Daily Reflection

September 4, 2018 Tuesday

22ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 2 / (Green)

Ps 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13ab, 13cd-14
The Lord is just in all his ways.

1^st Reading: 1 Cor 2:10b-16

God has revealed it to us, through his Spirit, because the Spirit probes everything, even the depth of God.

Who, but his own spirit, knows the secrets of a person? Similarly, no one, but the Spirit of God, knows the secrets of God. We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God and, through him, we understand what God, in his goodness, has given us.

So we speak of this, not in terms inspired by human wisdom, but in a language taught by the Spirit, explaining a spiritual wisdom to spiritual persons. The one who remains on the psychological level does not understand the things of the Spirit. They are foolishness for him; and he does not understand, because they require a spiritual experience. On the other hand, the spiritual person judges everything, but no one judges him. Who has known the mind of God so as to teach him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Gospel: Lk 4:31-37

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee, and began teaching the people at the Sabbath meetings. They were astonished at the way he taught them, for his word was spoken with authority.

In the synagogue, there was a man possessed by an evil spirit, who shouted in a loud voice, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I recognize you: you are the Holy One of God.” Then Jesus said to him sharply, “Be silent and leave this man!” The evil spirit then threw the man down in front of them, and came out of him without doing him harm.

Amazement seized all these people, and they said to one another, “What does this mean? He commands the evil spirits with authority and power. He orders, and you see how they come out!” And news about Jesus spread throughout the surrounding area.

Reflections

You are the Holy One of God

Each one of us is given authority of some kind – as a parent, a teacher, a priest and whatever responsibility we are given. It is easy to abuse one’s position of power and privilege. Jesus uses his authority to liberate a person possessed by an evil spirit. Whether we experience the evil spirit as something external or, in many cases, an internal experience of being possessed by our own evil thoughts and deeds, of by shame and guilt that refuse to leave us, Jesus sets us free from anything that destroys our dignity and freedom as sons and daughters of God. His authority is to allow us to move away from fear and shame to a profound experience of being loved, accepted and forgiven. His authority is an experience of grace and not an experience of punishment and exclusion. He models a different kind of authority for us. He invites to imitate his authority of grace. Let us make sure that we use it in such a way as to enhance the abilities of others rather than diminish them.

Daily Reflection 2018

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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

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September 3, 2018 Monday

22ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. Gregory the Great, pope & doctor
Psalter: Week 2 / (White)

Ps 119:97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102
Love, I love your commands.

1^st Reading: 1 Cor 2:1-5

When I came to reveal to you the mystery of God’s plan, I did not count on eloquence or on a show of learning. I was determined, not to know anything among you, but Jesus, the Messiah, and a crucified Messiah. I, myself, came; weak, fearful and trembling; my words, and preaching, were not brilliant, or clever to win listeners. It was, rather, a demonstration of spirit and power, so that, your faith might be a matter, not of human wisdom, but of God’s power.

Gospel: Lk 4:16-30

When Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, as he usually did. He stood up to read, and they handed him the book of the prophet Isaiah. Jesus then unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me, to bring good news to the poor; to proclaim liberty to captives; and new sight to the blind; to free the oppressed; and to announce the Lord’s year of mercy.”

Jesus then rolled up the scroll, gave it to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he said to them, “Today, these prophetic words come true, even as you listen.”

All agreed with him, and were lost in wonder, while he spoke of the grace of God. Nevertheless they asked, “Who is this but Joseph’s Son?” So he said, “Doubtless you will quote me the saying: Doctor, heal yourself! Do here, in your town, what they say you did in Capernaum.”

Jesus added, “No prophet is honored in his own country. Truly, I say to you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens withheld rain for three years and six months and a great famine came over the whole land. Yet, Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow of Zarephath, in the country of Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, the prophet; and no one was healed except Naaman, the Syrian.”

On hearing these words, the whole assembly became indignant. They rose up and brought him out of the town, to the edge of the hill on which Nazareth is built, intending to throw him down the cliff. But he passed through their midst and went his way.

Reflections

After reading this passage from the prophet Isaiah, Jesus sits and in a silence full of expectation, teaches: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled.” He is the embodiment of all the scriptures and his proclamation of the Good News is not just direction-setting but already is witnessed in his life. The medium is the message. His presence among us begins the year of mercy. He is a merciful presence. The signs of mercy and closeness of God for the poor, the blind and the imprisoned and to all who are in need and helpless, become a reality in his words and deeds.

Jesus himself is the “today” of God’s presence in history, because He completes the living witness of God’s mercy and love. The term “today” is very significant to Saint Luke (see 19, 9; 23, 43) to teach that Jesus is the savior. Already in the narratives of his infancy, this Evangelist refers the words of the angel to the shepherds: “Today, in the city of David, is born to you a Savior, Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:11). Every day can be the today of salvation because Jesus embodies the way of God. His words and actions reflect the salvific action of God in the here and now.

Daily Reflection 2018

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

September 2, 2018 Sunday

22ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 2 / (Green)

Ps 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5
The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

1^st Reading: Dt 4:1-2, 6-8

And now, Israel, listen to the norms and laws which I teach that you may put them into practice. And you will live and enter and take possession of the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, gives you. Do not add anything to what I command you nor take anything away from it. But keep the commandments of Yahweh, your God, as I command you.

If you observe and practice them, other peoples will regard you as wise and intelligent. When they come to know of all these laws, they will say, “There is no people as wise and as intelligent as this great nation.” For in truth, is there a nation as great as ours, whose gods are as near to it as Yahweh, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? And is there a nation as great as ours whose norms and laws are as just as this law which I give you today?

2^nd Reading: Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27

Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of Light, in whom there is no change, or shadow of a change. By his own will, he gave us life, through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of offering to him, among his creatures.

So get rid of any filth, and reject the prevailing evil, and welcome the word that has been planted in you, and has the power to save you. Be doers of the word, and not just hearers, lest you deceive yourselves.

In the sight of God, our Father, pure and blameless religion lies in helping the orphans, and widows in their need, and keeping oneself from the world’s corruption.

Gospel: Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

One day, the Pharisees gathered around Jesus, and with them were some teachers of the law who had just come from Jerusalem.

They noticed that some of his disciples were eating their meal with unclean hands, that is, without washing them. Now the Pharisees, and in fact all the Jews, never eat without washing their hands, for they follow the tradition received from their ancestors. Nor do they eat anything, when they come from the market, without first washing themselves. And there are many other traditions they observe; for example, the ritual washing of cups, pots and plates.

So the Pharisees and the teachers of the law asked him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders, but eat with unclean hands?”

Jesus answered, “You shallow people! How well Isaiah prophesied of you when he wrote: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless, for what they teach are only human rules. You even put aside the commandment of God to hold fast to human tradition.”

Jesus then called the people to him again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and try to understand. Nothing that enters a person from the outside can make that person unclean. It is what comes from within that makes a person unclean, for evil designs come out of the heart: theft, murder, adultery, jealousy, greed, maliciousness, deceit, indecency, slander, pride and folly. All these evil things come from within and make a person unclean.”

Lectio Divina

Read: Moses commands absolute obedience to the Law given by Yahweh. James invites us to be doers of the word that has been planted in our hearts. Jesus highlights the need to understand the heart of the law and understand and follow its spirit.

Reflect: In the observance of religion, there is often a tension between fulfilment of ritual obligations and demands of charity and compassion. Such tension is palpable in the encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees following the ritually unclean act of the disciples. Jesus makes it clear: No law is good if it does not have charity as its fuel. James clarifies it functionally: “pure and blameless religion lies in helping the orphans, and widows in their need, and keeping oneself from the world’s corruption.”

Pray: We live in times of religious terrorism which forgets the centrality of charity at the heart of religion. Pray for those who have missed this essence of religion to rediscover the same and learn the ways of love.

Act: How can you practice “pure and blameless religion” in your context? List out three practical means.

Daily Reflection 2018

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

September 1, 2018 Saturday

21ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Blessed Virgin Mary
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green/White)

Ps 33:12-13, 18-19, 20-21
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

1^st Reading: 1 Cor 1:26-31

Brothers and sisters, look and see whom God has called. Few among you can be said to be cultured or wealthy, and few belong to noble families. Yet God has chosen what the world considers foolish, to shame the wise; he has chosen what the world considers weak, to shame the strong.

God has chosen common and unimportant people, making use of what is nothing, to nullify the things that are, so that, no mortal may boast before God.

But, by God’s grace, you are in Christ Jesus, who has become our wisdom from God, and who makes us just and holy and free. Scripture says: Let the one who boasts boast of the Lord.

Gospel: Mt 25:14-30*

Imagine someone who, before going abroad, summoned his servants to entrust his property to them. He gave five talents of silver to one servant, two talents to another servant, and one talent to a third, to each, according to his ability; and he went away. (…)

After a long time, the master of those servants returned and asked for a reckoning. The one who had received five talents came with another five talents (…) The master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in a few things, I will entrust you in charge of many things. Come and share the joy of your master.’

Then the one who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you entrusted me with two talents; with them I have gained two more.’ The master said, ‘Well done (…)

Finally, the one who had received one talent came and said (…) I was afraid, so I hid your money in the ground. Here, take what is yours!’ But his master replied, ‘Wicked and worthless servant, you know that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered. You should have deposited my money in the bank, and given it back to me with interest on my return.

Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who are unproductive, even what they have will be taken from them. As for that useless servant, throw him out into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Reflections

The parable of the talents is many times wrongly interpreted in the gospel. The parable does not justify a gospel of economic prosperity and accumulation of wealth and properties. Instead, it challenges believers not to emulate the Master. He is a man who reaps where he does not sow and gathers where he has not scattered seed. He aggressively seeks to increase his profit and wealth by all means. He reprimands the servant for failing to invest the money with the bankers so that he might have gained interest — a practice forbidden in scripture (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35-38). The first two slaves do business with the master's talents and double his money. The third slave admits that he was afraid to lose the master's money. To protect himself, he buried the talent in the ground.

The parable is located in Jesus' eschatological discourse (24:1-25:46) where he instructs his disciples to endure through difficult times and to live in anticipation of the Lord's return. Like all the parables in this section, it exemplifies the certainty of the Lord's coming and how the disciples are to live in the meantime. The parable is a critique to a way of life centered on profit and accumulation of wealth. This is not the way of the disciples since Jesus, the real Master, is centered on the coming of the Reign of God. All who would follow Jesus are called to share one’s life and service to others. Those who are found faithful may hear their Master say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Daily Reflection 2018

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

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