Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

THE WORD

1Sm 3, 1-10.19-20 / Mk 1,29-39

On leaving the synagogue he entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

IN OTHER WORDS

Our Gospel for today tells us that the people were searching for Jesus. Jesus was an active missionary who did not remain only in one place but moved around from one village to the other so he could reach out to more people. People kept on following Jesus wherever He went to listen to His preaching and, more importantly, to ask for healing for the sick in their families or communities. We can imagine how Jesus became important in the lives of those people who heard Him and witnessed the different healing miracles which He performed.

Today we ask these questions: Are there people who are still searching for Jesus? Have we really found Jesus in our lives? The visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines led me to a deeper realization of my faith in our Triune God. Pope Francis came to the Philippine not in order to search for Jesus. He came in order to bring Jesus closer to the people, especially to the poor, to the marginalized, to the sick, to the children, to all of us. Pope Francis was successful in bringing Jesus closer to all of us through his simple and sincere words (preaching) and through his kind and genuine deeds (gestures and actions). In short, Pope Francis succeeded in bringing Jesus closer to us because he was simply sharing Jesus whom he allowed to dwell in his heart.

Can we tell the world that Jesus is dwelling in our hearts? If so…then we have to concretize it by allowing Jesus who is an active missionary to continue performing His mission in and through us through our words and deeds. Thus we show to all people that Jesus is alive. There is no need to search for Jesus but rather to experience His presence in our midst because we allow Jesus to dwell in our hearts

• Fr. Jingjong Rocha, SVD | Provincial Superior, PHS, 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

1Sm 1,9-20 / Mk 1,21-281Sm 1,9-20 / Mk 1,21-28

[Jesus and his disciples] came to Capernaum, and on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

IN OTHER WORDS

At one community discussion called by the village chief back in Africa eighteen years ago, I was seated beside an old bearded man. I noticed he was listening intently to one of the speakers representing the government, a middle-aged, well-dressed man. After ten minutes or so, he raised his hands, asked permission from the moderator and in Setswana (local language) said: “Sir, I don’t mean to be rude but you have been talking so long, say something please!” Instantly, I thought of the saying, “Say what you mean and mean what you say”.

In the first reading, we met Hannah, a woman who practically spent her married life in the Lord’s Temple praying. The priest Eli having noticed her rather long extended prayers admonished her harshly. Hannah’s response “I was only pouring out my troubles to the Lord”, was an admission that too much talking to the Lord is super uous and that few words from the heart are all that matter. This merited her favor from the priest and most importantly the granting of a male child by God. Hannah’s story shows how ‘meant’ prayers are rewarded.

Jesus demonstrated in the Gospel how even with few words he could make miracles happen so that his amazed and mystified listeners would exclaim, “What does this mean? A completely new teaching in a spirit of authority!” All he did was to ‘say what he meant and mean what he said’, and this made all the difference in his talking and in his preaching.

• Fr. Emil Pati, SVD | 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

 

THE WORD

1Sm 1,1-8 / Mk 1,14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” As he passed by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fisherman. Jesus said to them, “come after me and I will make you fihers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they let their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

IN OTHER WORDS

A man with a mission has no time to dilly-dally. Filled with passion for his task he needs “to hit the ground running.” The time for action is now.

The above describes Jesus as He begins His mission. He wastes no time in “proclaiming the gospel of God: ‘This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’” What Jesus proclaimed then, He does now to us, in our time. Do we listen attentively to God’s word so that it leads to action? Do we welcome the reign and rule of God in our lives, shown in our sincere repentance and belief in the gospel?

Jesus could have accomplished His mission all by Himself. But in His divine wisdom He chose to call human beings to share in His mission of spreading His good news about the kingdom of God. Jesus wanted that humans would have a role in the salvation of humankind. We are to help one another, bringing the other and many more to join in God’s mission.

So just as Jesus chose His followers then, so He does so now: He calls each one of us to be “ fishers of men” in our own situations, bringing others to Him until the kingdom is filled “with a great catch.”

Following Jesus is not done on easy chairs; no, we have to be on our feet just like Jesus, proclaiming the gospel wherever we are, to whomever we meet, at home or outside. May the Lord in flame our hearts and minds with His own passion, so we hit the ground running, for Him and the kingdom!

• Fr. Lino Evora Nicasio, SVD | National Shrine of Saint Jude Thaddeus

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

Is 42: 1–4.6–7

Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, Not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street.

A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, Until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations,

To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

SECOND READING

Acts 10: 34–38

Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.

Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.

You know the word (that) he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through

Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

GOSPEL READING

Lk 3, 15-16.21-22

Now the people were fi lled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fi re.”

After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

IN OTHER WORDS

The feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a good occasion for us to remember and appreciate our own baptism.

There are three sacraments that impart an indelible and permanent mark on our soul: baptism,

confirmation and the priesthood. This simply means that even if we do not live up to the responsibilities and consequences of these sacraments, the seal or character remains. Catholics who join Islam remain Catholic at heart. Priests who marry remain priests in their soul.

With regard to baptism, there is a modern way of explaining its permanent character. I see baptism as a sacrament that brands the soul permanently. This means that baptized Christians are BRANDED! Nowadays when one speaks of “branded” s/he means that a product has a “signature”. Branded products are not sold on the sidewalks of Baclaran and Divisoria. They are sold in high-class malls.

Goods with signature are expensive, durable, comfortable to use, pleasant to see and to show. People who can afford, buy branded products because of their high QUALITY.

Baptized Christians are branded beings. No less than the unity of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit has been imprinted permanently in our soul. Our brand is the Holy Trinity, the fullness of God. Christians cannot be cheap or live like un-branded “products”. So the questions asked of us on this Solemnity of the baptism of the Lord may apty be these: “Do we live the BRAND of our baptism? Do others perceive, through our actions, that we live quality life? Do they see that our brand is that of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit?”

• Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD | DWST, TagaytayCity

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