Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

THE WORD

Gal 3,7-14 / Lk 11,15-26 (or Lk 1,26-38)

Some of [the crowd] said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.

And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils.

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. “When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’  But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put it in order.  Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that person is worse than the first.”

IN OTHER WORDS

One piece of advice that we usually receive after recovering from illness is that we should take the necessary care and precaution so that the illness may not return with much more seriousness than previously experienced. This advice refers to the occurrence of a relapse (“binat” in Tagalog).  Certainly proven by our experiences, in the occurrence of a relapse, the illness comes back with a vengeance, so to speak.

The same is true in our spiritual life. Like any form of illness, sin and evil do not constitute our human nature. They infect us when we are exposed to them, willingly or unwillingly. Jesus, our healer, came to drive them out through the sacrament of reconciliation, after which we experience the reign/kingdom of God in our lives. However, sin and evil are persistent realities. Defeated though they may be by the cross of Jesus, they will not give up until the day of judgment. Jesus issues this reminder: for as long as the power of God’s reign remains in us, sin and evil have no power over us. Conversely, when we lose such power due to carelessness or complacency, we end up much worse sinners.

The gospel inspires every believer who turned away from sin and evil to fashion a life of perseverance through the vigilance of righteousness. Living the teachings of Jesus Christ daily with greater zeal and devotion is tantamount to strengthening the power of the reign of God in our lives.  To loosen our guard is to invite sin and evil to return and cause havoc in our lives.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, reign over me. Guide and protect me always from all evils today, everyday and always. Amen.

• Fr. Fred Saniel, SVD | DWST, Tagaytay City

THE WORD

Gal 3,1-5 / Lk 11,5-13

Jesus said to [his disciples], “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.

And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?

IN OTHER WORDS

There is a curious sentence in this Gospel, “…How much more will the Father…give the Holy Spirit…?” The following is my personal reflection

    1. When a person “pesters” God for something, without knowing it, that person communicate and exposes himself to God’s presence.
    2. Exposing oneself to God, one is granted a portion of his Spirit.
    3. Once the Spirit is shared to the one who prays, understanding, realization and wisdom
        follow. In prayer the person is led to patience and resignation to God’s disposition.
    4. The person who wearies God with prayers gradually experiences peace, contentment
           and joy, as he graciously awaits God’s response.

Many times we pray without understanding the foreign words we use. Words like “trespasses”, “hallowed”, “purchased the reward of eternal life” “consubstantial”, “paschal mysteries”, “restored glory of adoption,” etc. bring into our minds hardly any meaning and yet, in praying them, we put ourselves in God’s presence, and the rest will be taken care of by God who longs for our presence.

• Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD | DWST, Tagaytay 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

Gal 2,1-2.7-14 / Lk 11,1-4

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”

And Jesus said to them, “When you pray say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us. And do not subject us to the test.’”

IN OTHER WORDS IN OTHER WORDS

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, and complying he gave them a prayer which we now commonly call the “Our Father” or the “Lord’s Prayer.”

The Our Father is not an ordinary prayer. It is the prayer that our Lord Jesus Christ Himself taught His disciples and gave to us who believe in Him! In this prayer, Jesus pictures the Father as holy; a king for He has a kingdom; a listener to man’s pleading and a giver; merciful and forgiving; and a deliverer from evil.

We have the prayer. Let us pray it often and properly, not just “recite” it. We can try to pray it slowly and wholeheartedly. In some cases, it helps if we sing the prayer. At home, sometime ago, my mother sang very beautifully and wholeheartedly the “Amahan Namo” accompanied by my father on the guitar. It almost moved me to tears. To pray it in our own language can also help us feel the beauty of the prayer. Praying or singing it very well can move ours and other people’s hearts.

Praying it properly, we attune ourselves to Jesus’ intention and way of praying making our prayer in perfect harmony with God’s will. And such can also move the heart of God, our loving Father. Jesus tells us to persevere in praying and to trust that the Father will listen to our prayers. If we sinful people know how to give good gifts to our loved ones, how much more does the loving Father in heaven do? And more than that, as the gospel says, He will even send us the Holy Spirit!

• Fr. Ernesto Salvar, SVD | Davao 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

Gal 1,13-24 / Lk 10,38-42

As [Jesus and his disciples] continued their journey [Jesus] entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?

Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

IN OTHER WORDS

Filipino hospitality suggests that we offer our guests the best, especially food and accommodation. In today’s Gospel, Martha does the same thing in serving the Lord, making him feel comfortable and provided for everything He needs. However, for Jesus Martha’s company is far more important than her serving Him. Jesus wants to be with His friends to share with them the joy of the gospel. Today, we are all busy with our work to ensure our future and our family. Like Martha we are burdened with many things in life. Hence, our gospel is urging us to give time and space for God even just for a moment amidst our busy schedules. Jesus is longing to share His company with us and like Mary we should pause and listen to His Words – our source of strength and life. We should end the day with the thought: “I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.”

St. Francis of Assisi felt the presence of Christ in his solitude and allowed Jesus to accompany him. That experience changed his life forever. Life is easier if we allow the Lord to be part of our everyday struggle and aspirations. Listening to the Lord gives us peace and consolation. Being with the Lord, like Mary does, is not a sign of laziness, complacency or escape but a way of allowing our lives to be continually inspired by His Words so we can continue moving on despite the burden of work. Let us all be reminded by Jesus’ words: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28). Yes, we find rest in the Lord and being with Him is a gift that we should cherish and treasure.

• Fr. Patricio R. delos Reyes Jr, 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