Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

3rd WEEK OF ADVENT
 Psalter: Week 3 / (Violet)

Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever

1^st Reading: Jer 23:5-8

Yahweh further says, “The day is coming when I will raise up a king who is David‘s righteous successor. He will rule wisely and govern with justice and righteousness. That will be a grandiose era when Judah will enjoy peace and Israel will live in safety. He will be called Yahweh-our-justice!“

“The days are coming,“ says Yahweh, “when people shall no longer swear by Yahweh as the living God who freed the people of Israel from the land of Egypt. Rather, they will swear by Yahweh as the living God who restored the descendants of Israel from the northern empire and from all the lands where he had driven them, to live again in their own land!“

Gospel: Mt 1:18-25

This is how Jesus Christ was born: Mary his mother had been given to Joseph in marriage, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to disgrace her.

While he was pondering over this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a son. You shall call him ‘Jesus‘ for he will save his people from their sins.“

All this happened in order to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and he will be called Emmanuel, which means: God-with us. When Joseph awoke, he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do, and he took his wife to his home. He did not have any marital relations with her. When she gave birth to a son, Joseph gave him the name Jesus.

REFLECTION:

In our world today, beset by poverty, violence, environmental destruction, infidelity, and indifference, people can easily become desperately fearful and paranoid. Yes, fear is part of human life. But if we do not learn to overcome it, we become paralyzed and lose our trust in life and in the saving power of God. Fear makes us unable to recognize God‘s gifts in us and our capacity to move on and live.

Christmas is special day to look forward to. This feast is our assurance that God is with us and among us in Jesus. Even if God allows adversary to cross our journey, He never ceases to be present in all the events of our life. Even if we sinned, God still loves us. Hindi tayo niya ititiwalag. As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, let us also not forget to share the gift of faith to others especially to those who are unable to recognize His saving presence of God in our midst. May we be the bearers of God‘s life-giving love.

Daily Reflection

Daily Gospel ® is a product 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

 

DAILY GOSPEL ® 2017
Readings and Reflections
Copyright © 2O16
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

3rd SUNDAY OF ADVENT
 Psalter: Week 3 / (Rose)

Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54
My soul rejoices in my God.

1^st Reading: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11

The spirit of the Lord Yahweh is upon me, because Yahweh has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up broken hearts, to proclaim liberty to the captives, freedom to those languishing in prison; to announce the year of Yahweh‘s favor and the day of vengeance of our God; to give comfort to all who grieve.

I rejoice greatly in Yahweh, my soul exults for joy in my God, for he has clothed me in the garments of his salvation, he has covered me with the robe of his righteousness, like a bridegroom wearing a garland, like a bride adorned with jewels.

For as the earth brings forth its growth, and as a garden makes seeds spring up, so will the Lord Yahweh make justice and praise spring up in the sight of all nations.

2^nd Reading: 1 Thes 5:16-24

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks to God at every moment. This is the will of God, your vocation as Christians.

Do not quench the Spirit, do not despise the prophets‘ warnings. Put everything to the test and hold fast to what is good. Avoid evil, wherever it may be.

 May the God of peace make you holy and bring you to perfection. May you be completely blameless, in spirit, soul and body, till the coming of Christ Jesus, our Lord; he who called you is faithful and will do it.

Gospel: Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

A man came, sent by God; his name was John.

He came to bear witness, as a witness to introduce the Light, so that all might believe through him.

He was not the Light, but a witness to introduce the Light;

This was the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?“ John recognized the truth, and did not deny it. He said, “I am not the Messiah.“

And they asked him, “Then who are you? Elijah?“ He answered, “I am not.“ They said, “Are you the Prophet?“ And he answered, “No.“ Then they said to him, “Tell us who you are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. How do you see yourself?“ And John said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord!“

Those who had been sent were Pharisees; and they put a further question to John, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?“ John answered, “I baptize you with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know; although he comes after me, I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal.“

This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

REFLECTION:

Read: The Gaudete Sunday, where anticipation of the advent of the Lord fills everyone with joy. Isaiah delights in the mission and the promise of salvation given to him by the Lord. Paul gives a three-pronged commandment: rejoice, give thanks, and pray always. John the Baptist reveals his identity and mission before the people.

Reflect: True joy is possible only when one honestly accepts God-given identity and mission, and avoid comparing oneself with others. If John the Baptist were an insecure man, he could have grabbed the many identities attributed to him by others; but he didn‘t. He knew that he was not the Sun, but only a satellite. And in acknowledging it and refusing to be something other than what he is and meant to be, lay his joy and the lightness of being.

Pray: Pray for the gift of self-awareness and self-acceptance.

Act: Dine with your family today, joyfully accepting and affirming the being of each member.

Daily Reflection

Daily Gospel ® is a product 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

 

DAILY GOSPEL ® 2017
Readings and Reflections
Copyright © 2O16
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 ADVENT
 Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet)

Ps 80:2ac & 3b, 15-16, 18-19
Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

1^st Reading: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11

Then came the prophet Elijah, like a fire, his words a burning torch.

He brought a famine on the people and in his zealous love had them reduced in number.

Speaking in the name of the Lord he closed the heavens, and on three occasions called down fire.

How marvelous you were, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Who could ever boast of being your equal?

You were taken up by a whirlwind of flames in a chariot drawn by fiery horses.

It was written that you should be the one to calm God‘s anger in the future, before it broke out in fury, to turn the hearts of fathers to their sons and to restore the tribes of Jacob.

Happy are those who will see you and those who die in love, for we too shall live.

Gospel: Mt 17:9a, 10-13

And as they came down the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man be raised from the dead.

The disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?“ Jesus answered, “So it is: first comes Elijah; and he will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come; and they did not recognize him; and they treated him as they pleased. And they will also make the Son of Man suffer.“

Then the disciples understood that Jesus was referring to John the Baptist.

REFLECTION:

In the Bible there were great people that the Jews cannot forget. Among them is the great prophet Elijah, mentioned in both readings today.

The Jews believed that Elijah will return in the days of the Messiah. For them, he will be raised from the dead by God; as he was taken into heaven by means of a chariot of fire. He will be a sign of hope and salvation. He will come before the Messiah.

Jesus in today‘s gospel exhorted the people not to wait for Elijah because He is already in their midst. But, they did not recognize Him; rejected and persecuted Him. Jesus has the same fate with Elijah. He then is Elijah par excellence, bringing hope and salvation, sign of God‘s visitation to His people.

God through Jesus continues to come and visit us. He comes to us in the word of God, in the faces of the poor, in the community gathered in his name, in his ministers, in events and most especially in the sacred species of bread and wine. Do we recognize his presence in them? Or do we reject of him like the people of Jesus‘ times?

Daily Reflection

Daily Gospel ® is a product 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

 

DAILY GOSPEL ® 2017
Readings and Reflections
Copyright © 2O16
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 ADVENT
 Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet)

Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 & 6
Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

1^st Reading: Is 48:17-19

Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I, Yahweh, your God, teach you what is best for you; I lead you in the way that you must go.

Had you paid attention to my commandments, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

Your descendants would have been like the sand, and those born of your stock like its grains, their names never cut off nor blotted out from my presence.

Gospel: Mt 11:16-19

Now, to what can I compare the people of this day? They are like children sitting in the marketplace, about whom their companions complain: ‘We played the flute for you, but you would not dance. We sang a funeral song, but you would not cry!‘

For John came fasting, and people said, ‘He is possessed by a demon!‘ Then, the Son of Man came. He ate and drank; and people said, ‘Look at this man: a glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!‘ Yet, wisdom is vindicated by her works.“

REFLECTION:

When I was a seminarian, idealistic as I was, I had harsh comments to some priests. Now that I am a priest, I am eating my own words, and ha­ving a dose of my own medicine. It is not easy to be a priest, and more, to be a good one. I realize that expe­rience is the best teacher.

Jesus in our gospel describes the people of his time, pointing at their failure to respond accordingly to what He is offering. They did not see the message and purpose of John the Baptist, branding him as a demon-possessed. They too regarded Jesus as a glutton and a drunkard. They were always negative to Jesus. Our situation, this modern time, is not very far from the generations of John and Jesus. Today‘s generations are indifferent to what God is presenting–the fullness of life and salvation. In this season of Advent, let us pray that God may open our eyes to see beyond what meets the eye, to see the signs of times and to love every person that comes our way.

Daily Reflection

Daily Gospel ® is a product 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

 

DAILY GOSPEL ® 2017
Readings and Reflections
Copyright © 2O16
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