November 27, 2011

Waiting

So that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 1: 7


Gina and I got married in 1997. We still had no baby in 1998. The following year came and went. In 2000 she finally tested positive. We were going to have a baby! Arrangements and provisions were made: bedding, clothes, room and paraphernalia. We researched about pregnancy and babies. We made sure that Gina and our coming child were healthy.

But these preparations were nothing compared to our anticipation of holding her, seeing her face, watching her sleep, kissing her, hearing her laugh and cry and play and do all sorts of baby stuff. We couldn’t wait for her to be born!

Advent is a time of waiting, too. We celebrate God’s redeeming love but we also look forward to God’s blessings for the coming year. What will God reveal to you this Christmas? Can you picture how the Lord will manifest His love for you next year, how He will bless you?

Think of the best things that God will do for you. You will be surprised that He will exceed your expectations. You will surely not wait in vain.Jun Asis (mabuting.balita@gmail.com)


REFLECTION:
Advent is waiting with joy in our hearts, anticipating the wonders the Lord has in store for us.


Lord, I can barely contain my excitement for Your coming. You bring good tidings and true happiness to my life. Come, Lord Jesus!

COMPANION

1st READING

The Prophet Isaiah is aware of the people’s infidelities and unfaithfulness to God, yet he hopes in the goodness and mercy of God to deliver and save them. We see from this text that even repentance and conversion are God’s gifts to us. We are helpless and totally lost without God’s help. We should never lose hope in God for He is our Father who tenderly watches over us, His children, lest we stray too far.


Isaiah 63:16-17, 19; 64:2-7
16 You, LORD, are our father, our redeemer you are named forever. 17 Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage. 19 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
with the mountains quaking before you, 64: 2 while you wrought awesome deeds we could not hope for, 3 such as they had not heard of from of old.No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you doing such deeds for those who wait for him. 4 Would that you might meet us doing right, that we were mindful of you in our ways! Behold, you are angry, and we are sinful; 5 all of us have become like unclean men, all our good deeds are like polluted rags; we have all withered like leaves, and our guilt carries us away like the wind. 6 There is none who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to cling to you; for you have hidden your face from us and have delivered us up to our guilt. 7 Yet, O LORD, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter we are all the work of your hands.

P S A L M

Psalms 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
R: Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
2 O shepherd of Israel, hearken, from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth. 3 Rouse your power, and come to save us. (R) 15 Once again, O LORD of hosts, look down from heaven, and see;  take care of this vine, 16 and protect what your right hand has planted the son of man whom you yourself made strong. (R) 18 May your help be with the man of your right hand, with the son of man whom you yourself made strong. 19 Then we will no more withdraw from you; give us new life, and we will call upon your name. (R)

2nd READING

Paul’s prayers indicates to us that the power for Christian living resides in Jesus Christ. I once read a book by Colin Urquhart called In Christ Jesus.Here I was presented with the challenge, of which St. Paul would be in total agreement, to make the choice to live in and with Christ and not in my own power and according to my own wisdom. It sounds easy and logical, but to practice this every day requires an enormous level of commitment.




1 Corinthians 1:3-9
3 Brothers and sisters: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge, 6 as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

G O S P E L

Advent is a time for us to reassess our lives of discipleship and to make necessary changes. The priests wear purple vestments to symbolize that this is a season of conversion. Am I alert and attentive to the action and voice of the Holy Spirit in my life? Am I growing in love of God and my neighbor? Am I becoming more sensitive or less sensitive to sin in my life? These questions can help us take stock and see how we are advancing in our spiritual walk. Let us use this season of Advent to renew our spiritual vigor and love for God.


ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Show us, Lord, your love; and grant us your salvation.
R: Alleluia, alleluia


Mark 13:33-37
33 Jesus said to his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. 35 Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. 36 May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’ ”


my reflections
t h i n k : Let us use this season of Advent to take stock and see how we are advancing in our spiritual walk.


God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________


T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________


_______________________________________________________


READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Romans 1-4
 SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

SABBATH

THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS

A beautiful song, “The Potter’s Hand,” describes God as the potter who molds us into His own awesome work of art. It is the first Sunday of Advent. As we begin a new liturgical year, we renew ourselves with the truth that we are God’s children, the work of His hands. Today’s first reading reminds us again that we are the clay and God is the potter.

Pottery is a wonderful craft —extremely time consuming, constantly dirty, always awkward, yet very rewarding. Imagine what the potter beholds after he completes his hard work. The potter’s hands are constantly dirty. God, similar to the potter, comes to us in our mess. We remember at this time Christ who was born for us into the messiness of humanity’s sin.

Pottery is time consuming. Many times the potter has to remold and reshape the work until it becomes perfect. In the heat of the kiln, time flies as the clay dries up and is fashioned according to the mind of the creator.

Clay is very awkward. It takes a lot of patience to shape and mold the wet clay that too often slips in the potter’s hands. If the potter’s hands are not strong and steady, the clay goes whichever way it wills. Thus, the image of the clay and potter is an apt image as we begin this Advent season.

Advent is a time of preparation. We prepare our hearts like clay before the Potter, Creator God. Our hearts have wandered away from the Lord, hardened and obstinate, unwilling to submit to God’s love and care. The prophet tells us we have become like polluted rags, withered leaves. It is time to call upon the Redeemer, the all-powerful Potter to reshape and fashion us according to His likeness and image.

Let us rejoice again in our Creator God, the Potter, whose hands are steady and strong, ready to uphold us again in His mighty power and merciful love. We are messy sinners, wet clay, needing the Redeemer to bring us back into His loving presence. We need the warmth of His love, like the kiln, to purify us and bring the work of His hands to completion.Fr. Brian Steele, MGL


Reflection Question:
You are like wet, supple clay, ready for the Lord to work on this season of Advent.


Melt me, mold me, use me, walk beside me. I give myself to the Potter’s hands.


Blessed Michael Takeshita, pray for us.

November 6, 2011 (Sunday)

DIDACHE

A CHANNEL OF GOD’S HELP

 

She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of men’s desire. – Wisdom 6:13 

As I write this, I am amazed at how God has continued to use me in unexpected ways — mostly to meet other people’s needs.

At a time when there was not even a hint of publishing non-book products, the idea of an inspirational perpetual calendar popped into my head. A few months later, the idea was put to good use when our company president asked us to think of other products to sell. With Bo’s approval, the idea turned into reality.

Another time, I got a call from one of our counselors. A counselee wanted to apply as a writer in our publication. We weren’t hiring, so I just told her to let the person send in her resume. A few weeks later, I overheard our events organizer and her boss discussing about a need to hire a marketing person. Suddenly, I remembered the person, whose  redentials met their needs. Last I heard she’s about to start working for our events group.

There have been numerous instances of this kind in my life. Call it serendipity, but I believe the Holy Spirit knows what God’s people need even before we’re aware of it, and uses other people to channel His help. Tess V. Atienza (svp_tvatienza@yahoo.com)

REFLECTION:
How open and sensitive am I to the leadings of the Holy Spirit?
 
Lord, make me more sensitive to Your promptings in my life. I offer myself to be used as a channel of Your help for other people.
   

COMPANION

1st READING 

Here, wisdom is personified as a wise counselor who seeks to help and guide us. Wisdom, if we value her, will watch over our plans and help us make them successful . She will prevent us from rushing impetuously into plans and schemes that are ill considered and imprudent.
 
Wisdom 6:12-16
12 Resplendent and unfading is Wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her. 13 She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of men’s desire; 14 he who watches for her at dawn shall not be disappointed, for he shall find her sitting by his gate. 15 For taking thought of wisdom is the perfection of prudence, and he who for her sake keeps vigil shall quickly be free from care; 16 because she makes her own rounds, seeking those worthy of her, and graciously appears to them in the ways, and meets them with all solicitude.
 
P S A L M 

Psalms 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
R: My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

1 [2] O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. (R) 2 [3] Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory, 3 [4] for your kindness is a greater good than life; my lips shall glorify you. (R) 4 [5] Thus will I bless you while I live; lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name. 5 [6] As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied, and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. (R) 6 [7] I will remember you upon my couch, and through the night watches I will meditate on you: 7 [8] you are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. (R)
 
2nd READING 
Some Christians at Thessalonica had the mistaken idea that the Lord had already come and they were afraid that they had been left behind. St. Paul makes it clear that the Lord will come in power with His angels and those who are alive when He returns will be caught up in the air and not taste death. The dead will hear His voice and rise to eternal life. This is one of the great consolations that we have as Christians — that we shall share eternal life with God in our resurrected and perfected bodies.
 
1Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, console one another with these words.
 
G O S P E L

Oil is often used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit in the Bible and in the sacraments of the Church. The parable of the Virgins teaches us the need to continue to let the Holy Spirit animate our lives. We need to stay alert and vigilant, or we may miss the moment of His coming and be found unprepared. By our daily prayer and spiritual exercises, the light of faith and love can continue to burn in our hearts.
 
ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Stay awake and be ready! For you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
R: Alleluia, alleluia 

Matthew 25:1-13
1 Jesus told his disciples this parable: “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, 4 but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. 11 Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ 12 But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
 
my reflections

t h i n k : By our daily prayer and spiritual exercises, the light of faith and love can continue to burn in our hearts.
 

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________

_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
 
_______________________________________________________
 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Matthew 13-16

SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
 

SABBATH

ARE YOU READY? 

The wedding ceremony in the Jewish culture is a very elaborate celebration and often drawn out. Normally, the celebration would occur in the house of the bride’s father. The virgins, unmarried young women, would keep watch for the bridegroom’s arrival. At a moment’s notice, they should be ready to inform the bride of his arrival. The torches were long poles with oil-drenched rags on top. Charred ends of the rags were cut and trimmed. One needed to have plenty of oil to keep it burning, usually replenished every 15 minutes.

The whole point of the story is that we must keep watch and stay awake because we do not know when the Lord will come again. The bridegroom is late in his arrival and so naturally, the virgins fell asleep. They all became drowsy. When the call of the bridegroom’s arrival came, there was much panic. Trimming their lamps, the foolish ones realized they had no more oil left. They sought favor from the others but the wise virgins were in a predicament because it would mean they too would be lacking. When they hurried off to the merchants in the middle of the night, they returned with the door closed on them. The trouble was that they were not ready.

We must always be vigilant and keep the oil in our lamp burning. Every one of us has a responsibility to keep our torches (faith) lit with the oil (charity). By our good deeds, we will meet the Lord as soon as He arrives and takes us to Himself. The oil is the charity, the love expressed in faith through our actions. It would be a terrible thing to find at the Lord’s coming the door closed on us. Once locked, it cannot be opened. The great shame is that these women were there all along, waiting. It was because of their unprepared resources that they missed out. If only they had the resources, the joy would have been theirs to celebrate. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL
 
Reflection Question:
How are you keeping the oil burning?
 
Lord, I pray for the grace to be vigilant, watchful and waiting for the hour of Your coming. Amen.
 
St. Barlaam, pray for us.

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.

_________________________________________________________

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
_______________________________________________________

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.

_________________________________________________________

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
_______________________________________________________

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.