Daily Reflection

June 8, 2018 Friday

SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST
SACRED HEART OF JESUS
Psalter: Proper / (White)

Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6
You will draw water joyfully
from the springs of salvation.

1^st Reading: Hos 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9

I loved Israel when he was a child; out of Egypt I called my son.

Yet, it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; yet, little did they realize that it was I who cared for them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with leading strings of love, and I became for them as one who eases the yoke upon their neck and stoops down to feed them.

How can I give you up, Ephraim? Can I abandon you like Admah or make you like Zeboiim? My heart is troubled within me and I am moved with compassion. I will not give vent to my great anger; I will not return to destroy Ephraim, for I am God and not human. I am the Holy One in your midst; and I do not want to come to you in anger.

2^nd Reading: Eph 3:8-12, 14-19

Gospel: Jn 19:31-37

As it was Preparation Day, the Jews did not want the bodies to remain on the cross during the Sabbath, for this Sabbath was a very solemn day. They asked Pilate to have the legs of the condemned men broken, so that the bodies might be taken away.

The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other man, who had been crucified with Jesus. When they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they did not break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a lance, and immediately there came out blood and water.

The one who saw that has testified to it and his testimony is true; he knows he speaks the truth, so that you also might believe. All this happened to fulfill the words of Scripture: Not one of his bones shall be broken. Another text says: They shall look on him whom they have pierced.

Reflections

I am the Holy One
in your midst;
and I do not want
to come to you in anger

The biblical image that most sublimely expresses the mystery of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the Crucified Christ, the image of God-incarnate who loves us unto death, death on a cross. This loving heart of God is beautifully described by Hosea. God who has held Israel as an infant to his cheek and has taught her to walk is pained that she has turned away from him. Despite his hurt, he vows not to destroy Israel but, instead, to woo her back with his tender and faithful love. How can we not fall in love with such a God?

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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June 7, 2018 Thursday

9TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green)

Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 & 14
Teach me your ways, O Lord.

1^st Reading: 2 Tim 2:8-15

Remember Christ Jesus, risen from the dead, Jesus, son of David, as preached in my gospel. For this gospel I labor, and even wear chains like an evildoer, but the word of God is not chained. And so, I bear everything, for the sake of the chosen people, that they, too, may obtain the salvation given to us, in Christ Jesus, and share eternal glory. This statement is true:

If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; If we endure with him, we shall reign with him;

If we deny him, he will also deny us; If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful for he cannot deny himself.

Remind your people of these things, and urge them, in the presence of God, not to fight over words, which does no good, but only ruins those who listen. Be for God, an active and proven minister, a blameless worker, correctly handling the word of truth.

Gospel: Mk 12:28-34

A teacher of the law had been listening to this discussion and admired how Jesus answered them. So he came up and asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?”

Jesus answered, “The first is: Hear, Israel! The Lord, our God, is One Lord; and you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. And after this comes a second commandment: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these two.”

The teacher of the law said to him, “Well spoken, Master; you are right when you say that he is one, and there is no other besides him. To love him with all our heart, with all our understanding and with all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves is more important than any burnt offering or sacrifice.”

Jesus approved this answer and said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Reflections

You shall love your neighbor as yourself

Genuine love of God manifests itself in compassion and generosity toward one’s neighbors. One cannot claim to love God yet remain self-absorbed and indifferent to the needs of others. On the other hand, authentic love of neighbor unites and conforms one more closely to God. Care for one’s neighbor is a form of serving and worshiping the Lord who is present in everyone. Let us ask the grace to be able to see God in every neighbor, no matter how difficult the person might be, and to be charitable towards him or her as an act of love for God.

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

June 6, 2018 Wednesday

9TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. Norbert, bishop
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green/White)

Ps 123:1b-2ab, 2cdef
To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.

1^st Reading: 2 Tim 1:1-3, 6-12*

From Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, for the sake of his promise of eternal life, in Christ Jesus, to my dear son Timothy. … I give thanks to God, whom I serve with a clear conscience, the way my ancestors did, as I remember you constantly, day and night, in my prayers.

For this reason, I invite you to fan into a flame the gift of God you received, through the laying on of my hands. For God did not confer on us a spirit of fearfulness, but of strength, love and good judgment. (…) He saved us and called us — a calling which proceeds from his holiness. This did not depend on our merits, but on his generosity and his own initiative. (…) For its sake, I now suffer this trial, but I am not ashamed, for I know in whom I have believed, and I am convinced, that he is capable of taking care of all I have entrusted to him until that day.

Gospel: Mk 12:18-27

The Sadducees also came to Jesus. Since they claim that there is no resurrection, they questioned him in this way, “Master, in the Scriptures, Moses gave us this law: If anyone dies and leaves a wife but no children, his brother must take the woman, and, with her, have a baby, who will be considered the child of his deceased brother. Now, there were seven brothers. The first married a wife, but he died without leaving any children. The second took the wife, and he also died, leaving no children. The same thing happened to the third. In fact, all seven brothers died, leaving no children. Last of all, the woman died. Now, in the resurrection, to which of them will she be wife? For all seven brothers had her as wife.”

Jesus replied, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God? When they rise from the dead, men and women do not marry, but are like the angels in heaven.

Now, about the resurrection of the dead, have you never had thoughts about the burning bush in the book of Moses? God said to Moses: I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. He is the God, not of the dead, but of the living. You are totally wrong.”

Reflections

When they rise from the dead, men and women do not marry, but are like the angels in heaven

The Sadducees present to Jesus a hypothetical situation of a woman who is widowed seven times by seven brothers. They were not really interested in finding out whose wife she would be in the afterlife; they were intent in debunking Jesus’ teaching about the resurrection. The Sadducees, the priests of Israel during Jesus’ time, ironically, did not believe in spirits and the resurrection. For them, our lives ended with our death.

How puny our minds are. God’s plans for us transcend our thinking and imaginings. God will not allow death to have the last word. God desires eternal communion with 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

June 5, 2018 Tuesday

9TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. Boniface, bishop & martyr
Psalter: Week 1 / (Red)

Ps 90:2, 3-4, 10, 14 & 16
In every age, O Lord,
you have been our refuge.

1^st Reading: 2 P 3:12-15a, 17-18

We wait for a new heaven and a new earth, in which justice reigns, according to God’s promise.
Therefore, beloved, as you wait in expectation of this, strive, that God may find you rooted in peace, without blemish or fault.
And consider, that God’s patience is for our salvation, as our beloved brother, Paul, wrote to you, with the wisdom given him.
So then, dearly beloved, as you have been warned, be careful, lest those people who have gone astray, deceive you, in turn, and drag you along, making you stumble, and finally fall away. Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: to him be glory, now, and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Gospel: Mk 12:13-17

They sent to Jesus some Pharisees with members of Herod’s party, with the purpose of trapping him by his own words. They came and said to Jesus, “Master, we know that you are truthful; you are not influenced by anyone, and your answers do not vary according to who is listening to you, but you truly teach God’s way. Tell us, is it against the law to pay taxes to Caesar? Should we pay them or not?”

But Jesus saw through their trick and answered, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a silver coin and let me see it.” They brought him one and Jesus asked, “Whose image is this, and whose name?” They answered, “Caesar’s.” Then Jesus said, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God, what is God’s.”

And they were greatly astonished.

Reflections

Why are you testing me?

As a devout Jew, Jesus certainly did not approve of the Roman occupation of Israel. Most likely he was indignant toward the Romans and pained for his people. Yet Jesus was not a militarist. He did not join the Zealot movement that one generation later revolted against and was crushed by the Romans. While critical of the Roman Empire, he paid his taxes. Jesus discerned when to denounce, when to keep silent, and when to collaborate critically. We pray for the grace of prudence as we discern our response to authorities, whether familial or institutional, ecclesial or political.

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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