Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

THE WORD

2 Tim 1,1-3.6-12 / Mk 12,18-27

Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and put this question to him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If someone’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers.  The first married a woman and died, leaving no descendants.  So the second married her and died, leaving no descendants, and the third likewise. And the seven left no descendants. Last of all the woman also died. At the resurrection (when they arise) whose wife will she be? For all seven had been married to her.”

Jesus said to them, “Are you not misled because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God? When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven. As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, (the) God of Isaac, and (the) God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are greatly misled.”

IN OTHER WORDS

In the Book of Tobit, the young man,Tobiah, embarks on a journey together with angel Raphael and a dog to the house of Raguel in Ectabana who has a daughter named Sarah. This future bride has remained single because every time she is given in marriage, the night before the wedding, the bridegroom is attacked and killed by a demon called Asmodeus. The angel tells Tobiah not to worry; with a big fish’s liver and heart, the demon will be repelled.

The Sadducees could have referred to this story to strengthen their argument about the absurdity of the resurrection. If you are a widow with seven husbands all dead, who will be your real husband in the life to come? A reductio ad absurdum as it is called in Logic. Eternal life and the

resurrection of the dead are of a different logic, the logic of faith or the knowledge of the power ofGod as Jesus said.

Will there be marriage in heaven? “Till death do us part”—say the bride and bridegroom. At times, they would say that even death will not separate them. Mamahalin hanggang sa buhay na walang hanggan. This is neither to say that celibacy is the rule in heaven and that priests, nuns, and religious today are already practicing it here on earth.

The Gospel reading is not a teaching on marriage even if it is the first day of June. It is about the resurrection. Jesus here teaches that his Father is the God of life and thus death will not have the

final say on his Beloved Son. This text is one among many in Mark’s Gospel that prepares or orients us towards the Paschal Mystery. For the whole gospel is an extended introduction of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus.

• Fr. Randolf Flores, 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

Zeph 3,14-18 or Rm 12,9-16 / Lk 1,39-56

During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariahand greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”  Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

IN OTHER WORDS

Why did Mary make that long journey from Nazareth up north in Galilee to Ain Karim down south in Judaea where old Elizabeth, her kin, lived with her equally old husband Zecchariah? What meaning does the Visitation hold for us?

At the Annunciation, the angel informed Mary that her cousin Elizabeth, though now old, was already in her sixth month of pregnancy, “for nothing is impossible to God.” Yes, nothing is impossible to God, and so Mary, though a Virgin, was going to be pregnant. With this obvious encouragement,  Mary gave her consent: “Be it done to me according to your word.” Clearly, the purpose of Mary’s visit was to be of service to her old cousin, she herself being the much younger and stronger person. She would do the fetching of water, the washing of clothes and the rest of the household chores. The closing verse of the Visitation narrative would point to Mary’s term of service: “Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.” In other words, Mary waited until the birth of Elizabeth’s baby and until she was strong enough to do the household chores herself, and then only she returned home.

The meaning of the Visitation then would be this: Mary leaving her comfort zone and journeying towards Elizabeth to help her in her need. What the Good Samaritan did in the story of Jesus some 30 years later would be reminiscent of Mary’s compassionate deed.

Something wonderful happened when the two mothers-to-be met: at the sound of Mary’s greeting the baby in Elizabeth’s womb stirred for joy! Some form of salutation of the inferior to the superior? Elizabeth herself recognized Mary as above her in dignity, regarding her visit as a distinct honor for her, Mary being now the “mother of my Lord”. Was not that the very rst recognition ever of Mary’s divine motherhood? Elizabeth then praised Mary for believing in God’s word. And Mary praised God the Mighty One for taking notice of her in her lowliness and even desiring her to be his mother so that “from now on will all ages call me blessed”. A lovely sight, this: the humble one exulting in the Lord just like a child does!

Lovely too, this: the scene of the meeting being gently flooded with serene light. The two being as joyful as they are thankful. The Holy Spirit hovering over the whole scene. Yes, the Spirit of unity, of harmony, of peace!

This refraction of heaven, as it were, would be ours too if we open ourselves to the same Spirit of Love and allow Him to make our heart His home!

• Fr. Dong Alpuerto, SVD | USC, Talamban, Cebu 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

2 Pt 1,2-7 / Mk 12,1-12

Jesus began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press, and built a tower.

Then he leased it to tenant farmers and le on a journey. “At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenant to obtain from them some of the produce of the vineyard.

But they seized him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another servant. And that one they beat over the head and treated shamefully. He sent yet another whom they killed. So, too, many others; some they beat, others they killed. He had one other to send, a beloved son. He sent him to them last of all, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’

“But those tenant said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they seized him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What (then) will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come, put the tenant to death, and give the vineyard to others.

“Have you not read this scripture passage: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord had this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?’”

IN OTHER WORDS

This parable can make one easily say of the tenants, “What a bunch of greedy ingrates!” It is difficult to learn and accept the lesson that Jesus Christ, the Word-made- flesh and God-with-us, wants to impart. It takes humility to recognize a favor and say, “Thank you for helping me out.”

Today, I ask, “Has God not given me a vineyard of gifts: intelligence, talents, loving family and friends, associates, even total strangers at times and situations, all bearers of blessings in my life? I give myself now, the opportunity to examine this vineyard and how my all-loving Creator God has carefully “put a fence around it, dug a hole for the winepress and built a watch tower” to protect it.

I remember how my widowed mother, despite her meager means, decided to transfer my sister and me from the public school in our small barrio to the Holy Ghost School run by the MissionaryS isters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSPS) in Tayum, Abra where I eventually received my college diploma. Afterwards, I had big dreams of making it good in the USA or Canada and was ready to fly. Missionary service, I thought, could wait a while, perhaps three years or more. Thankfully, my mother’s friend, a sincere and courageous SSPS sister, took me to task, saying, “You are not going to make God wait!” The rest is history.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for Your power within me enabling me to recognize Your unending grace without which I cannot overcome my selfish desires and weaknesses. Make me constantly aware that You are the Giver and Owner of all that I am. Grant me a thankful and generous heart, ready to serve and to share your gifts with others in love. Amen.

• Fr. Ancille Elveña, SSpS | 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

FIRST READING: Gen 14,18-20

Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of God Most High. He blessed Abram with these words: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

SECOND READING: 1 Cor 11,23-26

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

GOSPEL: Lk 9,11-17

The crowds, meanwhile, learned of this and followed him. He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured.

As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, “Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and fi nd lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.” He said to them,

“Give them some food yourselves.” They replied, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people.” Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of (about) fifty.”

They did so and made them all sit down. Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.

IN OTHER WORDS

While studying for his doctoral degree in economics at the Catholic University of Louvain, Elmer Frisnedi disputed with and battled against peers and, at times, his own professors who passionately subscribed to economic theories espoused by Adam Smith, Robert Malthus, John M. Keynes and Karl Marx. Elmer did not believe that to feed the hungry millions in our planet one has to “bake a bigger pie,” or wait patiently for the bene ts of economic progress to “trickle down” to the poor and suffering masses. Nor did Elmer accept the Marxist call for class struggle then proceed to ridicule

Christ’s teachings as some kind of “pie in the sky.” Systemic remedy or structural, call it evolutionary, improvements will not work if there is no conversion of the heart of man: the source of goodness sand evil.

In the gospel episode where thousands were left hungry after having followed the Lord and listened to him for quite some time, we note that the disciples advocated some kind of practical solutions. Some wanted to send the people away to fend for themselves not realizing that many would likely die of hunger if they would do so. Others wanted to buy, that is if enough money could be raised in so short a time to buy for the thousands waiting for food.

But, there was food given, wonder of wonders, by a young boy who was moved with pity and generosity to share the little that he had: some bread of poor quality and a couple of fish.  But the little that was gladly offered and generously placed in the hands of the Lord did wonders.

After Jesus had blessed the meager food handed over to him, the disciples were able to distribute to and feed the thousands of men women, and children. And, as the gospel says, all were satisfied.

Moreover, there was so much food left over.  God has blessed our world with so many resources. We do not really need to dine sumptuously or drink ne and exquisite drinks. Our needs are basically simple and easy to satisfy. The problem lies in the human tendency to hoard and the reluctance to share. Added to this problem is our forgetfulness that all that we have, even all that we are, are from God. His generosity is without end. Can we do the same or be generous likewise?

My good friend, Elmer Frisnedi, who is now working for the government jousts daily with other economists and courageously proclaim in his own manner that there is amazing wisdom in God’s way.

• Fr. Florencio Lagura, SVD | U.S.A.

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