Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

Gospel: Luke 17:5-10
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” And the Lord said, “If you have faith, even the size of a mustard seed, you may say to this tree, ‘Be uprooted, and plant yourself in the sea!’ and it will obey you.
Who among you would say to your servant, coming in from the fields after plowing or tending sheep, ‘Go ahead and have your dinner’? No, you tell him, ‘Prepare my dinner. Put on your apron, and wait on me while I eat and drink. You can eat and drink afterward.’ Do you thank this servant for doing what you told him to do? I don’t think so. And therefore, when you have done all that you have been told to do, you should say, ‘We are no more than servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Lectio Divina
READ: The first reading exhorts the upright to per- severe in faithfulness. In the gospel, the Lord tells us that one who is faithful in his responsibilities has nothing to boast. To be faithful as servant is our call, hence, there is nothing special about our fulfilling it. In the second reading St. Paul urges Timothy to do his share of the work to labor for the gospel.
REFLECT: Why do we give our best in the things that we do? Why do we fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to us with our finest efforts? Why do we labor for God? For recognition? For reward? Or to please God? Real servants do their best to please their masters not thinking of anything in return or in exchange. They do their tasks simply because it is expected of them.
PRAY: Lord, inspire me to serve without counting the cost and without expecting any reward.
ACT: I will obey my parents command today with joy and will not ask for or receive anything in exchange.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Luke 10:17-24
The seventy-two disciples returned full of joy. They said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we called on your name.” Then Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. You see, I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the Enemy, so that nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, don’t rejoice because the evil spirits submit to you; rejoice, rather, that your names are written in heaven.”
At that time, Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and made them known to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. I have been given all things by my Father, so that no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son, and he to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said to them privately, “Fortunate are you to see what you see, for I tell you, that many prophets and kings would have liked to see what you see, but did not see it; and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

Reflections
“I have given you authority.”
Many have asked if I possess the gift of healing, just like my good friend Roselle whose sick father-in-law I anointed in the hospital. According to her, he had been confined to his bed in the past months. But a few hours after the anointing, he stood up from bed and asked for milk! I sensed her excitement, but I am not sure if she sensed my bewilderment.
Our gospel today forms part of the conclusion of the mission- sending of the 72 disciples. By this time, they returned to the company of Jesus bringing along thrilling success stories from their missionary undertakings. But Jesus was quick to remind them: “I have given you authority….” What they have accomplished did not flow from their inherent capabilities, but from a power whose source is Jesus. My friend’s father-in-law survived for a few weeks before he finally went home to the Father, but it was not I who gave him those few more weeks to live!
At the outset, Jesus’ words may appear more appropriate for us who are in the ministry and ser- vice of the Church. But a closer reflection reveals that the lesson is important for all Christians as well: we cannot be successful on our own; it is only with and through Jesus that we can accomplish great things. Remember, Jesus says in John 15:5 that “… apart from me you can do nothing.”

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Luke 10:13-16
Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! So many miracles have been worked in you! If the same miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would already be sitting in ashes and wearing the sackcloth of repentance. Surely for Tyre and Sidon it will be better on the Day of Judgment than for you. And what of you, city of Capernaum? Will you be lifted up to heaven? You will be thrown down to the place of the dead.
Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me; and he who rejects me, rejects the one who sent me.”

Reflections
“Whoever listens to you listens to me.”
There are harsh consequences when one closes one’s heart and life to God. And closing one’s heart and life to God means rejection of and resisting CHANGE. It is an imperative for the life of one who knows Jesus and who professes faith in Jesus to transform. This is why knowing Jesus only is not enough and accepting Jesus only also is not enough. It must result to a revolution that leads to authentic, if not dramatic, conversion. One good example can be seen in the life of the saint we celebrate today, St. Francis of Assisi whose life of conversion is much to be admired as a result of knowing Jesus.
We too have encountered Jesus and are in fact, encountering Jesus still in many ways. But if that encounter does not move us into becoming the best that we can be as his followers, we are no better than Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. But if that encounter inspires us to live better lives, with unwavering commitment to Christ like St. Francis, ours will be a great reward on the Day of Judgment.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Luke 10:1-12
After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two other disciples, and sent them, two by two, ahead of him, to every town and place, where he himself was to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. So you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest. Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Set off without purse or bag or sandals; and do not stop at the homes of those you know.
Whatever house you enter, first bless them, saying, ‘Peace to this house!’ If a friend of peace lives there, the peace shall rest upon that person. But if not, the blessing will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking at their table, for the worker deserves to be paid. Do not move from house to house.
When they welcome you to any town, eat what they offer you. Heal the sick who are there, and say to them: ‘The kingdom of God has drawn near to you.’
But in any town where you are not welcome, go to the marketplace and proclaim: ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off and leave with you. But know for a certainty that the kingdom of God has drawn near to you.’ I tell you, that on the Day of Judgment it will be better for Sodom than for this town.

Reflections
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”
The Church, God’s family, was founded not only to take care of God’s flock by dispensing the sacraments to nourish it, to for- give, to heal, but also to attract more to be part of the flock. It is not only a community that provides attention to its members, but concerns herself as well of the well-being of non-members. Hence, she reaches out and opens her doors ready with a warm welcome to everyone who desires to be part of her. We call this mission. And since WE are the CHURCH, to do mission is our shared call. Each one of us is entrusted with the task to bring the world to Christ and then guide the world to be part of Christ’s family. The gospel to- day outlines for us how we can undertake the work of mission: pray for the mission and for missionaries, become ambassadors of peace, be instruments of healing, and preach the Kingdom.
May through our combined efforts many will come to realize what a great blessing it is to be- come part of the family of God.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019