October 21, 2008 (Tuesday)

DIDACHE


REMAINING AWAKE

“Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes…” – Luke 12:37

The altar in our living room has different images and pictures of Mama Mary as Our Lady of Fatima, of Consolation, of Perpetual Help, of Guadalupe and the Immaculate Heart. She is also there in the Holy Family and the Twin Hearts.

That was mommy’s prayer corner when she was alive. She told me she placed them all there on purpose to help her concentrate when she prays the rosary.

Hats off to whoever does not get distracted in prayer. Like mom, we need to be creative, imaginative, resourceful, not to mention disciplined, to persevere in our prayer life and Christian life. We know how weak the flesh is, how attractive the world is, and how cunning the devil can be. One text message I received says it aptly, “Every single day is a constant tug-of-war between doing what is right and doing what you want….”

May we be energized by today’s verse to remain steadfast in living good Christian lives… until the Master returns. Cristy Galang

REFLECTION:
What are my safeguards from backsliding in my Christian life?

Protect me, Lord, and keep me faithful to You to the end.



COMPANION


1st READING

The community in Ephesus is obviously largely Gentile in that Paul reminds them that they once had no claim on God at all as they did not believe in Him. Having come under the grace of faith and salvation, they should be forever grateful for the work God has done to get them there. This is equally true of all of us. It is only by the free gift of God’s grace that we have received salvation. We can claim no part of this except to be grateful that God has worked in our lives.

Ephesians 2: 12-22
12 Brothers and sisters: You were at that time without Christ, alienated from the community of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, 15 abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, 18 for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. 21 Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; 22 in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

P S A L M

Psalm 85:9ab-10, 11-12, 13- 14
R: The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
8 [9] I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD-for he proclaims peace. 9 [10] Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. (R) 10 [11] Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. 11 [12] Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. (R) 12 [13] The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. 13 [14] Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. (R)

G O S P E L

Jesus often reminds us through parables that the faithful servant is always alert to the needs of his master. This is why we have to develop a disciplined life of prayer and reading the Scriptures. In this way, we will be able to recognize the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and be ready to change direction with Him! A good disciple will always be where his master is and this is what we should all aspire to be! Let us pray daily and read the Scriptures often in order to be a good disciple.

Luke 12:35-38
35 Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps 36 and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. 38 And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”

my reflections
think:A good disciple will always be where his master is and this is what we should all aspire to be.

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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Sirach 50-51

SABBATH


LIGHT AND DARKNESS

The image of light and darkness as contrasting paths in life is a very strong one in the Scriptures. Today, we are exhorted to “have our lamps lit” in preparation for the arrival of the bridegroom. What might this mean? We are reminded to ensure that we are ready for the arrival of Jesus in our lives whenever He might choose to come. I am not sure what the scholars come up with on this text but let us go with this interpretation.

As disciples of Jesus, each of us is obliged to listen to the call of God on our lives. We should discern how, when and where God is calling us to serve in His Kingdom. This is not some sort of minor commitment that we are being called to make — our lives are at stake here. God is calling each of us to a lifetime in His service. Do you know what your role in His plan is? I tend to think that there are very few people these days who honestly place their life before God and tell Him to “write the script.” More often than not, we decide on a career and then we fit God in that commitment.

I am not saying that this is wrong. But perhaps such a position limits the ability of God to get the fullest faith commitment from you that He might have been able to get if He had been consulted regarding one’s life commitment. It is not an easy thing to put one’s life at the disposal of God. My experience in following the call of priesthood has been a constant series of challenges where I have had to choose between placing my will or God’s will to the fore. I am a sinner and I will freely tell you that I have not always succeeded in keeping God’s will top priority, hence the sin in my life. However, I think all of us need to look more closely at the place we give to the voice of God in the discernment of life’s direction. Fr. Steve Tynan

Reflection Question:
When was the last time I consulted God about the direction my career or studies are going? Do I think it is time to do so now?

Holy Spirit, I know in my head, but it is very difficult to move the truth to my heart that whatever God’s will is for me, that is the best thing for me to do. Help me to surrender my life to His will today and for the rest of my life.

St. Hilarion, abbot and disciple of St. Anthony the Great, pray for us.

October 20, 2008 (Monday)

DIDACHE


IMPURE MOTIVES

“Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” – Luke 12:15

It was the evening of August 20, 1989. The Menendez couple — Jose, a successful and wealthy businessman and his wife, Kitty — had dozed off in the family room of their Beverly Hills mansion. Then two boys entered their house and killed them with a 12-gauge shotgun. The primary suspects were their two sons, aged 21 and 18. The motive? The father domineered them and had threatened to disinherit them. So to get their inheritance and spend it on their lavish desires, they murdered their parents. Prosecutors later alleged that the two boys spent about $1 million within their first six months as orphans.

After the second trial, both were convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. On July 2, 1996, they were sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Wanting to have more — more possessions, more power, more recognition — for the wrong motives can lead people to do evil at the expense of others. Living the good life has nothing to do with what one has or has achieved. It’s about living a life in relationship with Jesus and doing His will. Judith Concepcion

REFLECTION:
“One does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

Lord, purify my motives and my desires. May I live only for You.

COMPANION

1st READING

Before God stepped into our lives and redeemed us, we were helpless and dead to sin. There is no way that anyone can sustain a logical and coherent argument to the contrary. Thus, we all stand in gratitude to God for the gift of salvation. There is nothing we could have done about our situation. Only God could save us. Let us recognize this gift of salvation by seeking to live in accordance with the responsibilities of those who have been saved.

Ephesians 2: 1-10
1 Brothers and sisters: You were dead in your transgressions and sins 2 in which you once lived following the age of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the disobedient. 3 All of us once lived among them in the desires of our flesh, following the wishes of the flesh and the impulses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so no one may boast. 10 For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.

P S A L M

Psalm 100: 1b-2, 3, 4ab, 4c-5
R: The Lord made us, we belong to him.
1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; 2 serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful song. (R) 3 Know that the LORD is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends. (R) 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise. (R) Give thanks to him; bless his name, 5 for he is good, the LORD, whose kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness, to all generations. (R)

G O S P E L

So many of the disputes that I witness in families has to do with the distribution of inheritances. What is worse is that the more money involved, the worse the disputes get, even to the extent that siblings sue one another. Then the inheritance is exhausted in legal fees! This is all sheer greed and sin. Whatever happened to the idea of sharing according to one’s needs? No one can take anything with them to heaven when they die anyway! The more wealth we have, the greater our responsibility to care for the poor. If we thought in these terms more often, perhaps we would not seek to accumulate money and things in the way we often do.

Luke 12:13-21
13 Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” 14 He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” 15 Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. 17 He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ 18 And he said, “This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods 19 and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ 21 Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”

my reflections
think:No one can take anything with them to heaven when they die.

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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Sirach 46-49

SABBATH


TO PAY OR NOT TO PAY TAX

To pay or not to pay tax, that is a very vexing question. There are some who argue that we have every right to minimize our tax payment as much as is legally possible. This may be legal, but is it moral? Do we not have a moral responsibility to support the government that provides all sorts of services to the country? Isn’t it we’re responsible in supporting the social services of our country that are theoretically designed to help the poor in their struggle to better their lives? I would think that we have a moral responsibility to pay a reasonable level of tax in order to meet the moral requirement of doing what we can to support those less well-off than we are.

On the other hand, there are those who argue that many of the policies of the government (war, family planning usingcontraceptives, etc.) are against our Christian faith and along with the level of corruption, take it to mean that we do not have an obligation to pay taxes. I do not follow the latter view. There is a moral obligation to support and recognize the authority of the secular state (cf. Romans 13). If we think the government is corrupt or wrong in its policies, then we should seek to reform and renew it so that its policies and practices are in accord with what is right and good.

Jesus tells us to render to Caesar (the state) that which belongs to it, and whether we like it or not, all money belongs to the state at one level as you will not be taking any of it to heaven. We live in the world but we are not of the world. Our lives are but a passing event in the history of the world, and our ultimate destination is heaven! It is this truth that we have to reflect in the way we live in the world, witnessing to the fact that there is far more at stake than the things the world offers us. Fr. Steve Tynan

Reflection Question:
Is my life grounded in a vision of eternal life or is it focused upon what I intend to get out of my life here and now?

Jesus, help me to follow Your will and make it the first priority of my life. I know my life is but a passing reality in this world. Help me to prepare well for the next.

Sts. Isaac Jogues and Rene Goupil, martyrs, pray for us.

October 19, 2008 (Sunday)

DIDACHE


THANK YOU!

We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers… – 1 Thessalonians 1:2

As a child, my parents instilled in me the value of always saying, “Thank you.” Whether the favor done was big or small, good manners dictated that one always had to express gratitude.

Now that I am older, saying thank you is more than just about good manners. It has become a way of life because I’ve realized that so many people have helped, and continue to help me every day. Without the guidance and lessons from those around me, I would not be who I am today. If not for the assistance and input of other people, I would not have any of my achievements. These “angels” come in all sorts of shapes and sizes — family members, friends, classmates, coworkers, even strangers.

God is good. I have been so loved and so blessed. And to that, I say, “Thank you!” Cess Cosico

REFLECTION:
Have you said thank you today? God has surrounded you with blessings!

Lord, teach us to be always grateful.

COMPANION

1st READING

Cyrus is a pagan king who allows the Jews to return from exile to their own land. This is why Isaiah tells us that he is the Lord’s anointed. It also gives us insight into the fact that God is willing to use anyone to bring about His will. God will find someone to do His work even if all His Chosen People reject His offers! It is therefore imperative that we respond to the graces given us so that God will not move His anointing elsewhere.

Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6
1 Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I grasp, subduing nations before him, and making kings run in his service, opening doors before him and leaving the gates unbarred. 4 For the sake of Jacob, my servant, of Israel my chosen one, I have called you by your name, giving you a title, though you knew me not. 5 I am the LORD and there is no other, there is no God besides me. It is I who arm you, though you know me not, 6 so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun men may know that there is none besides me. I am the LORD, there is no other.

P S A L M

Psalm 96: 1, 2, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10
R: (7b) Give the Lord glory and honor.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands. 3 Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. (R) 4 For great is the LORD and highly to be praised; awesome is he, beyond all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are things of nought, but the LORD made the heavens. (R) 7 Give to the LORD, you families of nations, give to the LORD glory and praise; 8 give to the LORD the glory due his name! Bring gifts, and enter his courts. (R) 9 Worship the LORD in holy attire. Tremble before him, all the earth; 10 say among the nations the LORD is king. He has made the world firm, not to be moved; he governs the peoples with equity. (R)


2nd READIN G

What does it mean to persevere in hope? I am no expert on this but perhaps a partial understanding would be to never despair and see that God is working in our lives. Even when it seems God is silent, we must believe that He is not! He is always working at bringing us to the fulfillment of His will for us. If He was not, then He would not be true to His promises. Hope comes into play when we cannot experience God’s presence in any form; it then helps us to believe that God is still there working for our good.

Thessalonians 1: 1-5b
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace. 2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly 3 calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, 4 knowing, brothers loved by God, how you were chosen. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spiritand with much conviction.

G O S P E L

To a certain point, there is a separation of Church and state. Today’s Gospel tells us of one example. The state has been given a certain authority by God to govern the lives of the peoples of this earth. To that extent, we owe it allegiance and support. However, when a state departs from righteousness and seeks to promote evil, then we have no obligation to support it whatsoever. With any right comes a corresponding responsibility and duty. The state is no different in this regard.

Matthew 22:15-21
15 The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap him in speech. 16 They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion, for you do not regard a person’s status. 17 Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” 18 Knowing their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin that pays the census tax.” Then they handed him the Roman coin. 20 He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” 21 They replied, “Caesar’s.” At that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

my reflections
think: With any right comes a corresponding responsibility and duty.

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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Sirach 43-45


SABBATH PAUSE

My weekly time with God

THANK YOU LIST

Things to be grateful for from the past week
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SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
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HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
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SABBATH


WHEN WILL BE THE DAY?

We are certain that the day will come when we will die. The question will be: “Did we prepare ourselves well for that day? The parable in today’s reading invites us to answer this question from the point of view of what we have done in our lives. The man who has a good harvest is so enamored by the harvest and the new wealth it has brought him that he forgets that he is mortal. He loses sight of the fact that there will come a time when he will die, and that that time could be very soon. He decides to place his trust in earthly wealth and pays a terrible price for his mistake.

I have spoken to many people from different countries of the world who seem to be making a similar mistake. People who place all their hopes in the success of their business or material things and forget to give God His proper place in their lives do so at the risk of their own destruction. This is not an alarmist statement – it is a simple statement of the truth, and it is a truth we ignore at our own peril.

There are many who do not believe in God and act according to this tenet of their lives. From my point of view, this is a very disappointing position to take and I will do everything I can to try to change it. But ultimately, a person’s life is his own to live. Many of the problems in the world today are a result of people making very shortsighted decisions that place material pursuits over and above the pursuit of our relationship with God.

One of the clearest messages in the Scriptures is the call to prioritize our relationship with God among all the other commitments we have in life. We will need to give this issue constant attention as nearly every influence out there in the world is going to push us away from the thought of heavenly realities and fill our minds and hearts with earthly desires and dreams. Fr. Steve Tynan

Refection Question:
What thoughts and ideas come into my mind when it is idle? Does my mind turn automatically to the things of God or the things of the world?

Jesus, help me to organize my life so that my mind and heart will be trained to look to God above all other things.

Blessed Adeline, abbess, pray for us.

October 18, 2008 (Saturday)

DIDACHE

Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist

REACHING THE HARVEST

He said to them, “There is a large harvest, but few workers to gather it in….” – Luke 10:2

Most of my family, co-workers and friends are renewed Catholics. Since we interact with renewed people most of the time, evangelization has not really been one of my priorities. Not until one afternoon when I was in a big mall with my four-year-old son. While waiting for our turn to order at a burger outlet, my son was in a good mood and was singing his favorite worship song. He was singing it with so much passion that the couple in front of us took notice. They asked me, “That’s a nice song, did he learned that in school?” “No, he learned that song in our community,” I replied. They gave me a surprised look and said, “You mean you are not Catholic?” I smiled and said, “My family is Catholic and we are part of a Catholic community.”

The reaction of the couple made me realize that there must still be a large portion of the crowd around us who were not yet renewed in their faith. How can these people know the Lord more personally? In the silence of my heart I prayed, “Lord, You’re right. There is still a large harvest out there to gather.” And He needs you and me to reach out to them. Alvin Fabella

REFLECTION:
Do you always have the courage to talk about Jesus to others?

Lord, I pray for courage to speak about You. I know that evangelization is not only an option but a mission.

COMPANION

1st READING

Let us thank God today for the gift of St. Luke and all he has contributed to the service of the Kingdom of God through his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. He was an associate of Paul on a number of his journeys and thus saw the growth of the early Church first hand. Let us all seek to draw inspiration from both his writings and example of service as we go about our ministries in the Church today.

Timothy 4: 0- 7b
10 Beloved: Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me and went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry. 12 I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 You too be on guard against him, for he has strongly resisted our preaching. 16 At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it.

P S A L M

Psalm 4 : 0- , - , 7- 8
R: Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
10 Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. 11 Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. (R) 12 Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations. (R) 17 The LORD is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. (R)

G O S P E L

When Jesus sends out His disciples, He seems to make it as difficult as possible for them to do their work! Is this really the case? I do not think so. What Jesus knows is essential for the work of evangelization is that the ministers of the Gospel be reliant upon the grace of God in their work. Without this, there will be no lasting fruit. It is important that when we share about what happens in ministry, we always realize that it is God’s power at work in us and not us who are responsible for the success.

Luke 0: -9
1 The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. 2 He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. 3 Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. 8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

my reflections
think:When we share about what happens in ministry, we must always realize that it is God’s power at work in us and not us who are responsible for the success.

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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Sirach 39-42

SABBATH


THE HARVEST IS RICH BUT THE LABORERS ARE FEW

I wonder how often we allow ourselves to reflect upon today’s Gospel idea. Perhaps it is our collective unwillingness to consider the dilemma of the work that needs to be done in the Church with the lack of laborers in the kingdom– the reason for the dilemma in the first place. If we know that there is much to be done, then surely we should be contemplating the possibility that some of the work should be accomplished by me. I think there is a very pertinent question that we should all be asking ourselves (as Mother Teresa of Kolkata purportedly did) every day, namely: “God, what are you asking me to do today?” Maybe we do not ask this question because we are afraid of what the answer might be.

Where would we be without the great missionaries and martyrs? How would the Gospel have been spread if there were not men and women willing to give their lives for the task? The simple answer is that our faith rests upon the sacrifices and obedience of many men and women who have preceded us. The question is, “What are we doing to continue their work, the work of the Church, so that the Gospel will be alive and strong for the next generation?”

Sloth is one of the worst sins imaginable in this regard as it will mean that the Gospel dies a slow death due to disinterest and lack of commitment. We all want the benefits of the Gospel, the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. However, there is a cost and responsibility involved with such gifts, and if we are not willing to pay that cost and live responsible and generous lives, then I fear we will be very disappointed with the consequences of this not only for the next generation, but personally as well. We neglect the responsibilities of our faith at our own risk – to our own detriment. Do not let your life “slip over the edge” through apathy and neglect. Life and faith with it are meant to be lived to the full. Fr. Steve Tynan

Reflection Question:
Do I take seriously the call to be a disciple of Jesus and share the Gospel with others at this time of my life?

Jesus, I pray that You will help me to realize the necessity of living and sharing the Gospel so that I will be an instrument in keeping the Gospel alive for future generations.

St. Luke, evangelist, pray for us.

October 17, 2008 (Friday)

DIDACHE


AN EVEN BIGGER PICTURE

All things are done according to God’s plan. – Ephesians 1:11

“Time to go home.” God’ s voice whispered clearly to me. It was the Lenten recollection of the office I was assigned to in the province of Oriental Mindoro. I was at the end of my stint there as a Jesuit Volunteer and I wanted to stay on for another year. I felt I hadn’t done enough. I wanted to serve more. To touch more lives. To make a bigger impact. But His undeniable direction was to return to Manila.

A month after I went home, I was hired for the Jimmy Carter Work Project by Habitat for Humanity International — a project that brought together 14,000 volunteers from here and all over the world to build 250 houses in six different areas of the Philippines in one week. I was to recruit 5,000 local youth volunteers. The director said that he had been waiting for me to return from the province because he felt I was the right person for the job.

I wanted to make a difference in many lives, but little did I know that God had a plan to use me in a greater way than I imagined. That project inspired thousands of people locally and worldwide to share their time and resources with our needy brethren. He always has a bigger picture in mind. Thank God I obeyed! George Gabriel

REFLECTION:
Do I trust His leading?

Lord, help me to see that You always have a plan for me.

COMPANION

1st READING

Do you believe God has a plan for your life? If you do not, then reread today’s First Reading. Paul clearly tells us that God has a plan for us all, and that He has commissioned the Holy Spirit to help us realize this plan. This will only be possible if we are willing to give the Holy Spirit enough freedom in our lives to do this. Is it not a little ironic that the greatest and best use of our freedom is an act of surrender to God’s will? Ah, the irony of true love strikes again!

Ephesians 1:11-14
11 Brothers and sisters: In Christ we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the one who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, 12 so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. 13 In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit, 14 which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.

P S A L M

Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 12-13
R: Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
1 Exult, you just, in the LORD; praise from the upright is fitting. 2 Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises. (R) 4 For upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are trustworthy. 5 He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full. (R) 12 Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he has chosen for his own inheritance. 13 From heaven the LORD looks down; he sees all mankind. (R)

G O S P E L

Jesus’ use of yeast is an interesting choice because yeast has a remarkable effect upon the ingredients in a loaf of bread. Somehow, it works to cause the dough to rise and expand, so that the end result will be a soft loaf of bread, and not a hard baked rock! This is what faith and the power of the Holy Spirit seeks to do in our lives. We cannot actually see them at work, but the effects of their work are extraordinary! Sin can work towards the contrary – let us reject sin and welcome the work of the Holy Spirit with faith.

Luke 12:1-7
1 At that time: So many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. He began to speak, first to his disciples, “Beware of the leaven — that is, the hypocrisy — of the Pharisees. 2 “There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. 4 I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. 5 I shall show you

my reflections
think : The greatest and best use of our freedom is an act of surrender to God’s will.

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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Sirach 35-38

SABBATH


GOD IS IN CONTROL

How can God be all-powerful and all-loving, and yet allow so much suffering in the world? Surely if He is a loving God, then He is obliged to do something to end the suffering of so many people? The actual answer to this seeming contradiction within the nature of God is that He has ended all suffering. It is just that people refuse to cooperate with His plan. And there is the ultimate reason why there is still suffering in the world: People choose to exercise their free will in ways that give rise to the suffering of others. Is the gift of free will evil then? Of course not! Without free will, there would be no meaning to life or love or anything that separates human beings from the rest of the animal world.

We cannot have it both ways. People cannot expect to do whatever they want whenever they want without having to endure the consequences of their actions. Unfortunately, the choices we make also impinge upon the lives and freedom of others, and so we can cause suffering to others for which they are blameless. God cannot choose to stop this sort of suffering without removing our free will, and as I noted above, that would mean human life would be meaningless.

The answer to the problem of suffering rests not in the hands of God but in the hands of human beings — in the choices we make. If we choose not to sin, moral suffering will be eliminated from our lives. As to physical suffering, there is a good argument that the first cause of this was also sin (Genesis 3:14ff). The suffering caused by natural disasters and illness are problematic from the point of view of those asking whose fault they are. But if we were all living according to the plan of God for our lives, perhaps this type of suffering would also be eliminated. Whose fault is it that people choose to live under a volcano or in an earthquake or flood-prone area? Once again, such situations are the result of human choices.

I do not have an easy answer for the suffering caused by illness. Perhaps we just have to view it as part of life and an imperfect world. Fr. Steve Tynan

Reflection Question:
Do I willingly entrust my life to the will of God? If not, why do I find this so difficult?

Lord Jesus, help me to believe and act upon the truth that You always desire the best for me and that the best choice I can make in life is to submit my life to Your will.

St. Florentius, bishop, pray for us.

October 16, 2008 (Thursday)

DIDACHE


FRUSTRATION GIVES WAY TO GRACE

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ… – Ephesians 1:2

When we started building our house, the plan called for a 10-month construction period. So when we reached the 15th month of construction, anxiety crept on me. We had chosen to purchase practically all the finishing materials and the interiors. The purchase list was long and we had lots of errands to run. It ate into our regular schedules and into our nerves. The excitement was turning into frustration.

But as we looked at how the house took shape and our God-ordained encounters in purchasing the materials, His grace and peace filled us. We were able to witness to the suppliers by not compromising correct transactions with the proper receipts just to get savings. We helped the contractor by holding Bible study sessions for the construction workers. We put a lot of time in customizing our etched glass display so that it conveys its Christian meaning clearly to those who enter our home.

All these realizations drowned our frustrations. When the time came for the house to be blessed, we had pure joy that filled our hearts for a long time. Rolly España

REFLECTION:
Are anxieties leading you to frustrations and inaction? Think of how God has blessed you and grace will surely follow.

Lord, Your grace is sufficient for me. It is Your peace I desire.

COMPANION

1st READING

This is a magnificent hymn in praise of God’s glory. Go back and read it again slowly in order to savor every aspect of it as much as possible. God is worth any time we can give Him! God is worthy of all praise and honor. We can never ‘waste’ enough time on our relationship with God! Let us seek to give Him glory in everything we do in our lives.

Ephesians 1:1-10
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the holy ones who are in Ephesus faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, 4 as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love 5 he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, 6 for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. 7 In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him 10 as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

P S A L M

Psalm 98: 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6
R: The Lord has made known his salvation.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) 2 The LORD has made his salvation known in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. 3 He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. (R) All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. 4 Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. (R) 5 Sing praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn sing joyfully before the King, the LORD. (R)

G O S P E L

Sometimes, the best form of attack is defense. By defense here, I mean that the Scribes and Pharisees ought to stop for a moment and consider Jesus’ accusations. They might actually have some substance to them. If they reflected upon their lives for a moment and then addressed their own sinfulness, rather than seek to attack Jesus by trying to trap Him in some sort of heresy or blasphemy, they would have found that Jesus and they could work together quite well.

Luke 11:47-54
47 The Lord said: Woe to you! You build the memorials of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. 48 Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. 49 Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute’ 50 in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! 52 Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” 53 When he left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, 54 for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

my reflections
think:God is worth any time we can give Him.

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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Sirach 31-34

SABBATH

ALAS, ALAS, ALAS! WOE, WOE, WOE!

When I was young, we used a phrase to describe people who were always complaining about how nothing goes right for them. We used to offer to throw a “pity party” for them. This may have been a little mean-spirited at times, though at other times, it was well-deserved. The thing is, many people who find that things are constantly going wrong in their lives submit to the pattern and do nothing to break out of it.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells certain groups of people that they are in for bad times unless they change the way they act and live. You see, ultimately, much of what happens in our lives depends on what we choose in the first place. I am not speaking here of the times when a person sins against you – that is obviously wrong and not to be tolerated or laughed away. However, if we are honest with ourselves, we will be forced to admit that we have contributed to our own problems in significant ways through bad choices. The people Jesus is addressing in the Gospel today are consistent offenders in one way or another – their lives are given over to repeated acts that do not reflect the truth of the Gospel and He tells them that such obstinacy in the face of the truth will have unwelcome consequences.

What does this mean for us? Perhaps the message is relevant to our own situation. Perhaps it is just a warning not to allow sinful ways to become habits. At the very least, it is a warning about the addictive nature of sin and how sin tends to worm its way into our lives and is difficult to get out. We need to be aware of these things so that we are not tempted to let down our guard. We should always be seeking the truth and all that is holy and righteous in order to avoid allowing sin to get a hold on our lives. Fr. Steve Tynan



Reflection Question:

Do I have habitual sins that I need to address in my life? How am I going to do this? Do I need help to overcome these sins?

Lord Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Help me to follow You at all times so that sin will not get a chance to establish itself in my life.



St. Gerard Majella, religious, pray for us.

October 15, 2008 (Wednesday)

DIDACHE


HOUSEHOLD HELP — BOON OR BANE?

In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. – Galatians 5:22-23

Our household helper have been a “source of grace” to me over the years. I could write a book on my many encounters with them. There were those who lied, who destroyed our property, who stole…. The advent of the cell phone has added to the misery of managing them because it has taken away their focus on their housework. My biggest horror story was when an angry bakery owner scolded me over the phone because their bakers were always on the phone with our helper.

Despite all the seeming setbacks and anguish over my helpers, I thank God for them not only because they have been a big help to my family. With them, my patience has been tried and tested. When I started teaching them the Word of God, they became dutiful and I myself grew and bore the fruit of the Spirit.

It is only when the Spirit moves that people grow in virtues and are changed. Donna España

REFLECTION:
How do you treat those who help you? God loves them too.

Lord I pray for all our household help. Bless them with Your Spirit.

COMPANION

1st READING

It is good to reflect often upon these two lists so that we can excise those things in the first list, and cultivate the ones in the second. Neither of the lists is exhaustive but they are very good places to begin our search for holiness. Paul challenges the Galatians in no uncertain terms to put a big focus on ensuring that their lives truly reflect the faith they proclaim to have. This is a good lesson for us as well.

Galatians 5: 18-25
18 Brothers and sisters: If you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, 21 occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.

P S A L M

Psalm 1: 1-2, 3, 4 and 6
R: Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
1 Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, 2 but delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night. (R) 3 He is like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade. Whatever he does, prospers. (R) 4 Not so the wicked, not so; they are like chaff whichthe wind drives away. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes. (R)

G O S P E L

It is easy to get distracted by the little things in life and miss the ones that really matter. This is one of the tactics of the devil in trying to lead us astray from a life of true holiness. He will get us caught up in the minutiae of the Christian life, so that we never get around to addressing the big issues we need to face, in order to really grow. He is quite happy if we are distracted from the main focus of God’s will as this means we will be ineffective in our work for the Kingdom.

Luke 11:42-46
42 The Lord said: “Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. 44 Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.” 45 Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.” 46 And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”

my reflections
think: It is easy to get distracted by the little things in life and miss the ones that really matter.

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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Sirach 27-30

SABBATH

THE SPIRIT SHOULD BE OUR LIFE

It can be easy to think that someone who constantly talks about desiring to be holy and wanting to have spiritual experiences, and who is always in the chapel praying is truly on the path to holiness. This is not the case for St. Teresa of Avila, whose feast day we celebrate today. She is interested in the fruits of a person’s life, and not just their desires or what they seem to be doing. It was not beyond her to send someone fitting the description above off to the kitchen to peel a sack of potatoes and to tell her to stop that sort of prayer for the time being. Why? Often such desires are totally unrealistic and are merely pious dreams. True holiness will come only when the concrete realities of discipleship are lived according to the grace of the Holy Spirit. This is why Paul tells the Galatians that they must live according to the Spirit and not just by so-called holy desires.

The litmus test of holiness is not the desires of an individual but the fruit of his or her life. Thus, Teresa will instruct an overly pious novice to go to the kitchen and do something that will benefit her and others rather than just sit and daydream in the chapel. Even if our desires are good and holy they will not benefit us unless we are willing to work to attain them. The only way to do this is through the daily grind of discipleship. Teresa knows this from experience and is not shy about applying the principle in its most basic form.

St. Paul challenges the Galatians to compare the end results or fruits of holiness and sin. They are poles apart and easily distinguishable. Therefore, it should not be difficult for them to discern the actions that will give rise to such fruits, and to cultivate holiness and shun all that leads to sin. The same should be true for us. As we reflect upon the Scriptures and the lives of the saints, we should be able to see what sort of actions are going to aid our growth in faith and love, and those that will not. Fr. Steve Tynan

Reflection Question:
How disciplined am I in doing the basic things of my faith well? Am I committed to daily prayer? Do I read the Bible? Am I growing in my knowledge of the faith?

Holy Spirit, help me to be a doer and not just a dreamer. Let me put my faith into practice daily so that I will truly witness to the truth that I am indeed a disciple of Jesus Christ.

St. Teresa of Avila, virgin and doctor, pray for us.

October 14, 2008 (Tuesday)

DIDACHE


BATTERIES INCLUDED

In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor the lack of it counts for anything; only faith which expresses itself through love. – Galatians 5:6

I read a book before which gave this analogy regarding faith and love. It said that faith is like the flashlight we need in darkness but love is the battery. One is useless to give light without the other.

The Pharisees during Jesus’ time were proud of all their laws and traditions which they meticulously followed. It gave them a feeling of spiritual superiority over everyone else. They were flabbergasted that Jesus was breaking protocol and not following their age old traditions which they upheld over everything else.

Jesus followed a higher law above all their laws. He made it clear though that He did not come to abolish their laws but to fulfill it. The law of Love is the fulfillment of everything we are trying to do on this earth. Love is the reason why we do the things we do — either it’s love for God or love for our neighbor. It is the force that gives power to our every act and to our every thought. If love is not there, then our faith is as powerless as a toothless dog. All bark but no bite. We are then left in the dark holding a powerful flashlight but with no batteries. Ronna Ledesma

REFLECTION:
Are you praying right now out of love or out of habit?

Lord, remind me always to season all that I do with the salt of love.

COMPANION

1st READING

Paul reminds the Galatians that faith has priority in the life of a Christian. This point ought to be obvious to all of us that we are incapable of saving ourselves from sin and death. Our only hope is that someone else can do this for us, and that we can avail of the grace they offer us through faith. God does not sell us salvation nor can we earn it through doing certain things. It is made available to us only through faith in Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5: 1-6
1 Brothers and sisters: For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. 2 It is I, Paul, who am telling you that if you have yourselves circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 Once again I declare to every man who has himself circumcised that he is bound to observe the entire law. 4 You are separated from Christ, you who are trying to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we await the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

P S A L M

Psalm 119:41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48
R: Let your mercy come to me, O Lord.
41 Let your mercy come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise. (R) 43 Take not the word of truth from my mouth, for in your ordinances is my hope. (R) 44 And I will keep your law continually, forever and ever. (R) 45 And I will walk at liberty, because I seek your precepts. (R) 47 And I will delight in your commands, which I love. (R) 48 And I will lift up my hands to your commands and meditate on your statutes. (R)

G O S P E L

Get the focus right and all will be well. This is the message of today’s Gospel. It is too easy to look to the external realities, and be fooled one way or the other into believing something that is false. Traditional practices can also lead people into the wrong sort of focus. We need to be careful that we understand why we do the things we do so that we will not be led astray by a false understanding of our traditional religious practices.

Luke 11:37-41
37 After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. 38 The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. 39 The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. 40 You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? 41 But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

my reflections
think:We need to be careful that we understand why we do the things we do.
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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Sirach 24-26

SABBATH


THE FRUSTRATIONS OF DISCIPLING OTHERS

When we read through the Gospels, we find many frustrating moments for Jesus when He preaches the Gospel to the crowds and they were seemingly incapable of understanding and embracing the truths they hear. In today’s reading, for example, Jesus expresses it in terms of the people focusing on keeping the outside of the cup clean when they should have realized that it is from within their hearts and minds, within themselves, that the greatest forms of impurity are derived. The same still holds true today.

Parents go to great lengths to see that their children receive good moral teachings and are exposed to good Christian values as they grow up. However, the vast majority of kids are given free reign over what they watch on television. There is a huge contradiction here. More often than not, the values being expressed in television shows, cartoons and others are patently non-Christian. Violence, revenge, sex for pleasure, adultery are just some of the common fare in today’s world of entertainment. Media plays a huge role in forming the values of children particularly when their parents abdicate their responsibility in this matter and use the television or VCD or DVD as a baby-sitter.

Yes, there are some shows and movies that promote good values but they are few and far between. There are even some shows that responsibly question worldly values and ideals but they must be viewed with constant parental supervision so that they are not misinterpreted by the child. The simple answer on why teenagers are often seemingly “out of control” and undisciplined is precisely because they have imbibed these values of the world directly from the media to which they have such easy and unsupervised access. It is not easy being a parent — it is a huge responsibility that ends only with the correct formation of the child’s character. If someone then chooses a life of sin, then that is truly the choice they have made. But let us not allow the values of the media to become the default formation position for our children. Fr. Steve Tynan

Reflection Question:
As a parent, am I doing all that I can to form my children’s minds and hearts in the truth of the Gospel? What more can I do in this regard?

Holy Spirit, help me to set a good example of a life lived according to the truths of the Gospel, and the dignity of the human person for all the young people I know.

St. Callistus I, pope and martyr, pray for us.