Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

3RD WEEK OF EASTER
Psalter: Week 3 / (White)

Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 & 7b & 8a, 17 & 21ab
Into your hands, O Lord,
 I commend my spirit.

1^st Reading: Acts 7:51 — 8:1a

But you are a stubborn people. You hardened your hearts and closed your ears. You have always resisted the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.

Saul was there, approving his murder. This was the beginning of a great persecution against the Church in Jerusalem. All, except the apostles, were scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria.

Gospel Reading: Jn 6:30-35

 They then said, “Show us miraculous signs, that we may see and believe you. What sign do you perform? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert; as Scripture says: They were given bread from heaven to eat.”

Jesus then said to them, “Truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven. My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. The bread God gives is the One who comes from heaven and gives life to the world.” And they said to him, “Give us this bread always.”

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall never be hungry, and whoever believes in me shall never be thirsty.

Reflections

YOU ARE A STUBBORN PEOPLE

Actually the sentence goes on: You hardened your hearts and closed your ears. You have always resisted the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. It cannot be more emphatic than that — this indictment against the Jewish people. It is really something that even after experiencing God’s saving activities towards their history, and after waiting for thousands of years, they did not accept the Messiah that God sent them. In our own personal lives there are also times when we have hardened our hearts, when we closed our ears to the voice of the Holy Spirit. And God is not tired of admonishing us: IF YOU HEAR MY VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS. As our Retreat Master Fr. Luigi told us: JUST LET GOD LOVE YOU!. It is as simple as that. We don’t have to do heroic deeds, make enormous sacrifices, do a lot of good works. JUST LET GOD LOVE 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.

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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Web: www.claretianph.com

3RD WEEK OF EASTER
Psalter: Week 3 / (White)

Ps 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30
Blessed are they who
follow the law of the land!

1^st Reading: Acts 6:8-15

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Some persons then came forward, who belonged to the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia. They argued with Stephen. But they could not match the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke. As they were unable to face the truth, they bribed some men to say, “We heard him speak against Moses and against God.”

So they stirred up the people, the elders and the teachers of the law; they took him by surprise, seized him and brought him before the Council. Then they produced false witnesses, who said, “This man never stops speaking against our Holy Place and the law. We even heard him say that Jesus, the Nazorean, will destroy our Holy Place and change the customs which Moses handed down to us.” And all who sat in the Council fixed their eyes on him; and his face appeared to them like the face of an angel.

Gospel: Jn 6:22-29

 Next day, the people, who had stayed on the other side realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples; rather, the disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias landed near the place where all these people had eaten the bread. When they saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Master, when did you come here?”

Jesus answered, “Truly, I say to you, you look for me, not because of the signs which you have seen, but because you ate bread and were satisfied. Work then, not for perishable food, but for the lasting food which gives eternal life. The Son of Man will give it to you, for he is the one on whom the Father has put his mark.”

Then the Jews asked him, “What shall we do? What are the works that God wants us to do?”

And Jesus answered them, “The work God wants is this: that you believe in the One whom God has sent.”

Reflections

THE WORK GOD WANTS IS THIS: THAT YOU BELIEVE IN THE ONE WHOM GOD HAS SENT.

It is clear that our religion is about a PERSON, not about creeds and works although these would be the consequences of one’s faith in the person of Jesus Christ. I always have to remember that our faith all began with an ENCOUNTER! It was the PERSON of Jesus that drew His apostles to Him so that even when they met Him for the first time, they left everything to follow someone they don’t really know. And the apostles and disciples preached not about any doctrine but about the PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST. And the martyrs, not only of the early Church but throughout the ages, died not for any doctrine or institution but for their loyalty to a PERSON. I think it is very important to always have this in mind because in the institutionalization of religion, there is the danger of forgetting that it is not the doctrines, moral laws, rituals, theologies, etc. that are central to one’s faith. IT IS THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST.

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

3RD SUNDAY OF EASTER
Psalter: Week 3 / (White)

Ps 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9
Lord, let your face shine on us.

1^st Reading: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19

The God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over to death and denied before Pilate; when even Pilate had decided to release him. You rejected the Holy and Just One; and you insisted that a murderer be released to you. You killed the Master of life, but God raised him from the dead; and we are witnesses to this.

Yet, I know that you acted out of ignorance, as did your leaders. God has fulfilled, in this way, what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.

2^nd Reading: 1 Jn 2:1-5a

My little children, I write to you, that you may not sin. But if anyone sins, we have an intercessor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Just One. He is the sacrificial victim, for our sins, and the sins of the whole world. How can we know that we know him? If we fulfill his commands. If you say, “I know him,” but do not fulfill his commands, you are a liar and the truth is not in you. But if you keep his word, God’s love is made complete in you. This is how we know that we are in him:

Gospel: Lk 24:35-48

 Then the two told what had happened on the road to Emmaus, and how Jesus had made himself known, when he broke bread with them.

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood in their midst. (He said to them, “Peace to you.”) In their panic and fright they thought they were seeing a ghost, but he said to them, “Why are you upset, and how does such an idea cross your minds? Look at my hands and feet, and see that it is I myself! Touch me, and see for yourselves, for a ghost has no flesh and bones as I have!” (As he said this, he showed his hands and feet.)

Their joy was so great that they still could not believe it, as they were astonished; so he said to them, “Have you anything to eat?” And they gave him a piece of broiled fish. He took it, and ate it before them.

Then Jesus said to them, “Remember the words I spoke to you when I was still with you: Everything written about me in the law of Moses, in the prophets and in the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, “So it was written: the Messiah had to suffer, and on the third day rise from the dead. Then repentance and forgiveness in his name would be proclaimed to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.

Lectio Divina

Read: God makes use of acts of human ignorance to His own great purposes, as in the case of the death of Jesus. Jesus appears to the disciples and takes great pain to explain the Scriptures concerning his own life, death, and resurrection, the purpose of all of which, as John explains, is to bring us back to God and His love.

Reflect: It feels a bit comical to see how desperately Jesus tries to convince the bunch of disciples of his identity. He asks them to see and touch his pierced hands and feet. He asks for something to eat to prove to them that he is real. He interprets scriptures to help them understand that all that happened was necessary. The purpose of it all? That repentance and forgiveness may be preached all over the world; that the world may come to know God’s love. No wonder the Gospel sounds too good to be true!

Pray: Lord, consecrate me to be channels of your repentance and forgiveness for the people in my life.

Act: Reach out and touch someone with God’s and your forgiveness.

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

2ND WEEK OF EASTER
Psalter: Week 2 / (White)

Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19
Lord, let your mercy be on us,
as we place our trust in you.

1^st Reading: Acts 6:1-7

In those days, as the number of disciples grew, the so-called Hellenists complained against the so called Hebrews, because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve summoned the whole body of disciples together, and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God to serve at tables. So, friends, choose from among yourselves seven respected men, full of Spirit and wisdom, that we may appoint them to this task. As for us, we shall give ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”

The whole community agreed; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit; Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenus and Nicolaus of Antioch, who was a proselyte. They presented these men to the apostles, who first prayed over them, and then laid hands upon them.

The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; and even many priests accepted the faith.

Gospel: Jn 6:16-21

 When evening came, the disciples went down to the shore. After a while, they got into a boat to make for Capernaum on the other side of the sea, for it was now dark and Jesus had not yet come to them. But the sea was getting rough because a strong wind was blowing.

They had rowed about three or four miles, when they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and he was drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, but he said to them, “It is I! Don’t be afraid!” They wanted to take him into the boat, but immediately, the boat was at the shore to which they were going.

Reflections

IT IS I, DON’T BE AFRAID.

What a relief the apostles must have felt when, in the midst of turbulence at sea, they heard the reassuring words: “It is I, don’t be afraid.” There are many situations when we experience various forms and degrees of fear. We can just imagine the feeling of the people who just clung to a tree as the winds and sea surged during the Yolanda (Haiyan) typhoon and threatened to wrench them away into their death. We have also fears when our plane is plunging down in a turbulence. We are afraid for loved ones who are on the operating table whether they will come out alive. A lot of people who are in the list of the police as drug addicts or pushers are afraid they will one day be found dead with a cardboard on top of their bodies saying they are drug pushers. In a lesser but no less real fear, we are afraid we will fail in a test or a government exam. We are worried about the result of our medical test — blood, urine, X-ray, whatever. During these times of great fear or anxiety, we need some reassuring voice, a reassuring presence, a comforting gesture to ease our tension or to give us hope. At these moments we should close our eyes and imagine before our eyes the image of Jesus walking on the water, extending his hand to us saying: IT IS I, DON’T BE AFRAID.

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