Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

ST. JOHN,
APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST
Psalter: Proper / (White)

Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12
Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

1^st Reading: 1 Jn 1:1-4

This is what has been, from the beginning, and what we have heard and have seen with our own eyes, what we have looked at, and touched with our hands, I mean the Word who is Life…

The Life made itself known. We have seen Eternal Life and we bear witness; and we are telling you of it. It was with the Father who made himself known to us.

So, we tell you, what we have seen and heard, that you may be in fellowship with us, and us, with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

And we write this, that our joy may be complete.

Gospel: Jn 20:1a & 2-8

 Now, on the first day after the Sabbath, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning while it was still dark, and she saw that the stone blocking the tomb had been moved away.

She ran to Peter, and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and she said to them, ”They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don‘t know where they have laid him.”

Peter then set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down and saw the linen cloths lying flat, but he did not enter.

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered the tomb; he, too, saw the linen cloths lying flat. The napkin, which had been around his head, was not lying flat like the other linen cloths, but lay rolled up in its place. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in; he saw and believed.

Reflections

The Gospel today presents the scene that takes place right after Jesus‘ crucifixion. It is the scene where Mary Magdalene comes running to Peter and John and tells them that someone has taken Jesus‘ body from the tomb. Mary panics because Jesus‘ body has disappeared! Mary was so familiar with Jesus and the disappearance of his body made her fearful and even disoriented. She felt lost and in anguish. For having lost a friend and now losing the concrete body as symbol of everything a person has, it was heartbreaking. Have you ever experienced a time in your life when Jesus seems to have disappeared? A time when you felt the absence of Jesus in your life? These times can be very dark, frightening, and we may feel lost and alone. This experience may be brief or it may go on for days or weeks. How do we respond to this ”felt loss” of Jesus‘ presence? Do we panic and search for Him? Or do we trust that we once again will experience His presence? Are we able to stay grounded in Jesus‘ love for us? Or do we give up and walk away? In my life, when I experience the absence of Jesus, I usually come to understand that I am the one who has chosen another way - not Jesus! And even if this is not the case for you, are we willing to stand firm and wait for Jesus to come? Can we wait peacefully, trusting that Jesus is with us? Are we able to see, believe and trust that Jesus is with us? The other disciple whom Jesus loved had a more trusting posture; he saw and believed. In situations of fear and disbelief, the call is to be like the other disciple. His faith was greater than his fear. His hope was more intense than his despair. His love was faithful and not wavering. Jesus‘ absence is neither the final word on his death nor the final story of a just man but God‘s affirmation of his enduring presence and love. God‘s love is the definitive story of a life that seemingly ended in failure. Death is not the final word but the victory of redemptive love. Jesus' life and ministry are testaments of a faithful God who brought him to life and giving us the presence of Jesus through his spirit of love and mercy.

Daily Reflection 2018

Bible Diary ® is a product of Claretian Publications, a division of Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. (CCFI) which is a pastoral endeavor of the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines that brings the Word of God to people from all walks of life. CCFI aims to promote integral evangelization and renewed spirituality that is geared towards empowerment and total liberation in response to the needs and challenges of the Church today.

CCFI is a member of Claret Publishing Group, a consortium of the publishing houses of the Claretian Missionaries all over the world: Bangalore, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Chennai, Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Madrid, Macao, Manila, Owerry, São Paolo, Varsaw , Yaoundé.

Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57^th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL

With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

 

Bible Diary ® 2018
Copyright © 2O17 
Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.
U.P. P.O. Box 4, Diliman,
1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (63-2) 921-3984
Fax: (6352) 921-7429
Email: ccfi@claretianpublicationscom
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.claretianph.com

FEAST OF ST. STEPHEN,
FIRST MARTYR
Psalter: Proper / (Red)

Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 & 8ab, 16bc & 17
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

1^st Reading: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Some persons then came forward, who belonged to the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia. They argued with Stephen. But they could not match the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.

When they heard this reproach, they were enraged; and they gnashed their teeth against Stephen. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes on heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus at God‘s right hand; so he declared: ”I see the heavens open, and the Son of Man at the right hand of God.”

But they shouted and covered their ears with their hands, and rushed together upon him. They brought him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning him, Stephen prayed saying: ”Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Gospel: Mt 10:17-22

 Be on your guard with people, for they will hand you over to their courts, and they will flog you in their synagogues. You will be brought to trial before rulers and kings because of me, so that you may witness to them and the pagans.

But when you are arrested, do not worry about what you are to say, or how you are to say it; when the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father, speaking through you.

Brother will hand over his brother to death, and a father his child; children will turn against their parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever stands firm to the end will be saved.

Reflections

In today‘s passage, Jesus foretells what the disciples can look forward to. They can expect to be ”handed over” to governors and kings, which will give them the test and authenticity of their faith in him. At the same time, they are not to be anxious about what they should say. The words they need will be given when the time comes. They find in themselves a strength and confidence they never knew they had. Jesus makes it clear that following him will result in families being broken up – father against child, children against parents. Alas, this prediction, too, has been fulfilled all too often both in the past and in recent times. This is the price to pay for those whose lives are built on truth, love and peace. Those who prefer to live their faith in comfort and security would take Jesus‘ message as a personal matter without the imperative of social justice. Jesus had said that all those who wished to follow him would have to take up their cross and go after him. The servant is no greater than his master. ”Whoever loves his own life will lose it; whoever hates his own life in this world will keep it for life eternal. Whoever wants to serve me must follow me, so that my servant will be with me where I am” (John 12:25-26). Some of us may find it strange to be talking about such painful things during the Christmas season. If we think like that, then it may indicate that we do not fully understand the nature and purpose of Jesus‘ birth. We tend to insulate the whole Christmas scene with romanticism and even a great deal of sentimentality but there was nothing sentimental about the Child being born in a poor social conditions, far from home, already ignored by the religious leadership of the day and whose only visitors were a group of poor and margina­lized shepherds and some myste­rious visitors from the East. They all indicate the direction of Jesus‘ life, ministry and mission.

Daily Reflection 2018

Bible Diary ® is a product of Claretian Publications, a division of Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. (CCFI) which is a pastoral endeavor of the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines that brings the Word of God to people from all walks of life. CCFI aims to promote integral evangelization and renewed spirituality that is geared towards empowerment and total liberation in response to the needs and challenges of the Church today.

CCFI is a member of Claret Publishing Group, a consortium of the publishing houses of the Claretian Missionaries all over the world: Bangalore, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Chennai, Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Madrid, Macao, Manila, Owerry, São Paolo, Varsaw , Yaoundé.

Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57^th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL

With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

 

Bible Diary ® 2018
Copyright © 2O17 
Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.
U.P. P.O. Box 4, Diliman,
1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (63-2) 921-3984
Fax: (6352) 921-7429
Email: ccfi@claretianpublicationscom
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.claretianph.com

CHRISTMAS,
THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
Psalter: Proper / (White)

Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

1^st Reading: Is 52:7-10

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who herald peace and happiness, who proclaim salvation and announce to Zion: ”Your God is King!”

Together your watchmen raise their voices in praise and song; they see Yahweh face to face returning to Zion.

Break into shouts of joy, O ruins of Jerusalem, for Yahweh consoles his people and redeems Jerusalem.

Yahweh has bared his holy arm in the eyes of the nations; all the ends of the earth, in alarm, will witness God‘s salvation.

2^nd Reading: Heb 1:1-6

Gospel: Jn 1:1-18

 In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God; he was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through him, and without him nothing came to be. Whatever has come to be, found life in him; life, which for human beings was also light, light that shines in darkness, light that darkness could not overcome.
A man came, sent by God; his name was John.
He came to bear witness, as a witness to introduce the Light, so that all might believe through him.
He was not the Light, but a witness to introduce the Light; for the Light was coming into the world, the true Light that enlightens everyone.
He was in the world, and through him the world was made, the very world that did not know him.
He came to his own, yet his own people did not receive him; but to all who received him, he empowers to become children of God, for they believe in his name.
These are born, but not by seed, or carnal desire, nor by the will of man: they are born of God.
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us; and we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father: fullness of truth and lovingkindness.
John bore witness to him openly, saying, ”This is the one who comes after me, but he is already ahead of me, for he was before me.”
From his fullness we have all received, favor upon favor.
For God had given us the law through Moses, but Truth and Lovingkindness came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God, but God-the-only-Son made him known: the one, who is in and with the Father.

Reflections

The majestic opening of John‘s Gospel shows us the cosmic scope of the mystery of the Incarnation. He is the definitive self-expression of God, the one through whom God created all things in the beginning. He stretches out the cosmos as the canvas for the expression of God‘s glory. The prologue climaxes with the announcement: ”The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” It‘s God‘s concrete embodiment in humanity. This presence came about through God‘s passion for humanity and for the whole of creation. The Christmas message announces a new divine presence among us. Each day of our lives we seek the personal presence of those whom we care for and who care about us. We cannot imagine leaving friendship and love at a distance. Photographs, memories, letters, e-mail, text messages and phone calls are not enough. We want to enjoy the personal presence of those who fill our minds and let us live in their hearts. We live in God‘s heart, and Christmas visibly brought among us the Son of God who cares infinitely for each of us. God did not want to live his presence at a distance. The Word became close to real people in real time. Through the wonder and mystery of the Incarnation, the Word did not become a theory, or a concept to be discussed, debated, or pondered. But the Word became a person to be followed, enjoyed and loved! Our redemption is found in the Child of Bethlehem. Christmas inaugurates a completely new kind of real friendship with God. He comes and share our struggles, joys and pains. It is God‘s expression of concrete solidarity with the human condition and gives every person the hope to live differently and aspire to build a new set of relationships marked by peace, justice and ecological care. Christmas is a celebration of who God is in our lives – Emmanuel – God who is very intimate with us and comes to be with us and share what is possible within us if we care to pay attention to the divinity with each of us.

Daily Reflection 2018

Bible Diary ® is a product of Claretian Publications, a division of Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. (CCFI) which is a pastoral endeavor of the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines that brings the Word of God to people from all walks of life. CCFI aims to promote integral evangelization and renewed spirituality that is geared towards empowerment and total liberation in response to the needs and challenges of the Church today.

CCFI is a member of Claret Publishing Group, a consortium of the publishing houses of the Claretian Missionaries all over the world: Bangalore, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Chennai, Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Madrid, Macao, Manila, Owerry, São Paolo, Varsaw , Yaoundé.

Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57^th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL

With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

 

Bible Diary ® 2018
Copyright © 2O17 
Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.
U.P. P.O. Box 4, Diliman,
1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (63-2) 921-3984
Fax: (6352) 921-7429
Email: ccfi@claretianpublicationscom
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.claretianph.com

4TH WEEK OF ADVENT
Psalter: Week 4 / (Violet)

Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 & 29
Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

1^st Reading: 2 S 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16*

When the king had settled in his palace and Yahweh had rid him of all his surrounding enemies, he said to Nathan, the prophet, ”Look, I live in a house of cedar but the Ark of God is housed in a tent.” Nathan replied, ”Do as it seems fit to you for Yahweh is with you.”

But that very night, Yahweh‘s word came to Nathan, ”Go and tell my servant David, this is what Yahweh says: (…) I took you from the pasture, from tending the sheep, to make you commander of my people Israel. (…) Now I will make your name great, as the name of the great ones on earth. I will provide a place for my people Israel and plant them that they may live there in peace. They shall no longer be harassed, nor shall wicked men oppress them as before. (…) Yahweh also tells you that he will build you a house. (…) Your house and your reign shall last forever before me, and your throne shall be forever firm.”

Gospel: Lk 1:67-79

 Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, sang this canticle:

 ”Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has come and redeemed his people.

In the house of David his servant, he has raised up for us a victorious Savior; as he promised through his prophets of old, salvation from our enemies and from the hand of our foes.

He has shown mercy to our fathers; and remembered his holy Covenant, the oath he swore to Abraham, our father, to deliver us from the enemy, that we might serve him fearlessly, as a holy and righteous people, all the days of our lives.

And you, my child, shall be called Prophet of the Most High, for you shall go before the Lord, to prepare the way for him, and to enable his people to know of their salvation, when he comes to forgive their sins.

This is the work of the mercy of our God, who comes from on high, as a rising sun, shining on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, and guiding our feet into the way of peace.”

Reflections

Luke puts the Benedictus into the mouth of Zechariah, the husband of Elizabeth and father of the newly born, John the Baptist. For doubting the word of the angel, Zechariah had been struck dumb but when, at the circumcision of his son, he confirmed that the boy‘s name would be John, he recovered his speech and broke out into this song of praise. God is praised and blessed because ”he has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant”, a clear reference to Jesus. Zechariah thanks God for having – in the person of Jesus – ”visited his people” and ”come to their rescue” just as he had promised through the mouths of the prophets down the ages. What was the purpose of this deliverance? So that we could rejoice over the defeat of those who wishes us harm? No, it was that we could ”serve him in holiness and virtue in his presence, all our days”. There is enough there already for us to reflect on with deep gratitude. The first thing he gives thanks for is the fact that God has redeemed His people. Secondly, he thanks God for the fulfillment of past promises. Finally, he thanks God as he anticipates the fulfillment of future promises. All these are acts of God. So, we, too, thank God for His gracious work among us. The realization of that peace and harmony in each one, in every community and throughout every society, is a sign that the Kingdom has come. We all realize how much that peace is needed in our world, in our own society, in our own communities, in our homes and in our own selves. May