But the chief priests and our rulers sentenced him to death. They handed him over to be crucified. We had hoped that he would redeem Israel.

“It is now the third day since all this took place. It is also true that some women of our group have disturbed us. When they went to the tomb at dawn, they did not find his body; and they came and told us that they had had a vision of angels, who said that Jesus was alive. (…)“ He said to them, “How dull you are, how slow of understanding! Is the message of the prophets too difficult for you to understand? Is it not written that the Christ should suffer all this, and then enter his glory?” (…)

As they drew near the village they were heading for, Jesus made as if to go farther. But they prevailed upon him, “Stay with us, for night comes quickly. The day is now almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When they were at table, he took the bread, said a blessing, broke it, and gave each a piece.

Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; but he vanished out of their sight. And they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us when he was talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures?”

They immediately set out and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and their companions gathered together. They were greeted by these words: “Yes, it is true, the Lord is risen! He has appeared to Simon!” Then the two told what had happened on the road to Emmaus, and how Jesus had made himself known, when he broke bread with them.

Reflections

WERE NOT OUR HEARTS BURNING WITHIN US…?

I have always been touched by this story of the disciples’ encounter with Jesus in Emmaus especially by this sentence: Were not our hearts burning within us? It is such a symbolic and emotive expression of a sentiment that can hardly be described. It meant that even they did not recognize Jesus along the way, yet when he was explaining the Scriptures to them, their hearts were already responding even if their minds were slow to recognize Jesus. Can we recall moments in our lives when our hearts were burning within us? When we are listening to somebody and what he or she is saying resonates with us, then our hearts burn within us. When we see a picture that is touching like the picture of the “pieta” of a woman cradling her husband who was killed by vigilantes, didn’t our heart burn within us? We thank God for those moments when our hearts burn within us because they are moments of God’s visitation.

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

OCTAVE EASTER, TUESDAY
Psalter: Proper / (White)

1^st Reading: Acts 2:36-41

 “Let Israel, then, know for sure, that God has made Lord and Christ this Jesus, whom you crucified.”

When they heard this, they were deeply troubled. And they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What shall we do, brothers?”

Peter answered: “Each of you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven. Then, you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise of God was made to you and your children, and to all those from afar, whom our God may call.”

With many other words Peter gave the message; and appealed to them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So, those who accepted his word were baptized; some three thousand persons were added to their number that day. The first community they were faithful to the teaching of the apostles, the common life of sharing, the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Gospel: Jn 20:11-18

 Mary stood weeping outside the tomb; and as she wept, she bent down to look inside. She saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, and the other at the feet. They said, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She answered, “Because they have taken my Lord and I don’t know where they have put him.”

As she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize him. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and answered him, “Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and take him away.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned, and said to him, “Rabboni!” – which means Master. Jesus said to her, “Do not touch me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them: I am ascending to my Father, who is your Father, to my God, who is your God.”

So Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord, and this is what he said to me.”

Reflections

I HAVE SEEN THE LORD…

It took two thousand years before the image of Mary Magdalene was changed. She is NOT a prostitute. She was not a sinful woman. In this episode at the resurrection, her real role in salvation history has been clearly defined by Christ himself. “Go to my brothers…” And so she went and told the apostles: I HAVE SEEN THE LORD AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID TO ME. So she is the first witness of the Resurrection. She is an apostle (person sent) to the apostles themselves. To see the Lord is not just a matter of physical seeing. It meant spiritual seeing. In those words Magdalene expressed that she finally understood what Christ has often repeated to his apostles and disciples – that HE IS TRULY THE SON OF GOD. HE DIED AND HE ROSE AGAIN. HE SAVED US FROM OUR SIN AND IS NOW PRECEDING US TO THE FATHER TO WHOM WE SHALL ALSO ASCEND IN GOD’S GOOD TIME. That is the compendium of the GOSPEL, the good news of salvation. A woman, Mary Magdalene, as witness to the Resurrection, was the first to comprehend it and became an emissary to the apostles whose mission it was to spread it to the whole world.

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

OCTAVE EASTER, MONDAY
Psalter: Proper / (White)

Ps 16:1-2a & 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

1^st Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-33*

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven and, with a loud voice, addressed them, (…) Fellow Israelites, listen to what I am going to tell you about Jesus of Nazareth. God accredited him and through him did powerful deeds and wonders and signs in your midst, as you well know. You delivered him to sinners to be crucified and killed and, in this way, the purpose of God, from all times, was fulfilled. But God raised him to life and released him from the pain of death; because it was impossible for him to be held in the power of death. David spoke of him when he said: I saw the Lord before me at all times; he is by my side, that I may not be shaken. Therefore, my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced; my body, too, will live in hope. Because you will not forsake me in the abode of the dead, nor allow your Holy One to experience corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life, and your presence will fill me with joy. (…)

This Messiah is Jesus; and we are all witnesses that God raised him to life. He has been exalted at God’s right side; and the Father has entrusted the Holy Spirit to him; this Spirit, he has just poured upon us, as you now see and hear.

Gospel: Mt 28:8-15

 In fear, yet with great joy, the women left the tomb and ran to tell the news to his disciples.

Suddenly, Jesus met them on the way and said, “Rejoice!” The women approached him, embraced his feet and worshiped him. But Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid! Go and tell my brothers to set out for Galilee; there, they will see me.”

As the women proceeded on their way, some of the guards went into the city, and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. The chief priests met with the elders, and decided to give the soldiers a large sum of money, with this order, “Say that his disciples came by night while you were asleep, and stole the body of Jesus. If Pilate comes to know of this, we will explain the situation and keep you out of trouble.” The soldiers accepted the money and did as they were told. This story has circulated among the Jews until this day.

Reflections

KEEP ME SAFE O GOD, YOU ARE MY HOPE

This verse of the responsorial psalm is an ever-recurring petition in the psalms. The people of Israel had to undergo many trials and threats and even in their infidelities, making for themselves idols, they realized again and again that their surest security and the source of their hope was the God of their Fathers. In our lives too, we meet threats, physical or psychological. In our families, we experience insecurities regarding keeping our job, the sustenance of our families, protecting them from harm, being able to send our children to College, etc. It is of course understood that we try our best to work towards security but ultimately we have to rely on God. When everything seems to work against us, when our efforts seem to be fruitless, we need not despair because God has assured us of his love, care and compassion. We repeat with the Psalmist: KEEP ME SAFE O GOD, YOU ARE MY HOPE!

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