Daily Reflection

April 25, 2017 Tuesday

FEAST OF ST. MARK,
EVANGELIST
Psalter: Proper / (Red)

Ps 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17
For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

1^st Reading: 1 Pt 5: 5b-14

In the same way, let the younger ones among you respect the authority of the elders. All of you must clothe yourselves with humility, in your dealings with one another, because God opposes the proud but gives his grace to the humble.

Bow down, then, before the power of God, so that he will raise you up at the appointed time. Place all your worries on him, since he takes care of you.

Be sober and alert, because, your enemy, the devil prowls about, like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Stand your ground, firm in your faith, knowing, that our brothers and sisters, scattered throughout the world, are confronting similar sufferings. God, the giver of all grace, has called you, to share in Christ’s eternal glory, and after you have suffered a little, he will bring you to perfection: he will confirm, strengthen and establish you forever. Glory be to him forever and ever. Amen.

I have had these few lines of encouragement, written to you by Silvanus, our brother, whom I know to be trustworthy. For I wanted to remind you of the kindness of God, really present in all this. Hold on to it.

Greetings from the community in Babylon, gathered by God, and from my son, Mark.

Greet one another with a friendly embrace. Peace to you all who are in Christ.

Gospel: Mk 16:15-20

Then he told them, “Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; the one who refuses to believe will be condemned. Signs like these will accompany those who have believed: in my name they will cast out demons and speak new languages; they will pick up snakes, and if they drink anything poisonous, they will be unharmed; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

So then, after speaking to them, the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven and took his place at the right hand of God. The Eleven went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.

REFLECTION:

The last instruction of the Lord is given to His disciples. They have to go out and spread His teachings. The group started as a little movement with members that do not really inspire confidence. It is an amalgam of fishermen, tax-collectors, patriots and a thief. But they have undergone the purifying bath of the passion, death and resurrection of the Lord. They have been tested and have stood firm, albeit with certain hesitation. Their training is complete. From being disciples of the Lord, they will make disciples of others.

And so it goes that in life we pass through certain stages but we are not meant to stay there forever. Life progresses towards a definite end. The destination is what we make of it in our sojourn. Let us take our place too in the community of God’s disciples and make others disciples of God too. Our mission awaits. Let us take up the task with courage for the Lord will be with us till the end.

Daily Gospel ® is a product 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.

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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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Readings and Reflections
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April 24, 2017 Monday

2ND WEEK OF EASTER
Psalter: Week 2 / (White)
St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest & martyr

Ps 2:1-3, 4-7a, 7b-9
Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.

1^st Reading: Acts 4:23-31

As soon as Peter and John were set free, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and elders had said to them.

When they heard it, they raised their voices as one, and called upon God, “Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth, of the sea and everything in them, you have put these words in the mouth of David, our father and your servant, through the Holy Spirit: Why did the pagan nations rage and the people conspire in folly? The kings of the earth were aligned; and the princes gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.

For indeed, in this very city, Herod, with Pontius Pilate and the pagans, together, with the people of Israel, conspired against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed. Thus, indeed, they brought about whatever your powerful will had decided, from all time, would happen. But now, Lord, see their threats against us; and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness. Stretch out your hand, to heal, and to work signs and wonders, through the name of Jesus, your holy servant.”

When they had prayed, the place where they were gathered together shook; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.

Gospel: Jn 3:1-8

Among the Pharisees there was a ruler of the Jews named Nicodemus. He came to Jesus by night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you have come from God to teach us, for no one can perform miraculous signs like yours unless God is with him.”

Jesus replied, “Truly, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again from above.”

Nicodemus said, “How can there be rebirth for a grown man? Who could go back to his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “Truly, I say to you: No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Because of this, don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again from above.’

The wind blows where it pleases and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. It is like that with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

REFLECTION:

There are many Nicodemus’ among us today. They are cautious and not ready to make a public act of faith. Yet they feel a tug in their heart that makes them also uneasy. They have to satisfy their curiosity. And so even if in the cover of darkness, they attempt to get in touch with the Lord. They bring with them their doubts, their confusion and indecision. They genuinely search for the truth even if they still have their fears. Our challenge as followers of the Lord is how to take care of the Nicodemus’ of our times. Is our faith strong enough to convince them to set aside their fears and embrace the Lord? And so we are invited today to check our faith and see whether it is worth passing on to others who are searching for the truth that could give meaning to their lives.

Daily Reflection

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 23, 2017 Sunday

2ND SUNDAY OF EASTER
SUNDAY OF THE DIVINE MERCY
Psalter: Week 2 / (White)

Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.

1^st Reading: Acts 2:42-47

They were faithful to the teaching of the apostles, the common life of sharing, the breaking of bread and the prayers.

A holy fear came upon all the people, for many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. Now, all the believers lived together, and shared all their belongings. They would sell their property, and all they had, and distribute the proceeds to others, according to their need. Each day, they met together, in the temple area; they broke bread in their homes; they shared their food, with great joy and simplicity of heart; they praised God and won the people’s favor. And every day, the Lord added to their number, those who were being saved.

2^nd Reading: 1 Pt 1:3-9

Let us praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for his great mercy. In raising Jesus Christ from the dead, he has given us new life, and a living hope. The inheritance that does not corrupt, nor goes bad, nor passes away, was reserved for you, in heaven, since God’s power shall keep you faithful, until salvation is revealed, in the last days.

There is cause for joy, then, even though you may, for a time, have to suffer many trials. Thus will your faith be tested, like gold in a furnace. Gold, however, passes away, but faith, worth so much more, will bring you, in the end, praise, glory and honor, when Jesus Christ appears.

You have not, yet, seen him, and, yet, you love him; even without seeing him, you believe in him, and experience a heavenly joy beyond all words, for you are reaching the goal of your faith: the salvation of your souls.

Gospel: Jn 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day after the Sabbath, the doors were locked where the disciples were, because of their fear of the Jews. But Jesus came, and stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you!” Then he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples, seeing the Lord, were full of joy.

Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” After saying this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! Those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; those whose sins you retain, they are retained.”

Thomas, the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he replied, “Until I have seen in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

Eight days later, the disciples were again inside the house and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; stretch out your hand, and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe!”

Thomas said, “You are my Lord and my God.” Jesus replied, “You believe because you see me, don’t you? Happy are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

There were many other signs that Jesus gave in the presence of his disciples, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Believe, and you will have life through his name!

REFLECTION:

Read: Joy is a theme that runs through the readings today. The early Christians lived a life of sharing and received joy as their inheritance. Peter attests to the possibility of irreducible joy even in the midst of trials, thanks to the workings of faith. Jesus’ wounds of mercy bring joy into the hearts of the disciples.

Reflect: What brings joy into our hearts is the discovery of God’s merciful love that redeems us in spite of our unworthiness–the Divine Mercy that will not be taken away, as attested by the healed wounds that are etched in the body of the Risen Christ who shows them as his identity. Such mercy reaches out to the fearful and the doubting ones as well.

Pray: Pray for a merciful heart.

Act: Do an act of Mercy.

Daily Reflection

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 22, 2017 Saturday

OCTAVE OF EASTER, SATURDAY
Psalter: Proper / (White)

Ps 118:1 & 14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.

1^st Reading: Acts 4:13-21

They were astonished at the boldness of Peter and John, considering that they were uneducated and untrained men. They recognized, also, that they had been with Jesus, but, as the man who had been cured stood beside them, they could make no reply.

So they ordered them to leave the council room while they consulted with one another. They asked, “What shall we do with these men? Everyone who lives in Jerusalem knows, that a remarkable sign has been given through them, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them never again to speak to anyone in the name of Jesus.” So they called them back and charged them not to speak, or teach at all, in the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John answered them, “Judge for yourselves, whether it is right in God’s eyes, for us to obey you, rather than God. We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Then the council threatened them once more and let them go. They could find no way of punishing them because of the people, who glorified God for what had happened.

Gospel: Mk 16:9-15

After Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary of Magdala, from whom he had driven out seven demons. She went and reported the news to his followers, who were now mourning and weeping. But when they heard that he lived, and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

After this he showed himself in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. These men also went back and told the others, but they did not believe them.

Later Jesus showed himself to the Eleven while they were at table. He reproached them for their unbelief, and hardness of heart, in refusing to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

Then he told them, “Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation."

REFLECTION:

The resurrection appearances were many and varied. A mystery such as these need multiple languages to convey a part of its truth. And the Lord understands the limitation of the human mind. It can only take so much. And so, ever respectful of human conditions, the Lord made multiple appearances to His disciples to assure them of the fact of His resurrection. This therefore brought us to question our respect for human nature. Some have such negative evaluation of it to the point that they espouse extreme forms of belief that harshly judge the human in a negative way. And if they seek religious legitimacy of their distorted view the stance becomes hardened.

The Lord in His resurrection reminds us the wonderful and amazing reality and possibilities of being human. This is what He assumed and transformed in His incarnation and resurrection. If we can see the fact that even God deign it worthy to become human Himself, then perhaps we could show more respect and love to our fellow human being here on earth.

Daily Reflection

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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