Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

THE WORD

Eph 6,10-20 / Lk 13,31-35

At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned.

(But) I tell you, you will not see me until (the time comes when) you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

IN OTHER WORDS

Among the most memorable if not comic experiences I had when I was new in Hong Kong were the various occasions I’d been thought of as an elevator man, a driver, a domestic helper, a gardener.  Most amusingly, such comments usually came from fellow Filipinos.

In today’s Gospel, one point that strikes me is that the Pharisees warn Jesus about Herod’s murderous plan. We usually recognize Pharisees, along with the scribes, as always on the look out to destroy the Lord. But here they are warning Jesus, seemingly showing genuine concern. This reminds us against typecasting, categorizing, or generalizing people, leading us to embarrassment as in my experience in Hong Kong. Or worse, it makes us judgmental, disrespectful and uncharitable, robbing us of the joy of getting to know others who may turn out to be very good friends. Let us not forget Jesus had friends even among the Pharisees.

Another lesson we can draw from today’s Gospel is how Jesus, in spite of the ominous news from friends, decides to stay put, undeterred from completing the mission His Father sent Him to do. Working for and with many migrant workers, I have always been impressed with the sacrifices they brave, all because of their love for their families. Ever confronted with this reality, I cannot help but think: if we learn to live more by the principle of faith and love for our heavenly Father, then we too can be “bagong bayani” (new heroes) for our faith. Here is a call for prayers and support for our migrant workers; for they are abroad working for the 3-F’s – nances, family and faith.

• Fr. Midas Tambot | Hongkong

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

	Production : Fr. Carlos Maria de Guzman, Jr., SVD and Staff of Logos Publications
	Cover Design : Malou E. Domingo
	Liturgical Calendar : Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD
	Production Consultant : Fr. Gerardo del Pinado, SVD
	Scriptural Texts : New American Bible and Daily Roman Missal
	Cover artwork based on photos by Fr. Bar Fabella, SVD
	Published by : Logos Publications, Inc. 1916 Oroquieta St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
	Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	Telephone : +63 2 711 1323
	Fax : +63 2 732 273
	Copyright © 2015 Society of the Divine Word

 

THE WORD

Eph 6,1-9 / Lk 13,22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where (you) are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

IN OTHER WORDS

The same message in two different gospels. I also received almost the same gospel reflection from The Word in Other Words last year. It was August 19 and it was taken from Matthew 20:1-16, so when I read today’s gospel, I was a bit shocked and reflected, what is the Lord telling me? “The first will be the last, and the last will be first.” How mysterious indeed!

The call to strive for the kingdom of God is a call to enter the narrow gate. Doing so is a difficult process. It entails lots of pain and many sacrifices to pass through to the other side. When I was young, I was told to enter the narrow opening, my head must fit first and my body can follow, but now I realize that this is not the case. Why? Because I have grown a big belly! So don’t eat too much!

But the point is, do we really know which way to go? Most of us easily enter the doors of life without even considering what is out there, without reflecting on the choices we make. In the end, we feel regretful as if God was not present in the decisions we made. Let us open our eyes and look outside; there is poverty, misery, and suffering. But Jesus is inspiring us today to be disciples on the road, and to face these realities of life.

• Sem. Mark Daniel M. Nicasio | CKMS, Quezon City

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

	Production : Fr. Carlos Maria de Guzman, Jr., SVD and Staff of Logos Publications
	Cover Design : Malou E. Domingo
	Liturgical Calendar : Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD
	Production Consultant : Fr. Gerardo del Pinado, SVD
	Scriptural Texts : New American Bible and Daily Roman Missal
	Cover artwork based on photos by Fr. Bar Fabella, SVD
	Published by : Logos Publications, Inc. 1916 Oroquieta St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
	Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	Telephone : +63 2 711 1323
	Fax : +63 2 732 273
	Copyright © 2015 Society of the Divine Word

 

THE WORD

Eph 5,21-33 / Lk 13,18-21

Jesus said, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a person took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and ‘the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.’”

Again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed (in) with three measures of wheat our until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

IN OTHER WORDS

People have the tendency sometimes to notice and give importance to things that are big while deeming small things as insignificant. There seem to be a belief that bigger is better.  In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses small things to illustrate the Kingdom of God: the tiny mustard seed and a small quantity of yeast. However, their insignificant size is contrasted with their astonishing expansion and growth. The former grows into a large plant attracting birds to make lodging in its branches. And the latter leavens a large amount of flour.

The mustard seed illustrates that God’s Kingdom will grow into a vast empire in which all kinds of people and nations will come together and nd shelter in God. This is typified by the birds taking shelter beneath its branches. In the case of the yeast, the leaven is small but brings a change to the whole character of the dough. This shows that the Kingdom starts from the smallest beginnings.

There was just a small band of disciples, dedicating their lives to follow the Lord, who eventually proclaimed such Kingdom bringing its growth throughout the world.  We, perhaps, are among the professing Christians who are already enjoying the presence of the

Kingdom of God in our midst. However, such Kingdom for some may just remain a static thing that needs to be set in motion. We are therefore being called to unleash its tremendous power: to commit ourselves to planting the mustard seed and to be the leaven of the Kingdom wherever we are.

We need not to think of big ways in doing this. Our little ways may do as long as they are done with faithfulness. Mother Teresa of Calcutta would say, “Little things are indeed little, but to be faithful in little things is a great thing.”

• Fr. Dennis Testado, SVD | Liceo del Verbo Divino, Tacloban City

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

	Production : Fr. Carlos Maria de Guzman, Jr., SVD and Staff of Logos Publications
	Cover Design : Malou E. Domingo
	Liturgical Calendar : Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD
	Production Consultant : Fr. Gerardo del Pinado, SVD
	Scriptural Texts : New American Bible and Daily Roman Missal
	Cover artwork based on photos by Fr. Bar Fabella, SVD
	Published by : Logos Publications, Inc. 1916 Oroquieta St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
	Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	Telephone : +63 2 711 1323
	Fax : +63 2 732 273
	Copyright © 2015 Society of the Divine Word

 

THE WORD

Eph 4,32-5,8 / Lk 13,10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.

When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and gloried God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, “There are six days when work should be done.

Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.” The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?” When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

IN OTHER WORDS

“Hypocrites!” A strong word uttered by Jesus to the leader of the synagogue. Similarly, Jesus is telling us who don’t practice what we preach, or who make promises but don’t fulfill them, “You hypocrites, shame on you!”

Our Gospel for today invites all of us to walk our talk. Jesus said, “Let your ‘Yes be a yes ‘ and your ‘No, a no’; anything beyond these is of evil” (Mt. 5: 37). That means we must only say it if we really mean it, and a only when we really want to do it. This is an invitation to be true to oneself. As a soft drink advertisement runs, “Magkapatotoo ka brother [sister]!” Just be honest to yourself.  Honesty replaces hypocrisy.

• Fr. Ferdinand Alfante, SVD | CTManila

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

	Production : Fr. Carlos Maria de Guzman, Jr., SVD and Staff of Logos Publications
	Cover Design : Malou E. Domingo
	Liturgical Calendar : Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD
	Production Consultant : Fr. Gerardo del Pinado, SVD
	Scriptural Texts : New American Bible and Daily Roman Missal
	Cover artwork based on photos by Fr. Bar Fabella, SVD
	Published by : Logos Publications, Inc. 1916 Oroquieta St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
	Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
	Telephone : +63 2 711 1323
	Fax : +63 2 732 273
	Copyright © 2015 Society of the Divine Word