Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

Gospel: Jn 1:29-34
     The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! It is he of whom I said: A man comes after me, who is already ahead of me, for he was before me. I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing to prepare for him, so that he might be revealed in Israel.”
     And John also gave this testimony, “I saw the Spirit coming down on him, like a dove from heaven, and resting on him. I myself did not know him, but God, who sent me to baptize, told me, ‘You will see the Spirit coming down, and resting on the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ Yes, I have seen! And I declare that this is the Chosen One of God!”

Reflections
WE ARE GOD’S CHILDREN
     What is the meaning of being a child of God? Children are supposed to have some likeness with their parents either physically or intellectually or in some subtle mannerisms or ways of speaking or doing things. God is first of all CREATOR. Creativity is therefore a sign of being a child of God. For me one of the greatest expressions of creativity of human beings is a woman giving birth. When a woman gives birth, she is most like God. A mother is the only one who can literally say when she looks at her child in her arms: THIS IS MY BODY, THIS IS MY BLOOD! Of course giving physical birth is not the only creative activity of human beings. We give birth in many ways — to a painting, to music, to inventions, to a story, to any work of art. Every creative act proclaims the greatness of the Creator! When we nurture somebody, even if we did not give physical birth, we create a good person. And that is the other trait of our Father — his INFINITE GOODNESS. And so everytime we do good to others, when we make someone feel loved, appreciated or cherished, we are exhibiting a family trait. WE ARE ACTING LIKE CHILDREN OF 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
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Gospel: Jn 1:19-28
       This was the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” John recognized the truth, and did not deny it. He said, “I am not the Messiah.”
      And they asked him, “Then who are you? Elijah?” He answered, “I am not.” They said, “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Tell us who you are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. How do you see yourself?” And John said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord!”
      Those who had been sent were Pharisees; and they put a further question to John, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?” John answered, “I baptize you with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know; although he comes after me, I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal.”
        This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Reflections
THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS...
        By our baptism, we are called to be prophets. Who are prophets? Are they those who predict the future and announce the coming of doomsday? Simply put — a prophet is one who stands up, who speaks out. That is what the prophets in Scripture did, that is what St. John the Baptist did. A prophet is one who announces the good news and who denounces the bad news.
      Today there are modern day prophets — people who will put their life at stake to stand for the truth, to expose corruption. They are not always understood. They are like the voice crying in the wilderness. People think they are crazy to go against those in power. Or sometimes they are hailed as instant heroes but after sometime forgotten. St. John the Baptist was beheaded. Modern prophets can be beheaded symbolically or in some cases actually killed a few years after their denunciation of corruption of those in power.
       Maybe not all of us are called to be prophets in a big, dramatic way. But in the course of our life, we might be called upon to stand up against an oppressive boss. We might be given the choice to be in solidarity with oppressed and exploited groups of people like farmers fighting for their land, indigenous people fighting for their ancestral domain, victims of violence seeking for justice.

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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Gospel: Lk 2:16-21
      So they came hurriedly, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the feeding trough. On seeing him, they related what they had been told about the child; and all were astonished on hearing the shepherds. As for Mary, she treasured all these words, and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds then returned, giving glory and praise to God for all they had heard and seen, just as the angels had told them. On the eighth day, the circumcision of the baby had to be performed; he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Reflections
SHE TREASURED ALL THESE WORDS AND PONDERED THEM IN HER HEART
     We read this several times in the Bible. It seems to be Mary’s way to ponder things in her heart when she experiences something incomprehensible. How could a young girl comprehend that she, who is a child herself, is about to bear a child in her womb when she had never been with a man? How can she understand that the child she gave birth to in Bethlehem is God himself? How can she fathom the mystery of this CHILD who has to do his FATHER’s business? And how can she accept that her son has to die a criminal’s death? And as to her own mystery, how can she grasp the destiny that awaits her – that all generations will call her blessed?
      In silence and solitude, she pondered all these things in her heart. Did she actually under¬stand? Maybe, not fully. But in the depth of her heart she learned to accept what she could not under¬stand fully. She learned what it is to surrender herself into the arms of the Living God.
      Loving God, we do not always understand the things that happen to us. It is difficult to accept the death of a loved one, the disgrace of failure, the betrayal of a spouse. When we encounter your mysterious ways in our life, help us like Mary to go into the depth of our heart and ponder on them and may we, like Mary, learn to abandon ourselves to your holy will. Amen.

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

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH
Psalter: Proper / (White)
 
Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

1^st Reading: Gen 15:1-6; 21:1-3 (or Sir 3:2-6, 12-14)

After this the word of Yahweh was spoken to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward will be very great!“

Abram said, “My Lord Yahweh, where are your promises? I am still childless and all I have will go to Eliezer of Damascus. You have given me no children, so a slave of mine will be my heir.“

Then the word of Yahweh was spoken to him again, “Eliezer will not be your heir, but a child born of you (your own flesh and blood) will be your heir.“ Then Yahweh brought him outside and said to him, “Look up at the sky and count the stars if you can. Your descendants will be like that.“

Abram believed Yahweh who, because of this, held him to be an upright man.

Yahweh was kind to Sarah as he had said, and fulfilled his promise to her. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time Yahweh had promised. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son that Sarah bore him.

2^nd Reading: Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19 (or Col 3:12-21)

It was by faith, that Abraham, called by God, set out for a country that would be given to him as an inheritance; for he parted without knowing where he was going.

By faith, Sarah, herself, received power to become a mother, in spite of her advanced age; since she believed that, he, who had made the promise, would be faithful. Therefore, from an almost impotent man, were born descendants, as numerous as the stars of heaven, as many as the grains of sand on the seashore.

By faith, Abraham went to offer Isaac, when God tested him. And so, he, who had received the promise of God, offered his only son, although God had told him: Isaac‘s descendants will bear your name. Abraham reasoned, that God is capable even of raising the dead, and he received back his son, which has a figurative meaning.

Gospel: Lk 2:22-40

When the day came for the purification according to the law of Moses, they brought the baby up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to God. And they offered a sacrifice, as ordered in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

There lived in Jerusalem, at this time, a very upright and devout man named Simeon; the Holy Spirit was in him. He looked forward to the time when the Lord would comfort Israel; and he had been assured, by the Holy Spirit, that he would not die before seeing the Messiah of the Lord. So, he was led into the temple by the Holy Spirit at the time the parents brought the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law.

Simeon took the child in his arms, and blessed God, saying, “Now, O Lord, you can dismiss your servant in peace, for you have fulfilled your word and my eyes have seen your salvation, which you display for all the people to see.

Here is the light you will reveal to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.“

His father and mother wondered at what was said about the child. Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Know this: your son is a sign; a sign established for the falling and rising of many in Israel, a sign of contradiction; and a sword will pierce your own soul, so that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.“

There was also a prophetess named Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. After leaving her father‘s home, she had been seven years with her husband; and since then, she had been continually about the temple, serving God, as a widow, night and day, in fasting and prayer.

She was now eighty-four. Coming up at that time, she gave praise to God, and spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.

When the parents had fulfilled all that was required by the law of the Lord, they returned to their town, Nazareth in Galilee. There, the child grew in stature and strength, and was filled with wisdom: the grace of God was upon him.

REFLECTION:

Read: Despite the heavy odds stacked against him, Abram trusted God‘s promises and found peace. Such trust won him God‘s blessings and made him the father of faith. It is such faith that enabled Simeon and Anna to recognize the holy family and the promised Messiah within it.

Reflect: The Holy Family does not seem to be, for untrained eyes, a peaceful family. Ever since the conception of the child, the family has been into all sorts of problems. And now Simeon prophesies that the child is billed to be a sign of contradiction and the mother will have her heart pierced in sorrow. But the heart of the matter is: this is a family that consists of three persons who embrace the will of God–doing God‘s Will is their sole mission. It is such God-centeredness that made the family holy and full of grace.

Pray: Pray for broken families, divorced couples, and orphaned children.

Act: Feed a poor family today.

Daily Reflection

Daily Gospel ® is a product 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

 

DAILY GOSPEL ® 2017
Readings and Reflections
Copyright © 2O16
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