Daily Reflections

April 11, 2011
GO AND SIN NO MORE

The question that comes to mind: Where is the man? It takes two to commit adultery. I feel very sorry for the woman in the Gospel today. Of course, her sin is not to be excused. However, it is the utter wickedness of the religious authorities to have this woman publicly displayed in her shame and nakedness. Perhaps the man ran away or had been given an excuse to disappear.
Adultery is a very serious crime and an unfaithful act on the part of the spouse who engages in this action. It is a betrayal of trust, love and fidelity. The spouse willingly gives himself or herself to another person in the act of sexual love without considering the consequences. It can shatter the hopes and faith of a married couple. It is very selfish and is to be seriously condemned.
However, Jesus thinks differently. In the end, He asks the woman if anyone has condemned her. With a gracious and forgiving act, Jesus forgives her and tells her to move on and sin no more. Can you imagine how the woman felt? How liberating it must have been that day to have her life spared and to leave her life of sin.
If anyone of us has sinned, then we all have committed adultery in a way. We are no more perfect than the woman, caught in the very act of adultery. All sin is a betrayal of trust in and fidelity to the Lord. When we sin, we betray our relationship with the Lord who deserves all our love and fidelity. All of us have given over to lust, pride and gluttony (1 John 2:16). Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

Reflection Question:
Go and leave your life of sin. Lord, help me dwell in the light of Your presence. Help me to leave my life of sin. I pray for detachment from sin and its inordinate attachments. Amen.

St. Domnio, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

1st READINGin one year

Justice in the world can at times be blinded to the truth. I am sure that there have been many wrong judgments. In the ones that are deliberately corrupted, those who conspire against justice will have to pay a very heavy price when they come before God. Those that are honest mistakes we have to entrust to the Lord and His mercy. We must always seek to improve the justice system so that it is truly fair and impartial.

Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62
1 In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim, 2 who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah; 3 her pious parents had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses. 4 Joakim was very rich; he had a garden near his house, and the Jews had recourse to him often because he was the most respected of them all. 5 That year, two elders of the people were appointed judges, of whom the Lord said, “Wickedness has come out of Babylon: from the elders who were to govern the people as judges.” 6 These men, to whom all brought their cases, frequented the house of Joakim. 7 When the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband’s garden for a walk. 8 When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk, they began to lust for her. 9 They suppressed their consciences; they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven, and did not keep in mind just judgments. 15 One day, while they were waiting for the right moment, she entered the garden as usual, with two maids only. She decided to bathe, for the weather was warm. 16 Nobody else was there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were watching her. 17 “Bring me oil and soap,” she said to the maids, “and shut the garden doors while I bathe.” 19 As soon as the maids had left, the two old men got up and hurried to her. 20 “Look,” they said, “the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us; give in to our desire, and lie with us. 21 If you refuse, we will testify against you that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you.” 22 “I am completely trapped,” Susanna groaned. “If I yield, it will be my death; if I refuse, I cannot escape your power. 23 Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord.” 24 Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her, 25 as one of them ran to open the garden doors. 26 When the people in the house heard the cries from the garden, they rushed in by the side gate to see what had happened to her. 27 At the accusations by the old men, the servants felt very much ashamed, for never had any such thing been said about Susanna. 28 When the people came to her husband Joakim the next day, the two wicked elders also came, fully determined to put Susanna to death. Before all the people they ordered: 29 “Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim.” When she was sent for, 30 she came with her parents, children and all her relatives. 33 All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping. 34 In the midst of the people the two elders rose up and laid their hands on her head. 35 Through her tears she looked up to heaven, for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly. 36 The elders made this accusation: “As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman entered with two girls and shut the doors of the garden, dismissing the girls. 37 A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her. 38 When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime, we ran toward them. 39 We saw them lying together, but the man we could not hold, because he was stronger than we; he opened the doors and ran off. 40 Then we seized this one and asked who the young man was, 41 but she refused to tell us. We testify to this.” The assembly believed them, since they were elders and judges of the people, and they condemned her to death. 42 But Susanna cried aloud: “O eternal God, you know what is hidden and are aware of all things before they come to be: 43 you know that they have testified falsely against me. Here I am about to die, though I have done none of the things with which these wicked men have charged me.” 44 The Lord heard her prayer. 45 As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel, 46 and he cried aloud: “I will have no part in the death of this woman.” 47 All the people turned and asked him, “What is this you are saying?” 48 He stood in their midst and continued, “Are you such fools, O Israelites! To condemn a woman of Israel without examination and without clear evidence? 49 Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her.” 50 Then all the people returned in haste. To Daniel the elders said, “Come, sit with us and inform us, since God has given you the prestige of old age.” 51 But he replied, “Separate these two far from one another that I may examine them.” 52 After they were separated one from the other, he called one of them and said: “How you have grown evil with age! Now have your past sins come to term: 53 passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent, and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says, ‘The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.’ 54 Now, then, if you were a witness, tell me under what tree you saw them together.” 55 “Under a mastic tree,” he answered. “Your fine lie has cost you your head,” said Daniel; “for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him and split you in two.” 56 Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought. “Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah,” Daniel said to him, “beauty has seduced you, lust has subverted your conscience. 57 This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel, and in their fear they yielded to you; but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness. 58 Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together.” 59 “Under an oak,” he said. “Your fine lie has cost you also your head,” said Daniel; “for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two so as to make an end of you both.” 60 The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those that hope in him. 61 They rose up against the two elders, for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury. According to the law of Moses, they inflicted on them the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor: 62 they put them to death. Thus was innocent blood spared that day.

P S A L M

Psalms 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6
R: Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; 3 he refreshes my soul. (R) He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. (R) 5 You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (R) 6 Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come. (R)

G O S P E L

Jesus challenges those who condemn the woman caught in adultery to examine their own lives for sin. Who are we to condemn a person to death? Are we the ones responsible for the gift of life? No! Only God determines the times of life and death. It is not a light thing to pass judgment on someone as we are all sinners and worthy of judgment! Before we condemn others for their actions, let us be sure that we are not guilty of sin ourselves.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live.

John 8:1-11
1 While Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand inthe middle. 4 They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. 7 But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. 10 Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

my reflections
t h i n k : Before we condemn others for their actions, let us be sure that we are not guilty of sin ourselves.

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 1 Chronicles 3-4

Daily Reflections

April 10, 2011
UNTIE HIM AND LET HIM GO

On this fifth Sunday of Lent, we read from the 11th chapter of John the death and rising of Lazarus. Lazarus is no stranger to Jesus. In fact, this is the family closest to Jesus that we learn about in His ministry. He must have taken many a day’s rest in the home of Lazarus’s sisters in Bethany in His travels to Jerusalem. Bethany was very close to Jerusalem. Jesus, wearied from travel and ministry, must have found much comfort in the home of this hospitable family.
News arrives that Lazarus, the one whom Jesus loved, was dead. In the Gospel story, our heart is rent with grief and we experience the heart of Jesus break as He hears the sad news. Jesus wept! Only here in this story do we feel as Jesus feels. The Son of God weeps for His friend who has fallen asleep. He prophesies that God will be glorified in this event — the rising of Lazarus from the dead.
At the command of Jesus, the dead man rises from the dead and comes out from the tomb. Jesus calls him to be stripped of the burial cloths and let him go. Jesus, the resurrection and the life, gives life to His friend. It is a prelude to His own death. Death will have no power over Him. Whereas Lazarus would have died again, Jesus has died and risen to life eternal. He is the first fruits of the dead. He gives us life everlasting.
We are all like Lazarus, one way or another, since we have sinned. All of us are bound up in the cloth of sin. Jesus comes to strip us of sin and give us new life. In Baptism, we have died to sin; death has no power over us. By living the Christian life, we have the assurance of life eternal.
As Lazarus was untied and unbound, so we, too, are set free from the grip of sin through the powerful words of Jesus.Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

Reflection Question:
What area of my life is bound up? Where does Jesus need to unbind me and set me free?

Lord, I believe You are the resurrection and the life. Free me from my sin so that I might live again. Amen.

St. Palladius, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

April 10, 2011
1st READING in one year

Ezekiel prophesies that the power of God is so great that when the Messiah comes, His redemption will include all those who have gone before Him. The power of the resurrection of Jesus is not just for the present and the future but it is efficacious for the past as well. This is why it is important for us to pray for the dead, even those who died many years ago. Perhaps our intercession will be enough to allow the grace of God greater access to their lives such that the fullness of redemption will be theirs as well.

Ezekiel 37:12-14
12 Thus says the Lord GOD: O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people! 14 I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the LORD. I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD.

P S A L M

Psalms 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
R: With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; Lord, hear my voice! 2 Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication. (R) 3 If you, O LORD, mark iniquities, LORD, who can stand? 4 But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered. (R) 5 I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word. 6 More than sentinels wait for the dawn. More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the LORD. (R) 7 For with the LORD is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption; 8 and he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities. (R)

2nd READING

We need to teach ourselves to be interested in spiritual matters or else the world and its worries will consume all our attention. It is the Spirit who gives life. The world can give us much pleasure but it is only limited pleasure for a limited time. The Holy Spirit can lead us into the Kingdom of God where the pleasure and joy is infinite and lasts forever! There is no comparison when one takes the time to measure one against the other.

Romans 8:8-11
8 Brothers and sisters: Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you.

G O S P E L

Lazarus is raised from the dead by Jesus. I do not care if some people think that he was not dead and Jesus got lucky with His prayer, or had some sort of inside knowledge. For me the Scriptures quite clearly tell us that Lazarus has died and that Jesus, through prayer, raises him to new life. It is this demonstration of the power Jesus has even over death that gives us hope in the resurrection.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL
I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will never die


John 11:1-45
1 Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill. 3 So the sisters sent word to him, saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” 4 When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 He said this, and then told them, “Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.” 12 So the disciples said to him, “Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved.” 13 But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep. 14 So then Jesus said to them clearly, “Lazarus has died. 15 And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him.” 16 So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go to die with him.” 17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” 28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, “The teacher is here and is asking for you.” 29 As soon as she heard this, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 For Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still where Martha had met him. 31 So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her, presuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled, 34 and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.” 35 And Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.” 37 But some of them said, “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?” 38 So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. 42 I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 And when he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” 45 Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him.

my reflections
t h i n k : The Holy Spirit can lead us into the Kingdom of God where the pleasure and joy is infinite and lasts forever!


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 1 Chronicles 1-2

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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Daily Bible Readings

April 8, 2011
1st READING
The unrighteous may prevail in their intentions in this world but they will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven if they persist in their sins. The reality of the world is that the human will directs much of the activity and oftentimes human intentions are not the will of God. God has given us free will so evil can occur, however, it is confined to the world and cannot enter heaven. The righteous person acts righteously to prepare him or her self for eternal life with God in heaven. There is another option but it does not bear investigating!

Wisdom 2:1, 12-22
1 The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright: 12 “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. 13 He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD. 14 To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, 15 because his life is not like other men’s, and different are his ways. 16 He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father. 17 Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. 18 For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. 19 With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. 20 Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.” 21 These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them, 22 and they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls’ reward.

P S A L Min one year

Psalms 34:17-18, 19-20, 21, 23
R: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
16 [17] The LORD confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. 17 [18] When the just cry out, the LORD hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. (R) 18 [19] The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. 19 [20] Many are the troubles of the just man, but out of them all the LORD delivers him. (R) 20 [21] He watches over all his bones; not one of them shall be broken. 22 [23] The LORD redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him. (R)


G O S P E L

Many conspired to be the downfall of Jesus but they all failed until the appointed time of His death came. It is through the death and resurrection of Jesus that salvation for us is wrought. The conspirators thought that the death of Jesus would bring closure to their intentions. Little did they know that Jesus’ death is merely the beginning or launching pad for His final triumph over sin and death itself!

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL
One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
1 Jesus moved about within Galilee; but he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. 2 But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. 10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret. 25 Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? 26 And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Messiah? 27 But we know where he is from. When the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.” 28 So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. 29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” 30 So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.

my reflections
t h i n k : The righteous person acts righteously to prepare him or her self for eternal life with God in heaven.

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 2 Kings 17-20

Daily Reflections

April 4, 2011
YOUR SON WILL LIVE

We read in the Gospel that this is the second sign Jesus performed in Galilee. What was the first? You will remember that it was when He changed water into wine at the wedding feast.
Jesus seems to dismiss the request of the official: “Unless you see signs you will not believe.” Signs and wonders were common in the life and ministry of Jesus. They were there to confirm the faith of the believer. Signs still exist today. They are not old-fashioned events that are part of a bygone era. However, signs should not be the “be all” and the “end all.” There is more to faith than signs and wonders.
The sign that the Messiah has come and that the Kingdom of God is near is in the person, life and ministry of Jesus. No other sign needed. St. John of the Cross says God has spoken and there is no other word needed to be spoken. Jesus, the Word made flesh, is the final and definitive sign and word for all.
The faith of the royal official is to be noted here. He does not ask anything spectacular from Jesus, only that He come and visit his son and heal him. As a commander used to giving and receiving commands, he simply heeds the words of Jesus and believes that his son will live. On the way home, he discovers that his son is truly alive, thanks to the word of Jesus. What a tremendous faith this man exhibits before Jesus. He takes Jesus at His word and his son is freed from sickness. Because of this, his entire household came to believe in Jesus, their faith confirmed through the witness of the son’s health and the testimony of the official.
These days, we need to ponder the words of Jesus. His words are spirit and life. We need to heed the words of Jesus to speak life into us. As we practice our disciplines of Lent, let us ask the Lord to heal us. Let us hear again His words of life: “You will live.” Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

Reflection Question:
Jesus is the Lord of life. Where must He breathe life into you?

Lord, speak Your word of life to me that I may live again. Amen.

St. Plato, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

March 31, 2011
OH, THE IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING!

You have two ears and one mouth. This is an indication that you should do at least twice as much listening as speaking. Maybe this is true, maybe not. What I do know is that if we want to be disciples of Jesus then we had better get used to listening and to listening well. One of the hardest challenges we face in today’s world is finding the time, space and silence to listen to the Word of God in our lives. The world is super busy; it is noisy with all sorts of different ideas, suggestions and doctrines; it is becoming more and more connected, leaving less and less space for the individual. Somehow, as Christians, we need to overcome these difficulties and listen to God’s Word in the midst of the noise and busyness.
The world is an expert at distraction and sin is as much, if not more, an expert, at amplifying the distractions of the world such that they become almost irresistible. If this happens in your life, you will find it next to impossible to both see and hear what God is saying to you. As soon as we give in to the agenda of the world for us, it becomes impossible to escape its clutches.
The Holy Spirit wants to help us to create a place of silence within our beings where we can always be in touch with God and His Word. This is essential for our spiritual health as without the constant diet of God’s Word, our spirit will dry up and eventually die. It is the silence in our lives that gives God the opportunity to speak to us more clearly than if He constantly has to overcome all the other voices we are listening to at the time.
Socrates tells us that we have to learn to reflect (a process that needs silence) or our lives will lose their meaning. It is only God who can give meaning to our lives that will endure and sustain us. Let us seek to listen to what He has to say to us today, tomorrow, the next day.Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:
How much time each day do I spend in silence, waiting on God to speak to me?

Holy Spirit, help me to open my heart to the Word of God by teaching me how to cultivate a place of silence at all times in my being.

St. Balbina, pray for us.

Daily Reflections

April 1, 2011
OMG!

Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. – 1 John 4:7

Two years ago, I went on a short trip to the US. I met with a very special man — a spiritual mentor to presidents, kings, prime ministers and other leaders. Each month, this spiritual giant holds 30 plus face-to-face meetings with high-level officials, guiding them how to lead their country using the Bible. For three days, I sat around his table (we were just four students) to learn one thing: how to disciple heads of states. It was mind-blowing.
So on my way home, I felt very important, too. But the moment my plane landed in Manila, everything became clear to me. I knew the first Heads of States I would meet. Upon arriving from the airport, I spent time with the two Kings who’ve conquered my heart since I saw them: my two boys. Together, we did very high-level, critical, world-changing, life-altering work. We drew robots and airplanes, played with little cars and video games (I lost, as usual).
Why did I spend the entire day with them? Because before I’m a preacher, writer, leader and businessman, I’m first a father.
So it is with God. Before He is supreme judge and King of the universe, He’s a Father. Your Father and mine!Bo Sanchez (bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com)
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REFLECTION:
God wants to be Your Father. Will you allow Him to?

God, our Father, help me to see You as You want me to — a Father who loves me through and through.

Daily Bible Readings

April 1, 2011
1st READING in one year

Assyria was the super power of that day and Isaiah reminds the Israelites that not even Assyria’s power comes close to God. In fact it is totally ineffective in terms of salvation. It is only God who can forgive their sins and restore them to good standing in His sight. There is no other way of living that will please the Lord other than following His law and example of love.

Hosea 14:2-10
2 Thus says the LORD: Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt. 3 Take with you words, and return to the LORD; Say to him, “Forgive all iniquity, and receive what is good, that we may render as offerings the bullocks from our stalls. 4 Assyria will not save us, nor shall we have horses to mount; We shall say no more, ‘Our god,’ to the work of our hands; for in you the orphan finds compassion.” 5 I will heal their defection, I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them. 6 I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily; He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar, 7 and put forth his shoots. His splendor shall be like the olive tree and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar. 8 Again they shall dwell in his shade and raise grain; They shall blossom like the vine, and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. 9 Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols? I have humbled him, but I will prosper him. “I am like a verdant cypress tree” — Because of me you bear fruit! 10 Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths of the LORD, in them the just walk, but sinners stumble in them.

P S A L M

Psalms 81:6-8, 8-9, 10-11, 14, 17
R: I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
5 [6] An unfamiliar speech I hear: 6 [7] “I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket. 7 [8] In distress you called, and I rescued you.” (R) “Unseen, I answered you in thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. 8 [9] Hear, my people, and I will admonish you; O Israel, will you not hear me?” (R) 9 [10] “There shall be no strange god among you nor shall you worship any alien god. 10 [11] I, the LORD, am your God who led you forth from the land of Egypt.” (R) 13 [14] If only my people would hear me, and Israel walk in my ways, 16 [17] I would feed with the best of wheat, and with honey from the rock I would fill them.” (R)

G O S P E L
Love is the first of all the commandments. This tells us something of the nature of love – it is a choice. Yes, our emotions and feelings can be inspirations for our love but this does not necessarily have to be the case. We either choose to love God or someone else, or we do not. It does not matter what the situation might be; we are called to love all people at all times. Love is a free gift we offer to all men and women, and God as well!

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL
Repent, says the Lord; the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mark 12:28-34
28 One of the scribes, came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” 29 Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! 30 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’ 33 And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

my reflections
think: It does not matter what the situation might be; we are called to love all people at all times.

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 1 Kings 13-16

Daily Reflections

March 30, 2011

IS JESUS AN ANTINOMIAN?

One of the questions theologians and Scripture scholars ask themselves is, “What is Jesus’ attitude to the Law of Moses?” Well, in today’s Gospel we have at least part of the answer. Jesus is not an antinomian, that is, he is not anti-law. Jesus does not say that the Law is irrelevant to our lives as His disciples. In fact, He tells us that we must fulfill the Law or we will fail in our duty to it and in our duty to love as He has first loved us. Then He goes one step further and warns us against leading others astray or we will be judged very harshly, thrown into a lake with a millstone tied around our necks.
The Law is not something that is bad. God gave the Law to Moses so it must be good and helpful to our lives. Yet, it can also be used to develop bad attitudes and thus place psychological pressures upon people that they should not have to deal with at the best of times, let alone when they are struggling. The law is there to guide us and help us discern the difference between right and wrong. Of itself it is incapable of salvation (see Philippians 3:7ff). The Law really comes to the fore when we are trying to form our consciences and to decide what we should do or not do in a given moral situation.
Paul’s experience can be helpful here. As a Jew, he was a man of the Law. He even claims to be blameless according to its stipulations. Yet, he counts everything as loss in comparison with knowing the power of Christ’s death and resurrection at work within him (Philippians 3:7ff). Paul realizes that the Law or, more correctly, “doing the Law” was not going to save him; then he experiences an enormous grace of God that does save him and sets him on a new path in life. Paul knows and has experienced the power of the grace of God to save him. He spends the rest of his life calling others to faith in the same God.
Christ, through His death and resurrection, fulfills all that the Law requires of us and so sets us free to live by grace and not under the shadow of the Law.Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:
What role does the Law play in my life? How faithful am I in forming my conscience judgments according to the Law of Christ?

Holy Spirit, come into my life with a new power to help me be faithful to the will of God and so fulfil the Law in my life.

St. Pastor, pray for us.