Daily Reflection

August 19, 2018 Sunday

20TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)

Ps 34:2-3, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

1^st Reading: Pro 9:1-6

Wisdom has built her house set upon seven pillars; she has slaughtered her beasts, prepared her wine and laid her table.
Next, she sent her servants to call from the central square of the city, “Pass by here, you who are fools.”
To the senseless she says, “Come, eat and drink of the bread and wine I have prepared.
Give up your foolishness and you will live; take the straight path of discernment.”

2^nd Reading: Eph 5:15-20

Pay attention to how you behave. Do not live as the unwise do, but as responsible persons. Try to make good use of the present time, because these days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Do not get drunk: wine leads to levity; but be filled with the Holy Spirit. Gather together to pray, with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing, and celebrate the Lord in your heart, giving thanks to God, the Father, in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord, always, and for everything.

Gospel: Jn 6:51-58

I am the living bread from heaven; whoever eats of this bread will live forever. The bread I shall give is my flesh, and I will give it for the life of the world.”

The Jews were arguing among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus replied, “Truly, I say to you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

“My flesh is really food, and my blood is truly drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood, live in me, and I in them. Just as the Father, who is life, sent me, and I have life from the Father, so whoever eats me will have life from me. This is the bread from heaven; not like that of your ancestors, who ate and later died. Those who eat this bread will live forever.”

Lectio Divina

Read: The theme of discerning runs through the readings today. Wisdom calls us out to take the path of discernment. Paul invites us to understand the will of God and follow it. The eucharistic discourse of Jesus is an invitation to discern the true bread that ensures eternal life.

Reflect: We do meet some people who seem to be inhabiting a world different from ours. When we meet genuinely spiritual people or those who have passionately and “foolishly” [in a worldly sense] dedicated their life to some just cause, we say that they are marching to a different drum. In other words, they are people who have discerned something deeper and beyond the ordinary and perceive life from a higher angle and respond accordingly. Jesus invites us today to apply such discernment in understanding who he is, which would enable us to live life differently meriting eternity.

Pray: Ask God for the gift of discernment of the divine in our everyday life.

Act: Write out a brief reflection on what the Eucharist means for you.

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.

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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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August 18, 2018 Saturday

19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Blessed Virgin Mary
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green/White)

Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
Create a clean heart in me, O God.

1^st Reading: Ez 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32

The word of Yahweh came to me in these terms, “Why are you applying this proverb to the land of Israel: ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes and the children’s teeth are set on edge?’

As I live, word of Yahweh, this proverb will no longer be quoted in Israel. All life is in my hands, the life of the parent and the life of the child are mine. The lives of both are in my hands; so, the one who sins will die.

Imagine a man who is righteous and practices what is just and right. He does not eat at the mountain shrines, or look towards the filthy idols of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife, or have intercourse with a woman during her period; he molests no one, pays what he owes, does not steal, gives food to the hungry and clothes to the naked, demands no interest on a loan and doesn’t lend for interest, refrains from injustice, practices true justice, man to man, follows my decrees and obeys my laws in acting loyally. Because such a man is truly righteous, he will live, word of Yahweh.

But perhaps this man has a son, who steals and sheds blood, committing crimes which his father never did. Demands interest on a loan, even practices usury. Will such a man live? No, he will not! Because he has committed all these abominations he will die: his guilt will fall upon him.

That is why I will judge you, Israel, each one according to his ways, word of Yahweh. Come back, turn away from your offenses, that you may not deserve punishment. Free yourselves from all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, Israel? I do not want the death of anyone, word of Yahweh, but that you be converted and live!”

Gospel: Mt 19:13-15

Then little children were brought to Jesus, that he might lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded those who brought them. Jesus then said, “Let the children be! Don’t hinder them from coming to me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are humble, like these children.” Jesus laid his hands on them and went away.

Reflections

I do not want the death of anyone but that you be converted and live!

Ezekiel explains that we each will be judged according to our actions. The guilt of our forebears cannot be passed on to us, for we are each accountable for our deeds. Neither can the virtues of our parents be genetically instilled in us.

Nonetheless, psychology has made us aware of how our family history shapes us. But the Good News is that while our past influences us, it need not determine us. Through grace, we are free to determine the kind of persons we want to become and the way of life we choose to live.

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

August 17, 2018 Friday

19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green)

Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6
You have turned from your anger.

1^st Reading: Ez 16:1-15, 60, 63

The word of Yahweh came to me in these terms, “Son of man, make known to Jerusalem its sins. You say on my behalf: Your beginning was in Canaan; there, you were born. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. On the day you were born, your cord was not cut; you were not bathed in water to make you clean; you were not rubbed with salt, nor were you wrapped in cloth. There was no one to look with pity on you; (…)

But I passed by; and saw you, immersed in your blood. I said to you, in the midst of your blood, “Live!” I made you grow, like a plant of the field. (…)

But you relied on your beauty; you trusted in your fame; and you began to give yourself to every passerby, like a prostitute.

But I will remember my Covenant with you in the days of your youth and, make in your favor, an eternal Covenant. So that you may remember, be ashamed, and never open your mouth again, because of your humiliation, when I have pardoned you for all you have done,” word of Yahweh.

Gospel: Mt 19:3-12

Some Pharisees approached him. They wanted to test him and asked, “Is a man allowed to divorce his wife for any reason he wants?”

Jesus replied, “Have you not read that, in the beginning, the Creator made them male and female? And the Creator said: Therefore, a man shall leave father and mother, and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one body. So, they are no longer two, but one body. Let no one separate what God has joined.”

They asked him, “Then why did Moses command us to write a bill of dismissal in order to divorce?” Jesus replied, “Moses knew the hardness of your hearts, so he allowed you to divorce your wives; but it was not so in the beginning. Therefore, I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, unless it be for immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

The disciples said, “If that is the condition of a married man, it is better not to marry.” Jesus said to them, “Not everybody can accept what you have just said, but only those who have received this gift. There are eunuchs born so, from their mother’s womb. Some have been made that way by others. But there are some who have given up the possibility of marriage, for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who can accept it, accept it.”

Reflections

Let no one separate what God has joined

Jesus quotes the Old Testament, “Let no one separate what God has joined,” and defends the indissolubility of marriage, which is a sign of God’s undying love.

Every sacrament makes visible God’s love and grace. In the Eucharist, the consecrated bread and wine make present the body and blood of our Lord. In marriage, the love of the couple for each other is the visible sign of God’s love. A couple that nourishes and cares for each other, understands and forgives one another, remains faithful to each other throughout their lives makes palpable God’s abiding love for the world.

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

August 16, 2018 Thursday

19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. Stephen of Hungary
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green/White)

Ps 78:56-57, 58-59, 61-62
Do not forget the works of the Lord!

1^st Reading: Ez 12:1-12*

This word of Yahweh came to me, “Son of man, you live in the midst of a house of rebels: they have eyes for seeing but do not see; they have ears for hearing but do not hear; for they are a house of rebels. Because of this, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile’s baggage in their sight, (…)

Say, ‘I am a sign for you,’ for what I have done will happen to them: They will be deported, exiled. The prince among them shall shoulder his baggage in the dark and depart. (…)

Gospel: Mt 18:21—19:1

Then Peter asked him, “Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister? Seven times?” Jesus answered, “No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

This story throws light on the kingdom of Heaven: A king decided to settle accounts with his servants. Among the first of them was one who owed him ten thousand pieces of gold. As the man could not repay the debt, the king commanded that he be sold as a slave with his wife, his children and all his goods, as repayment.

The servant threw himself at the feet of the king and said, ‘Give me time, and I will pay you back everything.’ The king took pity on him, and not only set him free, but even canceled his debt.

When this servant left the king’s presence, he met one of his fellow servants, who owed him a hundred pieces of silver. He grabbed him by the throat and almost choked him, shouting, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ His fellow servant threw himself at his feet and begged him, ‘Give me time, and I will pay everything.’ But the other did not agree, and sent him to prison until he had paid all his debt.

Now the servants of the king saw what had happened. They were extremely upset, and so they went and reported everything to their lord. Then the lord summoned his servant and said, ‘Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed me when you begged me to do so. Weren’t you bound to have pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ The lord was now angry. He handed the wicked servant over to be punished, until he had paid the whole debt.”

Jesus added, “So will my heavenly Father do with you, unless you sincerely forgive your brothers and sisters.”

When Jesus had finished these sayings, he left Galilee and arrived at the border of Judea, on the other side of the Jordan River.

Reflections

Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister?

Forgiveness is not an emotion. It is not the absence of hurt or anger. Instead it is a decision to treat my offender with respect and charity. But to forgive is also a process. The heart needs to heal and the anger needs to dissipate somewhat before I can decide to be magnanimous toward my offender.

Moreover, to forgive is not only an act of charity toward the other, but also toward myself. The longer I refuse to forgive, the longer I remain miserable. But ultimately, to forgive is God’s grace operating within us.

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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