Daily Reflection

October 27, 2017 Friday

29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)

Ps 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94
Lord, teach me your statutes.

1^st Reading: Rom 7:18-25a

I know, that what is right, does not abide in me, I mean, in my flesh. I can want to do what is right, but I am unable to do it. In fact, I do not do the good I want, but the evil I hate. Therefore, if I do what I do not want to do, I am not the one striving toward evil, but sin, which is in me.

I discover, then, this reality: though I wish to do what is right, the evil within me asserts itself first. My inmost self, agrees and rejoices with the law of God, but I notice in my body, another law, challenging the law of the spirit, and delivering me, as a slave to the law of sin, written in my members. Alas, for me! Who will free me from this being, which is only death? Let us give thanks to God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

So, with my conscience, I am a servant of the law of God, and with my mortal body, I serve the law of sin.

Gospel: Lk 12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds, ”When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming‘; and so it happens. And when the wind blows from the south, you say, ‘It will be hot‘; and so it is. You superficial people! You understand the signs of the earth and the sky, but you don‘t understand the present times. And why do you not judge for yourselves what is fit? When you go with your accuser before the court, try to settle the case on the way, lest he drag you before the judge, and the judge deliver you to the jailer, and the jailer throw you into prison. I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.”

REFLECTION:

There are people who are experts in various fields, but fail in spiritual aspect for they are unable to see God‘s hand working in their lives. They mistakenly thought that everything they have achieved is just a product of their own efforts. Evidently, they forget about God‘s providence. Thus, many well-educated people become prone to skepticism or unbelief; many popular individuals tend to lead an immoral life; many rich persons are getting blinded by greed; and many talented folks are using their talents in a wrong way. These attitudes are without difference from that of the Pharisees and of the crowd as stated in the gospel.

Let us remember how God‘s hands work in our life today! In everything that we do we must be aware of God‘s presence; in everything that we achieve we should thank God for this blessing; and in every decision that we make we must ask God for His guidance. Let God become part of everything that we have, for truly we can achieve nothing without his merciful love.

As Christians, do we accept Jesus in our lives wholeheartedly? Do we acknowledge the Giver of all that we have? How often do we thank God?

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
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October 26, 2017 Thursday

29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)

Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 & 6
Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

1^st Reading: Rom 6:19-23

You see, that I speak in a very human way, taking into account that you are not fully mature. There was a time, when you let your members be slaves of impurity and dis order, walking in the way of sin; convert them, now, into servants of righteousness, to the point of becoming holy.

When you were slaves of sin, you did not feel under obligation to righteousness, but what were the fruits of those actions, of which you are now ashamed? Such things bring death. Now, however, you have been freed from sin and serve God. You are bearing fruit, and growing in holiness, and the result will be life everlasting. So, on one side is sin: its reward, death; on the other side, is God: He gives us, by grace, life everlasting, in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Gospel: Lk 12:49-53

I have come to bring fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what anguish I feel until it is finished!

Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on, in one house five will be divided: three against two, and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

REFLECTION:

Looking at ”fire” negatively, we could say that it is destructive for it could burn or reduce something into ashes; but positively it could refine and purify something, e.g. gold. While it is true that fire could be damaging, but likewise it could be beneficial.

In our Christian life, the proclamation of the gospel is like a ”fire”. While it is true that it could divide people especially when they rejected or misunderstood its message; but if people will listen to it, accept and allow its true message to penetrate their hearts and entire lives it could unite all.

Jesus said that he has come to bring fire upon the earth, and how he wishes it were already kindled (v.49). This connotes that the nature of his message is to purify and to cause people to distinguish falsehood from the truth. Through this message, our faith undergoes purification. By listening to the Gospel each moment it is proclaimed, our ignorance, doubt and erroneous beliefs will gradually be turned into proper knowledge, certainty and authentic faith. It is not enough that we know and believe something, what is more necessary is that we know and believe in what is right and true. We could be deceived in various ways even by those who claim to be proclaimers of the good news yet interpret them wrongly, i.e. ”false prophets”. Certainly, they would bring ”destructive and discordant fire”. Our faith will be purified only by the ”fire” brought about by authentic proclaimers and interpreters of the gospel message, i.e. authorized by the Church founded by Christ. What they bring about is ”refining and purifying fire”.

Daily Reflection

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

October 25, 2017 Wednesday

29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)

Ps 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8
Our help is in the name of the Lord.

1^st Reading: Rom 6:12-18

Do not allow sin any control over your mortal bodies; do not submit yourselves to its evil inclinations, and do not give your members over to sin, as instruments to do evil. On the contrary, offer yourselves, as persons returned from death to life, and let the members of your body be as holy instruments, at the service of God. Sin will not lord it over you again, for you are not under the law, but under grace.

I ask again: are we to sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? Certainly not. If you have given yourselves up to someone as his slave, you are to obey the one who commands you, aren‘t you? Now, with sin, you go to death, and by accepting faith, you go the right way. Let us give thanks to God, for, after having sin as your master, you have been given to another, that is, to the doctrine of faith, to which you listen willingly. And being free from sin, you began to serve true righteousness.

Gospel: Lk 12:39-48

Pay attention to this: If the master of the house had known at what time the thief would come, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”

Peter said, ”Lord, did you tell this parable only for us, or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, ”Imagine, then, the wise and faithful steward, whom the master sets over his other servants, to give them wheat at the proper time. Fortunate is this servant if his master, on coming home, finds him doing his work. Truly, I say to you, the master will put him in charge of all his property.

But it may be that the steward thinks, ‘My Lord delays in coming,‘ and he begins to abuse the male servants and the servant girls, eating and drinking and getting drunk. Then the master will come on a day he does not expect, and at an hour he doesn‘t know. He will cut him off, and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.

The servant who knew his master‘s will, but did not prepare and do what his master wanted, will be soundly beaten; but the one who does unconsciously what deserves punishment, shall receive fewer blows. Much will be required of the one who has been given much, and more will be asked of the one who has been entrusted with more.

REFLECTION:

This gospel account is directed primarily to the church official that serve as ‘stewards‘ whom the Master sets over his other servants, the members of the community of believers. Some of them are wise and faithful but others take on some of the characteristics of the ‘fool.”

As baptized, we, too, become ‘stewards‘ and we share the responsibility of the officials of the community. Just as they were given obligations by virtue of the vows they made, every baptized individual share in their responsibility to perform their duties as Christians. The moment the ministers took the vows and the moment individuals were baptized they are left with an obligation to take good care of their brethren.

How do we become good stewards of Christ daily? The gospel for today provides us a ”formula”: First, know God‘s will; second, act on it unceasingly–this act is tantamount to constant preparation; and third, be mindful that if we have much today (talents, knowledge, properties or time) much is expected from us, so live our life to the full. If we do these, anytime our Lord comes again we have nothing to fear for we are ”prepared” for it.

Daily Reflection

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

October 24, 2017 Tuesday

29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green/White)
St. Anthony Mary Claret, bishop

Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

1^st Reading: Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21

Therefore, sin entered the world through one man; and through sin, death; and later on, death spread to all humankind, because all sinned. Such has been the fall, but God‘s gift goes far beyond. All died, because of the fault of one man, but how much more does the grace of God spread, when the gift he granted, reaches all, from this unique man, Jesus Christ.

If death reigned through the disobedience of one and only one person, how much more, will there be a reign of life, for those who receive the grace, and the gift of true righteousness, through the one person, Jesus Christ. Just as one transgression brought sentence of death to all, so, too, one man‘s good act has brought justification and light to all; and, as the disobedience of only one, made all sinners, so the obedience of one person, allowed all to be made just and holy.

The law itself, introduced later on, caused sin to increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, and, as sin caused death to reign, so grace will reign, in its own time, and, after making us just, and friends of God, will bring us to eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Gospel: Lk 12:35-38

Be ready, dressed for service, and keep your lamps lit, like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding. As soon as he comes and knocks, they will open the door to him. Happy are those servants whom the master finds wide-awake when he comes. Truly, I tell you, he will put on an apron, and have them sit at table, and he will wait on them. Happy are those servants, if he finds them awake when he comes at midnight or daybreak!

REFLECTION:

In the gospel of Luke, this current parable and other ‘servant‘ parables have an ecclesiological interpretation. There are two important Greek words that the evangelist used: doulos and oikonomos. Both the terms doulos (‘servant,‘ ‘slave‘) and oikonomos (‘steward,‘) refer to the one who renders service to the Christian community. These terms connote that the officials of the community are called to be faithful to their responsibility. As leaders, they must avoid causing problems within the church.

The responsible performance of the obligation to the community is not just meant for the leaders themselves. All Christians are called to be vigilant and be prepared always. If we faithfully do our duties as Christians (as parents, children, parishioners, ministers, etc.) we will receive the promised reward. Jesus assures us by saying, ”Truly, I tell you, he will put on apron, and have them sit at the table, and he will wait on them.” (v.37) ”This role reversal is significant and underscores God‘s absolute gratuity. The servant who is faithful during the time of fulfillment before the parousia will share in the eschatological banquet.” (Karris, 704)

If we have the readiness to serve the Christian community; willingness to contribute for the welfare of the Church; carefulness to avoid causing harm to the church members and officials; we will be like those people who are ”ready, dressed for service and with lamps lit,” waiting for the master‘s return from the wedding.

Daily Reflection

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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