October 5, 2008 (Sunday)

DIDACHE

Instant Noodles or Gourmet Food

Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:9

I used to be one of those who wanted quick fixes in my life. Growing up with instant noodles and fast food, I foolishly thought that personal transformation could be attained by acquiring self-help books.

I joined retreats and workshops and even two Life in the Spirit Seminars, looking for that bombastic event that would change my life. I heard dozens of testimonies from people who claimed to have been changed by God in ways that would make you think they were under Heaven’s Marketing Department. Then one time, while attending a healing retreat, a wise nun told me, “Red, healing is not an event. It’s a process. It’s not instant noodles but more of gourmet cooking. It takes a while.”

It hit me like a brick on my chest. I realized that an experience of God is not a one-time deal. It’s something that we constantly need to strive at every day of our lives. It’s a journey of saying “yes” that will lead to open other doors of “yeses.” And the more I struggle in my daily life in terms of what I learn, receive, hear and see from the Gospel, the more at peace I am with myself. Red Cerrer

REFLECTION:
Which would you prefer, instant noodles or gourmet food?

Jesus, create in me a new You each day.

COMPANION

1st READING

The only reason that this winepress brings forth sour grapes is that the people are not acting according to God’s will. The story is symbolic and teaches us that the sweetness of the fruits of our lives will be dependent upon our acting in accordance with God’s will. Yes, we may be able to achieve much using the gifts God has given us but is it what God wants us to achieve? If we move outside His will, we are moving outside the realm of His grace, and we cannot expect that all will necessarily be smooth and easy there.

Isaiah 5:1-7
1 Let me now sing of my friend, my friend’s song concerning his vineyard. My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside; 2 he spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines; within it he built a watchtower, and hewed out a wine press. Then he looked for the crop of grapes, but what it yielded was wild grapes. 3 Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. 4 What more was there to do for my vineyard that I had not done? Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? 5 Now, I will let you know what I mean to do to my vineyard. Take away its hedge, give it to grazing, break through its wall, let it be trampled! 6 Yes, I will make it a ruin. It shall not be pruned or hoed, but overgrown with thorns and briers; I will command the clouds not to send rain upon it. 7 The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his cherished plant; he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed! for justice, but hark, the outcry!

P S A L M
Psalm 80:9 and 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19- 20
R: The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
9 A vine from Egypt you transplanted; you drove away the nations and planted it. 12 It put forth its foliage to the Sea, its shoots as far as the river. (R) 13 Why have you broken down its walls, so that every passer-by plucks its fruit, 14 The boar from the forest lays it waste, and the beasts of the field feed upon it? (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) 19 Then we will no more withdraw from you; give us new life, and we will call upon your name. 20 O LORD, God of hosts, restore us; if your face shine upon us, then we shall be saved. (R)

2nd READING

Here is one of the not so well-kept secrets to becoming holy. We have to fill our minds with the truth, and all the things that come from God, rather than the lies and distractions of the world. This makes an enormous amount of sense to me. How can I expect to develop the mind and heart of God for His people if I am constantly submitting my mind to the rubbish available on TV and other forms of media, and I am rarely studying the Scriptures? Do I need to reprioritize my reading material in the light of this text in Philippians?

Philippians 4:6-9
6 Brothers and sisters: Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. 7 Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.

G O S P E L

These tenants are worse off than those in the story from the prophet Isaiah; they are deliberately seeking to usurp the land they have rented. They are not just bearing bad fruit! There are varying degrees to which we can sin, depending on what we do, or fail to do. It is important to recognize this as it is the serious sins that we need to address more urgently in our lives as these are capable of depriving us of eternal life! This is not to be taken lightly unless you want to live eternity apart from the love of God.

Matthew 21:33-43
33 Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. 34 When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. 35 But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. 36 Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. 37 Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ 39 They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” 41 They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’? 43 Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”

my reflections
think:How can I expect to develop the mind and heart of God for His people if I am constantly submitting my mind to the rubbish available on TV and other forms on TV and other forms of media, and I am rarely studying the Scriptures?

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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 Wisdom 9-12



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

THE HORROR AND TRAGEDY OF SIN

One of the important things everyone must realize is the horror and tragedy of sin. Sin is a destructive reality that needs to be avoided at all costs. There is always a better option than sin. Whenever we give in to sin, we give in to a lesser form of who we can be in the eyes of God. Jesus, in every sense, is the perfect example of this principle in that He is without sin and able to be the mediator of the New Covenant. The sinlessness of Jesus is a necessary aspect of the gift of salvation. The call to holiness that is given to every Christian as a part of his or her salvation is the call to imitate the sinless nature of Jesus’ life. This is life-long work that will challenge all of Jesus’ disciples.

The parable in today’s Gospel illustrates for us how low sin can cause people to stoop. The people who lease the vineyards are really quite stupid in thinking they can get away with killing the son of their landlord. You may agree with this sentiment or not, but before you make a final decision about it, it is important to recognize that every sin we commit is of exactly the same sort as those tenants. Every time we sin, we go against the will of God, our Creator.

Coming to a deep understanding of the full reality and nature of sin will motivate us to fight temptations to sin when they come to us. It is only in resisting them that we will deal with them decisively. If we just let temptation hang around our lives, that is, if we allow ourselves to remain in the company of sin and sinners without doing something to correct the situation, we will ultimately succumb to the temptation. The wise man or woman will flee from sin as soon as he or she realizes that that is what he or she is dealing with. Fr. Steve Tynan

Reflection Question:
How decisively do I deal with sin in my life? Am I truly aware of the nature of sin and thus horrified even by the thought of entertaining it, let alone doing it?

Jesus, help me to realize that to deal with sin will require radical decisions on my part. Grant me the grace to make these decisions as soon as possible.

St. Flora, virgin, pray for us.

October 4, 2008 (Saturday)

DIDACHE

SAVIOR

“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.” – Luke 10:17

My friend Nette and her toddler were looking at a Children’s Bible one night. The child read several more stories, until he got to the part where Jesus died on the Cross. He almost always skips this because the images and descriptions of Jesus dying and suffering made him sad and upset. He read on.

“See here, Nanay. Jesus is wearing a crown of thorns, it’s not a real crown, and it’s painful.... It says here, ‘Jesus wants to help us live with God in heaven. When we sin, we can’t go there. But Jesus died to take away our sin. He wants to be our Savior. He will if we ask. Will you ask Him?’”

He stopped and appeared to be considering the question. And Nette felt the Spirit telling her to give her son a gentle nudge.

“Do you want to ask Jesus to be your Savior?” asked the mother “Yes,” answered the boy and immediately prayed, “Jesus, will You please be my Savior?” Then he paused a bit, looking up at the ceiling. “Thank You, Jesus. Amen.”

Simply amazing! All of us should take our cue from the faith of children. Jun Asis

REFLECTION:
Has our faith succumbed to the complexity of adult life? Can our faith be as simple as that of a child?

Lord, grant that we may be childlike in faith. May we learn to pray like a child, in all simplicity and sincerity.

COMPANION

1st READING

St. Francis of Assisi is one of the best-loved saints. He truly gave his life in service of the Kingdom of God after his conversion, and experienced a far greater abundance of blessing than Job. The blessings we read that Job received are all here and now (except that of family and kin), but Francis seemed to live with a special understanding of God’s presence with him. Nothing, and I mean nothing, seemed to cause him to doubt. The order he found has been one of the greatest blessings the Church has received in terms of evangelizing zeal.

Job 42: 1-3, 5-6, 12-17
1 Then Job answered the LORD and said: 2 I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. 3 I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know. 5 I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you. 6 Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes. 12 Thus the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his earlier ones. For he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. 13 And he had seven sons and three daughters, 14 of whom he called the first Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. 15 In all the land no other women were as beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brethren. 16 After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; and he saw his children, his grandchildren, and even his great-grandchildren. 17 Then Job died, old and full of years.

P S A L M

Psalm 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130
R: Lord, let your face shine on me.
66 Teach me wisdom and knowledge, for in your commands I trust. (R) 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes. (R) 75 I know, O LORD, that your ordinances are just, and in your faithfulness you have afflicted me. (R) 91 According to your ordinances they still stand firm; all things serve you. (R) 125 I am your servant; give me discernment that I may know your decrees. (R) 130 The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple. (R)

G O S P E L

Jesus sent out His disciples to evangelize. Francis followed the same model with his brothers. In my formation to become a priest, we attempted to imitate this model as well. There was something liberating about traveling around with no money and only the Gospel to share with others. I think it is probably harder to do that today than a few centuries ago because of the mindset of people now. But that did not stop us receiving many blessings over a two-week mission. God does provide for His own!

Luke 10:17-24
17 The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” 18 Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. 19 Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” 21 At that very moment he rejoiced [in] the holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” 23 Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

my reflections
think: God does provide for His own!

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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 Wisdom 5-8

SABBATH

GOD DESIRES THE BEST FOR US

God will always give us everything we need to live the life of a disciple. In today’s Gospel, Jesus rejoices in the fact that the disciples realize they have been given power over the devil in order to proclaim the Kingdom of God. It is the same for us all. Through the Sacrament of Baptism, we all share in the victory of Christ over sin. Just like the disciples of Jesus, it is up to us to appropriate this victory and use it for the glory of the Kingdom of God.

People often complain to me that they never experience this so-called “victory” over sin. My first response is usually to ask them whether or not they are serious about following Jesus as His disciple. The conversation that follows normally reveals a half-hearted attempt at discipleship and a corresponding half-experience of the power of God in the persons life. We must realize that the Christian life is not about God handing to us everything we want on a platter. We must be committed in living our lives as His disciples. Without this, it is not possible for us to receive the fullness of all God offers us because we will not really know what it is that He offers us nor how to put the graces into practice in our lives.

Discipleship is a way of life, not just an addendum to the life we live in the world. In fact, discipleship must come before all other commitments if we are truly going to give Jesus His rightful place in our lives. This is what most of us fail to grasp as well as what it means to have faith in God and to place our trust in Him. We fail to approach this way of life on the terms given to us by God and try to live it on our own terms. This will ultimately fail as Christianity is all about following Jesus, not our own will. Fr. Steve Tynan

Reflection Question:
What are the priorities of my life at this time? How can I improve their order, if necessary?

Holy Spirit, help me to honestly look at my life and set right my priorities according to Your will and not my own.

St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan Order, pray for us.

October 3, 2008 (Friday)

DIDACHE

MOST INFLUENTIAL

“Have you minded the breadth of the earth? Tell me if you know all this.” – Job 38:18

“The Most Influential People in the World,” read the banner story of an international magazine. It was referring to individualswho, by virtue of their character, their drives and their dreams, changed the world and made history. They were presented under the classification of leaders and revolutionaries, heroes and pioneers, scientists and thinkers, artists and entertainers, builders and titans. Because of their influence, people listen, follow, believe and emulate them.

But the reality is that their knowledge and sphere of influence plus the power, authority, and prestige that go with it are limited to that category only. Nothing more.

God authors everything. He alone is the most influential in this world. If only we listen, believe, obey and follow Him, His goodness, blessings and beauty will abound. Without limit. Without boundary. In Him, there should be no room for questions, doubt, fear, sadness or conflict within us. Marie Franco

REFLECTION:
Who do I believe in? Who do I follow? Who do I trust to make a difference in this world?

My Lord God, You are the Most High. It is in You that all beauty, goodness, and truth have their roots. I entrust my life to You.

St. Adalgott, bishop and comforter of the poor, pray for us.

COMPANION

1ST READING

God is not being sarcastic when He asks Job if he has ever commanded the morning to come or sent a star to its post. He is just asking Job to reflect upon the truth – namely, who is the one here with true authority and the right to question. Job is forced to admit that he has spoken ‘out of turn’ and that he will not do so anymore. He has listened to the urgings of his friends long enough and now will take counsel from his own heart and stop the questioning, and be ready to submit to God’s wisdom in his life. God knows the pressures upon Job and will not hold his actions against him.

Job 38: 1,12-21; 40: 3-5
1 The LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said: 12 Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning and shown the dawn its place 13 for taking hold of the ends of the earth, till the wicked are shaken from its surface? 14 The earth is changed as is clay by the seal, and dyed as though it were a garment; 15 but from the wicked the light is withheld, and the arm of pride is shattered. 16 Have you entered into the sources of the sea, or walked about in the depths of the abyss? 17 Have the gates of death been shown to you, or have you seen the gates of darkness? 18 Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell me, if you know all: 19 which is the way to the dwelling place of light, and where is the abode of darkness, 20 that you may take them to their boundaries and set them on their homeward paths? 21 You know, because you were born before them, and the number of your years is great! 3 Then Job answered the LORD and said: 4 Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you? I put my hand over my mouth. 5 Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again; though twice, I will do so no more.

P S A L M

Psalm 139: 1-3, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14ab
R: Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
1 O LORD, you have probed me and you know me; 2 you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. 3 My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar. (R) 7 Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I sink to the nether world, you are present there. (R) 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall guide me, and your right hand hold me fast. (R) 13 Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. 14 I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works. (R)

G O S P E L

Obviously, the people from these towns have demonstrated an arrogance of heart represented by a refusal to repent and follow Jesus. What else can Jesus say to them? What more can Jesus say to anyone who refuse to repent when confronted with their need to do so? Anyone who claims they have no need to repent is obviously deluded as we know all people have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.

Luke 10:13-16
13 Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ ” 16 Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

my reflections
think: Anyone who claims they have no need to repent is obviously deluded as we know all people have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.

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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 Wisdom 1-4



SABBATH


WHAT DO YOU REALLY KNOW?

Today, we hear God challenge Job to make a stand on what he knows and to be forthright about it. Job answers truthfully that his answers have been somewhat frivolous, and he agrees that it is time to address the issues seriously. He realizes that he does not have greater knowledge than God when it comes to the questions under discussion, and thus he needs to defer to God’s wisdom in these matters and that is that.

Job and his so-called friends or advisers have been discussing the nature of the problem of evil. Why is it that good people suffer and evil people prosper? This question does not have a simple answer. It is full of mystery and problems as often, there is no satisfactory answer on the subject of suffering from the point of view of logic or justice. As soon as we venture into the realms of evil, we enter intothe world of injusticeand sin. Here there is no “good logic” or justice concerning the events of the world. All a person can do is address the situations in which they find themselves and apply the moral law to them as best as they can. No amount of analysis is going to be able to make sense of the consequences of sin since its very nature is illogical and fundamentally disordered.

God’s definitive answer to the problem of evil is found in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Here we see how God addresses the sin and defeats it forever. His victory is so great it is even made available to us freely through faith. I wonder what Job would have to say to that? Anyway, what is important to note is that God defeats sin and evil not by fighting it on its own terms, but through His own – namely, love and forgiveness. This introduced us to a new type of logic and justice that is capable of addressing the disorder and injustice of sin. It is up to us to follow or not the lead of Jesus and combat evil in the same way He did. Fr. Steve Tynan

Reflection Question:
Do I often wonder about the injustice of sin? Have I ever looked at this issue from the point of view of Jesus’ suffering and death?

Jesus, there was no justice for You in Your death on the cross. Help me to realize that as Your disciple there may be no justice for me until eternal life.

St. Adalgott, bishop and comforter of the poor, pray for us.

October 2, 2008 (Thursday)

DIDACHE

Memorial of the Guardian Angels

FOLLOW THE TEACHERS

... my own eyes, not another’s, shall behold him... – Job 19:26

I just came from watching a classroom of toddlers perform a dance number for a special program. I was quite impressed with some kids who performed with perfect timing and gusto.

When I traced their line of vision, I discovered why these kids stood out. They were looking directly at their teacher who was gesturing right along with the music. The other kids simply didn’t pay attention or chose to do their own thing so they didn’t do their presentations well.

It reminds me that as Christians, we have to keep our eyes on our Great Teacher, Jesus Christ. We have to follow all He does and never assume that we already know what we’re doing. That way, we can go through life with correct actions and perfect confidence. Who knows, maybe we can even inspire others to follow Him! Cecil

REFLECTION:
Do you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and follow His every action?

Thank You, Lord, for showing me what to do.

COMPANION

1st READING

The Feast of the Guardian Angels is a constant reminder to us of God’s desire to be a part of every aspect of our life. Our Guardian Angel has been given to us to help preserve us from sin, and to be a guide and protector as we seek to put God’s will in place in our lives. It is not that He can over-rule our freewill – He cannot, but He will do what He can to direct us away from sin and danger, and closer to the heart and mind of God for our lives.

Exodus 23: 20-23 (or Job 19: 21-27)
20 “See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. 21 Be attentive to him and heed his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority resides in him. 22 If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. 23 “My angel will go before you and bring you to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites; and I will wipe them out.

P S A L M

Psalm 91: 1-2, 3-4ab, 4c-6, 10-11 (or Psalm 27:7-8a, 8b-9abc, 13-14)

R: The Lord has put angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.

1 You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, 2 Say to the LORD, “My refugeand my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (R) 3 For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler, from the destroying pestilence. 4 With his pinions he will cover you, and under his wings you shall take refuge. (R) His faithfulness is a buckler and a shield. 5 You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day; 6 nor the pestilence that roams in darkness nor the devastating plague at noon. (R) 10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall affliction come near your tent, 11 for to his angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. (R)

G O S P E L

The whole idea of Guardian Angels may seem to smack of a certain paternalism and inability to allow us to be free in the choices we make. Nothing could be less true! God, realizing our propensity to sin, decided to give each of us a companion to help us remain true to Him. It is out of love for us that God assigned us a Guardian Angel. We are free to befriend him or reject him according to our humility and willingness to accept all the help we are given to be God’s disciple.

Matthew 18: 1-5, 10 (or Luke 10: 1-12 )
1 The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a child over, placed it in their midst, 3 and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. 10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.

my reflections
think: It is out of love for us that God assigned us a Guardian Angel.

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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 Songs 5-8

SABBATH

WHAT IS TRUE GREATNESS?

I think the above question is one of the most difficult we will ever have to answer. The concept of “true greatness” seems to indicate that the answer we are looking for here will have some sort of universal significance. It is the use of the word “true” that gives it this extra character. “True greatness” is probably a description that we can apply to a person whose significance to the world has been universal. If this is the case, perhaps only Jesus Christ can be called “truly great” as it is only through Him that we can have eternal life.

Perhaps those who have made scientific advances that served all the people of the world would also fall into this category, but the salvific work of Jesus is greater still because it is offered to us free. Enough said about the debate regarding greatness though. What is more important is that each try to emulate the greatness of Jesus as we live as His disciples. One of the aspects of Jesus’ greatness is His commitment to live a life of service to others. There is nothing stopping any of us from doing that. Even if it is true that our greatness will never reach the heights as that of Jesus, we can still seek to imitate aspects of His greatness.

This is what Jesus is encouraging us to do as He exhorts us to be like little children in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It is always a timely reminder for us that making judgments in the world are often very different to those in the Kingdom of God. The world seeks to exalt the individual and his or her needs whereas the Kingdom of Heaven is focused upon humility and service. If we take on too much of the thinking of the world, we will find it next to impossible to understand and comply with the demands of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus knows this temptation and so He often reminds His disciples to grow in humility, service and the knowledge of God and His ways. Fr. Steve Tynan

Reflection Question:
What are the things that determine the “greatness” of a person? Do I see greatness from a biblical point of view?

Father, You are not concerned with how we measure up to the values of the world. Your concern is that we prepare ourselves well for Heaven.

St. Leger, blessed and martyr, pray for us.

October 1, 2008 (Wednesday)

DIDACHE

KEEP PLOWING

“Anyone who starts to plow and then keeps looking back is of no use for the Kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62

When people ask me, “How are you able to do all that you do?” I always answer, “I’ve got great friends.” Let me introduce some of them.

Pio Español left a lucrative job to work fulltime as a leader of the Light of Jesus Community (LOJC). He now serves as our missionary in America and Canada. Hermie Morelos, despite being the president of a huge company and father of five kids, still managed to serve as the leader of LOJC for many years. Jill Ramiscal was president of a couple of San Miguel subsidiaries, yet served God managing Shepherd’s Voice, the publisher of Didache. After his retirement, instead of playing golf the whole day, he has chosen to continue serving God as our president. Roy Pasimio is our missionary to New Zealand and Australia. Even while he cares for a daughter with cancer, he continues to preach and build communities. And Tim Duran, at 68, still serves as over-all director for Anawim.

These five men are just a part of the team who serves with me. They served and they’re still at it, year in and year out.

Dear reader, imitate my great friends. Bo Sanchez

REFLECTION:
Keep plowing. Never look back.

Lord, hone my skills, make me of good use for Your Kingdom.

COMPANION

1st READING

Job is certain that is not his place to challenge the wisdom of God. He cannot believe that God would be in the wrong. He is right, of course; nevertheless, it seems that Job’s arguments are not good enough for some people today who regularly question whether God knows what He is doing with them, or more broadly, with the world.

Job 9: 1-12 , 14-16
1 Job answered and said: 2 I know well that it is so; but how can a man be justified before God? 3 Should one wish to contend with him, he could not answer him once in a thousand times. 4 God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has withstood him and remained unscathed? 5 He removes the mountains before they know it; he overturns them in his anger. 6 He shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars beneath it tremble. 7 He commands the sun, and it rises not; he seals up the stars. 8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the crests of the sea. 9 He made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south; 10 he does great things past finding out, marvelous things beyond reckoning. 11 Should he come near me, I see him not; should he pass by, I am not aware of him; 12 should he seize me forcibly, who can say him nay? Who can say to him, “What are you doing?” 14 How much less shall I give him any answer, or choose out arguments against him! 15 Even though I were right, I could not answer him, but should rather beg for what was due me. 16 If I appealed to him and he answered my call, I could not believe that he would hearken to my words.

P S A L M

Psalm 88: 10bc-11, 12-13, 14-15
R: Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
9 [10] Daily I call upon you, O LORD; to you I stretch out my hands. 10 [11] Will you work wonders for the dead? Will the shades arise to give you thanks? (R) 11 [12] Do they declare your mercy in the grave, your faithfulness among those who have perished? 12 [13] Are your wonders made known in the darkness, or your justice in the land of oblivion? (R) 13 [14] But I, O LORD, cry out to you; with my morning prayer I wait upon you. 14 [15] Why, O LORD, do you reject me; why hide from me your face? (R)

G O S P E L

Jesus tells His disciples that the decision to follow Him has consequences. One of those consequences is that we are not to return or look back on our original way of life. That is, if we choose to follow Him, we recognize that this is exclusive of the other options in our life! We know this and are happy to make the decision. It may not be easy to exclude certain options from our life, but this is exactly what discipleship is all about.

Luke 9: 57-62
57 As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” 59 And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” 60 But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” 62 Jesus answered him, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”

my reflections
think: If we choose to follow Jesus, we recognize that this is exclusive of the other options in our life!

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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 Songs 1-4


PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT
The ultimate purpose of my life
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GOALS FOR THE QUARTER
Priority areas God wants me to work on
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PRAYER SHEET FOR
Things I will pray for regularly
MY LIFE

DATE PERSONAL NEED DATE GOD’S ANSWERS
When I “Until now, you have not When the “Ask and you shall receive,
started asked for anything in My Name.” answer that your joy may be full.”
praying - John 16: 24a came - John 16: 24b

PRAYER SHEET FOR

Things I will pray for regularly MY LIFE

EVANGELISM LIST CARING LIST
People God wants me to People God wants me to
bring closer to Him pray for and show more love to

SABBATH

LIVING WITH THE CHOICES WE MAKE

One of the signs of a person of integrity is their willingness to see through to the end the projects they start. Jesus reflects this idea in the Gospel when He tells His disciples that once they start out on the path of discipleship, turning back is never an option to consider. In other words, as we set out to follow Jesus, let us be sure that we are ready to follow this decision through whatever difficulties and hardships we might encounter.

Unfortunately, one of the attitudes that seems to be growing more and more prevalent, particularly in young people, is that of giving up as soon as any sort of difficulty or hardship arises in the course of their lives. This often occurs within marriages. Nearly half of all marriages end in separation or divorce because couples are unwilling to work through difficulties that occur in their relationships. Thus, the response when a difficulty arises is to run away from it and give up on the marriage. Such a response makes a mockery of commitment and true love. True love will not be daunted by the size of any problem. It will always find a way to overcome any difficulty.

Therese of Lisieux is looked on as a saint whose vocation was to love. She desired many things in her life and discovered that she could achieve them all through loving the people God placed in her life. Therese discovered this was not always easy. Some of the most difficult people to love are those we are closest! Yet, God will always give us the grace to find a way to love them because He is a God of love. Therese stands as a great example to us of what it means to see through a commitment to the end no matter what it entails for us. In being faithful to her call, she discovered that her desires could be fulfilled, though in ways that at first she was unaware were possible.

As we think today of the many commitments we have made to God, ourselves and others, let us allow the example of Therese and her intercession to inspire and help us to be faithful to them all. Fr. Steve Tynan

Reflection Question:
Do I finish the things I begin? Am I committed to following Jesus as His disciple no matter where He leads me?

Holy Spirit, thank You for Your grace and strength in my life. Help me to be faithful to God’s call in all its details and to persevere in it to the end.

St. Bavo, hermit, pray for us.