Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

18TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 1 / (Green/Red/White)
St. Sixtus II, pope & martyr,
& Companions, martyrs / St. Cajetan, priest

Ps 81:12-13, 14-15, 16-17
Sing with joy to God our help.

1^st Reading: Num 11:4b-15

Now the rabble that was among them had greedy desires and even the Israelites wept and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish we ate without cost in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions and garlic. Now our appetite is gone; there’s nothing to look at, nothing but manna.”

Now the manna was like coriander seed and had the appearance of bedellium. The people went about gathering it up and then ground it between millstones or pounded it in a mortar. They boiled it in a pot and made cakes with it which tasted like cakes made with oil. As soon as dew fell at night in the camp, the manna came with it. Moses heard the people crying, family by family at the entrance to their tent and Yahweh became very angry. This displeased Moses. Then Moses said to Yahweh, “Why have you treated your servant so badly? Is it because you do not love me that you burdened me with this people? Did I conceive all these people and did I give them birth? And now you want me to carry them in my bosom as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their fathers? Where would I get meat for all these people, when they cry to me saying: ‘Give us meat that we may eat?’ I cannot, myself alone, carry all these people; the burden is too heavy for me. Kill me rather than treat me like this, I beg of you, if you look kindly on me, and let me not see your anger.”

Gospel: Mt 14:13-21

When Jesus hear of it, he set out by boat for a secluded place, to be alone. But the people heard of it, and they followed him on foot from their towns. When Jesus went ashore, he saw the crowd gathered there, and he had compassion on them. And he healed their sick. Late in the afternoon, his disciples came to him and said, “We are in a lonely place and it is now late. You should send these people away, so that they can go to the villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” But Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fishes.” Jesus said to them, “Bring them here to me.” Then he made everyone sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fishes, raised his eyes to heaven, pronounced the blessing, broke the loaves, and handed them to the disciples to distribute to the people. And they all ate, and everyone had enough; then the disciples gathered up the leftovers, filling twelve baskets. About five thousand men had eaten there, besides women and children.

REFLECTION:

“He had compassion on them.” It was compassion (mercy) that moved Jesus to forego his own needs so that he can teach the people, feed them and heal their infirmities. He desired that the disciples have the same attitude when he commanded them, “you give them something to eat.” He did not accept their practical solution to simply send the people away and have them look for their own food. A compassionate person would not run away from responsibility or getting personally involved in looking for solutions to problems.

One alibi that people come up with to avoid getting personally involved in helping others is that they hardly have enough. They rationalize their unwillingness to help by saying it is not their fault that some people are starving. Jesus does not accept this line of reasoning. With the miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fishes he taught the disciples that “little becomes much when you generously share and joyfully place them in the Master’s hands.”

The feeding of the more than five thousand people is an image of the kingdom of God. Everyone is called to partake of the banquet and it is for free. Everyone is called to share whatever little he or she has, place it in the hands of Jesus. He in turn will bless what is shared and will see to it that everybody’s needs are met. And there will still be plenty of leftovers.

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

TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD
Psalter: Proper / (White)

Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 9
The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.

1^st Reading: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14

I looked and saw the following: Some thrones were set in place and One of Great Age took his seat. His robe was white, as snow, his hair, white as washed wool. His throne was flames of fire with wheels of blazing fire. A river of fire sprang forth and flowed before him. Thousands upon thousands served him and a countless multitude stood before him.

Those in the tribunal took their seats and opened the book.

I continued watching the nocturnal vision:

One like a son of man came on the clouds of heaven. He faced the One of Great Age and was brought into his presence.

Dominion, honor and kingship were given him, and all the peoples and nations of every language served him. His dominion is eternal and shall never pass away; his kingdom will never be destroyed.

2^nd Reading: 2 Pt 1:16-19

Indeed, what we taught you about the power, and the return of Christ Jesus our Lord, was not drawn from myths or formulated theories. We, ourselves, were eyewitnesses of is majesty, when he received glory and honor from God, the Father, when, from the magnificent glory, this most extraordinary word came upon him: “This is my beloved Son, this is my Chosen One.” We, ourselves, heard this voice from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain.

Gospel: Mt 17:1-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James, and his brother John, and led them up a high mountain, where they were alone. Jesus’ appearance was changed before them: his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as snow. Then suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus.

Peter spoke up and said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Peter was still speaking, when a bright cloud covered them with its shadow; and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, my Chosen One. Listen to him.“

On hearing the voice, the disciples fell to the ground, full of fear. But Jesus came, touched them, and said, “Stand up, do not be afraid!” When they raised their eyes, they no longer saw anyone except Jesus. And as they came down the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man be raised from the dead.

REFLECTION:

Read: On this feast of Transfiguration, we are presented with Daniel’s vision of the grandeur of God and the apostles’ vision of the glory of Christ. In his letter, Peter recalls the experience and attests to its authenticity.

Reflect: God is mysterium tremendum, a tremendous mystery that evokes holy fear in those who glimpse it. Isaiah (6:1-5) experienced this and was stunned. But Peter and his friends experienced tremendous joy and love at the sight of transfigured Christ. In the incarnate Christ, the fear-evoking tremendous mystery becomes deeply lovable and approachable. Let us hold both dimensions of God’s mystery and not lose either of them–the mystery that evokes holy fear and holy love.

Pray: Pray for a share in Christ’s transfiguration.

Act: Transfigure a human life today by feeding a hungry child or forgiving an enemy.

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

17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 4 / (White)
The Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major / Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary

Ps 67:2-3, 5, 7-8
O God, let all the nations praise you!

1^st Reading: Lev 25:1, 8-17

Yahweh spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai:

When seven Sabbaths of years have passed, that is, seven times seven years, there shall be the time of the seven weeks of years, that is forty-nine years. Then on the tenth day of the seventh month sound the trumpet loudly. On this Day of Atonement sound the trumpet all through the land. Keep holy the fiftieth year and proclaim freedom for all the inhabitants of the land. It shall be a jubilation year for you when each one shall recover his property and go back to his family. In this fiftieth year, your year of Jubilee, you shall neither sow nor reap the aftergrowth, nor gather the grapes from the uncultivated vines. This Jubilee year shall be holy for you, and you shall eat what the field yields of itself without cultivation.

In this year of Jubilee each of you shall recover his own property. When you sell something to your neighbor or buy something from him, do not wrong one another. According to the number of years after the Jubilee, you shall buy it from your neighbor and according to the number of years left for harvesting crops he shall sell to you. When the years are many the price shall be greater and when the years are few the price shall be less, for it is the number of crops that he is selling to you. So you shall not wrong one another but you shall fear your God, for I am Yahweh, your God.

Gospel: Mt 14:1-12

At that time, the reports about Jesus reached king Herod. And he said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. John has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in John.”

Herod had, in fact, ordered that John be arrested, bound in chains and put in prison, because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John had said to Herod, “It is not right for you to have her as your wife.” Herod wanted to kill him but he did not dare, because he feared the people, who regarded John as a prophet.

On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced among the guests; she so delighted Herod that he promised under oath to give her anything she asked for. The girl, following the advice of her mother, said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist, here, on a dish.”

The king was very displeased, but because he had made his promise under oath, in the presence of his guests, he ordered it to be given to her. So he had John beheaded in prison, and his head brought on a dish and given to the girl. The girl then took it to her mother.

Then John’s disciples came, took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

REFLECTION:

The evangelist Matthew recalls the story of John the Baptist’s execution under Herod after Jesus was rejected by his town mates. He seems to suggest that there is a similar fate that awaits Jesus. He too will suffer the death of an innocent. Rejection and suffering, deserved or undeserved, will always be part of the fate of the Church, the Body of Christ. It is best to look at them against the background of Jesus’ own experience and those of the prophets and martyrs. Our own crucifixion as Church and the proper attitude that must accompany it can become powerful tools of witnessing to the Crucified Lord.

Making sense of meaningless suffering and death especially that of innocent victims appears to be quite impossible. We think of the victims of genocide, suicide bombings and abortion. Their death is, in a way, similar to the death of John the Baptist and the crucifixion of Jesus. Somebody suggested that the best we can do is recall that it was because of such insanity that Jesus came into the world. He came precisely to defeat evil by his own suffering, death and resurrection. Our mission as his disciples is to continue his work until the end of time when He will bring everything into victorious conclusion.

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

17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 4 / (White)
St. John Mary Vianney, priest

Ps 81:3-4, 5-6, 10-11ab
Sing with joy to God our help.

1^st Reading: Lev 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37

Yahweh spoke to Moses, Then there are the appointed feasts of Yahweh at the times fixed for them, when you are to proclaim holy assemblies. At twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month is Yahweh’s Passover. And on the fifteenth day of this month it is Yahweh’s feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days you shall eat bread without leaven. On the first day there will be a sacred assembly and no work of a worker shall be done. For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to Yahweh and on the seventh day you shall hold a sacred assembly and do no work of a worker.” Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land that I will give you and you reap its harvest, you will bring to the priest a sheaf, the first fruits of your harvest and he shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh for you to be accepted; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.

From the day after the Sabbath, on which you bring the sheaf of offering, you are to count seven full weeks. The day after the seventh Sabbath will be the fiftieth day and then you are to offer Yahweh a new offering. “The tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. You are to hold a sacred assembly. You must fast, and you must offer a burnt offering to Yahweh.

“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of Tents for Yahweh, lasting seven days. The first day you shall hold an assembly; you must do no work of a worker. For seven days you must offer a burnt offering to Yahweh. On the eighth day you are to hold a sacred assembly and you must offer a burnt offering to Yahweh. It is a day of solemn assembly in which you shall do no work of a worker. These are the appointed feasts of Yahweh in which you are to proclaim holy assemblies for the purpose of offering offerings by fire, burnt offerings, grain offerings and drink offerings to Yahweh, according to the ritual of each day.

Gospel: Mt 13:54-58

He went to his hometown and taught the people in their synagogue. They were amazed and said, “Where did he get this wisdom and these special powers? Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t Mary his mother and aren’t James, Joseph, Simon and Judas his brothers? Aren’t all his sisters living here? Where did he get all these things?” And so they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them, “The only place where prophets are not welcome is his hometown and in his own family.” And he did not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

REFLECTION:

Jesus’ town-mates thought they knew Jesus and his background too well. This presumption impeded them from listening and accepting his message. Jesus found them incredulous although they were amazed by this wisdom and special powers. They could not see the presence of the Spirit of God in His words and deeds. Their biases and prejudices prevented them from recognizing the presence of God in their midst.

Whether we admit it or not, we always tend to listen with varying degrees of openness. A lot of times our knowledge of the preacher or speaker can either be a help or an obstacle to listening with openness and sincerity. On the part of the audience, we would do well to remember that the Lord can make use of the most unworthy of instruments to bring his message to his people. The real power behind the words of a homilist or a preacher is the Holy Spirit. On the part of the preacher, for him to be credible, it is essential that “he walks the talk;” that “he believes what he reads, teaches what he believes, and puts into practices what he teaches.”

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