Daily Reflections

June 29, 2011
GREAT THINGS COME IN PAIRS

Today we honor a pair of really great saints: Sts. Peter and Paul. Although both saints did have their differences and even conflicts with one another during their lifetimes, Christian art, architecture and liturgy (since the first century down to the present day) emphasize the bond of friendship between them.
Sts. Peter and Paul are associated with the city of Rome, where their tombs and basilicas are located. But in one not-so-well-known church in the city, the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo, you can find two marvelous paintings of the two saints, accomplished by the terrific 16th century painter Caravaggio. They are known with these titles: The Fall of St. Paul and The Crucifixion of Peter. A simple Internet search can help you visualize these. Contemplating them may even reveal an interesting contrast (and at the same time a complementariness) between two aspects of these two saints, and consequently two aspects as well of our Catholic Church.
The first is the scene of the conversion of Saul, more than just his fall from the horse. He is lying flat on his back, with arms outstretched, completely fallen on the ground. The second painting, is the scene of the inverted crucifixion of Peter. He is depicted as already positioned on his cross and being raised up. Some art experts and commentators say it is a symbol of Jesus’ founding of the Church upon the faith of Peter (today’s Gospel). And so, if in the first we have a falling down or a conversion, in the second it is a raising up.
Aren’t these two aspects also in all of us members of the Church? There is in us, and in the Church as a whole, both a falling down and a rising up, a conversion and an establishment. Sure, the Church is never without crises and reforms. But as the Jesuit theologian Gerald O’Collins pointed out, “If the Church is going to face satisfactorily the challenges posed by the forces that currently move and change the world, both fidelity and freedom are needed.” “ Fidelity and freedom”— now that’s another nice pair of good things. May Sts. Peter and Paul help us maintain them as well. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
Identify one aspect in the life of Sts. Peter and Paul that you want to emulate.

Grant me, Lord, the grace to follow you radically as Sts. Peter and Paul did. Amen.

St. Mary, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

June 29, 2011
1st READING

Peter is miraculously freed from prison after having been arrested by Herod. This demonstrates the degree to which God is willing to intervene in human affairs to allow His will to be accomplished. There was still much for Peter to do, so God frees him to continue the work of building the Church. We have to learn to trust that things happen according to the permissive will of God, trusting always that God will bring good from the situation.

Acts 12:1-11
1 In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, 3 and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also. — It was the feast of Unleavened Bread. — 4 He had him taken into custody and put in prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. He intended to bring him before the people after Passover. 5 Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the church was fervently being made to God on his behalf. 6 On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison. 7 Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, “Get up quickly.” The chains fell from his wrists. 8 The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” 9 So he followed him out, not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first guard, then the second, and came to the iron gate leading out to the city, which opened for them by itself. They emerged and made their way down an alley, and suddenly the angel left him. 11 Then Peter recovered his senses and said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting.”

P S A L M

Psalms 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R: The Lord delivered me from all my fears.
1 [2] I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 3 [4] Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. 4 [5] I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) 7 [8] The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 [9] Taste and see how good the LORD is; happy the man who takes refuge in him. (R)

2nd READING

Paul explains to Timothy that he is willing to pour out his life as a libation for the sake of the Gospel. Are we willing to fight the good fight, so to speak, when it comes to giving our lives in the service of the Gospel or do we have other agendas for our lives? Let us be honest as we examine our motives for doing the things we do and seek to surrender more to God’s will rather than our own.

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18
6 I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. 8 From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. 17 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. And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

G O S P E L

Recognizing Jesus’ true identity as the Son of God, the Messiah, is a major step forward in Peter’s faith, as well as the faith of the Apostles. It is also important that we be able to express who we think Jesus is! Yes, we know His identity as a piece of information passed on to us from others, but do we truly know it from deep within our psyche? Have we experienced the truth that Jesus is the Messiah? Faith is meant to be experiential and this is one of the basic experiences that lays the foundation for a disciple’s life. Let us pray that we experience this truth.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 16:13-19
13 When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon
Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. 18 And so I sayto you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

my reflections
t h i n k : We have to learn to trust that things happen according to the permissive will of God, trusting always that God will bring good from the situation.

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 Psalm 36-40

Daily Reflections

June 28, 2011
IN THE STORMS OF LIFE: FEAR OR FAITH?

The setting of today’s Gospel episode should be quite easy to identify with. Not all of us may have actually experienced being in the middle of the sea during a terrifying storm, but we can easily imagine what it is.
Human life is far from being in a luxury cruise on a placid sea. In the storms of life, we are sometimes violently tossed to and fro; the waves of discouragement assail us, the horizon is not visible at all and we fear we would all sink.
Two temptations are before us. One is to conclude that such an inhuman world is absurd, and that the only adequate response is to harden ourselves in a kind of stoic pride. The other is to escape from reality into the make-believe world of fun and fantasy.
Jesus, instead, proposes an alternative: quite simply, to trust Him. The two temptations before us now morph into the crucial question: which of the two F’s will it be for us? Fear or Faith?
We can take a cue from Jesus Himself. The Gospel states that at the height of the storm, Jesus was “sleeping soundly.” Whether or not this was literally true is not so much the point. It is simply a gesture of a childlike, total trust on God, knowing that He takes care of us and will never abandon us, most especially when we are in the midst of trials and difficulties.
A story goes that a little boy was simply enjoying his time, frolicking and playing on the deck of a luxury cruise ship — as a storm was beginning to form in the middle of the ocean. In the midst of the panic as life jackets began to be passed around, a man noticed the boy. He asked him, “Are you not afraid, my boy?” To which the young boy replied, “No, I’m not. My father is the captain of the ship.” Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
Which feeling dominates you more when you are faced with life’s storms: fear or faith?

“When the oceans rise and thunders roar, I will soar with you above the storm. Father, You are King over the flood. I will be still, know You are God.”

St. Vincenza Gerosa, pray for us.

Daily Reflections

June 27, 2011
BARGAINING WITH THE LORD

Both readings today present a kind of “bargaining.” In the first reading, we have Abraham pleading on behalf of the people of Sodom; in the Gospel, two prospective followers of Jesus try to bargain with Him.
The strange thing is that in both readings, the final result of the bargaining isn’t mentioned.
In the first reading, we can easily check it in the rest of the Book of Genesis. But in the Gospel, we do not know what happened eventually with that scribe who presented himself and with the other one who asked permission from the Lord to let him go and bury his father first. Our Lord answered their pleas quite curtly as well as cryptically.
Certainly Jesus isn’t one who will waste His words on wavering wimps or sugar-coat them into attractive enticements just to adjust to His prospective disciples’ tastes. We can almost hear Him say, “If you don’t want to (or if you can’t seem to) follow me, well, no problem!” The loss wouldn’t be on Jesus at all, should anyone back out because of such a radical message. Whatever it is, the burden of the proof is always on the one being invited, the one who first hears Jesus’ call.
Using other examples from the Gospel, religious educator and writer James DiGiacomo, S.J., puts it beautifully, “[Jesus] is unwavering in His determination to tell it like it is, no matter what the cost. If this uncompromising honesty leaves Him with few or even no disciples, then so be it. He is organizing a trip through the narrow gate, and crowds need not apply. If the rich young man cannot stand the idea of not being rich, let him stay home and count his money. If the young fishermen aren’t ready to leave their nets, they’re not ready to follow Him. If Peter doesn’t want to hear about the Cross, he can stay in Caesarea Philippi where it’s safe, but the first team is going to Jerusalem” (Morality and Youth: Fostering Christian Identity). Hopefully, in the end, we will not need at all to bargain with the Lord because in the first place, we shall be unwavering in our following Him. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
Have you ever bargained with the Lord? Are you still hemming and hawing in totally following Him?

Free me, Lord, from whatever is pulling me back from taking my spiritual journey seriously. Amen.

St. Laszlo, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

June 27, 2011
1st READING
God is indeed a merciful God and Abraham a bold man to approach God as he did. It is important for us to learn from the boldness of Abraham but also to know that, if we are going to put such a proposal before God, we will be able to deliver accordingly. We can be sure that God will be merciful but can we ensure that people will respond to His mercy? Let us pray that we all receive and act upon the grace to repent given to us by God.

Genesis 18:16-33
16 Abraham and the men who had visited him by the Terebinth of Mamre set out from there and looked down toward Sodom; Abraham was walking with them, to see them on their way. 17 The LORD reflected: “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 now that he is to become a great and populous nation, and all the nations of the earth are to find blessing in him? 19 Indeed, I have singled him out that he may direct his sons and his posterity to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD may carry into effect for Abraham the promises he made about him.” 20 Then the LORD said: “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave, 21 that I must go down and see whether or not their actions fully correspond to the cry against them that comes to me. I mean to find out.” 22 While the two men walked on farther toward Sodom, the LORD remained standing before Abraham. 23 Then Abraham drew nearer to him and said: “Will you sweep away the innocent with the guilty? 24 Suppose there were fifty innocent people in the city; would you wipe out the place, rather than spare it for the sake of the fifty innocent people within it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to make the innocent die with the guilty, so that the innocent and the guilty would be treated alike! Should not the judge of all the world act with justice?” 26 The LORD replied, “If I find fifty innocent people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 27 Abraham spoke up again: “See how I am presuming to speak to my Lord, though I am but dust and ashes! 28 What if there are five less than fifty innocent people? Will you destroy the whole city because of those five?” “I will not destroy it,” he answered, “if I find forty-five there.” 29 But Abraham persisted, saying, “What if only forty are found there?” He replied, “I will forebear doing it for the sake of the forty.” 30 Then he said, “Let not my Lord grow impatient if I go on. What if only thirty are found there?” He replied, “I will forebear doing it if I can find but thirty there.” 31 Still he went on, “Since I have thus dared to speak to my Lord, what if there are no more than twenty?” “I will not destroy it,” he answered, “for the sake of the twenty.” 32 But he still persisted: “Please, let not my Lord grow angry if I speak up this last time. What if there are at least ten there?” “For the sake of those ten,” he replied, “I will not destroy it.” 33 The LORD departed as soon as he had finished speaking with Abraham, and Abraham returned home.

P S A L M

Psalms 103:1-2, 3-4, 8-9, 10-11
R: The Lord is kind and merciful.
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (R) 3 He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. 4 He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion. (R) 8 Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. 9 He will not always chide, nor does he keep his wrath forever. (R) 10 Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. (R)

G O S P E L

Jesus makes it very clear to those who want to follow Him that it will not be an easy life. The life of discipleship is about being disciplined in all things especially those that have to do with our faith. This means being willing to make the hard choices involved in avoiding sin and doing good. If we are not ready to do this then we had better pray for the grace of surrender because the longer we leave such a decision, the more difficult it will get.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 8:18-22
18 When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other shore. 19 A scribe approached and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” 21 Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus answered him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”

my reflections
t h i n k: We can be sure that God will be merciful but can we ensure that people will respond to His mercy?

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 Psalm 26-30

Daily Reflections

June 26, 2011

THE SACRAMENT OF TOTAL SELF-GIVING

“I have nothing more to give you.” These are words engraved on the inside of a gold ring (most probably a wedding ring), together with a tiny drawing of a hand holding a heart. This beautiful ring was but one of the interesting finds from a sunken 16thcentury Spanish galleon, discovered and retrieved by deep-sea divers off the coast of Ireland.
“I have nothing more to give you.” It’s as if Jesus Christ Himself uttered these words when we consider today’s Solemnity of the Body and Blood of our Lord. Although of course you won’t find such a sentence in the Gospel, Jesus’ very life itself speaks of the statement, “I have nothing more to give you.” Yes, everything is already there in the Eucharist, in the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is this kind of total and absolute quality of Jesus that also characterized His insistence to the Jews in today’s Gospel episode. No partial understandings or half-hearted commitments would ever suffice.
So should it be for us, too. How easy it is for us to take for granted the Holy Mass or the Eucharist; how easy it is to fall into apathy and indifference when it comes to this great sacrament. Our beautiful and even air-conditioned churches and chapels, the Masses conveniently held in malls and offices, the availability of priests for Masses on request — all these should never lull us to complacency. If only we approach each and every Holy Communion as if it were both our First Holy Communion and our Viaticum! What innocence we had back then when we received Jesus for the first time. As for the Viaticum, the term suggests the Sacred Host as our baon or food provision as we undertake our journey to eternity.
Hopefully, we, too, will give God our all — our lives, our selves, our everything — totally and absolutely. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
In the Eucharist, Jesus gave His all. How do you receive Him?

May I always receive worthily Your most precious gift in the Eucharist, Lord.

St. Perseveranda, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

June 26, 2011
1st READING

There are many images for God’s provision in the Scriptures. Apart from the Eucharist perhaps the most profound is the continued sustenance of the People of God as they wandered through the desert for 40 years! For 40 years God miraculously provided for them! Indeed, nothing is impossible for God. It makes the feeding of the 5,000 look like child’s play. However God provides for us, the universal response must be one of gratitude. When was the last time I expressed my gratitude to God for one of His gifts?

Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16
2 Moses said to the people: “Remember how for forty years now the LORD, your God, has directed all your journeying in the desert, so as to test you by affliction and find out whether or not it was your intention to keep his commandments. 3 He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger, and then fed you with manna, a food unknown to you and your fathers, in order to show you that not by bread alone does man live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD. 14 Do not forget the LORD, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery; 15 who guided you through the vast and terrible desert with its saraph serpents and scorpions, its parched and waterless ground; who brought forth water for you from the flinty rock 16 and fed you in the desert with manna, a food unknown to your fathers.”

P S A L M

Psalms 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
R: Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
12 Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion. 13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; he has blessed your children within you. (R) 14 He has granted peace in your borders; with the best of wheat he fills you. 15 He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs his word! (R) 19 He has proclaimed his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel. 20 He has not done thus for any other nation; his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia. (R)

2nd READING

We need to remember that to take Holy Communion is to do exactly that –namely express a belief that we are not only in communion with God, but also with everyone else taking Holy Communion that day. It is an action that proclaims the truth that we are meant to be one in Spirit with both God and His people, the Church. This is why the Catholic Church does not, generally speaking,open up the Eucharistic table to non-Catholics. It would be a lie to do so because they are not in union with the Cathiolic Church.

1 Corinthians 10:16-17
16 Brothers and sisters: The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

G O S P E L

As Catholics, we take this text more literally than the Fundamentalist Churches do. We believe the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus – there are even instances around the world of the bread and wine being changed in both substance and essence! The Protestant Churches speak of these texts as symbols only. It is important that we do not allow this errant understanding deprive us of the most magnificent gift Christ left His Church, the Holy Eucharist.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

John 6:51-58
51 Jesus came to the Jewish crowds: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” 52 The Jews quarrelled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

my reflections
t h i n k: When was the last time I expressed my gratitude to God for one of his gifts?

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

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

Daily Reflections

June 23, 2011
THE CONCLUSION OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Our Gospel reading today is the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, and a fitting conclusion it is indeed. We are reminded that all the many teachings we have received from our Lord Jesus might only end up to nothing if we reduce our Christian life to mere lip-service or activism.
Two points are crucial here, as hinted at by two verbs used by Jesus, in the passage:
• Know, in the Semitic sense of the term, connotes a deep personal relationship. Jesus’ “I never knew you” is therefore rendered more meaningfully as “You have never really been my friends.”
• Do, or put into practice, is not about exterior practices or interior feelings. It is rather an action coming from the whole person, involving one’s entire self (cf. James 1:22-25).
This is the kind of “living out” of Jesus’ teaching that ensures a solid foundation, guaranteed against torrents and winds.
Such an august teaching of Jesus Christ definitely cannot remain only in paper as “nice,” to be domesticated into some sort of an “à la carte” body of ethical codes that one can just whimsically take or skip. The famous indictment by the great Mahatma Gandhi comes to mind, if only to serve as a warning and a reminder to all of us. He remarked that it was the Sermon on the Mount that “endeared Jesus to me.” But at the same time, he gave a sharp, biting critique of us Christians: “The message, to my mind, has suffered distortion... Much of what passes as Christianity is a negation of the Sermon on the Mount.”
In other words, the conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount depends on us now. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
How am I living out the teachings from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount?

Lord Jesus, turn me into a true Christian who does Your will and follows Your teachings, in season and out of season. Amen.

St. Libert, pray for us.

Daily Reflections

June 24, 2011
A MOMENTOUS AND CONSEQUENTIAL BIRTH

First and foremost, why the big fuss at all over John the Baptist’s name? To the cynical Shakespeare’s “What’s in a name?” the ancient Romans had an answer: “Nomen est omen” — a name is an omen, a portent of things to come, a symbol of the person’s identity and mission. With a name that means “Yahweh is gracious,” the most popular masculine name in the world (John, Jean, Juan, Joan, Giovanni, Ian, Jan, Hans, Ivan, Johann, Johannes, etc.) is surely worth the fuss!
More so for the one whose birth we commemorate and who we are honoring today. As the herald, precursor and “pointer” of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist held his unique vocation and mission in life, carrying out a concrete assignment both unrepeatable and irreplaceable. Just as a name, even if with several namesakes, is unique to an individual person, so, too, is his identity and mission. Ask yourself then: What does your birth bring? What does your name mean or symbolize? And finally, what does your mission and vocation entail?
Remember that there are only three instances in the liturgical calendar when births are commemorated: Jesus’ (December 25), Mary’s (September 8), and this one of John the Baptist today. All the rest of the saints’ feasts and memorials are usually taken from the days of their death. Moreover, it’s as if the words of Jesus no less were the canonization statement of John himself (Matthew 11:11): “History had not known a man born of woman greater than John the Baptizer.”
Our own birthdays may not have profound consequences in world history (much less in the history of salvation) and we may not have veritable earth-shaking missions to carry out in life. But each of us is no less important in God’s eyes. For all its enigmatic tone, there is truth in what Jesus said: “Yet the least born into the kingdom of God is greater than he.” May St. John the Baptist himself be our guide and example in life. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
Your name points to your mission in life. What does your name mean?

Thank You, Father, for my name and for what it means in Your Kingdom.

St. Germoc, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

June 24, 2011
1st READING

John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. Each of us is called to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus into our lives, and if possible, to help others to do the same thing. This is what evangelization is all about; proclaiming the Gospel is preparing the way for the coming of Christ into the hearts of the men and women of this world. In this way we are the light set on a hill top that can never be overshadowed. In this way we become the light to the nations we are all called to be.

Isaiah 49:1-6
1 Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples. The LORD called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. 2 He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. 3 You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory. 4 Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, yet my reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God. 5 For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, that Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength! 6 It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

P S A L M

Psalms 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15
R: I praise you for I am wonderfully made.
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) 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) My soul also you knew full well; 15 nor was my frame unknown to you when I was made in secret, when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth. (R)

2nd READING

Each of the Apostles, and we who are called to be modern day apostles, had a role to play in bringing the Gospel to the world. It does not matter what our role is – that has been decided by God and who are we to challenge His wisdom? What matters is that we are faithful to our calling. Paul and Barnabas have just been set apart for the Gospel to the Gentiles. They begin their mission not knowing where it will lead or what will happen. Let us learn to trust in the Lord for our own mission as well.

Acts 13:22-26
22 In those days, Paul said: “God raised up David as their king; of him he testified, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’ 23 From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. 24 John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; 25 and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’ 26 My brothers, children of the family of Abraham, and those others among you who are God-fearing, to us this word of salvation has been sent.”

G O S P E L

When John was still in the womb of Elizabeth he was able to recognize that in the womb of Mary lay the Christ child, the Savior of all. As we remember the birth of John the Baptist we celebrate the miracle of his conception to the aged Elizabeth and also the return of Zechariah’s voice. He has obviously learned his lesson. I wonder how Zechariah experienced his silence? I wonder what it would be like to be silent for nine months? Perhaps in the silence he was better able to hear God’s voice.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Luke 1:57-66, 80
57 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” 61 But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” 62 So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. 63 He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. 65 Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. 80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

my reflections
t h i n kx : Let us learn to trust in the Lord for our own mission as well.
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 Psalm 11-15

Daily Bible Readings

June 23, 2011
1st READING

Hagar’s son with Abraham, Ishmael, is the human solution to the problem of the barrenness of Sarai’s womb. It is not God’s solution! God works a miracle in order that Isaac is born to Sarai. If God has made a promise to us then we need to trust that He will make good on it. If God cannot be trusted, then no one can be trusted! Let us seek to grow in our faith and trust in God’s promises to us.

Genesis 16:1-12, 15-16
1 Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children. She had, however, an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. 2 Sarai said to Abram: “The LORD has kept me from bearing children. Have intercourse, then, with my maid; perhaps I shall have sons through her.” Abram heeded Sarai’s request. 3 Thus, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, his wife Sarai took her maid, Hagar the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his concubine. 4 He had intercourse with her, and she became pregnant. When she became aware of her pregnancy, she looked on her mistress with disdain. 5 So Sarai said to Abram: “You are responsible for this outrage against me. I myself gave my maid to your embrace; but ever since she became aware of her pregnancy, she has been looking on me with disdain. May the LORD decide between you and me!” 6 Abram told Sarai: “Your maid is in your power. Do to her whatever you please.” Sarai then abused her so much that Hagar ran away from her. 7 The LORD’S messenger found her by a spring in the wilderness, the spring on the road to Shur, 8 and he asked, “Hagar maid of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She answered, “I am running away from my mistress, Sarai.” 9 But the LORD’S messenger told her: “Go back to your mistress and submit to her abusive treatment. 10 I will make your descendants so numerous,” added the LORD’S messenger, “that they will be too many to count. 11 Besides,” the LORD’S messenger said to her: “You are now pregnant and shall bear a son; you shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard you, God has answered you. 12 This one shall be a wild ass of a man, his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; in opposition to all his kin shall he encamp.” 15 Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram named the son whom Hagar bore him Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

P S A L M
Psalm 106:1-2, 3-4, 4-5
R: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 2 Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD, or proclaim all his praises? (R) 3 Blessed are they who observe what is right, who do always what is just. 4 Remember me, O LORD, as you favor your people. (R) Visit me with your saving help, 5 that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, rejoice in the joy of your people, and glory with your inheritance. (R)

G O S P E L

Jesus affirms in no uncertain terms that faith is nothing unless it leads to action! It is the man and woman of faith who both hear the Word of God and put it into action that will inherit eternal life. Faith in the will of God is the only sure foundation upon which to build our lives. Let us reflect upon this text carefully so that we give the Holy Spirit greater opportunity to convince us of its truth.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 7:21-29
21 Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’ 24 Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 26 And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” 28 When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

my reflections
t h i n k: Faith is nothing unless it leads to action!

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 Psalm 6-10

Daily Reflections

June 22, 2011
A FOOLPROOF TEST

There is a time-tested methodology for discerning good or bad spirits. We are not referring here, by the way, to paranormal or supernatural activity. We mean here the so-called “Ignatian discernment of spirits.”
This kind of framework of guidelines developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola warns us of attributing something too easily to good or to bad spirits. In fact, St. Ignatius is quick to say that while the bad spirit may disguise itself to be a good spirit, the bad spirit can never produce anything good. Only the good spirit will yield something good always.
Satan, the Evil One, is known not only as the Prince of Darkness, but also as the Father of Lies. Or if you like, he is also the Master of Disguise. He can cleverly hide behind attractive and pleasant disguises. In this sense, Satan is the original wolf in sheep’s clothing.
In a way, it is true. How can Satan attract people to himself if they see him scary, obnoxious or disgusting? For this, we have to be very vigilant. And our Lord’s advice is truly foolproof and effective: “You can tell a tree by its fruit.”
In the context of the Gospel episode, Jesus used this teaching of His for the purpose of unmasking false prophets. Now, what if we applied Jesus’ acid test to ourselves? It shouldn’t take much for us to show our true colors beneath the disguises. We may fool a lot of people (nay more, perhaps even God Himself), but once we start deceiving our very own selves — that is the worst. We can even apply the most elaborate schemes for discerning spirits (yes, the Ignatian or otherwise), and they will only yield the same results. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
Do I ever take the time to test the spirits whenever I have some choices to make?

Holy Spirit, teach me Your ways so I may be able to discern where the spirit is coming from. Amen.

St. Alban, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

1st READING

God repeats His promise of progeny to Abraham. When we reflect upon this promise in the light of Romans 4, I think we can begin to understand its true significance. Paul presents Abraham as the Father of our Faith in Romans 4; he is the perfect example of what it means to be a man of faith. Thus the real progeny of Abraham are not his blood descendants (obviously of which there are many), but all men and women of faith. It is faith that he has fathered and bequeaths to the humanity as his greatest legacy.

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
1 The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram! am your shield; I will make your reward very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be, if I keep on being childless and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?” 3 Abram continued, “See, you have given me no offspring, and so one of my servants will be my heir.” 4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: “No, that one shall not be your heir; your own issue shall be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said: “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” 6 Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness. 7 He then said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession.” 8 “O Lord GOD,” he asked, “How am I to know hat I shall possess it?” 9 He answered him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 He brought him all these, split them in two, and placed each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not cut up. 11 Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram stayed with them. 12 As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram, and a deep, errifying darkness enveloped him. 17 When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking brazier and a flaming torch, which passed between those pieces. 18 It was on that occasion that the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River the Euphrates.”

P S A L M

Psalms 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
R: The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
1 Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds. 2 Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. (R) 3 Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! 4 Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. (R) 6 You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! 7 He, the LORD, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail. (R) 8 He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations, 9 which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac. (R)

G O S P E L

There will always be men and women whom Satan uses, whether implicitly or explicitly, as false prophets. This is why it is important for us to be formed in our faith. If we know the basic tenets of our faith we will not be easily led astray by false prophets. If we are ignorant of our faith it will be easy for false doctrines to seduce our unformed minds and hearts.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord; whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 7:15-20
15 Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So by their fruits you will know them.”

my reflections
t h i n k: There will always be men and women whom Satan uses as false prophets.

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 Psalm 1-5

Daily Reflections

June 20, 2011
A GOOD PIECE OF ADVICE

Fr. Joseph G. Donders, in his book With Hearts on Fire, has a delightful story which brings home the point about today’s Gospel. It’s about a woman who used to be annoyed by the irritating cough of her pet, a parrot. The disturbing ailment persisted so she decided to take the bird to a veterinarian. He checked the parrot and found it was in perfect health.
Upon listening again to the woman who brought the parrot, the veterinarian discovered that instead of having some disease or ailment, the parrot was merely imitating the hoarse “barking” of its cigarette-smoking owner. Eventually, she herself kicked her bad habit and all became well for both the woman and her pet.
Isn’t it true that we can be often critical of others? Well, OK, perhaps that is pardonable. But isn’t it also true that the reason for our being critical of others has something to do with our own selves? That what we dislike in others is actually a reflection of our own sins?
Psychologists point out that in human relationships, there exists what is known as projection — the externalization of blame, guilt or responsibility unto others, as a defense against one’s own anxiety. For this, Jesus prescribes a homespun piece of advice (using the typical Jewish style of hyperbole): “Remove the plank from your own eye first; then you will see clearly to take the speck from your brother’s eye!”
Let’s thank the Lord today for this valuable and timely reminder — lest He shout at us and call us, too, “You hypocrite!”Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
Think of the things which irritate you in others. Reflect: could it be because I, too, have them in myself?

Clear my eyes, Lord, so that I may see also in myself what I dislike in others. Amen.

St. Bagne, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

June 20, 2011
1st READING

Why Abraham responded as he did to the call of the Lord will remain forever a mystery until we can ask him personally in heaven. He was an extremely wealthy man and in leaving Ur he loses most of that and sets off on an expedition to an unknown place on little more than a request from his God! He truly has extraordinary trust and faith in God.

Genesis 12:1-9
1 The LORD said to Abram: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.” 4 Abram went as the LORD directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai, his brother’s son Lot, all the possessions that they had accumulated, and the persons they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land as far as the sacred place at Shechem, by the terebinth of Moreh. (The Canaanites were then in the land.) 7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel, pitching his tent with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. He built an altar there to the LORD and invoked the LORD by name. 9 Then Abram journeyed on by stages to the Negeb.

P S A L M

Psalms 33:12-13, 18-19, 20, 22
R: Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
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) 18 See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, 19 to deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine. (R) 20 Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and our shield. 22 May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us who have put our hope in you. (R)

G O S P E L

Judging others is a perilous business if only for the fact that we leave ourselves open to the same judgments. It is important for us to remember that when we judge others, we will be judged all the more harshly in that we have set the standards and now we have to live up to them. Jesus can judge without fear as He knows that He is sinless. The same is not true for us. Let us be wary about being too harsh in our judgment of others.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 7:1-5
1 Jesus said to his disciples: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. 2 For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. 3 Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? 5 You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”

my reflections
t h i n k : Let us be wary about being too harsh in our judgment of others.

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 Job 34-37

Daily Reflections

June 17, 2011
EARTHLY VS. HEAVENLY TREASURE

There seems to be a contrast in our Gospel today, nicely intended by our Lord: between “earthly” treasure on the one hand, and “heavenly” treasure on the other.
It is not that worldly riches are bad as such. It becomes evil when you hoard them for your own selfish enjoyment, and at the expense of others in their want. Instead, Jesus’ exhortation to store up heavenly riches can mean being mindful of the needs of others. In this sense, wealth shared with or given away to others becomes wisely preserved in conditions in which they will not lose their value (through corrosion or infestation by vermin, as our Lord puts it). Instead, a history of greed, tyranny, oppression, inequality and social injustice in society is somehow proof of how material wealth has been pursued selfishly up to now.
And then Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart is also.”
We should face the mirror and ask ourselves the crucial, make-or-break question, “Where is my treasure?” That would determine where my heart is (of which, according to Jesus, our eyes are mere indicators). Is my treasure merely piled up here on earth? That is to say, just kept for my lonesome self? Or is it “invested” in heaven? That is to say, shared with others?
Hopefully, the contrast between earthly and heavenly treasure will disappear. That is because in the first place, we have an unequivocal and definite answer: we’re surely going for the heavenly treasure. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
Where is my heart focused on — on earthly treasures or on heavenly investment?

Grant me the grace of detachment from my earthly treasures, Lord. Help me to use them to bless others.

St. Harvey, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

June 17, 2011
1st READING

Paul is like an anxious father to the communities he has established throughout Greece and Asia-Minor. Somebody who begins a work always has a special place in their heart for that work. However, when it comes to building communities there comes a time when founders have to let go and allow others to take up the leadership in the community. If they have done their job well this should be a relatively smooth transition.

2 Corinthians 11:18, 21-30
18 Brothers and sisters: Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 21 To my shame I say that we were too weak! But what anyone dares to boast of (I am speaking in foolishness) I also dare. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they children of Israel? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I am talking like an insane person.)I am still more, with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, far worse beatings, and numerous brushes with death. 24 Five times at the hands of the Jews I received forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I passed a night and a day on the deep; 26 on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights, through hunger and thirst, through frequent fasting, through cold and exposure. 28 And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led to sin, and I am not indignant? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

P S A L M

Psalms 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R: From all their distress God rescues the just.
1 [2] I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 3 [4] Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. 4 [5] I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R)


G O S P E L

Jesus reminds us all that there are things worth giving our time and effort to and there are even more things that are not! We need to use discernment to determine this difference so that we do not give our lives over to tasks and projects that will have no lasting value. One of the tragedies of the spiritual life is to be seen in good men and women pouring out their lives in projects that are not going to amount to anything in terms of building the Kingdom of God. They may be doing good things but are they doing what God wants them to do? If not then Satan wins this battle as he has successfully distracted them from their true mission.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 6:19-23
19 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. 22 The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”
Job 22-25
my reflections
t h i n k : When it comes to building communities there comes a time when founders have to let go and allow others to take up the leadership in the community.

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 Job 22-25

Daily Reflections

June 15, 2011
THE REAL SELF

The sin that our Lord Jesus targets in His Gospel teaching today is none other than hypocrisy. The British biblical scholar William Barclay points out, “In popular opinion there is no sin more universally detested, and in the New Testament there is no sin more strongly condemned.” A remarkable statement as that should make us more aware or extra careful of our own hypocritical attitudes and behavior and, of course, heed our Lord’s teachings.
Originally (or etymologically), the word had no negative meaning at all. In classical Greek, the basic meaning of hupokritÄ“s is “one who answers.” In ancient Greece, stage plays followed a sort of questionand- answer format for the script; hence, an actor can be described as a hupokritÄ“s, an answerer. Now it is in this context that hupokritÄ“s develops its bad sense, as Barclay explains. It came to mean a “dissembler, one who is playing a part, putting on an act” (New Testament Words).
Truly, a hypocrite (as we would say nowadays) is one who puts up a virtuous or holy external image, for example, but is in reality a morally reprehensible person deep inside. Just like in our Gospel today, the hypocrite is the one person who wants everyone to see him giving alms, praying and fasting. But as Barclay points out, “He is the man whose goodness is designed not to please God but to please men; the man who says not ‘To God be the glory’ but ‘To me be the credit.’”
In today’s world of reality TV, celebrity culture, video game avatars and social networking websites, we ought to heed a lesson or two regarding this. We can easily put up fronts or masks and hide comfortably behind them. But what about the raw inner self deep within us? The transition to living double lives is much too easy and tempting.
Jesus Christ invites to “go to our room, close the door” and do the hard task of confronting this raw inner self of ours. Unless we do, we will live our lives as though on a stage, in a movie world of sorts inhabited by makeup artists and actors. That is most certainly not the real self that Jesus asks of us to confront and to be. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

Reflection Question:
Who is the real you when no one is looking?

Grant me courage, Lord, to be truly who I am, without fear of what people might say or think about me.

St. Adelaide, pray for us.

Daily Bible Readings

June 15, 2011
1st READING

There is no way that anyone will be able to outgive God! He will always be known as the most generous giver of all time, after all, none of us would even be here if He did not give us the gift of life. Paul encourages us to be generous in the way we use our resources, time and talent for the sake of the Kingdom of God. He even reinforces the Old Testament belief that almsgiving is a good way to repair sin, as this will help keep alive the memory of the good deeds that we do.

2 Corinthians 9:6-11
6 Brothers and sisters: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You are being enriched in every way for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God.

P S A L M

Psalms 112:1-2, 3-4, 9
R: Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
1 Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands. 2 His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. (R) 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house; his generosity shall endure forever. 4 Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just. (R) 9 Lavishly he gives to the poor; his generosity shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory. (R)

G O S P E L

There is no merit in making public our good deeds by our own means. If someone else makes our good deeds public through no assistance or encouragement from us, then that is a different matter. Jesus is very clear on this sort of thing – we need to trust that our heavenly Father sees all that we do and will act appropriately upon our good deeds. Knowledge that we have done a good deed ought to be enough reward for us.

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my father will love him and we will come to him.
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
1 Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. 2 When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, 4 so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 5 When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 16 When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

my reflections
t h i n k: We need to trust that our heavenly Father sees all that we do and will act appropriately upon our good deeds.

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 Job 14-17

Job 14-17