Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

Gospel: Luke 19:1-10
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man named Zaccheus lived there. He was a tax collector and a wealthy man. He wanted to see what Jesus was like, but he was a short man and could not see him because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree. From there he would be able to see Jesus, who was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, come down quickly, for I must stay at your house today.” So Zaccheus climbed down and received him joyfully.
All the people who saw it began to grumble, and said, “He has gone as a guest to the house of a sinner.” But Zaccheus spoke to Jesus, “Half of what I own, Lord, I will give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much.” Looking at him Jesus said, “Salvation has come to this house today, for he is also a true son of Abraham. The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

Reflections
“Salvation has come to this house today.”
In the course of ministry as a priest I have blessed many houses. In many cases, the houses that I blessed were newly constructed. The owners wanted that the place be blessed before they occupy it. But there were also not-so-new houses which I blessed. The owners, surprisingly have a different reason. The house is disturbed, meaning, they sensed some negative and evil energies residing with them. And notably these have menacingly bothered the family. In other words, they asked for a house blessing to drive away evil spirits.
I have therefore developed a habit of asking the family before the prayer for blessing: What do you ask for in this blessing? To make the devil come out? Or to make Jesus come in? The family is usually, but not always, thanks be to God, divided in their answer. And so I always offer a quick catechesis. To have the house bless- ed is to consecrate the house to God and to pray for God to take over and have control over the whole household. If we pray only to drive evils out, that’s only one benefit. But if we pray for Jesus to come in, that’s a basketful of benefits. We don’t only ride the house of disturbance, we also invite in more blessings, guidance, and protection for the family.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Luke 18:35-43
When Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road, begging. As he heard the crowd passing by, he inquired what was happening, and they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was going by. Then he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The people in front of him scolded him. “Be quiet!” they said, but he cried out all the more, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stopped, and ordered the blind man to be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the man said, “Lord, that I may see!” Jesus said, “Receive your sight, your faith has saved you.” At once the blind man was able to see, and he followed Jesus, giving praise to God. And all the people who were there also praised God.

Reflections
“Lord, that I may see!”
Blindness can either be physical or spiritual. And there are many people around us who are afflicted with it. What Jesus did to the blind man in the gospel is something we all need to learn. To those who are physically blind, perhaps we can be more generous by giving alms to them since many of them do not have the means to earn. We can also extend other forms of material assistance. Even doing some- thing as easy as giving physical directions may already be an act of benevolence to the blind. This is not difficult to do. Only a little determination is needed. We who are well on the road of life should not play unaffected by their condition. To those who are spiritually blind, perhaps we who are spiritually healthy can be more attentive to their plight and become God’s agents for their recovery. These are the people who are totally sightless of things that really matter in life and who are fainthearted in their religious perspectives. These people need guidance and enlightenment to see the light of Christ who alone can restore vibrancy to their spiritual vision. Here, more determination is necessary.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Luke 21:5-19
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 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. 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.

Lectio Divina
READ: The lurid illustration of the end of time in the gospel brings fear to many. The first reading speaks of judgment; one group will rejoice, the other will be punished. In the second reading, St. Paul discourages idleness.
REFLECT: Every day comes with occasions to test our faith. Every day comes with an opportunity for us to give witness to Christ. The coming of the end of time will not be different. Perhaps the difference is in the intensity of the challenge. But the intention is the same. We need to prove our substance to the Lord until the end. We should be able to show enough grounds that we are worthy of welcome at his judgment. We should not be caught just hanging around doing nothing but diligently making our life productive for the Lord.
PRAY: Lord, make me see always what truly matters in life.
ACT: Forgive an enemy today.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Luke 18:1-8
Jesus told them a parable, to show them that they should pray continually, and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain town there was a judge, who neither feared God nor people. In the same town there was a widow, who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Defend my rights against my adversary!’ For a time he refused, but finally he thought, ‘Even though I neither fear God nor care about people, this widow bothers me so much, I will see that she gets justice; then she will stop coming and wearing me out.”
And Jesus said, “Listen to what the evil judge says. Will God not do justice for his chosen ones, who cry to him day and night, even if he delays in answering them? I tell you, he will speedily do them justice. But, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Reflections
“When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
A long time ago, there was a mountain that stood majestic on a vast plain where people lived. One day, the people heard a deep rumble from within the mountain followed by a violent shaking that seemed to break the mountain apart. It created a panic. To the people watching, it was as if some monstrous giant was about to emerge out of it. Then there was a sharp convulsive tremor after which the mountain subsided into silence and, to everyone’s surprise, a mouse came out of it.
I’m sure we have heard of the English expression “labor and bring forth a mouse” The above anecdote is where it came from. This expression means with much effort we accomplish so little. This is something like we work hard for one thing and then it turned out to be a waste. But this is not so with God. When we exert effort in prayer, we accomplish more. So the lesson of the gospel today is don’t stop, don’t quit, and pray harder. God does not snub a per- severing prayer. The young ones today also have a way of saying this: Pray Until Something Happens - PUSH!

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019