Daily Reading: Denunciation of the Pharisees - Lk 11:37-41

October 15, 2013
Feast of St. Teresa of Avila, virgin and doctor of the Church
28th Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Reading: Denunciation of the Pharisees
Lk 11:37:41

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



My Reflection
This gospel reflects what I've been working on myself for the past years. I've been active in the church for 6 years now, and I try my best to be a good person, but I know that I have my short comings and that sometimes, I forget how to behave and act as Jesus did in times of trial.
There are times when I hide from the people I am with in church because they might see who I am outside of service. I'm like a cup that's clean on the outside but rotten on the inside.

With God's  help, I was slowly able to overcome this. It's a slow and very difficult process, but I know God is with me, and that I can overcome this obstacle. He sent me good people to help me transform into a better Christian. Just like the Pharisee, all I needed was a wake-up call of what I have been doing wrong.

Nothing's wrong with being rotten inside, as long as you take steps to clean yourself up, to make yourself worthy of Christ's love. Everyone starts out as a sinner. Repentance is what's important. 

There are times that I tumble and I go back to being the bad old me, but as soon as I realize this, I pray for forgiveness and try to correct my actions. I know that God loves me despite my lapses in judgement, and I want to deserve that unconditional love by changing for the better.

Daily Reading: The Demand For A Sign - Lk 11:29-32

October 14, 2013
Feast of St. Callistus |, pope and martyr
28th Monday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Reading: The Demand For A Sign
Lk 11:29-32

As the crowd increased, Jesus began to speak in this way, “People of the present time are evil people. They ask for a sign, but no sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah. As Jonah became a sign for the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be a sign for this generation. The Queen of the South will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and here there is greater than Solomon. The people of Nineveh will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for Jonah’s preaching made them turn from their sins, and here there is greater than Jonah.”

Daily Reading: The Cleansing of the Ten Lepers - 17:11-19

August 13, 2013

Indigenous People Sunday

28^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Reading: The Cleansing of the Ten Lepers

Lk 17:11-19

As [Jesus] continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met (him). They stood at a distance from Him and raised their voice, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."

My Reflection

How many times have I heard people say that we should be thankful for what we have and what we receive. I took this to heart, and as much as possible, I thank God even for the littlest things. Arriving on time at work. When I find a pedicab to ride on the way out of the subdivision. I guess it takes practice to thank him for everything, and I admit, even I forget to thank Him sometimes. But when I do, I really am grateful. I acknowledge the fact that everything I am enjoying now is because God willed it to be.

When I think about it, why do we forget to thank God for the blessings that we receive? Not even God, most of the time we forget to thank people who help us. I think this is because we feel that we're entitled to what we received. We feel like we deserve it and it was supposed to be given to us, so we don't need to thank anybody for giving us what is due to us, which is actually an incorrect mindset.

If we go back to last Sunday's Gospel (The Attitude of a Servant), we're not actually entitled to anything. We are mere servants of God, and yet he treats us with love and compassion. How many of us will treat our household help the way God treats us? Do we give our household help luxuries? Do we give them expensive clothing, classy food? No we don't. And yet these are paid workers, not even servants, unlike us who are the Lord's servants. We're not entitled to anything, he's giving us what we need and what we want and most of the time we forget to say thank you.

Sometimes, I think God also thinks the same way as humans. When we do something for someone, and they say thank you, we feel happy and appreciated, and when that someone asks for help again, we do not hesitate to help. I think it's the same principle with God. The more we thank Him, the more blessings we receive. I am living proof of this. God has NEVER turned me down. I always get what I want, or something better. ALWAYS. I think it's probably because I try my best to express my gratitude.

Why not try to make it a habit to thank God. Start when you ask for something. Wait for it to be done and then thank God for it as soon as it happens. I know that will put a smile on God's face!

Daily Reading: True Blessedness - Lk 11:27-28

August 12, 2013

Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar

27^th Saturday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Reading: True Blessedness

Lk 11:27-28

While [Jesus] was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed." He replied, "Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it."


My Reflection
I love that in this gospel, Jesus tells us that we can also be blessed, as Mary was blessed. She's blessed not because she's the Mother of Jesus, but because she chose to obey God's word.

How good it is to know that we too can experience the grace of being blessed, just by keeping and living the word of God. We have a lot of ways to hear and know of God's word. We can attend mass, read the bible and join in catholic groups. But it doesn't stop there. We should take these words to heart and follow them. Hearing is not enough. We should listen to God's call and live as He wants us to. This is the path to blessedness, to heaven.

Gospel Reading: Dependence on God - Lk 12:32-48

Dependence on God

Lk 12:32-48

³²Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

³³Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.

³⁴For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. 

³⁵"Gird your loins and light your lamps 

³⁶and be like servants who await their master's return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.

³⁷Blessed 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.

³⁸And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.

³⁹Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

⁴⁰You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."

⁴¹Then Peter said, "Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?"

⁴²And the Lord replied, "Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute (the) food allowance at the proper time?

⁴³Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.

⁴⁴Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.

⁴⁵But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk,

⁴⁶then that servant's master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful.

⁴⁷That servant who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely;

⁴⁸and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.

Gospel Reading: The Transfiguration Lk 9:28b-36

Lk 9:28b-36

The Transfiguration

²⁸ [Jesus] took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. ²⁹ While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. ³⁰ And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, ³¹ who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. ³² Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. ³³ As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.: But he did not know what he was saying. ³⁴ While he was still speaking, a cloud came  and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. ³⁵ Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” ³⁶ After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen