Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

THE WORD

Jon 1: 1–2:2.11 / Lk 10: 25–37

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

IN OTHER WORDS

As a Jew, the scholar of the law who approached Jesus definitely has a deep sense of communal love, concern for the poor and generosity, yet he has fallen short in terms of love because of his strong sense of nationalism and legalism. This is obvious when he asked: “And who is my neighbor?” To help him with his dilemma, Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan in the context of the command to love. Going beyond the limitations of the Law, he extended the “narrow” understanding of neighbor. He invited the scholar and his other listeners to go beyond the Judaistic meaning of love, extending it even to include the enemies, especially the despised Samaritans. Neighbor here is no longer defined by geography or proximity but by needs, as exemplified by the Good Samaritan who, unlike the priest and the Levite, overcame the barriers and showed compassion to the man who fell victim to the robbers. Then, when Jesus asked the scholar which of three, in his opinion, was a neighbor to the robbers’ victim, the scholar answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” “Go and do likewise” was Jesus’ reply.

As a Divine Word Missionary, my present advocacy is to reach out to the abandoned old people and street children of Balay Samaritano and the Community Scout in Cebu. I believe these are, so to say, the “boys and girls, men and women who fell victim to robbers” today.

BE A GOOD SAMARITAN AND YOU WILL LIVE FOR ETERNITY!

• Jerome Cayetano, SVD (USC, Cebu City)

The Word in other words 2015

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 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 © 2012 Society of the Divine Word

 

THE WORD

FIRST READING Gn 2: 18–24

The LORD God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suited to him.” So the LORD God formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each living creature was then its name. The man gave names to all the tame animals, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be a helper suited to the man. So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The LORD God then built the rib that he had taken from the man into a woman. When he brought her to the man, the man said: “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man this one has been taken.”

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.

SECOND READING Heb 2:9–11

But we do see Jesus “crowned with glory and honor” because he suffered death, he who “for a little while” was made “lower than the angels,” that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.

He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers.”

GOSPEL READING Mk 10: 2–16

The Pharisees approached and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him. He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?” They replied, “Moses permitted him to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.” But Jesus told them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”

In the house the disciples again questioned him about this. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

People were bringing little children to him, for him to touch them. The disciples turned them away, but when Jesus saw this he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ Then he put his arms round them, laid his hands on them and gave them his blessing.

IN OTHER WORDS

It is not uncommon that young men and women meet and hold their rendezvous inside a church, for it is a quiet place where they can talk and share themselves more intimately to each other.

When I was a young priest it irritated me to see one or two couples staying in the church talking to each other without end. I would approach them from behind and gently tell them to find another place or perhaps go to Luneta if they really wanted to chat.

Later it slowly dawned on me that the whole theology of marriage revolves around God’s love to his people. And a favorite picture God used to describe his love was that of the love between man and woman. This is affirmed in the Preface used in marriage: “The love of man and woman…becomes the mirror of your everlasting love.”

It follows that since God’s love for us is without end, marriage should not be allowed to end in divorce. For this would be suggestive of a love that is temporary which is not God’s love.

Married couples participate in the work of salvation by being faithful to each other. Here lies their holiness: when their relationship truly “bears the imprint of God’s divine love.” (Preface)

• Atilano Corcuera, SVD (DWST, Tagaytay City)

The Word in other words 2015

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 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 © 2012 Society of the Divine Word

 

THE WORD

Bar 4: 5–12.27–29 / Lk 10: 17–24

The seventy (-two) returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

At that very moment he rejoiced (in) the holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, 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 who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

IN OTHER WORDS

“Ding Jinghao was here.” A graffiti in Chinese written on a 3,500 year-old Luxor wall in Egypt defaced an historical monument. Much later a fellow Chinese tourist discovered the graffiti, took a picture and posted it on the Internet to shame the Chinese teenager who defaced the historic wall. Los Angeles Times (May 28, 2013) wrote that the Chinese are very fond of writing their names on any surface even in historic places like Luxor. There are many Ding Jinghaos in the world who are fond of making graffiti. It’s an impulse that says, “I want to be remembered. I want to leave a trace.”

In today’s gospel episode we see Jesus rejoicing. The rejoicing of his apostles who reported to Jesus that “even demons are subject to us because of your name” occasioned his joy. Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit thanking and praising the Father for revealing these things to the childlike. He was very happy for his disciples but doubly happy and grateful that the Father has their names written in heaven. To have one’s name written in heaven is to be close to God, to share the intimacy between Jesus and the Father. This is what is meant to be blessed. Having this intimacy with the Father enables us to see and hear what the rest of humankind only could aspire for.

When our names are written in heaven, we live on; our names are written for eternity. Our power to cast out evil spirits pales in comparison to the privilege of sharing heaven with God. It is not we who write our names but the Father. He has even engraved us on the palm of his hands, so he does not forget us.

• Melchor Bernal, SVD (CKMS, QC)

The Word in other words 2015

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 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 © 2012 Society of the Divine Word

 

THE WORD

Bar 1: 15–22 / Lk 10: 13–16

Jesus said, “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, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

IN OTHER WORDS

Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you Bethsaida!

In this Scripture text, St. Luke presents the troublesome event of Jesus rebuking the people for not recognizing him, not accepting him and not listening to his message. He makes it quite clear to them that by no means can they be exalted in heaven if they do not repent and turn back to God.

This must have been a very frightening and discouraging experience for Jesus’ missionaries, his disciples, as they were preparing for their first mission journey. What they witnessed there was the people’s radical and willful rejection of Jesus and his authority. The disciples knew their Master to be “slow to anger and rich in compassion and kindness.” And Peter might have remembered that Jesus had earlier demanded of him to forgive seventy times seven times. Was this new experience of an enraged Jesus not contrary to the Master’s own teaching? But just like the disciples who needed to discern in order to understand the words and actions of the Lord, we also need a discerning heart to repent for our sins, accept our ever-new personal invitation and call, and turn back to God, who unconditionally loves us and keeps on communing with us in many different ways.“

Whoever listens to you, listens to me, and whoever rejects you, rejects me, and whoever rejects me, rejects the one who sent me.”

While reflecting on the Gospel, I realized that at times we might not be better than those of Chorazin and Bethsaida. Do we not also sometimes stubbornly close our hearts and minds and seal ourselves off from experiencing the Lord’s pardon and forgiveness, risking to be cursed by Jesus also? Do we need to be punished first in order to learn wisdom? God does not reject a humble, repentant sinner. Nor does he find pleasure in condemning the work of his hands. Each of us is known to God and important to him. Our names are written on the palm of his hand. In the silence of our hearts, longing for goodness, may we be able to hear the gentle voice of God’s presence within us.

How wonderful it is to realize and know that our names are written in heaven and that someday we are expected to be there. May we ask the Spirit’s grace to be open to what God is asking of us here and now. Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on us sinners.

• Marty Meyer, SSpS (Convent of the Holy Spirit, Q.C.)

The Word in other words 2015

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 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 © 2012 Society of the Divine Word