Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

THE WORD

Rom 6: 12–18 / Lk 12: 39–48

Jesus said to his disciples, “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.

IN OTHER WORDS

What do we usually do while we are in the mode of waiting? Most of the time people become impatient when asked to wait, and others even tend to give up easily. But whether we like it or not, waiting is a reality embedded in life; it is a part of our day-to-day existence. The question is, “What do we do while waiting?”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus highlights the return of the “Son of Man,” asking us to focus on the question, “What do we do while we wait for the Lord to come again?” Perhaps the best possible preparation we could do is to live each day and do faithfully what is expected of us. Being Christ’s followers we ought to know how to live out the demands of a Christian life. Each day we are expected to be faithful to our calling, even in small matters – such as by caring for those who are in need, observing justice in our work, promoting life-giving relationships with every person we meet, adopting a prayerful attitude in all things that we do, etc. These perhaps are simple matters but when we do them with faith, they become expressions of our preparedness to meet with the Lord.

Each day is an opportunity for us to meet the Lord even in the little things that we do. But most of the time, we have become insensitive to the little details of such an encounter. So, the next time around, instead of complaining how we have wasted our time while waiting for something to happen, we might as well do something productive because God is always with us, accompanying us every minute of the day.

• Roger Solis, SVD (HNU, Tagbilaran City)

The Word in other words 2015

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 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 © 2012 Society of the Divine Word

 

THE WORD

Rom 5: 12.15.17–19.20–21 / Lk 12: 35–38

Jesus said to his disciples, “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”

IN OTHER WORDS

In the early 80’s, when our barrio was still deprived of electricity, there was only one house that had a television set. Every evening, young and old trooped to my aunt’s house to watch TV, never mind if it was still black and white. After the program, they would happily discuss what they had watched on the way home.

I remember this moment because this was the time when my grandfather became a widower, and he was alone in his old two-storey Spanish house. My family decided that I stay with him during the night. Since as a young child, I was also fond of watching TV, my dear Lolo constantly and patiently waited for me, contemplatively watching the stars before my arrival, and going down from the veranda upon my knocking on the door. He was always up when I arrived.

In our gospel for today, Jesus extols the virtue of faithfulness. He reminds His disciples to take the role of servants waiting for the return of their master. During His time, when masters are not around or while on journey, the faithful servants never slumber, or even lie down to rest. They take on their loose flowing Eastern robes and fasten their skirt under the girdle, with their lamps all trimmed and burning, indicating their preparedness should their master arrive.

Our world today seems to frown at the idea of waiting: we prefer express deliveries; we yell at slow service in food chains; we want things done automatically. This kind of mentality poses a great difficulty in any kind of dependence on God. We have to admit that we’re all equally guilty of wanting God do something immediately, or sooner rather than later, at one point or another. Paul reminded the Romans, “To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life” (Romans 2:7).

The Gospel has an interesting twist: when the master returns, he will serve the servants who are faithfully waiting. Jesus has always placed a grand reward on service, and here he shows that he will honor faithfulness with service. It is not at all common for masters to serve slaves, but God’s grace shows the extent of God’s love. He leads the stewards in service. He shares the meal at the table of fellowship and serves the food. The imagery suggests the blessing of being totally accepted by Jesus.

• Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD (WBC – Cebu City)

The Word in other words 2015

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 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 © 2012 Society of the Divine Word

 

THE WORD

Rom 4: 20–25 / Lk 12: 13–21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, ‘Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!’ But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”

IN OTHER WORDS

The year 2013 was a year of great revelations about the corruption that has been plaguing the Philippines through the years. More appalling was the fact that those purportedly involved are lawmakers and people in the government to whom the public has given its trust. I cannot but shake my head in disbelief and groan loudly at this unconscionable raiding of the public funds which come from the hard-earned money of taxpayers. Although I am not necessarily condemning at this point the accused as already guilty, still the unimaginable amounts involved and the people suspected of involvement could not but lead me to ask if avarice and greed have not become the order of the day. Seemingly, many people have failed to look beyond the things that the world offers and would exchange the fleeting pleasures of wealth, power and fame for the eternal life that awaits all of us.

Today’s parable is a very sharp attack on people who are more than willing to be ruled by the evils of greed, avarice and crass materialism. In the last analysis, this is a very deep form of selfishness because this all boils down to thinking of one’s own interest, one’s pleasure, one’s benefit, while utterly disregarding others’ benefit and interest. It will always be worthwhile to ask oneself what are those that one owns that prevent him/her from seeing the needs of others. What are those that have become obstacles in our ability to respond to the greater calls of love, selflessness and compassion?

• Emmanuel Menguito, SVD (CKMS, QC)

The Word in other words 2015

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 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 © 2012 Society of the Divine Word

 

THE WORD

FIRST READING Is 53: 10–11

But it was the LORD’s will to crush him with pain.
By making his life as a reparation offering,
he shall see his offspring, shall lengthen his days,
and the LORD’s will shall be accomplished through him.
Because of his anguish he shall see the light;
because of his knowledge he shall be content;
My servant, the just one, shall justify the many,
their iniquity he shall bear.

SECOND READING Heb 4: 14–16

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

GOSPEL READING Mk 10: 35–45

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Jesus. “Master,” they said to him “we want you to do us a favor.” He said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Allow us to sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.” “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup that I must drink, or be baptized with the baptism with which I must be baptized?” They replied, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “The cup that I must drink you shall drink, and with the baptism with which I must be baptized you shall be baptized, but as for seats at my right hand or my left, these are not mine to grant;  they belong to those to whom they have been allotted.”

When the other ten heard this they began to feel indignant with James and John, so Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that among the pagans their so-called rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No, anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

IN OTHER WORDS

Why mission? I remember one of my heroes, Fr Jerry Orbos, SVD, in one of his inspiring homilies on television. He stressed that 2/3 of the world’s population still had not heard the gospel. More than half of the world did not know what our Lord Jesus Christ did to save all peoples. After I heard those words, my heart was never the same again. That was in 1994. At that time I thought I understood ‘why mission.’ The following year I entered the seminary. This is now my 10^th year as an SVD missionary here in Africa. As we celebrate World Mission Sunday, the same call reverberates all over the world: MISSION! St. Joseph Freinademetz, the first SVD missionary to China, has this to say about mission, “If there is no one to proclaim the Gospel, people will not be drawn near to the Lord”. What a tremendous task for all of us missionaries. And what a privilege to share in the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ. The good news is that this is not exclusive to a missionary congregation like the SVD. The mission is for all by virtue of our baptism. You and I are privileged to be called to mission. But it comes with great responsibility also. As St. Mark puts it in the gospel today, “Anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Service and sacrifice are two key elements of mission. Let us serve the Lord joyfully whether in Africa or at home. And, for sure, with our true witnessing and living out of the Gospel that we proclaim, we will indeed draw people near to the Lord. Happy World Mission Sunday to all!

• Ariel Tampus, SVD (Botswana, Africa)

The Word in other words 2015

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 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 © 2012 Society of the Divine Word