Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

8TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
 Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)

Ps 50:5-6, 7-8, 14 & 23
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

1^st Reading: Sir 35:1-12

Keeping the law is worth many offerings. Being faithful to the commandments is like a peace offering.
Returning kindness is an offering of fine flour; giving alms is a sacrifice of praise.
Renouncing sin pleases the Lord, and shunning injustice is a sacrifice of atonement.
 Do not appear before the Lord with empty hands. The commandment requires that you bring an offering.
When the offering of the righteous is burned on the altar, the fat drips down and a fragrant aroma rises to the Most High.
 The sacrifice of the just man pleases God and will not be forgotten. Honor the Lord with a generous heart and do not be stingy with the first fruits of your harvest.
Offer your gifts with a smiling face and when you pay your tithes do it gladly.
Give to the Most High as he has given to you; give generously to the Lord according to what you have; the Lord will repay, he will reward you sevenfold.
If you attempt to bribe him with gifts he will not accept them; do not rely on offerings from dishonest gain.
The Lord is judge and shows no partiality.

Gospel: Mk 10:28-31

Peter spoke up and said, “We have given up everything to follow you.“ Jesus answered, “Truly, there is no one who has left house, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children, or lands, for my sake, and for the gospel, who will not receive his reward. I say to you: even in the midst of persecution, he will receive a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands in the present time; and, in the world to come, eternal life. Do pay attention: many who now are the first will be last, and the last, first.“

REFLECTION:

Avoid Sin and Do Good

Keeping the Law is good. Sirach tells us that to be faithful to the Law is to be at peace with God. But it is interesting that Sirach does not refer only to the avoidance of breaking the Law, like “not stealing“ or “not killing“ or “not committing adultery.“ He also considers the doing of good as part of keeping the Law! So he also speaks of charity and almsgiving, of kindness and generosity. Being faithful to the Law is not only “not doing evil“ but it is also “doing good!“

We cannot appear before the judgment seat of God empty handed. He says so clearly “Do not appear before the Lord with empty hands.“ When we appear before God we must be able to show that we have duly given our “tithes,“ that is, we have generously fulfilled the Law of Charity and remembered our neighbors. We must remember that on our Final Examination Jesus will ask only one question: “What did you do when you saw me hungry, and thirsty, and sick, and homeless, and naked, and in prison?“

Would that when we do appear before our Divine Judge we may receive a merciful judgment!

Daily Reflection

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.

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

 

DAILY GOSPEL ® 2017
Readings and Reflections
Copyright © 2O16
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

Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)

Ps 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7
Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.

1^st Reading: Sir 17:20-24

Their misdeeds cannot be hidden from him, all their sins are before the Lord.
He holds a man’s almsgiving dear as a priceless signet ring; he cherishes a good deed like the apple of his eye.
One day he will rise and reward them; he will place their prize on their heads.
He allows those who repent to return; he comforts those whose hopes are fading.

Gospel: Mk 10:17-27

Just as Jesus was setting out on his journey again, a man ran up, knelt before him and asked, “Good Master, what must I do to have eternal life?“

Jesus answered, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: Do not kill; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not cheat; honor your father and mother.“ The man replied, “I have obeyed all these commandments since my childhood.“

Then Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him; and he said, “For you, one thing is lacking. Go, sell what you have, and give the money to the poor; and you will have riches in heaven. Then, come, and follow me.“ On hearing these words, his face fell and he went away sorrowful, for he was a man of great wealth.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!“ The disciples were shocked at these words, but Jesus insisted, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.“

They were more astonished than ever and wondered, “Who, then, can be saved?“ Jesus looked steadily at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God; all things are possible with God.“

REFLECTION:

Are you ready for judgment day?

This week will usher us into the season of Lent. Already this Monday we are given a preparation for that privileged season of grace through our Readings.

Sirach reminds us to be ready for judgment day which is sure to come. We have to examine ourselves before we appear before the judgment seat of God. Humbly we have to admit our sins and be sorry for them and beg for Divine Mercy. Our Gospel on the other hand presents to us the rich young man who asks the fundamental question: “What must I do to have eternal life?“

Jesus gives us the clear answer to the question. The basic minimum for admission to the Kingdom is the observance of the 10 commandments. But we should not be satisfied with just making the mark just as we hardly aim only for the passing grade of 75 %! We should aspire for perfection, namely, FOLLOWING JESUS as His disciples.

Are you ready to face God? What report card are you to present to God? Will you pass the Divine Examination and make the grade with the basic minimum or with flying colors?

Daily Reflection

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.

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

 

DAILY GOSPEL ® 2017
Readings and Reflections
Copyright © 2O16
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

8TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)

Ps 62:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
Rest in God alone, my soul.

1^st Reading: Is 49:14-15

But Zion said: “Yahweh has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me.“ Can a woman forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child of her womb? Yet though she forget, I will never forget you.

2^nd Reading: 1 Cor 4:1-5

Let everyone, then, see us as the servants of Christ, and stewards of the secret works of God. Being stewards, faithfulness shall be demanded of us; but I do not mind if you, or any human court, judges me. I do not even judge myself; my conscience, indeed, does not accuse me of anything, but that is not enough for me to be set right with God: the Lord is the one who judges me.

Therefore, do not judge before the time, until the coming of the Lord. He will bring to light whatever was hidden in darkness, and will disclose the secret intentions of the hearts. Then, each one will receive praise from God.

Gospel: Mt 6: 24-34

Jesus said to his disciples: “No one can serve two masters; for he will either hate one and love the other; or he will be loyal to the first and look down on the second. You cannot, at the same time, serve God and money.

“Therefore, I tell you, not to be worried about food and drink for yourself, or about clothes for your body. Is not life more important than food; and is not the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow, they do not harvest, and do not store food in barns; and yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not less worthy than they are?

“Can any of you add a day to your life by worrying about it? Why are you so worried about your clothes? Look at how the flowers in the fields grow. They do not toil or spin. But I tell you, that not even Solomon, in all his glory, was clothed like one of these. If God so clothes the grass in the field, which blooms today and is to be burned in an oven tomorrow, how much more will he clothe you? What little faith you have!

“Do not worry, and say: What are we going to eat? What are we going to drink? or: What shall we wear? The pagans busy themselves with such things; but your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. Set your heart, first, on the kingdom and righteousness of God; and all these things will also be given to you. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.“

REFLECTION:

Read: Through Isaiah, Yahweh makes the extraordinary statement of His love being greater than that of a mother. Jesus invites us to trust in such love and providence deeply. Paul reveals certain at-home-ness with God, with no worry about God’s judgement on him, for he knows God will judge with love.

Reflect: The theme of God’s love and providence pervades the readings today. God has a plan for you and it will unfold in time, and the only thing required of you is to remain faithful to Him. Are you courageous enough to trust such providence that goes beyond all human understanding? If you do, pray the following prayer with all your heart, mind, body, and soul:

Pray: Lord, in your will is my peace. Let your will be done in me.

Act: Meditate on the verse [as paraphrased], “even if your mother forgets you, I will never forget you.“

Daily Reflection

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.

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

 

DAILY GOSPEL ® 2017
Readings and Reflections
Copyright © 2O16
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

7TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green/White)
Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary

Ps 103:13-14, 15-16, 17-18
The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

1^st Reading: Sir 17:1-15

The Lord created man from the earth and let him return to earth. He settled a fixed time for them and a set number of days, giving them power over everything on earth. He endowed them with a strength like his own, making them in his own image.

He put the fear of them in all living things, thus they had mastery over the animals and birds. He endowed them with knowledge; he gave them tongue and eyes, ears and a mind to think with.

He filled them with wisdom and knowledge; he taught them good and evil. He put his own eye in their hearts so they would understand the greatness of his works. They will praise his holy name and relate the magnificence of his creation.

He gave them revealed knowledge as well and handed over to them the law of life. He established an everlasting Covenant with them and let them know his judgments.

 Human eyes saw the splendor of the glory of God; their ears heard the grandeur of his voice. He said to them, “Keep yourselves from all wrongdoing,“ and to each of them he gave commands regarding his neighbor.

Their conduct is always before the Lord; they cannot escape his sight.

Gospel: Mk 10:13-16

People were bringing their little children to him to have him touch them; and the disciples rebuked them for this.

When Jesus noticed it, he was very angry and said, “Let the children come to me and don’t stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.“ Then he took the children in his arms and, laying his hands on them, blessed them.

REFLECTION:

Children in the Kingdom

One of the most memorable moments of the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines was his time with families at the MOA SMX. There is that beautiful picture of the smiling Pope Francis surrounded by children! Oh how children attract the attention of the Holy Father! I remember how the escorts of the Holy Father would pick out a parent with small children and bring them to the Holy Father!

Jesus in the Gospel of today was himself surrounded by little children. And when the disciples tried to prevent the children from drawing near to him, Jesus rebuked them! Jesus loves little children!

Our Lord and the Holy Father has shown us the importance of children in our society. It is so sad when we society begin to take children for granted. It is so sad when children are abused by adults. We must learn once again to value children as Jesus values every child. Like Pope Francis, we must pay special attention to our children today. Do bless the children you meet today!

Daily Reflection

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.

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

 

DAILY GOSPEL ® 2017
Readings and Reflections
Copyright © 2O16
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