Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

THE WORD

Mal 3,1-4 / Heb 2,14-18 / Lk 2,22-40

When the days were completed for their puri cation according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,” and to off er the sacri ce of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

IN OTHER WORDS

With pregnancy a woman’s whole world is transformed, and when the child is finally born her whole life embarks on countless life-changes. A child offers possibilities, but also disturbs her plans; it rearranges her relationships – in simple and radical ways; it reshuffl es her priorities, reordering her values and nuancing her principles.

Because the micro-issues of feeding, cleaning, nursing, watching and teaching and so on are so immediate and pressing, she has no luxury of time for meditating on the value of this child, or locating its history within a larger horizon. Only when crisis strikes is she reminded of who this package is – when it gets sick, when it meets an accident, when it is lost. Then she realizes how much her existence has become centered on its well-being and so much less on her own.

The presentation of Jesus in the temple invites all of us to reflect on the scriptural view that every child is a gift from God, graciously bestowed and therefore meriting acknowledgement. In this religious matrix in fact every child makes our salvation and redemption possible, by bringing out the best in us. For each of us instinctively reaches to protect and love the child, to seek its well-being – spontaneously, without thought of compensation, in pure grace.

Every birth thus offers parents the chance of presentation, and with it, revelation. The Son of

God who is also Son of Man awakens to the existential meanings of any child for any parent: as God’s entry in flesh and blood into every family. The Presentation invites every parent to re ect not only on the Jesus in Simeon’s arms, or the Santo Niño venerated in the Sinulog, but on their own sons and daughters.

Just today, beyond reminiscing on particular incidents in their intertwined lives, can parents not meditate – in the same way Mary and Joseph, Simeon and Anna did – on the mysterious blessings God has given them in their children? Just today, can siblings not gaze on each other and wonder who they are, what they mean, how much value they hold, for each other in God’s eyes?

• Fr. Dionisio Miranda, SVD | President, USC, Cebu City

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

	Production : Fr. Carlos Maria de Guzman, Jr., SVD and Staff of Logos Publications
	Cover Design : Malou E. Domingo
	Liturgical Calendar : Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD
	Production Consultant : Fr. Gerardo del Pinado, SVD
	Scriptural Texts : New American Bible and Daily Roman Missal
	Cover artwork based on photos by Fr. Bar Fabella, SVD
	Published by : Logos Publications, Inc. 1916 Oroquieta St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
	Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	Telephone : +63 2 711 1323
	Fax : +63 2 732 273
	Copyright © 2015 Society of the Divine Word

 

THE WORD

2 Sm 15,13-14.30;16,5-13 / Mk 5,1-20

They came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” (He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”) He asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.” And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside. And they pleaded with him, “Send us into the swine. Let us enter them.” And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea, where they were drowned. The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. And people came out to see what had happened. As they approached Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear. Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine. Then they began to beg him to leave their district. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. But he would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.

IN OTHER WORDS

Evil is a reality in this world that we cannot either deny nor ignore. We can be subject to evil. It can enter our hearts and it can rule our lives. We have seen our share of evil people who are so powerful that it would seem nobody can topple them from their self-made thrones.

“Legion is my name, there are many of us”… said the evil spirit. A person can be possessed not just by one evil spirit, but by many. The more they are, the stronger they will be and it will be very difficult to get rid of these evil spirits. The person himself may try, although the reality is he might be helpless in the presence of such power. People might try to help him but they, too, will experience the limitations of their own strength.

Let us, once more, visit our Gospel reading and refresh in our hearts the great truth it holds. The evil spirits made the man strong. No one could subdue him. No chain could hold him. Until Jesus came along.

Read again what the evil spirit said to Jesus. “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” Even the evil one recognizes Jesus and knows that only Jesus has the power to let it come out of the man.

And thus we are reminded of this great and important fact. That no matter how powerful the presence of evil is, no matter how strong its influence over us is, it will not be able to rule our lives… if Jesus is with us.

• Fr. Chito Lorenzo, SVD | Japan

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

	Production : Fr. Carlos Maria de Guzman, Jr., SVD and Staff of Logos Publications
	Cover Design : Malou E. Domingo
	Liturgical Calendar : Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD
	Production Consultant : Fr. Gerardo del Pinado, SVD
	Scriptural Texts : New American Bible and Daily Roman Missal
	Cover artwork based on photos by Fr. Bar Fabella, SVD
	Published by : Logos Publications, Inc. 1916 Oroquieta St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
	Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	Telephone : +63 2 711 1323
	Fax : +63 2 732 273
	Copyright © 2015 Society of the Divine Word

 

THE WORD

FIRST READING Jer 1:4-5, 17-19

The word of the LORD came to me, saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.

But do you gird your loins; stand up and tell them all that I command you. Be not crushed on their account, as though I would leave you crushed before them; for it is I this day who have made you a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of brass, against the whole land: against Judah’s kings and princes, against its priests and people. They will fight against you but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.

SECOND READING 1 COR 12:31—13:13

Brothers and sisters:

Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. But I shall show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in human and angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, It is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing. For we know partially and we prophesy partially, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things. At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.

So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

GOSPEL READING Lk 4,21-30

And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”

And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.

Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.

Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.

But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

IN OTHER WORDS

I remember the time when I came home from my mission exposure in Papua New Guinea almost 30 years ago. I was very excited to share my experiences, especially those “negative” ones, in our place in Quezon City. The first was when I got held up in the orientation seminar I was attending.

The second was when I fell down from a motorcycle coming from a pastoral visit and brought to a hospital. And the third was when I was stopped by a group of young rascals on my way to our mission station. They believed me, of course, but since they knew me to be “always smiling”, they could not imagine that these experiences were painful moments for me. It took some time before I could convince them that sadly, I almost went home on my rst setback. “Familiarity breeds contempt!”

The beginning of this Lucan episode showed Jesus who had triumphed over the devil in the wilderness and had “returned in the power of the Spirit” to give his inaugural address in Nazareth.

He began by invoking the prophet Isaiah and a passage about true reversal of fortune and hopeful change. However, the next thing was a series of questions about where he got his wisdom. Again,

“familiarity breeds contempt!”

Jesus’ tough reaction to their doubts about his identity was revealed in his recounting two stories in 1 Kings 17 and 2 Kings 5 in which Elijah and Elisha were instrumental in bringing God’s deliverance of the Gentiles from death and sickness. A rejected prophet, Jesus had already anticipated the reaction he would receive. His two examples of God’s mercy were not designed to soothe, but to indict. He spoke the “truth” from the pages of the Old Testament. He used God’s word to point out the Gentile mission that God Himself had begun so long ago, not once but many times.

Now, it is the mission the church would continue to fulfill after Jesus. In many areas where a missionary will preach – especially in his hometown, the same feeling will occur. Familiarity can

breed contempt! This, however, should not stop the ministers from preaching the full and complete word, the hard word, yes, the saving word. Because, in any case, the Word will prevail!

• Fr. Lex Ferrer, SVD | DWST, Tagaytay City

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

	Production : Fr. Carlos Maria de Guzman, Jr., SVD and Staff of Logos Publications
	Cover Design : Malou E. Domingo
	Liturgical Calendar : Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD
	Production Consultant : Fr. Gerardo del Pinado, SVD
	Scriptural Texts : New American Bible and Daily Roman Missal
	Cover artwork based on photos by Fr. Bar Fabella, SVD
	Published by : Logos Publications, Inc. 1916 Oroquieta St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
	Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	Telephone : +63 2 711 1323
	Fax : +63 2 732 273
	Copyright © 2015 Society of the Divine Word

 

THE WORD

2 Sm 12,1-17.10-17 / Mk 4,35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up, Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are You terrified? Do you not have faith? They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

IN OTHER WORDS

In a small boat with 25 passengers, we were approaching the shore of San Jose in Occidental Mindoro on a stormy day. The boatman asked everyone to be calm and be ready to move out of the boat as quickly as possible when he gave the order. Our prayers were drowned by the noise of the rising waves that filled the boat with salt water and drenched the scared passengers. I could hear someone praying aloud beside me, “Lord spare us from drowning. I am only a deacon preparing myself for ordination. Please Lord save me!” I smiled at him and told him to get ready for the swim. He added, “Ahhhh I don’t know how to swim!” I said, “But you can oat” and soon afterwards our boat capsized. Slowly we helped each other swim to the shore until we were rescued safely to life.

In the story, Jesus was enjoying his much needed rest at the stern beside the boatman. He must have been smiling in his dream as he listened to our cries for help and prayers for deliverance. The howling wind and the roaring sea were music to his ears and rocking movements to his tired body. The good deacon beside me is now 36 years in the priesthood doing chaplaincy service in a Dormitory Apostolate. The Lord heard his prayers! He woke up and rebuked the wind and the sea. But he had two questions. “Why are you so terrified? Do you not have faith?”

These questions are closely related to each other. When one is afraid, there is a feeling of fear and anxiety. There is tension that builds up into a feeling of confusion until it breaks into a “terrifying” experience of mistrust. The lack of confidence builds up into hopelessness until it becomes an attitude of disbelief and lack of faith.

As we celebrate the National Bible Week and highlight it with the National Bible Sunday tomorrow, it is good to listen once again to the questions of Jesus, “Why are you so terrified? Do you not have faith?” What are the things that terrify me as a person? What are my personal issues that are contributory to disturbances and miscommunications in the community and society? How can I develop an attitude of trust and confidence in difficult situations? In the sea of life, the wind can build up big waves of fear and doubts that can submerge me and drown all my dreams into oblivion. I need to be aware of the presence of Jesus who is relaxing beside me. I need to develop this attitude of relaxation in Jesus and then wake him up when the wind of changes in my life becomes stormy and when the sea of experiences is rough.

• Fr. Oscar Alunday, SVD | Pindangan, San Fernando, La Union

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

	Production : Fr. Carlos Maria de Guzman, Jr., SVD and Staff of Logos Publications
	Cover Design : Malou E. Domingo
	Liturgical Calendar : Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD
	Production Consultant : Fr. Gerardo del Pinado, SVD
	Scriptural Texts : New American Bible and Daily Roman Missal
	Cover artwork based on photos by Fr. Bar Fabella, SVD
	Published by : Logos Publications, Inc. 1916 Oroquieta St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
	Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	Telephone : +63 2 711 1323
	Fax : +63 2 732 273
	Copyright © 2015 Society of the Divine Word