Daily Reflection

May 11, 2018 Friday

6TH WEEK OF EASTER
Psalter: Week 2 / (White)

Ps 47:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
God is king of all the earth.

1^st Reading: Acts 18:9-18

One night, in a vision, the Lord said to Paul, “Do not be afraid, but continue speaking and do not be silent, for many people in this city are mine. I am with you, so no one will harm you.” So Paul stayed a year and a half in that place, teaching the word of God among them.

When Gallio was governor of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the court. And they accused him, “This man tries to persuade us to worship God in ways that are against the law.”

Paul was about to speak in his own defense when Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of a misdeed or vicious crime, I would have to consider your complaint. But since this is a quarrel about teachings and divine names that are proper to your own law, see to it yourselves: I refuse to judge such matters.” And he sent them out of the court.

Then the people seized Sosthenes, a leading man of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal; but Gallio paid no attention to it.

Paul stayed on with the disciples in Corinth for many days; he then left them and sailed off with Priscilla and Aquila for Syria. And as he was no longer under a vow he had taken, he shaved his head before sailing from Cenchreae.

Gospel: Jn 16:20-23a

Truly, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. A woman in childbirth is in distress because her time is at hand. But after the child is born, she no longer remembers her suffering because of her great joy: a human being is born into the world.

You feel sorrowful now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice; and no one will take your joy from you. When that day comes you will not ask me anything.

Reflections

Do not be afraid,
but continue speaking
and do not be silent

Paul experienced much persecution as he proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus. Though imprisoned several times, he never gave up. Throughout his missionary journeys the Lord promised him, “Do not be afraid… I am with you.”

Many times we complain to the Lord, “Lord, after all I have done for you, why do you allow me and my loved ones to suffer?” However, discipleship to Jesus does not exempt us from suffering. In fact Jesus forewarned his disciples of their unavoidable persecution. Jesus does not promise to spare us from pain; he promises to be with us in our suffering.

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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May 10, 2018 Thursday

6TH WEEK OF EASTER
St. Damien Joseph de Veuster, priest
Psalter: Week 2 / (White)

Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
The Lord has revealed to the
nations his saving power.

1^st Reading: Acts 18:1-8

After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There, he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, following a decree of the Emperor Claudius, which ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them, and then stayed and worked with them, because they shared the same trade of tent making. Every Sabbath, he held discussions in the synagogue, trying to convince both Jews and Greeks.

When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was able to give himself wholly to preaching, and proving to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. One day, when they opposed him and insulted him, he shook the dust from his clothes in protest, saying, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. I am not to blame if, from now on, I go to the non-Jews.”

So Paul left there and went to the house of a God-fearing man named Titus Justus, who lived next door to the synagogue. A leading man of the synagogue, Crispus, along with his whole household, believed in the Lord. On hearing Paul, many more Corinthians believed and were baptized.

Gospel: Jn 16:16-20

A little while, and you will see me no more; and then a little while, and you will see me.”

Some of the disciples wondered, “What does he mean by, ‘A little while, and you will not see me; and then a little while, and you will see me’? And why did he say, ‘I go to the Father’?” And they said to one another, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”

Jesus knew that they wanted to question him; so he said to them, “You are puzzled because I told you that in a little while you will see me no more, and then a little while later you will see me.

“Truly, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.“

Reflections

I am not to blame if,
from now on,
I go to the non-Jews

Paul was more successful in converting many non-Jews outside Israel to the Christian faith, than in drawing his fellow Jews to Jesus.

Our labors for the Lord will not always bear fruit. A devout mother will not always be able to turn her son away from a life of crime; a teacher will not be able to motivate all students to become the best they can be; a Christian missionary may be rejected and persecuted. And yet in the end what matters most is not the fruit of our labor but our fidelity to our mission and vocation.

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

May 9, 2018 Wednesday

6TH WEEK OF EASTER
Psalter: Week 2 / (White)

Ps 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

1^st Reading: Acts 17:15, 22 — 18:1

Paul was taken as far as Athens by his escort, who then returned to Beroea with instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible

Then Paul stood up in the Areopagus hall and said, “Athenian citizens, I note that, in every way, you are very religious. As I walked around, looking at your shrines, I even discovered an altar with this inscription: To an unknown God. Now, what you worship as unknown, I intend to make known to you.

God, who made the world and all that is in it, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands, being as he is Lord of heaven and earth. Nor does his worship depend on anything made by human hands, as if he were in need. Rather, it is he who gives life and breath and everything else, to everyone. From one stock he created the whole human race, to live throughout all the earth, and he fixed the time and the boundaries of each nation. He wanted them to seek him by themselves, even if it was only by groping for him, that they succeed in finding him.

Yet, he is not far from any one of us. For, in him, we live and move, and have our being; as some of your poets have said: for we, too, are his offspring. If we are indeed God’s offspring, we ought not to think of divinity as something like a statue of gold or silver or stone, a product of human art and imagination.

But now, God prefers to overlook this time of ignorance; and he calls on all people to change their ways. He has already set a day, on which he will judge the world with justice through a man he has appointed. And, so that all may believe it, he has just given a sign, by raising this man from the dead.”

When they heard Paul speak of a resurrection from death, some made fun of him, while others said, “We must hear you on this topic some other time.” At that point Paul left. But a few did join him, and believed. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus court, a woman named Damaris, and some others.

After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

Gospel: Jn 16:12-15

I still have many things to tell you, but you cannot bear them now. When he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into the whole truth.

For he will not speak of his own authority, but will speak what he hears, and he will tell you about the things which are to come. He will take what is mine and make it known to you; in doing this, he will glorify me. All that the Father has is mine; for this reason, I told you that the Spirit will take what is mine, and make it known to you.

Reflections

For in him we live and move and have our being

Paul proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus in Greek cities characterized by a sophisticated philosophical worldview. Despite the marked difference with the pastoral culture of Israel he was able to find common ground which served as springboard for his evangelization — belief in the “unknown God” whom Paul identified as the Creator of the world, the giver of life, who dwells within us yet transcends us and the world.

As we dialogue with peoples of different religious and cultural traditions, let us learn from Paul who identified common convictions and aspirations that unite us and through which our one God speaks.

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

May 8, 2018 Tuesday

6TH WEEK OF EASTER
Psalter: Week 2 / (White)

Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8
Your right hand saves me, O Lord.

1^st Reading: Acts 16:22-34

So they set the crowd against them; and the officials tore the clothes off Paul and Silas and ordered them to be flogged. And after inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to guard them safely. Upon receiving these instructions, he threw them into the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, a severe earthquake shook the place, rocking the prison to its foundations. Immediately, all the doors flew open and the chains of all the prisoners fell off. The jailer woke up to see the prison gates wide open. Thinking that the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword to kill himself, but Paul shouted to him, “Do not harm yourself! We are all still here.”

The jailer asked for a light, then rushed in, and fell at the feet of Paul and Silas. After he had secured the other prisoners, he led them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you and your household will be saved.” Then they spoke the word of God to him and to all his household.

Even at that hour of the night, the jailer took care of them and washed their wounds; and he, and his whole household, were baptized at once. He led them to his house, spread a meal before them and joyfully celebrated with his whole household his new found faith in God.

Gospel: Jn 16:5-11

But now I am going to the One who sent me, and none of you asks me where I am going; instead you are overcome with grief, because of what I have said.

Believe me, it is better for you that I go away, because as long as I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go away, I will send him to you, and when he comes, he will vindicate the truth before a sinful world; and he will vindicate the paths of righteousness and justice.

What is the world’s sin, in regard to me? Disbelief. What is the path of righteousness? It is the path I walk, by which I go to the Father; and you shall see me no more. What is the path of justice? It is the path on which the prince of this world will always stand condemned.

Reflections

Believe in the Lord
Jesus Christ

The Lord intervened and released Paul and Silas from captivity. And because of their graciousness toward their jailer, they won him and his entire household over to the faith. The tormentor was converted not by exhortation or argumentation, but by charity and genuine concern for his well-being.

How often we try to convert our offenders by our just anger and self-righteousness, by castigating and demanding apology. Jesus won converts by showing mercy toward them. We pray for the grace to be charitable toward our offenders, thus bearing witness and drawing them to our merciful 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

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