Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

2ND WEEK OF LENT
Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet)

Ps 31:5-6, 14, 15-16
Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.

1^st Reading: Jer 18:18-20

Then, they said, “Come, let us plot against Jeremiah, for even without him, there will be priests to interpret the teachings of the law; there will always be wise men to impart counsel and prophets to proclaim the word. Come, let us accuse him and strike him down instead of listening to what he says.”

Hear me, O Yahweh! Listen to what my accusers say.

Is evil the reward for good? Why do they dig a grave for me? Remember how I stood before you to speak well on their behalf so that your anger might subside.

Gospel: Mt 20:17-28

 When Jesus was going to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, “See, we are going to Jerusalem. There, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law; and they will condemn him to death. They will hand him over to the foreigners, who will mock him, scourge him and crucify him. But he will be raised to life on the third day.”

Then the mother of James and John came to Jesus with her sons, and she knelt down, to ask a favor. Jesus said to her, “What do you want?” And she answered, “Here, you have my two sons. Grant, that they may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”

Jesus said to the brothers, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They answered, “We can.” Jesus replied, “You will indeed drink my cup; but to sit at my right or at my left is not for me to grant. That will be for those for whom my Father has prepared it.”

The other ten heard all this, and were angry with the two brothers. Then Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of nations behave like tyrants, and the powerful oppress them. It shall not be so among you: whoever wants to be great in your community, let him minister to the community. And if you want to be the first of all, make yourself the servant of all. Be like the Son of Man, who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life to redeem many.”

Reflections

MAKE YOURSELF THE SERVANT OF ALL

Jesus as a Formator never ceased to point out to his disciples the difference between the values of the world and the values of the Kingdom of God he was establishing on earth. One of the most glaring contrast of these two values is the understanding of power. The world’s view of power is to use it for domination, exploitation, oppression or for vainglory. When one has wealth or in a position of power, one expects adulation, admiration, praise, prestige. One wants to be in the center of everything. One can also use power to coerce people to do what one wants them to do, to exploit their gifts to augment one’s wealth. Worse still, one can use power to cause suffering to people who oppose and do not follow one’s will. In contrast to this, Jesus wishes us to use power for the good of people, to serve them in their needs, to make them bloom. Pope Francis is truly a disciple of Jesus in this regard. He uses the power and prestige of the papacy to give joy to people, to heal the sick, to denounce those who cause poverty and suffering in the world.

Daily Reflection 2018

Bible Diary ® is a product of Claretian Publications, a division of Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. (CCFI) which is a pastoral endeavor of the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines that brings the Word of God to people from all walks of life. CCFI aims to promote integral evangelization and renewed spirituality that is geared towards empowerment and total liberation in response to the needs and challenges of the Church today.

CCFI is a member of Claret Publishing Group, a consortium of the publishing houses of the Claretian Missionaries all over the world: Bangalore, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Chennai, Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Madrid, Macao, Manila, Owerry, São Paolo, Varsaw , Yaoundé.

Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57^th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL

With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

 

Bible Diary ® 2018
Copyright © 2O17 
Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.
U.P. P.O. Box 4, Diliman,
1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (63-2) 921-3984
Fax: (6352) 921-7429
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2ND WEEK OF LENT
Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet)

Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 & 23
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

1^st Reading: Is 1:10, 16-20

Hear the warning of Yahweh, rulers of Sodom. Listen to the word of God, people of Gomorrah.”

Wash and make yourselves clean. Remove from my sight the evil of your deeds. Put an end to your wickedness and learn to do good. Seek justice and keep in line the abusers; give the fatherless their rights and defend the widow.”

“Come,” says Yahweh, “let us reason together. Though your sins be like scarlet, they will be white as snow; though they be as crimson red, they will be white as wool.

If you will obey me, you will eat the goods of the earth; but if you resist and rebel, the sword will eat you instead.” Truly Yahweh has spoken.

Gospel: Mt 23:1-12

 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees have sat down on the chair of Moses. So you shall do and observe all they say; but do not do as they do, for they do not do what they say. They tie up heavy burdens and load them on the shoulders of the people, but they do not even lift a finger to move them. They do everything in order to be seen by people: they wear very wide bands of the law around their foreheads, and robes with large tassels. They enjoy the first places at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and they like being greeted in the marketplace, and being called ‘Master’ by the people.

But you, do not let yourselves be called Master, because you have only one Master, and all of you are brothers and sisters. Neither should you call anyone on earth Father, because you have only one Father, he who is in heaven. Nor should you be called Leader, because Christ is the only Leader for you. Let the greatest among you be the servant of all. For whoever makes himself great shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be made great.

Reflections

THOSE WHO EXALT THEMSELVES WILL BE HUMBLED; THOSE WHO HUMBLE THEMSELVES WILL BE EXALTED

Jesus never tires of exhorting his disciples to be humble. He reminds them of this on many occasions. He warned the sons of Zebedee against aspiring for high positions. He related the story of the Pharisee and the Publican to illustrate this truism. He gave an object lesson of this when he washed the feet of the apostles. He reverses the world’s idea of greatness by saying that the greatest should be the servant of all. But the ego can be very wily. It can insinuate itself even in humility. There is a phrase “humility with a hook” meaning you put on a humble mien so people can admire your humility. There is a false humility when we deprecate ourselves so that people will contradict us and say the opposite. One can be proud of being humble. Perhaps the basis for true humility is a realistic self-knowledge and a conscious self-acceptance. So one does not underestimate or overestimate oneself. One recognizes one’s gifts and uses them for the good. But one is also conscious of one’s limitations and “does not bite more than one can chew” Lord, help us to really know and accept ourselves and give us the grace to be authentically humble.

Daily Reflection 2018

Bible Diary ® is a product of Claretian Publications, a division of Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. (CCFI) which is a pastoral endeavor of the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines that brings the Word of God to people from all walks of life. CCFI aims to promote integral evangelization and renewed spirituality that is geared towards empowerment and total liberation in response to the needs and challenges of the Church today.

CCFI is a member of Claret Publishing Group, a consortium of the publishing houses of the Claretian Missionaries all over the world: Bangalore, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Chennai, Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Madrid, Macao, Manila, Owerry, São Paolo, Varsaw , Yaoundé.

Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57^th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL

With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

 

Bible Diary ® 2018
Copyright © 2O17 
Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.
U.P. P.O. Box 4, Diliman,
1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (63-2) 921-3984
Fax: (6352) 921-7429
Email: ccfi@claretianpublicationscom
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.claretianph.com

2ND WEEK OF LENT
Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet)

Ps 79:8, 9, 11 & 13
Lord, do not deal with us
according to our sins.

1^st Reading: Dn 9:4b-10

I prayed to Yahweh, my God, and made this confession: “Lord God, great and to be feared, you keep your Covenant and love for those who love you and observe your commandments. We have sinned; we have not been just; we have been rebels, and have turned away from your commandments and laws. We have not listened to your servants, the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, leaders, fathers and to all the people of the land.

Lord, justice is yours; but ours is a face full of shame, as it is to this day — we, the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the whole of Israel, near and far away, in all the lands where you have dispersed us because of the infidelity we have committed against you. Ours is the shame, O Lord, for we, our kings, princes and fathers, have sinned against you. We hope for pardon and mercy from the Lord, our God, because we have rebelled against him. We have not listened to the voice of Yahweh, our God, or followed the laws which he has given us through his servants, the prophets.

Gospel: Lk 6:36-38

 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Don’t be a judge of others and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you, and you will receive in your sack good measure, pressed down, full and running over. For the measure you give will be the measure you receive back.”

Reflections

YOU WILL RECEIVE…
GOOD MEASURE, PRESSED DOWN SHAKEN TOGETHER RUNNING OVER

I love this scriptural passage because it is so vivid and graphic in its description of the bountifulness of one’s reward when one is generous. In my life I have seen the effect of what I call “extravagant generosity.” In a convent, a Sister asked excuse from her superior for having missed lauds because she overslept. The Superior said, “I knew you would be late because you were still at your computer late in the night”. In another house, a Sister also asked her Superior the same excuse. The Superior said: “Sister, I think you really are tired why don’t you sleep longer this whole week.” The Sister was overwhelmed by her Superior’s generosity. She slept longer for 2 days and on the third day decided she did not need it anymore and woke up for Lauds. See the difference? My Sister one time paid a tricycle driver 500 pesos instead of the actual fare of 60 pesos. You should see the face of the driver light up like an electric bulb and promptly treated her co-tricycle drivers to a halo-halo (dessert) blow-out. Don’t just be generous. Be extravagantly generous!

Daily Reflection 2018

Bible Diary ® is a product of Claretian Publications, a division of Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. (CCFI) which is a pastoral endeavor of the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines that brings the Word of God to people from all walks of life. CCFI aims to promote integral evangelization and renewed spirituality that is geared towards empowerment and total liberation in response to the needs and challenges of the Church today.

CCFI is a member of Claret Publishing Group, a consortium of the publishing houses of the Claretian Missionaries all over the world: Bangalore, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Chennai, Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Madrid, Macao, Manila, Owerry, São Paolo, Varsaw , Yaoundé.

Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57^th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL

With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

 

Bible Diary ® 2018
Copyright © 2O17 
Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.
U.P. P.O. Box 4, Diliman,
1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (63-2) 921-3984
Fax: (6352) 921-7429
Email: ccfi@claretianpublicationscom
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.claretianph.com

2ND SUNDAY OF LENT
Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet)

Ps 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19
I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

1^st Reading: Gen 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18

Sometime later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he answered, “Here I am.” Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I shall point out to you.” until they came to the place which God had directed them. When Abraham had built the altar and set the wood on it, he bound his son Isaac and laid him on the wood placed on the altar.

He then stretched out his hand to seize the knife and slay his son. But the angel of Yahweh called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” “Do not lay your hand on the boy; do not harm him, for now I know that you fear God, and you have not held back from me your only son.” Abraham looked around and saw behind him a ram caught by its horns in a bush. He offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.

And the angel of Yahweh called from heaven a second time, “By myself I have sworn, it is Yahweh who speaks, because you have done this and not held back your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the lands of their enemies. All the nations of the earth will be blessed through your descendants because you have obeyed me.”

2^nd Reading: Rom 8:31b-34

What shall we say after this? If God is with us, who shall be against us? If he did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not give us all things with him? Who shall accuse those chosen by God: He takes away their guilt. Who will dare to condemn them? Christ, who died, and better still, rose, and is seated at the right hand of God, interceding for us?

Gospel: Mk 9:2-10

 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain. There, his appearance was changed before their eyes. Even his clothes shone, becoming as white as no bleach of this world could make them. Elijah and Moses appeared to them; the two were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke and said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say: they were overcome with awe. But a cloud formed, covering them in a shadow, and from the cloud came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved: listen to him!” And suddenly, as they looked around, they no longer saw anyone except Jesus with them. As they came down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept this to themselves, although they discussed with one another what ‘to rise from the dead’ could mean.

Lectio Divina

Read: We are presented with the classic stories of “Akedah” (the sacrifice of Isaac) on Mount Moriah and the transfiguration of Christ on Mount Tabor. Both the stories deal with the theme of “son.” Paul invites us to reflect on the depths of God’s love that seeks to make us all his beloved children through his Son, Jesus.

Reflect: Did God really ask Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac? Most probably He didn’t. For the god who asks Abraham to offer up his only son is the Canaanite god – the narrative uses the word Elohim for this pantheon of gods. But the god who intervenes and prevents the sacrifice is Yahweh, the One True God. In all likelihood, Abraham, who lived among the Canaanites and was familiar with their practice of offering up children to their gods, might have been convinced that he also must do so even if Isaac was the child of the promise. Such was his trust in and love of God, which might have gladdened the One True God who saw the reflection of His own heart in Abraham – a heart that would give up anything for the sake of love.

Pray: Thank you, Lord, for loving me to the point of giving up your own Son for me.

Act: Spend some 20 minutes listening to Christ, God’s beloved Son, talking to you of his Father’s love for you.

Daily Reflection 2018

Bible Diary ® is a product of Claretian Publications, a division of Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. (CCFI) which is a pastoral endeavor of the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines that brings the Word of God to people from all walks of life. CCFI aims to promote integral evangelization and renewed spirituality that is geared towards empowerment and total liberation in response to the needs and challenges of the Church today.

CCFI is a member of Claret Publishing Group, a consortium of the publishing houses of the Claretian Missionaries all over the world: Bangalore, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Chennai, Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Madrid, Macao, Manila, Owerry, São Paolo, Varsaw , Yaoundé.

Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57^th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL

With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

 

Bible Diary ® 2018
Copyright © 2O17 
Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.
U.P. P.O. Box 4, Diliman,
1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (63-2) 921-3984
Fax: (6352) 921-7429
Email: ccfi@claretianpublicationscom
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.claretianph.com