Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

EASTER SUNDAY OF THE LORD‘S RESURRECTION
Psalter: Proper / (White)

Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad.

1^st Reading: Acts 10:34a, 37-43

Peter then spoke to them, “Truly, I realize that God does not show partiality.

“No doubt you have heard of the event that occurred throughout the whole country of the Jews, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism John preached. You know how God anointed Jesus, the Nazorean with the Holy Spirit, and power. He went about doing good, and healing all who were under the devil’s power, because God was with him; we are witnesses of all that he did throughout the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem itself. Yet, they put him to death, by hanging him on a wooden cross.

"But God raised him to life on the third day, and let him manifest himself, not to all the people, but to the witnesses that were chosen beforehand by God — to us, who ate and drank with him after his resurrection from death. And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to bear witness, that he is the one appointed by God, to judge the living and the dead. All the prophets say of him, that everyone who believes in him has forgiveness of sins, through his name.”

2^nd Reading: Col 3:1-4 (or 1 Cor 5:6b-8)

So then, if you are risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on earthly things. For you have died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, reveals himself, you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Gospel: Jn 20:1-9 (or Lk 24:13-35)

 Now, on the first day after the Sabbath, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning while it was still dark, and she saw that the stone blocking the tomb had been moved away. She ran to Peter, and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and she said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they have laid him.” Peter then set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down and saw the linen cloths lying flat, but he did not enter.

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered the tomb; he, too, saw the linen cloths lying flat. The napkin, which had been around his head, was not lying flat like the other linen cloths, but lay rolled up in its place. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in; he saw and believed. Scripture clearly said that Jesus must rise from the dead, but they had not yet understood that.

Lectio Divina

Read:. The “empty tomb ­experience” of Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John lead them to believe in the resurrection. God does not show partiality – the fruits of his resurrection are for all those who believe in him, beyond the limitations of class, creed or color.

Reflect: “We don’t know where they have laid him.” is the lament of Mary of Magdala. Sooner than later shall she know where he has been laid – deep in her heart as her very life. The dead Jesus who had been buried reveals himself, as Paul tells us, as the risen Christ hidden within the very being of every Christian. The tomb shall remain empty – for Christ has migrated to our hearts. Christ “easters” in us and we embody him. We are the living witnesses to the resurrection of Christ. Do our lives reveal this truth?

Pray: Lord Jesus, help us embody you before the world.

Act: Do an act worthy of the Risen Lord.

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,
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1^st Reading: Gen 1:1–2:2 (or 1:1, 26-31a)

     Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35

2^nd Reading: Gen 22:1-18 (or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18)

     Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11

3^rd Reading: Ex 14:15–15:1

     Ex 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18

4^th Reading: Is 54:5-14

     Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13

5^th Reading: Is 55:1-11

     Is 12:2–3, 4, 5-6

6^th Reading: Bar 3:9-15, 32–4:4

     Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11

7^th Reading: Ezk 36:16-17a, 18-28

     Ps 42:3, 5; 43:3, 4

Epistle: Rom 6:3-11*

Don’t you know, that in baptism, which unites us to Christ, we are all baptized and plunged into his death? By this baptism in his death, we were buried with Christ and, as Christ was raised from among the dead by the glory of the Father, we begin walking in a new life. (…)

Gospel: Mk 16:1-7

 When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint the body. And very early in the morning on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they came to the tomb.

They were saying to one another, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But as they looked up, they noticed that the stone had already been rolled away. It was a very big stone.

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man in a white robe seated on the right, and they were amazed. But he said to them, “Don’t be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified; he has been raised and is not here. This is, however, the place where they laid him. Now go and tell his disciples and Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you.”

Reflections

YOU MUST CONSIDER YOURSELVES DEAD TO SIN AND ALIVE TO GOD, IN CHRIST JESUS

On this Holy Saturday, the Church wants us to reflect on the effect of Christ’s death and resurrection on us. As we have said, Christ by his life and death had conquered sin and death for us. So what has that effect in us? Is his death of no consequence to us? Are his sufferings and death all for nothing? What a tragedy. No, his death and resurrection have enabled us also to be dead to sin and to be alive in God. Without God’s grace, it is difficult for us to avoid great temptations and to persevere in doing good and to bear the sufferings that come to us. But because of Christ’s suffering and death we are able to unite all our sufferings with his and to get from him the strength to overcome temptations and sins. But that is not all. We gain the strength and energy to REALLY LIVE, to enjoy the wonderful world God gave us, to feel the love of the people who care or us, to have the possibilities of also loving and caring for people which is what makes life worthwhile. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, THANKS BE TO GOD!

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

GOOD FRIDAY
Day of fast (ages 18-59) and abstinence from meat (age 14 and up)
Psalter: Proper / (Red)

Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25
Father, into your hands
I commend my spirit.

1^st Reading: Is 52:13–53:12*

It is now when my servant will succeed; he will be exalted and highly praised. (…) Yet ours were the sorrows he bore, ours were the sufferings he endured, although we considered him as one punished by God, stricken and brought low. Destroyed because of our sins, he was crushed for our wickedness. (…)

My just servant will justify the multitude; he will bear and take away their guilt. Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong. For he surrendered himself to death and was even counted among the wicked, bearing the sins of the multitude and interceding for sinners.

2^nd Reading: Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9

Gospel: Jn 18:1—19:42*

(…) Bearing his cross, Jesus went out of the city to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. There he was crucified, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus in the middle.

Pilate had a notice written and fastened to the cross, which read: Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews. (…) The chief priests said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews’; but, ‘This man claimed to be King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered them, “What I have written, I have written.”

When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one part for each of them. But as the tunic was woven in one piece from top to bottom, they said, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots to decide who will get it.” This fulfilled the words of Scripture: They divided my clothing among them; they cast lots for my garment. This was what the soldiers did.

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister Mary, who was the wife of Cleophas, and Mary of whom he loved, he said to the mother, “Woman, this is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “This is your mother.” And from that moment the disciple took her to his own home.

Jesus knew all was now finished and, in order to fulfill what was written in Scripture, he said, “I am thirsty.“ A jar full of bitter wine stood there; so, putting a sponge soaked in the wine on a twig of hyssop, they raised it to his lips. Jesus took the wine and said, “It is accomplished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up the spirit. (…)

Reflections

IT IS ACCOMPLISHED!

When we speak of accomplishment, we think of some grand project which we have conceived, begun, struggled for, and finally completed. When Jesus said: IT IS ACCOMPLISHED, there seems to be nothing that he had finished — just the end of suffering and torture. He had 12 followers, one betrayed him, one denied him, and everyone ran away except one. Is that accomplishment? Is that achievement? YES, IT IS. In the ordinary, day-to-day life of Christ, where there were no spectacular happenings and which had this tragic end, he redeemed the whole world and brought about our salvation. In one Scripture passage Christ asks: What does it profit you if you gain the whole world and suffer the loss of your own soul? In the life and death of Christ, he won for each and every­one of us the possibility of gaining our own souls, of vanquishing our spiritual enemies, of making our lives worthwhile and, at the time of our death, we can cry out: DEATH WHERE IS THY STING, WHERE IS THY VICTORY?

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

HOLY THURSDAY
At evening, begin Easter Triduum of the Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection
Psalter: Proper / (White)

Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18
Our blessing-cup is a communion
with the Blood of Christ.

1^st Reading: Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9

Ps 89:21-22, 25, 27

Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

2^nd Reading: Rev 1:5-8

Gospel: Lk 4:16-21

Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper:

1^st Reading: Ex 12:1-8, 11-14

2^nd Reading: 1 Cor 11:23-26

Gospel: Jn 13:1-15

 It was before the feast of the Passover. Jesus realized that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father; and as he had loved those who were his own in the world, he would love them with perfect love.

They were at supper, and the devil had already put into the mind of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had entrusted all things to him, and as he had come from God, he was going to God. So he got up from the table, removed his garment, and taking a towel, wrapped it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing.

When he came to Simon Peter, Simon asked him, “Why, Lord, do you want to wash my feet?” Jesus said, “What I am doing you cannot understand now, but afterward you will understand it.” Peter replied, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you can have no part with me.” Then Simon Peter said, “Lord, wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!”

Jesus replied, “Whoever has taken a bath does not need to wash (except the feet), for he is clean all over. You are clean, though not all of you.” Jesus knew who was to betray him; because of this he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

When Jesus had finished washing their feet, he put on his garment again, went back to the table, and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also must wash one another’s feet. I have given you an example, that as I have done, you also may do.

Reflections

YOU MUST ALSO WASH ONE ANOTHER’S FEET

In washing the feet of his apostles, Jesus defined the role of the master, the leader, the superior. It is to SERVE. He also admonishes his apostles that if their master washed their feet, they should also wash one another’s feet. In other words; THEY SHALL ALSO SERVE ONE ANOTHER. In the ways of the world, the opposite is true. Leaders, Superiors, Masters command and their followers obey. They are to be served and the duty of their followers is to serve. And in many instances in the corporate world, the attitude among employees is competitiveness, how they can surpass one another for a promotion or for a better salary or a better impression of the manager. It takes an effort and faith to become a servant leader to truly be among one’s followers, listening to them, empathizing with their sufferings and helping them in their need. And an office will be a heaven on earth if the staff members among themselves look out for each other’s welfare and truly have compassion on each other.

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