Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

THE WORD

Is 38,1-6.21-22.7-8 / Mt 12,1-8

At that time Jesus was going through a eld of grain on the sabbath.  His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” He said to them,

“Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, ‘I desire mercy, not sacri ce,’ you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

IN OTHER WORDS

In today’s gospel, the disciples of Jesus were accused of breaking the law of the sabbath. Because of their hunger, they were forced to pick the heads of grain and eat them while walking. Jesus defended his disciples against the Pharisees; “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry,…”

The gospel today challenges us to observe the highest law, the law of love. Jesus summarized the ten commandments into two: love God and love your neighbor. Because love is the fulfillmentof the law, it is not observed without the practice of love and compassion, especially to the poor and the needy.

The law is made to guide us, to take care of the welfare of others, to protect others. The Pharisees were protecting the law but failed to protect and provide the welfare of the needy.

The more we observe the law, the more we should be loving and compassionate. That is why Jesus said: “I desire mercy not sacrifice.”  Our sacrifices, prayers to God will be void if there is no love and compassion in our hearts. I remember one participant in a recollection telling me; “Father it is easy to attend mass but to forgive and be compassionate is difficult.”

Observance of the law of God should inspire us to be more loving because the real spirit of the law is to give life, to uplift life, not to destroy life. Be a life-giver by ful lling the law of love.

• Fr. Jay Francis Flandez, SVD | 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

Is 26,7-9.12.16-19 / Mt 11,28-30

Jesus off ers an invitation: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will nd rest for your selves.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

IN OTHER WORDS

 “You are cordially invited!” We usually see this in invitation cards. The celebrant is gladly honored to invite the guests to his/her special occasion. Similarly, our Lord Jesus, in our Gospel, invites us to be with Him: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20b).

Jesus has two invitations for us today:

1. “Come to me.” M. Scott Peck conveys to the world that life is difficult. Harold Kushner wrote a book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Our pains, sorrows, sufferings, frustrations and failures are just part of our experiences in our pilgrimage on earth. Jesus is inviting us: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” In ‘Footprints in the Sand’ is the famous conversation between God and man:”My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

2. “Learn from me.” Life is a constant learning process where Jesus is our model of the greatest teacher. He talked about life but also walked His talk:“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15: 13). He practiced what He preached by offering His life on the cross for us. In his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, Dr. Victor Frankl shared his ordeal in theconcentration camp and how he overcame his sufferings. If we see the meaning of our life, wecan overcome all difficulties in it. Knowing the meaning of our life, Jesus, the greatest teacher, is inviting us: “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.”

May we heed His invitation. “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart” (Heb. 3: 15).

• Fr. Ferdinand Alfante, SVD | CT, Manila

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

Is 10,5-7.13-16 / Mt 11,25-27

At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

IN OTHER WORDS

I’m amazed at the way Jesus addresses His Father. “I give you praise Father, Lord of heaven and earth.” Yes, I can feel that deep reverence oozing from His heart, from a loving Son so full of dignity and confidence knowing a Father so well. That grateful praise of a Son, acknowledging the truth of His Father’s Lordship over heaven and earth, is truly expressive of His intimacy with His Father. “Ang Papa ko, ang galing niya! Gumagawa siya ng silya, mesa, bahay, at aluminum mugs!” ( My Papa, he’s great! He makes chairs, tables, houses, and aluminum mugs!”) I remember proudly and happily telling my little playmates this in primary school. This joy and confidence in my Papa’s skills deepened my knowledge of who Papa was, as I observed him chisel, hammer, or shave his work of art with calmness and accuracy, and still had time for story telling at home at the day’s end. I can picture myself hanging around his neck, after quietly admiring how he made his day. Somehow I can relate with Jesus’ praise-filled depths.

Jesus makes it possible for us to experience the great and intense love of His very own Father, opening our life to a deep and personal knowledge of a Loving Papa-God; a Child–Father connection filled with love, simplicity, trust, humility, and dependence. This core connection allows us to discover more sacred realizations hidden from the unloving, untrusting, non-simple and proud; for only the humble and simple of heart can receive the wisdom of God to be able to understand His ways of love each day that comes.

May we open ourselves to the Great Spirit who will help us strengthen that core connection we have with our Papa-God.

• Sr. Tessa D. Artita, SSpS | Tarlac 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

Is 7,1-9 / Mt 11,20-24

Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. “Woe to you, Chorazin!

Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum: ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

IN OTHER WORDS  

‘BLESSED’, said Jesus in his opening speech on the Mount. His audience was taken aback when he declared blessed (repeated seven times) those considered unfortunate: the poor, the mourning, the hungry and the persecuted. Blessedness therefore can be attained in any state of life. Jesus’ goal is for everyone who follows him to live a blessed life.

WOE (repeated seven times) is the opposite of BLESSED. Jesus condemned the religious leaders saying, “Woe to you” because of their hypocrisy. In today’s Gospel, Jesus said “Woe to you” to

Chorazin and Bethsaida - Jewish cities situated at the northern end of Genesareth Lake. Also condemned was Capernaum, the city where Jesus grew up. In these places, Jesus preached the Kingdom accompanied by his “mighty deeds,” his miracles. Unfortunately, despite their privilege, they neither changed their lives nor repented from their wrongdoings.

God is doing wonders in our lives every day. Are we aware of all his blessings? Are they helping us to change our lives? At the Final Judgment, Jesus will gather all nations and separate people from one another. On his right will be “those blessed by the Father” on his left “those who are cursed into the eternal re”. On which side will we be? Metanoia is not only a change of heart but a change of attentiveness, especially for others.

• Fr. Xene Sanchez, SVD | Congo, Africa

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