Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green)

Ps 69:5, 8-10, 14
Lord, in your great love, answer me.

1^st Reading: Jer 26:1-9

At the beginning of the reign of Judah’s king Jehoiakim son of Josiah, the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah: Yahweh says this, “Stand in the courtyard of Yahweh’s house and say to all who come from the towns of Judah to worship in Yahweh’s house — all that I command you to say; do not omit anything! Perhaps they will listen to you. Perhaps each one will turn from his wicked ways. Then I will change my mind and forget the destruction that I have planned to inflict on them because of their wicked deeds.

Tell them: This is what Yahweh says: “You have not obeyed me and you have failed to walk according to my law which I have set before you. You have not heeded my servants, the prophets, whom I have persistently sent to you. If you stubbornly close your ears to them, I will treat this house of mine as I treated the Sanctuary of Shiloh and let all the nations see that Jerusalem is a cursed city.”

The priests, the prophets and all the people heard what Jeremiah said in Yahweh’s house. When Jeremiah finished saying all that Yahweh had commanded, he was besieged by the priests and prophets saying, “You are bound to die! How dare you speak in Yahweh’s Name telling us that this house will be treated like Shiloh and this city is to become a deserted ruin.” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of Yahweh.

Gospel: Mt 13:54-58

 He went to his hometown and taught the people in their synagogue. They were amazed and said, “Where did he get this wisdom and these special powers? Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t Mary his mother and aren’t James, Joseph, Simon and Judas his brothers? Aren’t all his sisters living here? Where did he get all these things?” And so they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them, “The only place where prophets are not welcome is his hometown and in his own family.” And he did not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Reflections

Isn’t Mary his mother?

Who were these brothers and sisters of Jesus? For Protestants, the biological siblings of Jesus. For them Mary’s purity was not dimi­nished by having sired children.

The Catholic Church teaches that Mary remained a perpetual virgin, thus the siblings mentioned must have been Jesus’ cousins or co-villagers.

Because his neighbors questioned his credibility, Jesus did not perform miracles in Nazareth. Their lack of faith in him was due to their familiarity with him. On the other hand, familiarity with Jesus should deepen our faith in and fidelity to him, which is the ­essence of a pure heart.

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
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17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. Eusebius of Vercelli, bishop
St. Peter Julian Eymard, priest
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green/White)

Ps 146:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6ab
Blessed is he whose help
is the God of Jacob.

1^st Reading: Jer 18:1-6

This is the word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah: “Go down to the potter’s house and there you will hear what I have to say.”

So I went to the potter’s house and found him working at the wheel. But the pot he was working on was spoiled in his hands, so he reworked it all over again into another pot that suits his desire.

Meanwhile Yahweh sent me his word, “People of Israel, can I not do with you what this potter does? As clay in the potter’s hand so are you in my hands.

Gospel: Mt 13:47-53

 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a big fishing net, let down into the sea, in which every kind of fish has been caught. When the net is full, it is dragged ashore. Then they sit down and gather the good fish into buckets, but throw the bad away. That is how it will be at the end of time; the angels will go out to separate the wicked from the just, and to throw the wicked into the blazing furnace, where they will weep and gnash their teeth.”

Jesus asked, “Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered. So he said to them, “Therefore, every teacher of the law, who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven, is like a householder, who can produce from his store things both new and old.” When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.

Reflections

The potter made it into another pot giving it the form he chose

God is constantly molding and refashioning us which ought to be good news for us, for often we lose patience with our imperfections. As God the potter never gives up on us, neither should we give up on ourselves or others.

But many of us, out of exasperation, give up on others, condemning them as irreformable and irredeemable. Our attitude condoning the extra-judicial kil­ling of alleged drug pushers and approval of the reimposition of the death penalty are contrary to the attitude of our God of second chances who never loses hope in 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

17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. Alphonsus Liguori, bishop & doctor
Psalter: Week 1 / (White)

Ps 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18
God is my refuge
on the day of distress.

1st Reading: Jer 15:10, 16-21
Woe is me, Mother, why did you bring me to the light? A man of dissension throughout the land!
I owe them nothing, neither do they owe me, yet they all curse me!
I devoured your words when they came.
They were my happiness and I felt full of joy when you made your name rest on me.
I never associate with worldly people, amusing myself with scoffers!
When your hand was upon me I stood apart and you filled me with your anger.
Why is there no end to my sorrow or healing for my wound?
Why do you deceive me, and why does my spring suddenly dry up?
Then Yahweh spoke to me, “If you return I will take you back and you will serve me again.
Draw the gold from the dross and you will be as my own mouth.
You must draw them to you and not go over to them. I will make you a fortress and a wall of bronze facing them; if they fight against you they will not overcome you;
I am with you to free you and save you.
I will redeem you from the wicked and free you from the hands of tyrants.”

Gospel: Mt 13:44-46

 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field. The one who finds it, buries it again; and so happy is he, that he goes and sells everything he has, in order to buy that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a trader, who is looking for fine pearls. Once he has found a pearl of exceptional quality, he goes away, sells everything he has and buys it.

Reflections

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field

Where and how will I find happiness? What gives meaning to my life?

Many of us seek happiness in the things of this world — wealth, power and honor which, however, cannot satisfy our deepest ­longings. We amass more and more yet feel emptier within. We attain power and honor but never­theless feel incomplete. ­Finite things cannot fulfill our ­infinite longings.

To find the treasure hidden in the field or the pearl of great price is to realize that God is my deepest longing, that God alone can satisfy my infinite longings.

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

17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. Ignatius of Loyola, priest
Psalter: Week 1 / (White)

 Ps 79:8, 9, 11 & 13
For the glory of your name,
O Lord, deliver us.

1^st Reading: Jer 14:17-22

This you will say to them: Let my eyes shed tears night and day without ceasing! For with a great wound has the virgin daughter of my people been wounded, a most grievous wound.

If I go into the country, I see those slain by the sword. If I enter the city I see the ravages of famine. For the prophet and the priest did not understand what was happening in the land.”

Have you then rejected Judah forever? Do you abhor Zion? Why have you wounded us and left us with no hope of recovery? We hoped for salvation but received nothing good; we waited for healing, but terror came!

Yahweh, we know our wickedness and that of our ancestors, and the times we have sinned against you.

For your name’s sake do not despise us; do not dishonor the throne of your glory. Remember us. Do not break your Covenant with us!

Among the worthless idols of the nations, are there any who can bring rain, or make the skies send showers? Only in you, Yahweh our God, do we hope, for it is you who do all this.

Gospel: Mt 13:36-43

 Then he sent the crowds away and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” Jesus answered them, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed are the people of the kingdom; the weeds are those who follow the evil one. The enemy who sows the weeds is the devil; the harvest is the end of time, and the workers are the angels.

Just as the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom all that is scandalous and all who do evil. And these will be thrown into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the just will shine, like the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. If you have ears, then hear.

Reflections

The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom all that is scandalous and all who do evil

In his meditation on the Two Standards, Ignatius explains that Jesus and the Evil One battle over our hearts. It is not enough to declare I choose Jesus and his Gospel instead of the Evil One and his ways. Throughout our lives, we need to be purified of sin within and choose to follow Jesus. Perhaps St. Ignatius’ most precious gifts to the Church are his Spiritual Exercises and Examen of Consciousness which equip us with tools to discern God’s will, by examining the movements of the good and evil spirits within us. We pray then to choose Jesus daily.

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