September 29, 2008 (Monday)

DIDACHE

WHO HE REALLY IS

Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”– John 1:48

I once interviewed this man who can sometimes see into the future. One time, he told a friend planning to go to Dos Palmas in Palawan, “If you don’t want to be in the wrong place, with the wrong set of people, in an event so big that it will be covered by the international media, don’t go there.” That weekend, Dos Palmas was raided by the Abu Sayyaf.

I thought that was an amazing story but can you imagine how awestruck Nathanael was in our story today? It must have been really amazing to hear Jesus tell Nathanael who he is because he ended up declaring, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” When we are tempted to fret and get annoyed at our circumstances, let us be reminded that Jesus knows us through and through. Let the gift of wonder coupled with humility accompany us as we walk with Jesus.

It is in realizing who He really is that we can say with Nathanael, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Then we can bow down on our knees in worship and acknowledge that He is indeed God. Joy Sosoban

REFLECTION:
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:5)

I have treated You so familiarly, Lord. Forgive me. Let me always be amazed at who You are.

COMPANION

1st READING

The archangels are those angels who have performed major roles in bringing God’s messages to His people. As we honor them today, we remember that when God speaks it is not enough to simply hear His word: we need to respond to it in the same way those who have received His word in the past have done. Let us seek the grace of obedience and live it to the letter at every opportunity.

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 (or Revelation 12:7-12a)
9 As I watched: Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was snow bright, and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. 10 A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. 13 As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was resented before him, 14 He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.

P S A L M

Psalm 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 4-5
R: In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
1 I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; 2 I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name. (R) Because of your kindness and your truth; for you have made great above all things your name and your promise. 3 When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. (R) 4 All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth; 5 and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD “Great is the glory of the LORD.” (R)

G O S P E L

Jesus seems to be promising those who follow Him that they will have access to God that people under the old covenant only dreamed of having. The angels ascending and descending seems to me to be the promise of a new level of communication that will come with the Gospel. This was true but the source of the new level of communication was not to be angels but the Holy Spirit – a far more powerful messenger than any angel.

John 1:47-51
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him.” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

my reflections
think: Jesus seems to be promising those who follow Him that they will have access to God that people under the old covenant only dreamed of having.

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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 Ecclesiastes 5-8

SABBATH

Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Archangels

Archangels for Others As Well

This week begins with a joyful celebration of the Feast of the three Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. We praise and thank God for them, for as we pray in the Opening Prayer of today’s Holy Mass, they “keep our lives safe from all harm on earth.”

The popular image of angels and archangels as anti-accident protectors, superheroes, or miracle workers is too limiting. Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael have special roles to play regarding salvation.

St. Michael is the leader of all the angels. To him is entrusted in a special way the Jewish people (see Daniel 10:1-14). All throughout the centuries, this particular nation has struggled, and somehow they always figure prominently even in today’s headlines with their concerns for peace. Suffice it to recall that we as Christians owe the origins of our very religion to the Jews themselves. And Jesus Christ Himself was a Jew, wasn’t He?

If St. Michael is particularly associated with the Jewish people, St. Gabriel on the other hand has a special affinity with the Muslims. Part of their belief is the fact that Gabriel was the one who communicated the Islamic religion to them. Jesus and Mary in fact are also prominent figures in the Koran. Finally, by extension, the role of St. Raphael as a healer may also be considered as something universal as well.

The Second Vatican Council recognizes that non-Christian religions (such as Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc.) contain parts of the truth, seeds or reflections of the Word. We should not reject anything which is true and holy in these religions. We look with sincere respect upon those ways of conduct and life, those rules and teachings which, even though they differ from ours, nevertheless reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men and women.

The Archangels help spread such rays of truth, goodness, and beauty all throughout the world, regardless of race or religion. Fr. Martin Macasaet

Reflection Question:
Do you see nuggets of truth in the other religions of the world?

To respect others different from me is to respect You, the Maker of us all. Enable me to live out this challenge, Lord.

Sts. Raphael, Gabriel & Michael, archangels, pray for us.

September 28, 2008 (Sunday)

CHANGED MIND, CHANGED LIFE

He said in reply, “I will not,” but afterwards he changed his mind and went. – Matthew 21:29

My friend Albert (not his real name) is a confessed womanizer. He is also a smoker whom you will smell from several feet away. Every time I mention the word “Jesus” or “Bible,” he would almost always sneer at me.
“Saka na lang” (“Next time”) would be his standard answer whenever I invite him to a seminar or prayer meeting. But I never gave up on him. One day, a common friend invited him to come to my birthday party. What Albert didn’t know was that the “party” included a Bible study.
When I led the group into a prayer of salvation, I saw Albert repeating after me. I know in my heart that the Lord “had” him. Since then, he has been attending our Bible studies, even offering his house to host a gathering. The man who used to reply, “Sorry, I can’t,” changed his mind and joined! With St. Paul, I say, “I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in [Albert] will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). Danny Tariman

REFLECTION:
Do we easily give up on our call to evangelize?

Holy Spirit, empower me to lead people to Jesus!

St. Wenceslaus, martyr, pray for us.

COMPANION

1st READING

We have no basis for complaint when the suffering we undergo is a result of our own sin. Ezekiel is making this point to the People of Israel when they complain of their trials and tribulations. He counters their complaints with a challenge for them to look at the state of their relationship with God, and acknowledge that their plight is a result of their own decisions and not vengeance being wreaked on them by God.

Ezekiel 18:25-28
25 You say, “The LORD’s way is not fair!” Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? 26 When a virtuous man turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. 27 But if a wicked man, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; 28 since he has turned away from all the sins which he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

P S A L M

Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R: (6a) Remember your mercies, O Lord.
4 Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior. (R) 6 Remember that your compassion, O LORD, and your kindness are from of old. 7 The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not; in your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O LORD. (R) 8 Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. 9 He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way. (R)

2ND READING

Paul beseeches the Philippians to consider the love of God for them and if it is not enough, to inspire them to live in unity of mind and heart. After all, what more could they ask God to do than to give His Son as a sacrifice for their sins? We can very easily fall into the sin of ingratitude and presumption towards the goodness of God. We tend to blame God for our troubles rather than accept the responsibility for our own sins and their consequences. This has to change if we are truly going to become disciples of Jesus.

Philippians 2:1-11
1 Brothers and sisters: If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. 3 Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, 4 each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others. 5 Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, 6 Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. 7 Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, 8 he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. 9 Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

G O S P E L

True obedience and loyalty is expressed most in deed and not just in word. The problem with words is that they are yet to be acted upon whereas deeds always leave a lasting testament to one’s intentions. It is important as disciples of Jesus that we be men and women who act upon our word and do not just speak the right words. People will respect the witness of a life without words but not the other way around.

Matthew 21:28-32
28 Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. 30 The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. 32 When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”

my reflections
think:True obedience and loyalty is expressed most in deed and not just in word.

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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 Ecclesiastes 1-4


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

Let's Do It!

Aided with a little bit of imagination, I have thought of a “sequel” to today’s gospel of the Parable of the Two Sons.
The second son (the one who said no to his father at first, but went all the same later) was there indeed, working at the vineyard. The first son, instead, actually ended up playing billiards. In the meantime, the father saw that one of his sons was working in the vineyard. Since he just saw him from afar, he didn’t recognize which of the two it was. He had no idea of what really happened. All the while he was thinking that everything was okay.

While the elder son was playing billiards, he also saw his father from afar and suddenly had qualms of conscience. Making matters worse for him was when he also saw from afar his younger brother, working in the vineyard. He never felt so sorry as then. So went to the vineyard to work as well.

Later, the father went to the vineyard and was taken aback when he saw two young men working there. Upon seeing his second son there working, he was pleasantly surprised. Then came the explanation: “I regretted what I did, and so here am I now working.” The other one also admitted the truth: that although he said yes, he actually escaped to the billiard hall to while away his time. He confessed and begged forgiveness from his father.

The father was more than willing to forgive them both. After several months, the vineyard yielded a big harvest of quality grapes. Jesus’ original parable was specifically addressed to the chief priests and elders of the Israelite people of his time. You can just imagine their consternation when told by Jesus that because of their complacency and self-righteousness, tax collectors and prostitutes are overtaking them in the race to heaven. Salvation isn’t a race to the finish line. We can gain a head start by not dilly-dallying with our repentance and conversion. Let’s not just say, “Yes, sir.” Let’s do it! Fr. Martin Macasaet

Reflection Question:
Are you dilly-dallying in responding to the Lord?

I am a self-righteous dilly-dallier, Lord. How easy to deceive myself. Save me, Lord.

St, Wenceslaus, martyr, pray for us.

September 27, 2008 (Saturday)

A JOYFUL GOD

Rejoice, O young man, while you are young…. Ward off grief from your heart. – Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

I was a playful kid. Well, I still am. As a child, the Salesians of Don Bosco reared me. These clerics were different. Yes, they taught us serious subjects like Religion and Morality. However, their influence upon me was greatest outside the classroom. They would play football and basketball with us after school, share jokes and play tricks on us during recess and tried to be “one of the guys” during our free times. Maybe that was one of the reasons why I tried entering the congregation’s Juniorate. I saw from them that it was fun to serve the Lord!
I almost always got 95 or higher in Religion. The reason? I had a blast studying it. Our teacher would draw cartoons on the blackboard to stress a point and made it fun to learn!
Today’s reading reminds us to lighten up, have fun and enjoy our youth. God is a joyful God! Things seem to work out better when we enjoy what we do. Efficiency and creativity do set in because we relax and have a clear mind. The Lord wants us to be happy and we can depend on Him to “ward off our grief.” Ariel Driz

REFLECTION:
Are you having fun following God?

Lord Jesus, I rejoice in Your love. Grant me the grace to have fun following Your ways.Amen.

COMPANION

1st READING

Our youth is a time to enjoy and offer to the Lord for Him to use as He pleases. Yes, we should follow the desires of our hearts as long as they are part of God’s plan for our lives. This is not an exhortation to do what we please, when we please, however we please. The latter is a licentious life that will lead to judgment and condemnation. The former is a life of service that will lead to judgment and salvation.

Ecclesiastes 11:9–12:8
9 Rejoice, O young man, while you are young and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart, the vision of your eyes; Yet understand that as regards all this God will bring you to judgment. 10 Ward off grief from your heart and put away trouble from your presence, though the dawn of youth is fleeting. 12: 1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come. And the years approach of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 Before the sun is darkened and the light, and the moon, and the stars, while the clouds return after the rain; 3 When the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, And the grinders are idle because they are few, and they who look through the windows grow blind; 4 When the doors to the street are shut, and the sound of the mill is low; When one waits for the chirp of a bird, but all the daughters of song are suppressed; 5 And one fears heights, and perils in the street; When the almond tree blooms, and the locust grows sluggish and the caper berry is without effect, Because man goes to his lasting home, and mourners go about the streets; 6 Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken, And the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the broken pulley falls into the well, 7 And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it.8 Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, all things are vanity!

P S A L M

Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17
R: In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
3 You turn man back to dust, saying, “Return, O children of men.” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night. (R) 5 You make an end of them in their sleep; the next morning they are like the changing grass, 6 which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades. (R) 12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. 13 Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants! (R) 14 Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. 17 And may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands! (R)

G O S P E L

Jesus makes it very clear to His disciples that all is not well in the minds and hearts of the people of Israel. A time will come when He will suffer and ultimately be put to death. The disciples had better prepare their hearts for this eventuality so that when it comes, they will not be led into despair but will be able to persevere unto the resurrection and new life.

Luke 9:43b-45
43 While they were all amazed at his every deed, he said to his disciples, 44 “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” 45 But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

my reflections
think:We should follow the desires of our hearts as long as they are part of God’s plan for our lives.

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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 Proverbs 28-31

SABBATH

Just in Case We have Questions . . .

The Gospel today seems like a sequel to that of yesterday. Or perhaps it is like an immediate “follow-up,” in the sense that Jesus’ newfound identity as Messiah has got a necessary implication: that “the Son of Man is to be handed over to men.”
But probably, just like the disciples we too are amazed and we fail to understand the whole thing. Making matters worse is that we are afraid to ask Jesus about the matter. Could it be that there is something blocking us from drawing near to the Lord? Or that some kind of fear grips and paralyzes us in our relationship with Him?
If in all honesty, it seems that the meaning of it all is so concealed that we do not comprehend it, let us humbly ask the Lord to enlighten us. Nothing is impossible if we put our trust in Him. Far from some sort of a board examination or a dissertation defense, God’s ways are not at all nerve-wracking and complex. He is plain and simple, clear and straightforward enough in His teachings and sayings, and it is in serenity and prayer that we truly encounter Him. More often than not, perhaps it is we who complicate things, and we end up prisoners of our own fears and anxieties.
The First Reading today from Ecclesiastes advises us, “Follow the ways of your heart, the vision of your eyes. Yet understand that as regards all this God will bring you to judgment.” We need not worry, for it is not a right-minus-wrong, no-copying exam of sorts. But just in case we don’t understand something and if we have questions, let us not hesitate to ask Jesus. Fr. Martin Macasaet

Reflection Question:
Is something blocking you from drawing near to the Lord?

Help me to see the things that block my drawing nearer to You.

St. Vincent de Paul, priest, pray for us.

September 26, 2008 (Friday)

GOD’S PERFECT TIME

“There is an appointed time for everything.”– Ecclesiastes 3:1

He wanted to buy a car. But he could only afford a second-hand. On his first attempt to search for a used vehicle, he received news from a friend. “Have you heard that the car of one of the residents living a few blocks from your home was stolen?”

“Is the Lord telling me something?” he wondered. So he postponed his search. After sometime, he looked again for a car. Just then, he heard that another vehicle was stolen near his area.
After a few months, he resumed his search. And for the third time, another vehicle was stolen … and it was his neighbor’s.

He gave up the idea of buying a car. Instead, he decided to wait for the Lord’s signal.
One day, he dropped by the office of a colleague. He was handed an envelope. It was his Christmas and birthday gift rolled into one. When he opened it, it was a check, the amount of which is good enough for a down payment for a brand new car.
It pays well to wait on the Lord. God’s timing is always perfect. We just need to be patient and trust His heart.Judith Concepcion

REFLECTION:

God is neither too late nor too early. He makes all things beautiful in His time.

I choose to wait on You Lord no matter how long it takes for I know You have prepared only the best for me.

COMPANION

1st READING

There is a time for everything under heaven. This seems redundant as it does not add anything to what we already know, but it is amazing how often we need to be reaffirmed in truths that we would claim to know already. How often has someone told you that God loves you? It is not likely we will tire of hearing this truth. It is important that we realize that there is a time for all things; the difficulty is learning to discern when and where. There is a time for war – to fight for truth and right. How we should do this is another matter.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

1 There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. 5 A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. 6 A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 9 What advantage has the worker from his toil? 10 I have considered the task which God has appointed for men to be busied about. 11 He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without men’s ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done.

P S A L M

Psalm 144:1b and 2abc, 3-4
R: Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
1 Blessed be the LORD, my rock, 2 my mercy and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, my shield, in whom I trust. (R) 3 LORD, what is man, that you notice him; the son of man, that you take thought of him? 4 Man is like a breath; his days, like a passing shadow. (R)

G O S P E L

In the direct prophecies of the Messiah in the Old Testament, few if any, speak of the Messiah having to suffer. Yes, it is there in the Servant Songs of Yhwh but scholars would not say that these are directly messianic prophecies. We interpret them to speak of Jesus today through the benefit of hindsight. Be that as it may, Jesus prepares His disciples for the worst with today’s prophecy of His suffering and death. It is a prophecythat in some ways we can apply to our own lives in that we, too, will be called to suffer and die to ourselves as we serve in His Kingdom.

Luke 9:18-22

18 Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They saidin reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ ” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Messiah of God.” 21 He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. 22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

my reflections

think:We, too, will be called to suffer and die to ourselves as we serve in His Kingdom.

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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 Proverbs 24-27

SABBATH

A Decisive Question From Jesus To Us

Our Gospel passage today from Luke has a parallel version by Matthew, but there is a noticeable difference in the Lucan version: the opening verse tells us that Jesus “was praying in solitude.” Truly, it was in such a context of prayer that Jesus put forth to His disciples the decisive question of His identity. It was always like that in the Gospel according to Luke, in fact, that in all the important decisions Jesus had to take in His life (see also Luke 6:12), they were always in the atmosphere of prayer.

After all, it was a crucial question indeed. Jesus had somehow to correct certain wrong notions about His identity as the Messiah. In the mind of typical Jews, the Messiah was a political leader, one whom they hoped would make Israel the number one nation in the world and who would catapult them into a position of power and prestige. Jesus had to re-educate the people about the true nature of the Messiah. Until He did, He could not reveal Himself as the Messiah.

For Jesus, it couldn’t be anything but a spiritual kingdom as against a material or political one. His crown was one not of gold, but of thorns. On our part, do we try to remake Jesus into our own image and likeness?

If Jesus were to pose the question right now to us, “Who do you say that I am?”, what would we answer? Perhaps we ourselves ought to arrive at our answer in the proper atmosphere of prayer, where we can truly attune ourselves to Jesus’ identity, familiarize ourselves with Him, and accept Him for who is really is and not just according to what the crowds say. It is a most personal question which He shoots to us time and again in our lives. And it is only from the innermost recesses of our hearts that our response should come, for it is there that we encounter Him in the first place: Jesus the Messiah — Him, and only Him, nobody else but Him — not John the Baptizer, not Elijah, not one of the prophets of old. Fr. Martin Macasaet

Reflection Question:

If Jesus were to pose the question right now to us, “Who do you say that I am?,” what would you answer?



You are many things to many people. Dear Lord, may my declarations of You be real in my life.



Sts. Cosmos & Damian, martyrs, pray for us.




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September 25, 2008 (Thursday)

NOTHING PERMANENT

“One generation passes and another comes, but the world forever stays.” – Ecclesiastes 1:4

Nothing struck me more strongly about man’s transitory nature in this world than when we had just buried our mother.

It was the week following her burial. I went to her room, and what did I see? The housedress she wore the day before she got hospitalized; the rolled stockings neatly placed on the shoes she wore the Sunday before for Mass; her hair rollers; the book she didn’t finish reading.

All these reminders made me weep, surely, but what hit me was how death really comes like a thief in the night. It catches us unprepared. One minute we are in this world, then another minute we’re gone. We all die, sooner or later. A part of us stays on in the lives of the persons we leave behind, but eventually they move on, and the world continues without us.

Death is irreversible. How it comes to us is uncertain. There’s only one thing we have control of – how we prepare for it. Tess Atienza


REFLECTION:
If I just have one more year to live, how will I spend it?


Lord, help me to look constantly at my End. I don’t want to meet my death unprepared, because I want to be with You in Your Kingdom and not anywhere else.

COMPANION

1st READING

Vanity of vanities …. All is vanity! This is an interesting text to ponder and apply to our lives. I think there is a lesson here for personal grooming. I firmly believe there is a limit to the amount of money and time we should spend on such activities, especially when they are devoted to making us look younger. It is almost as if we are trying to live a lie. The fact is that everyone gets older and their appearance changes with time. The greater freedom and truth is to accept this as a given in life and use the money on something that is far more productive and important such as the Gospel or care of the poor.

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11

2 Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! 3 What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun? 4 One generation passes and another comes, but the world forever stays. 5 The sun rises and the sun goes down; then it presses on to the place where it rises. 6 Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north, the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds. 7 All rivers go to the sea, yet never does the sea become full. To the place where they go, the rivers keep on going. 8 All speech is labored; there is nothing man can say. The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor is the ear filled with hearing. 9 What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun. 10 Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!” has already existed in the ages that preceded us. 11 There is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come will there be any remembrance among those who come after them.

P S A L M

Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17bc
R: In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
3 You turn man back to dust, saying, “Return, O children of men.” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night. (R) 5 You make an end of them in their sleep; the next morning they are like the changing grass, 6 which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades. (R) 12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. 13 Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants! (R) 14 Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. 17 Prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands! (R)

G O S P E L

Herod is a carnal man worried only about his own status in the eyes of the people and his own comfort and pleasure. He is not a model for Christian living. He shows no remorse of heart for having killed John the Baptist even though he was aware John was a good man. He is only interested in Jesus because Jesus is a charismatic and thus potentially troublesome figure for his rule. We see later that he does not lift a hand to save Jesus’ life either.

7 Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”; 8 others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” 9 But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.

my reflections

think:Vanity of vanities …. All is vanity! I think there is a lesson here for personal grooming.


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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Proverbs 21-23

SABBATH

Meeting Jesus in a More personal Way

Herod the tetrarch is both perplexed and curious about Jesus. What triggered this was Herod’s hearing of various opinions and rumors from the grapevine concerning the person or identity of Jesus. He couldn’t believe the rumor saying that Jesus was John the Baptizer who has been raised from the dead — because Herod himself was the one who had John beheaded. And so the poor guy was asking, “Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”

Was it a combination of a guilty conscience and an intrigued curiosity which was keeping Herod awake through sleepless nights? If only he just went beyond hearsay, if only he just pacified his conscience with an honest confession of his crime, if only once and for all he approached Jesus squarely and sincerely. With all his power, he could have just easily sent for Jesus and talked with him and clarified everything. But Jesus, on the other hand, would not have time for such insincere and wicked people.

What about us? Oh, surely Jesus would want to invite us into a relationship with Him. But can we, too, be like Herod at times, whereby our relationship with Jesus remains merely on the superficial level? Making matters worse for us is the reality of our sinfulness, which prevents us from coming to Jesus in a more intimate way.
A humble and sincere admission to God of our faults and failures in the Sacrament of Reconciliation is all there is to it. If we do not avail of this sacrament of God’s mercy and forgiveness, we might just remain always perplexed about our spiritual life, never getting to know Jesus Christ in a more personal way. Or we will just remain merely “curious” to see Him.

We need not worry. It is not John the Baptizer who has been raised from the dead. Nor is it Elijah or one of the prophets of old who has appeared. It is Jesus Christ — and for all we know, it is He who is just there waiting for us, and is most eager to see us. Fr. Martin Macasaet

Reflection Question:
Have you really come to Jesus?

I have avoided really coming before You, Lord, so many times. Give me courage, Lord. Remind me of Your great mercy.

St. Finbar, bishop, pray for us.


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