Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19
Now, to what can I compare the people of this day? They are like children sitting in the marketplace, about whom their companions complain: ‘We played the flute for you, but you would not dance. We sang a funeral song, but you would not cry!’
For John came fasting, and people said, ‘He is possessed by a demon!’ Then, the Son of Man came. He ate and drank; and people said, ‘Look at this man: a glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet, wisdom is vindicated by her works.”

Reflections
“wisdom is vindicated by her works.”
Jesus reminds us of this one most neglected Christian virtue: to listen to what God is saying to us in every moment of our lives. To­day, Jesus reproaches the crowds for not listening.
The message of the Gospel comes to us through hearing. Thus, when John came and pro­claimed the coming of the Mes­siah, people thought of him to be possessed by an evil spirit. When Jesus came, people thought of him to be glutton and drunkard simply because he was with the sinners, tax collectors and they persecuted him in the end.
Prophet Isaiah in the first rea­ding, reminds us that the Lord, our Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, would teach us always what is good for us. He would lead us to the way we should go. If only we would listen to his voice, our pros­perity would be like a river flowing down the streams giving life to all it passes by.
The birth of Jesus is the em­bodiment of the faith we heard from our forefathers. What we have listened to and meditated upon, has now a Face – Jesus of Nazareth.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Matthew 11:11-15
I tell you this: no one greater than John the Baptist has arisen from among the sons of women; and yet, the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven is something to be conquered; and violent men seize it.
Up to the time of John, there was only prophesy: all the prophets and the law. And if you believe me, John is indeed that Elijah, whose coming was predicted. Let anyone with ears listen!

Reflections
“Let anyone with ears listen!”
Our Gospel reading has given us a model of Christian Disciple­ship: John the Baptist. He was greatly praised by Jesus. What made him great is that he always points to the coming of the Savior. He always leads people to Jesus, teaching them repentance, for­giveness and reconciliation. He teaches them to transform their lives. Nevertheless, John never saw Jesus’ inauguration of the Kingdom of God. He was not able to see and witness Jesus’ miracles, healings, passion, death, resurrec­tion and ascension. He was perse­cuted and beheaded.
True enough! The Incarnation marks the inauguration of the Kingdom of God here on earth. In the first reading Isaiah already prophesied:“I will help you, say the Lord; your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel”. All these has been immortalized in John the Baptist.
To follow the example of John the Baptist is a challenge to every­one. He persevered in the faith. He continued preaching about Jesus. This is the message of Christmas: Jesus was born for us to be stead­fast in our faith despite the many forms of resistance and violence, to preach the Good News of the Kingdom and to lead others to Jesus! Jesus, Emmanuel, God is al­ ways with us!

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest. For my yoke is easy; and my burden is light.”

Reflections
“I am gentle and humble of heart.”
Our readings for today re­ mind us that our God is always here with us, ever present and is never far away, especially in times of trouble and despair. This is the reality of Christmas: God with us.
In the Gospel, Jesus exempli­fies this promise and gives an invitation. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus reaffirms what Isaiah says, that we have a caring and tireless God: “I am gentle and lowly of heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my bur­den is light.”
There are many people today who are bombarded with many trials and difficulties. Perhaps, one of us is experiencing so much troubled spirit. Perhaps, your friend, your brother or sis­ter is heavily burdened now. Comfort him with the warmth assurance that God is ever pre­sent to us. Indeed, to whom can we liken our God? The LORD is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Matthew 18:12-14
What do you think of this? If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, won’t he leave the ninety­ nine on the hillside, and go to look for the stray one? And I tell you, when he finally finds it, he is more pleased about it, than about the ninety­nine that did not go astray. It is the same with your Father in heaven. Your Father in heaven doesn’t want even one of these little ones to perish.

Reflections
“Your Father in heaven doesn’t want even one of these little ones to perish.”
God is a God of comfort and of all consolations! This is the Good News that prophet Isaiah pro­claims today. He would come to make straight in the wasteland a highway for the Lord so that who­ever would come to follow him would never get lost. And if one goes astray, it would be easy for him to notice it and take him back to the fold.
This is the fulfillment of today’s Gospel. Jesus speaks the parable of the shepherd who has lost just one sheep out of one hundred. He leaves all the ninety ­nine and goes in search of the stray. And, when he finds it, he brings it back. He was happier over this lost sheep than the ninety­ nine who never wandered away. Indeed, God counts on every one of us. He loves us unconditionally and is not only ready to have us back in the fold but is positively overjoyed about it. Christmas season is an oppor­ tune time for us all to reflect our own way of tending and shep­herding those whoever is entrus­ted to us. Am I fulfilling the mission of a good shepherd, just as Jesus did?
This is the message of Christ­mas: Be a good shepherd and companion to others. Accompany those in need of your presence. Lead them to Jesus. Enjoy the com­pany of Jesus. Amen.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019