Daily Reflection

February 16, 2018 Friday

FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY
Day of abstinence from meat
(age 14 and up).
Psalter: Week 4 / (Violet)

Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19
A heart contrite and humbled,
O God, you will not spurn.

1^st Reading: Is 58:1-9a

Cry out loud for all you are worth; raise your voice like a trumpet blast; tell my people of their offenses, Jacob’s family of their sins.
Is it true that they seek me day after day, longing to know my ways, as a people that do what is right and have not forsaken the word of its God?
They want to know the just laws and not to drift away from their God. “Why are we fasting,” they complain, “and you do not even see it? We are doing penance and you never notice it.” Look, on your fast days you push your trade and you oppress your laborers.
Yes, you fast but end up quarreling, striking each other with wicked blows. Fasting as you do will not make your voice heard on high.
Is that the kind of fast that pleases me, just a day to humble oneself? Is fasting merely bowing down one’s head, and making use of sackcloth and ashes? Would you call that fasting, a day acceptable to Yahweh?
See the fast that pleases me: breaking the fetters of injustice and unfastening the thongs of the yoke, setting the oppressed free and breaking every yoke.
Fast by sharing your food with the hungry, bring to your house the homeless, clothe the one you see naked and do not turn away from your own kin.
Then will your light break forth as the dawn and your healing come in a flash.
Your righteousness will be your vanguard, the glory of Yahweh your rearguard.
Then you will call and Yahweh will answer, you will cry and he will say, I am here.

Gospel: Mt 9:14-15

Then the disciples of John came to him with the question, “How is it, that we and the Pharisees fast on many occasions, but not your disciples?” Jesus answered them, “How can you expect wedding guests to mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The time will come, when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then, they will fast.“

Reflections

SEE THE FAST THAT PLEASES ME: BREAKING THE FETTERS OF INJUSTICE…

SETTING THE OPPRESSED FREE

In 1970, a Synod of Bishops in Rome put out a programmatic document: JUSTICE IN THE WORLD. In the Introduction, the bishops categorically state: WORK FOR JUSTICE AND TRANSFORMATION OF THE WORLD APPEAR TO US AS CONSTITUTIVE DIMENSIONS OF PREACHING THE GOSPEL. This is just a modern formulation of what Christ said about what kind of fasting pleases him, namely — breaking the fetters of injustice and setting the oppressed free. This was what inspired the religious and priests of the 70s to opt to be in solidarity with the poor and the oppressed, linking arms with the workers in picket lines, joining the hunger strike of the urban poor against demolition, accompanying farmers on their quest to claim their lands. This is as true today as it was in the 70s. There is still so much injustice oppression and exploitation in our society — the struggle of the indigenous people for their ancestral lands, the insecurity of workers under contractualization, the helplessness of the victims of human trafficking, the chronic hunger of the poor. It is good to remember that our preaching of the good news is not complete unless we take up their cause and join in their struggle.

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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February 15, 2018 Thursday

THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY
Psalter: Week 4 / (Violet)

Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 & 6
Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

1^st Reading: Dt 30:15-20

See, I set before you on this day life and good, evil and death. I command you to love Yahweh, your God and follow his ways. Observe his commandments, his norms and his laws, and you will live and increase, and Yahweh will give you his blessing in the land you are going to possess. But if your heart turns away and does not listen, if you are drawn away and bow before other gods to serve them, I declare on this day that you shall perish. You shall not last in the land you are going to occupy on the other side of the Jordan.

Let the heavens and the earth listen, that they may be witnesses against you. I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life that you and your descendants may live, loving Yahweh, listening to his voice, and being one with him. In this is life for you and length of days in the land which Yahweh swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

Gospel: Lk 9:22-25

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.” Jesus also said to all the people, “If you wish to be a follower of mine, deny yourself and take up your cross each day, and follow me! For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for my sake, you will save it. What does it profit you to gain the whole world, if you destroy or damage yourself?“

Reflections

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS DAILY, AND FOLLOW ME

There is only one way of being a follower of Christ and that is to do what he did. He took up his cross. It is good to note that the word “daily” is included in the injunction. We only need to take up the cross for today. Forget the crosses of the past and don’t worry about the crosses of the future. What crosses do we have to carry today? — maybe an unfaithful husband, a rebellious child, a cranky mother in law. For a student, a failing grade, a misunderstanding with a best friend, a difficult exam. For some it could be heavy — diagnoses of terminal cancer, loss of a loved one, no money for food, for rent, etc. With the grace of God we make it to the end of the day. We still are alive. We kept our cool. Maybe somebody lent us money to pay our rent. We made up with our best friend. Or maybe we were not able to solve our problem — but we survived. At the end of the day, we lay down our cross. Sometimes some solution comes while we are asleep. Or maybe not. Any way we sleep in God’s arms, we gather energy for tomorrow. Now I lay me down to sleep......

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

February 14, 2018 Wednesday

ASH WEDNESDAY
Sts. Cyril & Methodius
Psalter: Week 4 / (Violet)

Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 & 17
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

1^st Reading: Jl 2:12-18*

Yahweh says, “Yet even now, return to me with your whole heart; with fasting, weeping and mourning. Rend your heart, not your garment. Return to Yahweh, your God — gracious and compassionate.”

Yahweh is slow to anger, full of kindness, and he repents of having punished. (…)

Between the vestibule and the altar, let the priests, Yahweh’s ministers, weep and say: Spare your people, Yahweh. Do not humble them or make them an object of scorn among the nations. Why should it be said among the people: Where is their God?

Yahweh has become jealous for his land; he has had pity on his people.

2^nd Reading: 2 Cor 5:20 — 6:2

Gospel: Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Be careful not to make a show of your good deeds before people. If you do so, you do not gain anything from your Father in heaven. When you give something to the poor, do not have it trumpeted before you, as do those who want to be noticed in the synagogues and on the streets, in order to be praised by people. I assure you, they have their reward.

If you give something to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your gift remains really secret. Your Father, who sees what is kept secret, will reward you.

When you pray, do not be like those who want to be noticed. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues or on street corners, in order to be seen by everyone. I assure you, they have their reward. When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is with you in secret; and your Father who sees what is kept secret will reward you.

When you fast, do not put on a miserable face, as do the hypocrites. They put on a gloomy face, so that people can see they are fasting. I tell you this: they have been paid in full already. When you fast, wash your face and make yourself look cheerful, because you are not fasting for appearances or for people, but for your Father, who sees beyond appearances. And your Father, who sees what is kept secret, will reward you.

Reflections

WHEN YOU FAST, DO NOT PUT ON A GLOOMY FACE

Ash Wednesday ushers the time of Lent where we are urged to pray, to fast and to give alms to the poor. In doing these good things, Jesus warns us again about our EGO that insinuates itself into everything we do. In some other place in the Bible, Jesus tells us to go to our room when we pray and not to parade our piety. In still another place, He tells us not to let our left hand know what our right hand is doing. And here He advises us not to seek the admiration of people by our asceticism. It all comes down to one thing: PURITY OF INTENTION. What is it in us that we hunger so much for peoples’ admiration, approbation, appreciation. And why are we so affected by what people say, by what people write in their Facebook, maybe bashing us for something we said or did. Psychologists will tell us it is because we lack self-esteem, we have inferiority complex, we lack inner security. This may be true. Maybe we really need to reflect and see for ourselves what we are, accept what we see and realize that nothing anyone will think or say of us can add or subtract to the person we are.

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

February 13, 2018 Tuesday

6TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 2 / (Green)

Ps 94:12-13a, 14-15, 18-19
Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.

1^st Reading: Jas 1:12-18

Happy are those who patiently endure trials, because, afterward, they will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him. No one, when tempted, should say, “This temptation comes from God.” God is never tempted, and he can never tempt anyone. Instead, each of us is lured, and enticed, by our own evil desire. Once this desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when fully grown, gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my beloved. Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of Light, in whom there is no change, or shadow of a change. By his own will, he gave us life, through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of offering to him, among his creatures.

Gospel: Mk 8:14-21

The disciples had forgotten to bring more bread, and had only one loaf with them in the boat. Then Jesus warned them, “Keep your eyes open, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” And they said to one another, “He saw that we have no bread.” Aware of this, Jesus asked them, “Why are you talking about the loaves you are short of? Do you not see or understand? Are your minds closed? Have you eyes that don’t see and ears that don’t hear? And do you not remember when I broke the five loaves among five thousand? How many baskets full of leftovers did you collect?” They answered, “Twelve.” “And having distributed seven loaves to the four thousand, how many wicker baskets of leftovers did you collect?” They answered, “Seven.” Then Jesus said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

Reflections

HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO ENDURE TRIALS PATIENTLY

No human being goes throughout life without trials. Of course these trials vary in kind and intensity. Whether big or small, the thing is it is OUR trial. Maybe others have bigger trials but THEY are the ones enduring them. Actually trials can be blessings. I was told that the Chinese character for “crisis” is the same as “opportunity” so crisis or trials can be opportunities for growth. It may sound like a cliché or motherhood statement but it is true that what does not break us, strengthens us. I am inspired when I read a personal testimony of a cancer survivor who says that her cancer is God’s greatest gift to her, because it had made her closer to God. I am amazed at the ability of human beings to endure, for example, the concentration camps of the Nazis, the torture in prison camps. I read of a person who was put in isolation in a small dark room. The only light came from a slit below his door and a small weed happened to grow just in front of it. Everyday, he would lie on his stomach and watch the weed grow and he said later on that this was what kept him sane — this tiny green plant which to everyone else is absolutely useless. It is a consolation to know that God will not allow us to be tried beyond our strength. Somehow God will send us help to endure our trials patiently even if it is only a tiny green plant.

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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