Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

THE WORD

1Jn 5,14-21 / Jn 3,22-30

After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial washings. So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.” John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said (that) I am not the Messiah, but that I was sent before him.  The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.”

IN OTHER WORDS

Do you know who you are? Do you know your mission in life?

In the gospel today, John the Baptist clearly states who he was in front of his disciples who apparently were not aware of who they were and who they were following. They saw Jesus as a competitor as if Baptism were a business that thrived on the number of converts. John did not only recognize his role or his mission but he also alluded to the fact that now that the Messiah was beginning his mission, he must take back stage to give the center stage to Jesus. For other people this must be painful and difficult. But not for John the Baptist.

Yes, John was already famous and he had his disciples who were loyal to him. He must have been fulfilled in what he was doing. We know that he was successful that even the authorities at that time recognized him as a prophet. YET, John was not blinded by all of these. He remained FAITHFUL to who he was. He prepared people by baptizing them. He prepared the Messiah by baptizing him. That was his mission. Nothing else mattered.

Tomorrow, we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. I think this is an opportune time for us to reflect and to remember our mission that is born out of our own baptism. We need to live out our baptismal calling lest we forget the mission entrusted to us.

We share the mission of John. We share the mission of Jesus who came to fulfill the will of his father. Our mission is nothing else but His mission.

• Fr. Kaloi Macatangga, SVD | Toronto, Canada

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

1Jn 5, 5-13 / Lk 5,12-16

Now Jesus was in one of the towns when a man appeared, covered with leprosy. Seeing Jesus he fell on his face and implored him. ‘Sir,’ he said ‘If you want to, you can cure me.’ Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, “Of course I want to! Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once. He ordered him to tell no one, ‘But go and show yourself to the priest and make the offering for your healing as Moses prescribed it, as evidence for them.’

His reputation continued to grow, and large crowds would gather to hear him and to have their sickness cured, but he would always go off to some place where he could be alone and pray.

IN OTHER WORDS

In elementary school, I attended with friends Sunday Catechism in our barrio chapel until we realized that it was a “born again” group. The pastor was a leper so, in the end, everyone quit. The news spread quickly like wild re that the family of the pastor suddenly disappeared.

In today’s gospel, we are shown that leposy-in icted people were separated from the community. They were outcasts and the Jewish law forbade anyone from touching or approaching a leper. However, I admire the leper’s action and courage for coming out. This catchphrase “if others can, why can’t I?” may apply to his attitude in approaching Jesus begging to be cured: “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus’ response was really awesome: “I will, be clean.”

Unsuspectingly, we too in our own bodies have leprosy. It is spreading but Jesus Christ the Savior was born to heal us. We just have to keep our faith in Him and believe in his mercy and love. Let us be humble and accept what we are so that His answer to the leper will also be his answer to us when we beg His compassion. He neither discriminates nor favors. He treats everyone, like the leper, with kind heart and generosity, welcoming anyone who wants to return into his fold. Through the example of the leper begging Jesus, we are invited to reach out to others with compassionate care and love, to the abandoned and mistreated. God’s love impels us to do as Jesus did; to love the unlovable, to touch the untouchable, and to forgive the unforgivable.

Let us always remember that we have leprosy in our own bodies. The more we are aware of it, the more we become humble and kind to open our arms to the needy.

• Fr. Nelson Barbarona, 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

1Jn 4,19-5,4 / Lk 4,14-22

Jesus, with the power of the Spirit in him, returned to Galilee; and his reputation spread throughout the countryside. He taught in their synagogues and everyone praised him.

He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read, and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written:

“The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favor.”

He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to speak to them, “This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.” And he won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips.

IN OTHER WORDS

Fr. Tony Pernia, SVD, the former superior general of the Society of the Divine Word always makes sense each time he would climb into a podium to deliver homilies, speeches or give lectures. His messages are always well thought out where words are carefully chosen and contents well arranged. Neither is he so fiery nor empathic in his delivery but always captures full attention from his audience. Fr. Tony speaks with conviction and authority at a high scholastic level.

Many people are gifted with speaking skills, capturing the attention of peoples regardless of topic and length. They are gifted with good voice, eloquence, fluency, articulation and even good looks. Transmitting messages to listeners for them is effortless. Many of them come from the ranks of politicians, ideologues, academicians, preachers, lecturers and teachers. But there is one element in speech that can divide them from one another, that which leaves in the listener a good feeling, a deep sense of meaning and the longing for more. That element is wisdom. It is that which triggers instant adherence to, reflection on, internalization and acceptance of the call for action because wisdom elicits honesty, sincerity and self-giving.

This is exactly what Jesus did in the synagogues. He spoke with wisdom, courage, conviction and authority. Without missing words of compassion and love He was not afraid to tell the truth, nor was he intimidated by the presence of authorities and antagonistic people who were knowledgeable of the law. Wisdom gained Jesus approval and acceptance. No wonder large crowds would always tail Him wherever He went. In a world full of lies and half-truths, Jesus’ example reverberates into every Christian’s heart who has accepted the challenge to be a witness to the Word. The proclamation of freedom, preaching of God’s word, restoration of sight to the blind, and the reconstruction of faith are only few of the tasks we have to do. And we can only effectively do these if we ourselves have mirrored our lives to that of Christ – the life lled with wisdom.

• Fr. Eugene Docoy, SVD | 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

1Jn 4,11-18 / Mk 6,45-52

After the five thousand have eaten and filled, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the crowd away. After saying goodbye to them he went off into the hills to pray. When evening came, the boat was far out on the lake, and he was alone on the land. He could see they were worn out with rowing, for the wind was against them, and about the fourth watch of the night, he came, towards them, walking on the lake. He was going to pass them by, but when they saw him walking on the lake they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they had all seen him and were terrified. But he at once spoke to them, and said, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind dropped. They were utterly and completely dumbfounded, because they had not seen what the miracle of the loaves meant; their minds were closed.

IN OTHER WORDS

The phrase “He was going to pass them by” caught my attention as I read this gospel episode. I wondered why he was going to do this? He might have intended to show his disciples a shorter way to get to land. He saw how tired they were. “But they saw him walking on the lake and they all saw him and thought it was a ghost … and were all terrified.” That made Jesus change his course; he got into the boat and said, “Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.”

A person with faith can only nd a direction in life when one encounters Jesus as a person who cares. One needs to experience his presence, not as a ghost but as a person. Jesus must become a companion on the journey.

Tonight, I visited John, a friend who is a volunteer in the Mission Office where I work.. He just arrived home from the hospital where he had undergone a cancer operation last week. He had become thinner and appeared weak. At one point he said: “In life, one needs to have three things – what one wants to happen, what one is capable of doing, and faith to link the two. Sorry is the condition of the person who has no faith.”

Real faith needs courage that can give composure and the surety that I am not alone in life’s journey. I need a Jesus who wants to get into my boat; I also need the willingness to welcome that Jesus who is not a ghost, but a person. Pope Francis mentioned in his letter entitled, The Joy of the Gospel:

     “I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this    this risk; whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms.” (EG3)

• Fr. Bernard Espiritu, SVD | New Zealand

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