Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

Gospel: Luke 21:12-19
Before all these things happen, people will lay their hands on you and persecute you; you will be delivered to the synagogues and put in prison, and for my sake you will be brought before kings and governors. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.
So keep this in mind: do not worry in advance about what to say, for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. But even though, because of my name, you will be hated by everyone, not a hair of your head will perish. By your patient endurance you will save your souls.

Reflections
“By your patient endurance you will save your souls.”
“Before all these things hap- pen” is an interesting phrase which opens the gospel text today. This means that Jesus is referring to things that will transpire before all the catastrophic and cataclysmic occurrences earlier described. At hindsight, the Lord is talking about the things that could happen every day.
We do not need to wait for the great warnings and signs that are part of what may be called the final test. Every day we are already tested. Every day we are given opportunities to give witness. Every day we are given chances to demonstrate the resolve of our faith. Every day we are given occasions to prove our commitment to Christ. There are possible persecutions every day. And by these means we show either we are on the side of the Lord or not. These persecutions may come from enemies from different sides: from our faith opponents, from political figures, and even from our own families. And they may be few or everyone. The exhortation that Jesus gives is for us to be strong and to hold on to God no matter what: “By your patient en- durance you will save your souls.”

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Luke 21:5-11
While some people were talking about the temple, remarking that it was adorned with fine stonework and rich gifts, Jesus said to them, “The days will come when there shall not be left one stone upon another of all that you now admire; all will be torn down.” And they asked him, “Master, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?”
Jesus said, “Take care not to be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he; the Messiah the time is near at hand!’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and troubled times, don’t be frightened; for all these things must happen first, even though the end is not so soon.”
And Jesus said, “Nations will fight each other and kingdom will oppose kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and plagues; in many places strange and terrifying signs from heaven will be seen.

Reflections
“Take care not to be deceived, for many will come in my name.”
“Nations will fight each other and kingdom will oppose kingdom. There will be great earth- quakes, famines and plagues; in many places strange and terrifying signs from heaven will be seen.” What a nightmare! No wonder many people are indeed afraid of the end of time. Despite this fear, however, the words of the Lord are certain. They will come to pass. But something should catch our attention. Although these things will occur, it will not be the end yet. So why should this happen first? From a spiritual perspective, this could be part of the final test which may be our last chance. These horrifying events will not be trivial happenings but crucial ones for us to show the strength of our faith. Will we be running around or remain in constant prayer? Will we be complaining about the deaths that will result from the destructions or we will be assessing our lives as death is dawning for us too? Will we be hiding in fear or we go out and help people recognize that the time is near and that we are in need of repentance? Will we fall helpless and desperate or faithful and at peace?

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Luke 21:1-4
Jesus looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury of the temple. He also saw a poor widow, who dropped in two small coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them. For all of them gave an offering from their plenty; but she, out of her poverty, gave all she had to live on.”

Reflections
“Out of her poverty, gave all she had to live on.”
In one of the episodes of a noontime show in TV, the host, told the crowd that he received an anonymous gift. It was left on the doorstep of his house. What he did was to bring that gift to his program and opened it there for the whole world to see. Even I was surprised to see what the gift box contained: cold cash amounting to P750,000.00!
Honestly, I found that inspiring. Someone gave a very huge amount and did not seek to be recognized at all. But putting that into the context of the gospel today, was that impressive to God as well? It depends. If we give out of our excess, what is of less value and what is useless to us, this will not be impressive to God. The measure of real, impressive giving is the sacrifice that goes along with it. Give‘til it hurts, we are told, because when we’re hurting what we give truly becomes a gift. It is not the gift that counts, but the giver and the motivation for giving. As one saying goes, it does not matter how much we give but how much of ourselves is given along with our gifts.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Luke 23:35-43
The people stood by, watching. As for the rulers, they jeered at him, saying to one another, “Let the man who saved others now save himself, for he is the Messiah, the chosen one of God!”
The soldiers also mocked him and, when they drew near to offer him bitter wine, they said, “So you are the King of the Jews? Save yourself!” Above Jesus there was an inscription in Greek, Latin and Hebrew, which read, “This is the King of the Jews.”
One of the criminals hanging with Jesus insulted him, “So you are the Messiah? Save yourself, and us as well!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Have you no fear of God, you who received the same sentence as he did? For us it is just: this is payment for what we have done. But this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “In truth I tell you, today, you will be with me today in paradise.”

Lectio Divina
READ: The first reading recalls David’s anointing as king. In the gospel, Jesus promises paradise, his kingdom, to one of the criminals. St. Paul exhorts us to thank the Father for his son who rescued, redeemed, and forgiven us and who brought us to his kingdom.
REFLECT: Despite the mockery Jesus in reality is king. But his kingship is not like the system that we know which lords over its subjects. He is a servant whose life is dedicated to the welfare of his people. Through his sufferings on the cross he rescued us from evil, he redeemed us from our wickedness, he freed us from our sins, and he gave us life ever- lasting. Those who claim to be kings in this world give us benefits that last only for a while. What Jesus gives, no one matches. His are blessings that bring us to eternity.
PRAY: Lord, I surrender my all to you.
ACT: Join the Christ the King procession in the parish today to show your allegiance to Christ the King.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019