Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green/White)
St. John of Capistrano, priest

Lk 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

1^st Reading: Rom 4:20-25

He did not doubt, nor did he distrust the promise of God, and, by being strong in faith, he gave glory to God: he was convinced, that, He who had given the promise, had power to fulfill it.

This was taken into account, for him to attain righteousness. This was taken into account: these words of Scripture are not only for him, but for us, too, because we believe in him, who raised Jesus, our Lord, from among the dead, he, who was delivered for our sins, and raised to life, for us to receive true righteousness.

Gospel: Lk 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd spoke to Jesus, ”Master, tell my brother to share with me the family inheritance.” He replied, ”My friend, who has appointed me as your judge or your attorney?” Then Jesus said to the people, ”Be on your guard and avoid every kind of greed, for even though you have many possessions, it is not that which gives you life.”

And Jesus continued, ”There was a rich man, and his land had produced a good harvest. He thought, ‘What shall I do, for I am short of room to store my harvest? Alright, I know what I shall do: I will pull down my barns and I will build bigger ones, to store all this grain, which is my wealth. Then I will say to myself: My friend, you have a lot of good things put by for many years. Rest, eat, drink and enjoy yourself.‘ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be taken from you. Tell me, who shall get all you have put aside?‘ This is the lot of the one who stores up riches for himself and is not wealthy in the eyes of God.”

REFLECTION:

Our Lord reminds us to guard ourselves from every kind of greed, for even though we have many possessions, it is not that which gives us life (cf. v.15). Greed or avarice (pleonexia) is a vice that always seeks more possessions. It leads one to keep on acquiring for more without ceasing. This vice is equated with idolatry in Colossians 3:5. Sometimes possessions become ”gods” for other people. Human life or even one‘s soul is sacrificed just to acquire them. In order to free ourselves from this oppressive vice we must learn temperance and we must begin sharing what we have to the needy. Notice that in vv. 18-19 the ‘fool‘ frequently uses the terms ‘I‘ and ‘my.‘ His self-centeredness leads him to exclude God and neighbor from his concerns.

When our focus is only ourselves but God and neighbor are removed from our concerns, we rely much on worldly things and pleasures. Even if we are seemingly fulfilled but in the end we are totally empty. Our life becomes meaningful only if we acknowledge God and give alms to the needy. Thus, instead of desiring much for earthly things and be led into sin, we should use our possessions to serve others and God.

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

29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)

Ps 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10
Give the Lord glory and honor.

1st Reading: Is 45:1, 4-6
Thus says Yahweh to his anointed, to Cyrus:
”I have taken you by the right hand
to subdue nations before you and strip kings of their armor,
to open the gateways before you
so that they will be closed no more.
For the sake of Jacob my servant,
of Israel my chosen one,
I have called you by your name
and given you your mission
although you do not know me.
I am Yahweh, and there is no other;
there is no God besides me.
I armed you when you did not know me,
 so that, from the rising
to the setting of the sun,
all may know
that there is no one besides me;
I am Yahweh, and there is no other.

2^nd Reading: 1 Thes 1:1-5b

From Paul, Sylvanus and Timothy, to the church of Thessalonica, which is in God, the Father, and in Christ Jesus, the Lord.

May the peace and grace of God be with you.

We give thanks to God, at all times, for you, and remember you in our prayers. We constantly recall, before God, our Father, the work of your faith, the labors of your love, and your endurance, in waiting for Christ Jesus our Lord.

We remember, brothers and sisters, the circumstances of your being called. The gospel we brought you was such, not only in words. Miracles, the Holy Spirit, and plenty of everything, were given to you. You, also, know how we dealt with you, for your sake.

Gospel: Mt 22:15-21

The Pharisees went away, considering how they could trap Jesus by his own words. They sent to him their disciples, along with members of Herod‘s party, saying, ”Master, we know that you are an honest man, and truly teach God‘s way. You are not influenced by others, nor are you afraid of anyone. So tell us what you think: is it against the law to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

But Jesus understood their evil intentions, and said to them, ”Hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin with which you pay taxes.”

They showed him a silver coin, and Jesus said to them, ”Whose head is this, and whose name?” They answered, ”Caesar‘s.” Then Jesus replied, ”So give to Caesar what is Caesar‘s, and give to God what is God‘s.”

REFLECTION:

Read: Even when we do not know God, God knows us through and through. Paul invites Thessalonians to keep memory of their divine call. Jesus settles the question on paying taxes to Caesar.

Reflect: Jesus settles the question on taxes by verifying the engraved image on the coin. It was Caesar‘s, and Jesus tells them to pay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. If one were to settle the question as to whom our lives belong, one must look at the engraved image in our souls – whose would it be? Caesar‘s or God‘s who has shaped, known, and called us even before we were born? Let us give to God what belongs to God – our very lives.

Pray: We shall pray for a true sense of belongingness to God and His Kingdom.

Act: Draw up a spiritual will and testament for yourself.

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

28TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green/White)
Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary

Ps 105:6-7, 8-9, 42-43
The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

1^st Reading: Rom 4:13, 16-18

If God promised Abraham, or rather his descendants, that the world would belong to him, this was not because of his obeying the law, but because he was just, and a friend of God, through faith.

For that reason, faith is the way, and all is given, by grace; and the promises of Abraham are fulfilled for all his descendants, not only for his children according to the law, but, al so, for all the others, who have believed.

Abraham is the father of all of us, as it is written: I will make you the father of many nations. He is our father, in the eyes of Him, who gives life to the dead, and calls into existence, what does not yet exist, for this is the God in whom he believed.

Abraham believed, and hoped against all expectation, thus, becoming the father of many nations, as he had been told: See how many will be your descendants.

Gospel: Lk 12:8-12

I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before people, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But the one who denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.

There will be pardon for the one who criticizes the Son of Man, but there will be no pardon for the one who slanders the Holy Spirit.

When you are brought before the synagogues, and before governors and rulers, don‘t worry about how you will defend yourself, or what to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you have to say.”

REFLECTION:

Many times Christians are confronted with various forms of persecution because of their faith. This faith is tested constantly and gradually: from simple criticism and condemnation to severe persecution; from insult or attack on one‘s dignity to physical attack or violence. Many, because of fear and weakness, gave up their faith and turn their back from God. How about us, what shall we do when we are confronted with such situation? Shall we face our persecutors and trust God; or shall we surrender our faith just to spare ourselves from suffering?

Jesus assures us that during the time of persecutions the Holy Spirit will teach us what we have to say (cf. v.12). Just like warriors who use armors or defensive covering for their body to secure themselves and to have confidence in facing their enemies; we, Christians, need a ”spiritual armor,” the Holy Spirit, that would give us confidence to face our persecutors, protect our souls from fear and secure our faith.

In times that we are persecuted because of our faith, we must not fear but trust in God, who will send his Spirit to guide and teach us what to say. If we are confronted with our persecutors yet we still acknowledge the Son of Man and never blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, our Lord will acknowledge us before the angels of God!

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

28TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 3 / (Green/White)
St. Paul of the Cross, priest

Ps 32:1b-2, 5, 11
I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.

1^st Reading: Rom 4:1-8

Let us consider Abraham, our father in the flesh. What has he found? If Abraham attained righteousness because of his deeds, he could be proud. But he cannot be this before God; because Scripture says: Abraham believed God, who took it into account, and held him to be a just man.

Now, when someone does a work, salary is not given as a favor, but as a debt that is paid. Here, on the contrary, someone who has no deeds to show, but believes in him, who makes sinners righteous before him: such faith is taken into account, and that person is held as righteous. David congratulates, in this way, those who become righteous, by the favor of God, and not by their actions: Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven and whose offenses are forgotten; blessed the one, whose sin God does not take into account!

Gospel: Lk 12:1-7

Meanwhile, such a numerous crowd had gathered that they crushed one another. Then Jesus spoke to his disciples in this way,

”Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered that will not be uncovered; or hidden, that will not be made known. Whatever you have said in darkness will be heard in daylight, and what you have whispered in hidden places, will be proclaimed from housetops.

I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who put to death the body and, after that, can do no more. But I will tell you whom to fear: Fear the one who, after killing you, is able to throw you into hell. This one you must fear. Don‘t you buy five sparrows for two pennies? Yet not one of them has been forgotten by God. Even the hairs of your head have been numbered. Don‘t be afraid! Are you less worthy in the eyes of God than many sparrows?

REFLECTION:

Jesus cautions his listeners of the leaven of the Pharisees, that is, hypocrisy. Just like a leaven (zymē) that penetrates within bread and, though hidden, acts powerfully; the hypocrites, though virtuous in the surface, deep within them are hidden vices.

Today, there are people who appear to be exemplary and honorable individuals but in reality filled with wickedness, dishonesty and immorality. Followers of Christ should not let themselves be contaminated by their corrupting influence. Jesus reminds us that hypocrisy won‘t work for ”nothing is covered that will not be uncovered; or hidden, that will not be made known.” (v.2)

In rendering service to God and to other people, our intention must be pure. In receiving the sacraments, especially the Holy Communion, we make sure that we are in the state of grace. Before facing the altar to bring offering, admit humbly our wrong deeds and be reconciled with our neighbors, with the Church and with God. Only those who walk in the path of truth and righteousness are worthy to be called true disciples of Christ.

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