tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35525986383686743152024-03-13T11:52:44.221+08:00Didache - Daily Bible Reflections for CatholicsDIDACHE (dee-da-ke), the Greek word for teaching. It wishes to encourage the use of Sacred Scriptures among Catholics. It also wishes to reach the entire Christian people.Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.comBlogger3072125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-31272941853334592122021-01-22T06:17:00.004+08:002021-01-22T06:17:41.714+08:00Discipleship 101<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0vt7Nxxce1cbmVTvQ0fLGnM9uv1wkxFW17EGMlEd75J6QjXysOXOhLJpIBcXEjDx9y_uhO8devNcddDksXoeCLn_aHhxA3a3Dd8o_rdhv-QTQ0zogKYf5KsxGBE_9ttgktqcsZZA_8Nz/s1200/CDR-app-Header-1200x630-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0vt7Nxxce1cbmVTvQ0fLGnM9uv1wkxFW17EGMlEd75J6QjXysOXOhLJpIBcXEjDx9y_uhO8devNcddDksXoeCLn_aHhxA3a3Dd8o_rdhv-QTQ0zogKYf5KsxGBE_9ttgktqcsZZA_8Nz/s320/CDR-app-Header-1200x630-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;">Discipleship 101</b></p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">The Gospel for today is the choosing of the Twelve Apostles. If you read </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">through the narrative, it seems there is nothing much to learn but an enumeration ;</span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">of names with a little bit of whose son is who. But in the second verse, there is a </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">seeming insignificant item that we cannot afford to disregard. In verse 14, it says, </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">“He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">out to preach” (emphasis mine).</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">To be with Him and to send them out—these are two important moments </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">in the business of discipleship. To be with Him refers to union. To send them out </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">refers to mission. These two moments are inseparable and they complete one </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">another. Union without mission is like preparing for a marathon without running. </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Mission without union is like running a marathon without training.</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Union precedes mission. The wise principle says, “You cannot give what </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">you do not have.” So if the Twelve were expected to Christify the world, they </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">needed to be with Christ—to spend time, to “waste” time with Christ. The mission </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">of the Twelve is to be Christ to the world. “Christ” means the Anointed One. The </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Twelve cannot anoint the world from within. They need to get out, to be sent, to </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">be out on mission.</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">What does this have to do with you and me? If you consider yourself a </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Christian, this is your calling. A Christian is not a real Christian if union with </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Christ is not a compelling desire of his heart. Take away C-H-R-I-S-T from the </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">word “Christian” and you are left with I-A-N, which spells out as “I Am Nothing.”</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Encounter Jesus in regular personal prayer. Meet Christ in the Scriptures. </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Be cleansed by His forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation. Above all, be </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">one with Him in His real presence in the Eucharist.</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">And then share Christ to the world. Be Christ to others in works of charity. </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Serve Him in the poor and needy. Share the beauty of Christ in the witness of your l</span></span><span style="font-family: New; font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">ife. Invite others with the fragrance of joy in the Spirit. </span><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Fr. Joel Jason</span></i></p><hr style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">reflection question</span></span></b></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Don’t let your Christianity be just nominal. Make it phenomenal.</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Here I am, Lord, send me. Amen.</span></span></i></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Today, I pray for: ____________________________________</span></span></p></div></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-12989636295879775262021-01-22T06:15:00.006+08:002021-01-22T06:15:55.428+08:00Daily Bible Reading - January 22, 2021<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNa2gPHUEWehK_J8jKkJZxAKhptc8QeAa0opZQAL5k-A3K650X7TnypABZPM1qJWXHh36FDpjM2d-MgP8m3iag7XR9Dp2wtuTfzmKPE0Shf8zoUKq34qfTowEkN71CAQeCzzVIoWTUnzW0/s299/cache_3151984504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNa2gPHUEWehK_J8jKkJZxAKhptc8QeAa0opZQAL5k-A3K650X7TnypABZPM1qJWXHh36FDpjM2d-MgP8m3iag7XR9Dp2wtuTfzmKPE0Shf8zoUKq34qfTowEkN71CAQeCzzVIoWTUnzW0/s0/cache_3151984504.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> <b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">First Reading | Hebrews 8:6-13</b></p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">God gradually reveals Himself to us. It is rare that He reveals everything </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">in one go. If we know God’s complete plan for us, it may be too much </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">for us to handle and this could discourage us. This is why we have to </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">be committed to prayer—to grow daily in our understanding of God’s </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">will and purpose for us.</span></span></i></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">6</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Brothers and sisters: Now our high priest has </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">obtained so much more excellent a ministry as he </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">is mediator of a better covenant, enacted on better </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">promises. <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">7</sup></span> </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">For if that first covenant had been </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">faultless, no place would have been sought for a </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">second one. <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">8</sup></span> </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">But he finds fault with them and </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">says: Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">when I will conclude a new covenant with the house </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">of Israel and the house of Judah. 9 </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">It will not be like </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">the covenant I made with their fathers the day I </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">took them by the hand to lead them forth from the </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">land of Egypt; for they did not stand by my covenant </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">and I ignored them, says the Lord. <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">10</sup></span> But this is the </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">covenant I will establish with the house of Israel after </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">minds and I will write them upon their hearts. I will </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">be their God, and they shall be my people. <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">11</sup></span> And they </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">shall not teach, each one his fellow citizen and kin, </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">saying, "Know the Lord," for all shall know me, from </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">least to greatest. <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">12</sup></span> For I will forgive their evildoing and </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">remember their sins no more. <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">13</sup></span> When he speaks of a "</span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">new" covenant, he declares the first one obsolete.</span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">And what has become obsolete and has grown old </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">is close to disappearing.</span></span></p><hr style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 85:8, 10, 11-12, 13-14</span></span></b></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: #666666; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">R: Kindness and truth shall meet.</span></span></b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">8</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Show us, O Lord, your mercy, and grant us your </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">salvation. <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">10</sup></span> Near indeed is his salvation to those </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">11</sup></span>Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">shall kiss. <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">12</sup></span> Truth shall spring out of the earth, </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">and justice shall look down from heaven. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">13</sup></span>The Lord himself will give his benefits. Our land </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">shall yield its increase. <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">14</sup></span> Justice shall walk before </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b></span></span></p><hr style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Gospel | Mark 3:13-19</span></b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Jesus worked closely with only a few men and prepared them for the </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">ministry of the Gospel after His ascension into heaven. The Apostles were </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">the chosen few. However, there were also the seventy-two in Luke’s Gospel </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">and the seventy in Matthew; there were also the women who accompanied </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Him in His ministry. This tells us that each of us has a role in the work of </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">salvation. Let us discover what is ours and perform it as best as we can.</span></span></i></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: #666666; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Gospel Acclamation</span></b></span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">13</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> Jesus went up the mountain and summoned </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">those whom he wanted and they came to him. <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">14</sup></span> He </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles that </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">they might be with him and he might send them forth </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">to preach <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">15</sup></span> and to have authority to drive out demons: <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">16</sup></span> He appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Peter; <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">17</sup></span> James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">thunder; <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">18</sup></span> Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">the Cananean, 19 and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.</span></span></p><hr style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Reflect</b>:</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">"Ministry is not a job or a Sunday routine. It’s a privilege to be </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">chosen and used by Jesus." (Anonymous)</span></span></i></p><hr style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: grey; color: white; font-size: small; font-weight: 700; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Read the Bible in one year. Read Matthew 19 - 21 today!</span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"> </p></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-8237047236429404642021-01-20T08:37:00.001+08:002021-01-20T08:37:19.594+08:00God Whispers <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10VJpug1SQgQLl-h7gly-3rv_dA98zLjWQU5HmhI7R9IYy9E2x4m8e5KXjknJaNEw0Mn0uEXezA8yAV6jOFjWmgs5GZVJ_90mBdmP3UIPt8LgUDOEHU2v0z6DS4ioTXUnBDciII5t9hBP/s640/whispersofgod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10VJpug1SQgQLl-h7gly-3rv_dA98zLjWQU5HmhI7R9IYy9E2x4m8e5KXjknJaNEw0Mn0uEXezA8yAV6jOFjWmgs5GZVJ_90mBdmP3UIPt8LgUDOEHU2v0z6DS4ioTXUnBDciII5t9hBP/s320/whispersofgod.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18px;">Dear,</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">It can get tiring to keep giving, donating, and being generous, but you always come out the winner when you’re the giver.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Stay generous,</span><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>God</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;">P.S. </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” (Hebrews 13:3).</span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span></p>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-64774011085274105572021-01-07T12:04:00.001+08:002021-01-07T12:04:14.240+08:00Build a Monument<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtUfRpQ9RKrui69zFjmyRDffG0FuiF_5fkZckXmx9jV5PidZjNNg0vbAL1PluC7Afdyzz8H03OYrgwfleZPn2hpcHNY-o3PMc0ncckE75CxJpUp3Dy9htJUP1qu0Qco9HnIwWlf1RQPQ3/s1200/CDR-app-Header-1200x630-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtUfRpQ9RKrui69zFjmyRDffG0FuiF_5fkZckXmx9jV5PidZjNNg0vbAL1PluC7Afdyzz8H03OYrgwfleZPn2hpcHNY-o3PMc0ncckE75CxJpUp3Dy9htJUP1qu0Qco9HnIwWlf1RQPQ3/s320/CDR-app-Header-1200x630-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> <b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;">Build a Monument</b></p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Some lines from the poem "A Priest Is Always Wrong Because..." come to me as I reflect on today’s readings: </span></span></p><div style="margin-left: 40px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">If he begins his Mass on time, his watch is advanced; if he begins a minute later, he keeps people waiting; </span></i></span></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">If he preaches too long, he makes people get bored; if his homily is too short, he is unprepared.</span></span></i></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">If he is young, he has no experience; if he is old, he should retire.</span></span></i></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">The point of the poem is in the last line:</span></span></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">As long as he lives, there will always be someone to criticize than him. But if he dies, there is no one to replace him.</span></span></i></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">In today's Gospel, Jesus went home to Nazareth. He went into the synagogue and proclaimed a passage from Isaiah that read, "T<i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">he Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me..</i>." He ended it with a personal declaration, "<i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Today, this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing</i>." Then it ended with people asking one another, "<i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Isn't this Joseph's son</i>?"</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Those words were uttered with sarcasm and disbelief that a local boy so familiar to them is now styling himself as a prophet. Noticing their malice, Jesus would later declare, "<i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometow</i>n." Haters will always hate. Bashers will always bash. In the Philippine social media, bashing has become an art. In fact, we have made it into a profession.</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">It’s a good thing Jesus did not care about the number of likes His sermon gathered. He is not even bothered when people turn away from Him when He delivers a teaching difficult to accept (see John 6:66). His self-esteem was not dependent on public perception. I guess Jesus lived by this principle: When people </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">throw stones at you, don’t throw them back. Gather them and build a monument.</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">He teaches because He has a message to deliver (that is a prophet), not because He has to deliver a message (a pleaser). </span><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Fr. Joel Jason</span></i></span></p><hr style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">reflection question</span></span></b></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Are you a prophet or a pleaser?</span></span></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Consecrate me in the truth, O Lord, and strengthen me to proclaim it. Amen.</span></span></i></p><address style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Today, I pray for: ____________________________________________________</span></span></address></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-17590497471183341722021-01-07T11:59:00.002+08:002021-01-07T11:59:32.073+08:00Daily Bible Reading - January 7, 2021<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCrGlXbg7pYwE-VZIJGUAW1hJPFvEwEBXMfCR1OCuSPS3Jcs0yzo-qltQ3rkeFHa_gF-hOEFbvQRKhhmqLDUFERLcn1iaebdsRwW8y4yxrQlp39tl2LS7TH6rTu2D0omubROf8epOSB_M/s299/cache_3151984504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCrGlXbg7pYwE-VZIJGUAW1hJPFvEwEBXMfCR1OCuSPS3Jcs0yzo-qltQ3rkeFHa_gF-hOEFbvQRKhhmqLDUFERLcn1iaebdsRwW8y4yxrQlp39tl2LS7TH6rTu2D0omubROf8epOSB_M/s0/cache_3151984504.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">First Reading | 1 John 4:19–5:4</span></span></b></p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">We love God because He first loved us. He loved us into existence, and we continue to live through this same love. In return, let us give Him thanks for this grace and look for ways to love Him and our neighbor. Let us prove that love really makes the world go round.</span></span></i></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">19</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> Beloved, we love God because he first loved us. <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;">20</span></sup> If anyone says, "I love God," but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">21</sup></span> This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">5:1</sup></span> Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God, and everyone who loves the father loves also the one begotten by him. <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">2</sup></span> In this way we </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;">3 </span></sup>For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;">4</span></sup> for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.</span></span></p><hr style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 72:1-2, 14-15, 17</span></b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: #666666; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">R: Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.</span></span></b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">1</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> O God, with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king's son. <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;">2</span></sup> He shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">with judgment. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">14</sup></span> From fraud and violence he shall redeem them, and precious shall their blood be in his sight. <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;">15</span></sup> May they be prayed for continually; day by day shall they bless him.<b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"> (R)</b> <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;">17</span></sup> May his name be blessed forever; as long as the sun his name shall remain. In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed; all the nations shall proclaim his happiness. </span><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</span></b></span></p><hr style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Gospel | Luke 4:14-22</span></b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">In today's Gospel, the verses from Isaiah bring a great sense of expectation. How does it feel to await the Messiah's coming? The potential to transform, the power to perform miracles, and the dynamism of God's Word are inherent in these. Let us be living examples of what is being prophesied here. </span></span></i></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: #666666; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Gospel Acclamation</span></b></span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">The Lord has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">14</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;">15</span></sup> He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">16</sup></span> He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read <span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">17</sup></span> and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">scroll and found the passage where it was written: <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;">18</span></sup> The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;">20</span></sup> Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;">21</span></sup> He said to them, "Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;">22</span></sup> And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.</span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /></span></span></p><hr style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Reflect:</span></span></b></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">"You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16)</span></span></p><hr style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /><br /></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-25509368221889134532020-12-08T08:25:00.002+08:002020-12-08T08:25:34.513+08:00God Whispers - December 8, 2020<p> </p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 0px; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="m_-1930597855995717150gr-mltext-jkdjac" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding: 30px 45px 10px; word-break: break-word;"><div style="font-family: Ubuntu, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;"><div style="text-align: right;"><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span></p><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></p></div></div></td></tr><tr><td align="left" class="m_-1930597855995717150gr-mltext-guvgkw" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding: 50px 30px; word-break: break-word;"><div style="font-family: Ubuntu, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;"><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKcAwy_AwT_yYf2-VORoohPTLdTmYlpIMPw9dEs53d7VZDnnYfExQfFbO3sbZgvH3Tb6Bf8dnfObSv79xVMTsSY0eunjHlzfZjluBYagnt3mmjiBeCJXOqwC5Bg8qlPT-swUFkv_VdzfW/s851/god-whispers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKcAwy_AwT_yYf2-VORoohPTLdTmYlpIMPw9dEs53d7VZDnnYfExQfFbO3sbZgvH3Tb6Bf8dnfObSv79xVMTsSY0eunjHlzfZjluBYagnt3mmjiBeCJXOqwC5Bg8qlPT-swUFkv_VdzfW/s320/god-whispers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Dear</span><span style="font-size: 18px;">,</span><span style="font-size: 18px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;">Wherever this day takes you, think of that place as your mission field. Who will you bless today?</span></p><br /><p style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Proclaim the Good News,</span><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>God</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;">P.S. </span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;">Sharing the Gospel doesn’t mean you have to preach. Your actions speak louder than any sermon you can make.</span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"></span></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-76235812049472895652020-12-08T08:20:00.001+08:002020-12-08T08:20:32.028+08:00The Promised One<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfGuzthnliD_49UgF-gnONqSzMzg1opjC_ohCByvA1MktYLFORCx-n8Exqzo4E5LtJDZS6VsHw4Je8YoqWvJshvMshBS4uNCLC6czJ_-y6WuOhxJ0T0ooaQFMabzwxvq46z4CX-t0Ur0T/s512/IMG_20200908_060944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfGuzthnliD_49UgF-gnONqSzMzg1opjC_ohCByvA1MktYLFORCx-n8Exqzo4E5LtJDZS6VsHw4Je8YoqWvJshvMshBS4uNCLC6czJ_-y6WuOhxJ0T0ooaQFMabzwxvq46z4CX-t0Ur0T/s320/IMG_20200908_060944.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception </span></p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0.263977pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: 700; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of the Blessed Virgin Mary </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 19.864pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Promised One </span><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" />
</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 12.394pt 0.0994873pt 0pt 21.836pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.230999pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Catholic Church teaches dogmatically that Mary was conceived without sin. According to the </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Catechism of
the Catholic Church</span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, “Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, ‘full of grace’ through God (Luke 1:28) was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854: The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original
sin” (no. 491). </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367371pt 0.0883789pt 0pt 21.352pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.48pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through the singular merit of Jesus Christ, Mary was preserved from sin in anticipation of her role as the Mother of God. The Immaculate Conception is not really about Mary. It is about Jesus. And Mary’s whole life was only about Jesus. She was not only immaculately conceived; her heart is also immaculate in its desire: only Jesus, always Jesus. It behooves us
to do the same. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.220184pt 0pt 22.001pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-indent: 18.183pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you remember the last words Mary uttered in the Scriptures? It was at the wedding of Cana. Mary became aware that the couple ran out of wine. She presented this to her Son. And then, instructing the servants to pay attention to Jesus, we hear her last words: “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). These are not simply words of instruction to a caterer. This is
a spirituality Mary the Immaculate proposes for every Christian believer. One of the most beloved hymns dedicated to Mary has a line that says, “She will show us the Promised One; she will show us the Promised One. Oh, Mother of Jesus, be so kind as to show us the Promised One.” The celebration of the Christmas season brings with it many distractions, many distracting “promises.” Mary’s immaculate heart is a summons for us to focus not on the superficial but on the essential of the season—the promised One, only Jesus, always Jesus. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fr. Joel Jason </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.220184pt 0pt 22.001pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-indent: 18.183pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.220184pt 0pt 22.001pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.183pt;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">REFLECTION QUESTION </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.220184pt 0pt 22.001pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.183pt;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is your heart locked in on the Promised One this Advent and Christmas season? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.220184pt 0pt 22.001pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.183pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.220184pt 0pt 22.001pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.183pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“O Mother of Jesus be so kind as to show us the Promised One. Amen! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.220184pt 0pt 22.001pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.183pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.220184pt 0pt 22.001pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.183pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, I pray for: __________________________________________________________ </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-5569766468661137292020-12-08T08:15:00.000+08:002020-12-08T08:15:04.714+08:00Daily Bible Reading - December 8, 2020<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Jf1GWuftfDhHARJ7XDZv53zv5MQodI3bpTcAgoZCNpQMzbdy8MplM7lgIRjtSmf7fGrocoyaO9siAR15lElsMubZSwosgCGeUsC-AACpFwKjuvtIdIyaMJF54koje2h0tk6AFJoJVJuw/s600/Daily-Time-with-God.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Jf1GWuftfDhHARJ7XDZv53zv5MQodI3bpTcAgoZCNpQMzbdy8MplM7lgIRjtSmf7fGrocoyaO9siAR15lElsMubZSwosgCGeUsC-AACpFwKjuvtIdIyaMJF54koje2h0tk6AFJoJVJuw/s320/Daily-Time-with-God.png" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception</span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" />of the Blessed Virgin Mary</span></p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">1st READING</span> </span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Today’s reading allows us to see the seeds of salvation. The image of </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">the woman’s offspring overcoming the devil is Jesus defeating sin and death </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">by His death and resurrection. Our challenge is to accept God’s long-term </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">commitment to the work of salvation. He did not give up on us—this is the </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">story of His relationship with us. Let us pray for the grace to be committed and grateful </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">for His work in us.</i></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Genesis 3:9-15, 20 </b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">9</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree, the Lord God called to </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">the man and asked him, “Where are you?” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">10</sup></span> He answered, “I heard you </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">11</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">12</sup></span> The man </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">replied, “The woman whom you put here with me—she gave me fruit </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">from the tree, and so I ate it.” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">13</sup></span> The Lord God then asked the woman, </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">“Why did you do such a thing?” The woman answered, “The serpent </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">tricked me into it, so I ate it.” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">14</sup></span> Then the Lord God said to the serpent: </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">“Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">and from all the wild creatures; on your belly shall you crawl, and dirt </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">shall you eat all the days of your life. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">15</sup></span> I will put enmity between you </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">your head, while you strike at his heel.” <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">20</span></sup> The man called his wife Eve, </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">because she became the mother of all the living.</span></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">PSALM</span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4</b></span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: #666666; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">R: Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.</b></span></span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;">1</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;">deeds; his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.</span></span><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</span></span></b><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> </span><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;">2 </span></span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;">The Lord has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;">he has revealed his justice. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">3</sup></span> </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;">He has remembered his kindness and his </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;">faithfulness toward the house of Israel. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> All the ends of the earth have </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;">seen the salvation by our God. <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">4</span></sup> </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;">break into song; sing praise. </span><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</span></b></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">2nd READING</span> </span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">St. Paul affirms that God’s plan for our salvation has existed from the </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">moment we sinned. He does not seek revenge nor hold grudges. He does </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">what love invites us to do—forgive and move on in our relationship with </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">one another. God’s forgiveness is absolute. We are still working toward this </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">level of forgiveness in our relationships. Let us be inspired to forgive others just as He has </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">forgiven us.</i></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 </b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">3</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> Brothers and sisters: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">in the heavens,<span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"> 4</sup></span> </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">5</sup></span> </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">he destined </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">of his will, <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">6</sup></span> </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">in the beloved. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">11</sup></span> In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">intention of his will, <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">12</sup></span> so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">we who first hoped in Christ.</span></span></p></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL</span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Mary doesn’t know the anguish she would experience in the future. She </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">doesn’t know that her Son would die a horrific death on the cross. Her obedience </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">to God’s will began even before her conception, as God chose her to be the </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">mother of His Son. Let us reflect on the Immaculate Conception of Mary where </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">God chose a human being to bear the Savior of the world. Let us remember this honor </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">given to the human race and thank Mary who carried this gift so well.</i></span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL ACCLAMATION</span></p></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Luke 1:26-38</b></span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">26</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Nazareth, <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">27</span></sup> to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">28</sup></span> And coming to her, he said, </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">29</span></sup> But she was greatly troubled </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">30</sup></span> Then </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">with God. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">31</sup></span> Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">and you shall name him Jesus. <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">32</span></sup> He will be great and will be called Son </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">his father, 33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Kingdom there will be no end.” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">34</sup></span> But Mary said to the angel, “How can </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">this be, since I have no relations with a man?” <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">35</span></sup> And the angel said to </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">called holy, the Son of God. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">36</sup></span> And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">who was called barren; <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">37</sup></span> for nothing will be impossible for God.” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">38</sup></span> Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. </span></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Reflect: “For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is His name.” – Luke 1:46-49</span></span></p></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"></span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">______________________________</span> </p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: grey; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST</span></b> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">thank You, Lord, for:</span> </span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">____________________</span> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: grey; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Read the Bible in one year - Daniel 1-3 </span></b></p></div></div></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-91961680260079143782020-12-07T08:27:00.003+08:002020-12-07T08:27:52.126+08:00What’s Your Plan? <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKMK11c8hYLg6_fb4OnGhGJvsROu3k5M55ddQ0W4uKBOoIRBsRFS4TgJ6_lelljPu4NCWV5hU1XzmFDhUP0j044nXkWnIcWcSR2M9l7d22Bop4XKtlNKGl3B8ORZdthSzP_GmccRKRPTj/s1406/Daily-Relfection.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="1406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKMK11c8hYLg6_fb4OnGhGJvsROu3k5M55ddQ0W4uKBOoIRBsRFS4TgJ6_lelljPu4NCWV5hU1XzmFDhUP0j044nXkWnIcWcSR2M9l7d22Bop4XKtlNKGl3B8ORZdthSzP_GmccRKRPTj/s320/Daily-Relfection.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">What’s Your Plan? </span></p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 12.394pt 20.3842pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.462pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was a busy day and, as usual, people crowded Jesus to listen to His teachings and to bring their sick to Him. A paralytic lying on a bed was brought by his friends, but by then it was already impossible to even get within hearing distance of Jesus. But these friends of the paralytic were enterprising. They had a plan and failure was not part of it. So they
went up the roof, calculated where Jesus was, ripped off the tiles of the roof, and slipped down the paralytic before Jesus. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367371pt 20.4612pt 0pt 1.969pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-indent: 18.007pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If they were not going to have Jesus’ attention, they were going to get it— and get it they did. Luke mentions that Jesus saw their faith. They got Jesus’ attention, healing, and forgiveness as well. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367371pt 20.3843pt 0pt 1.903pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.589pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We can learn from the friends of the paralytic. First, they had a plan. They intended to do something, and they were intent on carrying it out. They did not simply wait for things to happen to them; they made things happen. They believed in this principle: If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367371pt 20.1861pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.469pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How many of us go through a day without a plan? How many of us go through life without a plan? For example, I hear people tell me regretfully, “Father, I thought it was going to be a great marriage.” When I ask them whether they actually had plan for a successful marriage, I am often given a surprised look or a regretful sigh. I have learned a lot from
many of my married friends. Marital bliss is not something that just happens; it is something you make happen. The same principle applies to every human endeavor. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 20.3953pt 0pt 1.936pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.095pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Secondly, the paralytic’s friends did not only have a plan. They acted on it. Most of our plans remain as they are—plans. Have you heard of the saying, “The grass is greener on the other side of the fence”? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3842pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.48pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">People who act on their plan believe something else: “The grass is greener where you water it.” Is the grass greener on the other side of the fence? Maybe because you keep dreaming and pining to jump on the other side, you forget to water your own side of the fence. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fr. Joel Jason </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3842pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.48pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3842pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.48pt;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">REFLECTION QUESTIONS </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3842pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.48pt;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What area of your life is affected by the paralysis of a lack of a plan? Also, what area is affected by the paralysis of an unworked-out plan? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3842pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.48pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3842pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.48pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord Jesus, heal me from all my paralysis, both real and perceived. Help me plan my work and work out my plans. Amen. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3842pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.48pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3842pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.48pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, I pray for: __________________________________________________________ </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-38834776587395874762020-12-07T08:24:00.004+08:002020-12-07T08:24:25.757+08:00Daily Bible Reading - December 7, 2020<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRvmbaoDPIRTRzkV4EnwAjf9I0SWdU1AMZnvs9PNQ1JfewofRoTefYzIwbRaHFj0dIMdwq6EMKCCjG8fIsFb-ncLPMiXVg8y1KOJ-SNCMbd_6V0k1I0HRks_MPE_S8V6hQKzqZVo3SOwZ/s263/daily-bible-reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRvmbaoDPIRTRzkV4EnwAjf9I0SWdU1AMZnvs9PNQ1JfewofRoTefYzIwbRaHFj0dIMdwq6EMKCCjG8fIsFb-ncLPMiXVg8y1KOJ-SNCMbd_6V0k1I0HRks_MPE_S8V6hQKzqZVo3SOwZ/s0/daily-bible-reading.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;">1st READING</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </span></p><p style="font-family: sans-serif; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: black; overflow-wrap: break-word;"></span></span></p><div style="font-family: sans-serif; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: black; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">God brings the desert to life. There is an abundance of color and life in </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">the desert of the north and east of Perth every spring. Wildflowers outdo one </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">another in an outburst of color for the glory of the Lord. The desert is literally </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">carpeted by colors. This is what God’s power can do—the impossible.</i></span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Isaiah 35:1-10</b></span></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">1</span></sup></span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">2</sup></span> They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">3</sup></span> Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">4</sup></span> say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">5</sup></span> </span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the </span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">ears of the deaf be cleared; <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">6</span></sup> </span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">then will the lame leap like a stag, then </span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">the tongue of the dumb will sing. Streams will burst forth in the desert, </span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">and rivers in the steppe. </span><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">7 </span></sup></span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">The burning sands will become pools, and </span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">the thirsty ground, springs of water; the abode where jackals lurk will </span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">be a marsh for the reed and papyrus. <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">8</span></sup> </span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">A highway will be there, called </span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">the holy way; no one unclean may pass over it, nor fools go astray on </span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">it. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">9</sup></span> </span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">No lion will be there, nor beast of prey go up to be met upon it. It </span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">is for those with a journey to make, and on it the redeemed will walk. </span><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">10</span></sup></span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> Those whom the Lord has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, </span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">crowned with everlasting joy; they will meet with joy and gladness, </span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">sorrow and mourning will flee.</span></p></span></span></div><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: black; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">PSALM</span></p></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14</b></span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: #666666; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">R: Our God will come to save us.</b></span></span></span></p></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">9</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> I will hear what God proclaims; the Lord—for he </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">proclaims peace to his people. <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">10</span></sup> Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">11</sup></span> Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. 1<sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">2</span></sup> Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">13</sup></span> The Lord himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">14</span></sup> Justice </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. </span><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R) </span></b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL</span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Forgiveness is a greater miracle than the healing of paralysis. The physical </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">realities silence the cries of our spirits. Part of discernment is learning to listen </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">to our spirit so we can also attend to these realities and the more immediate </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">physical ones. Let us allow Jesus to remind us of the importance of reflecting </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">on the spiritual realities and be attentive to them.</i></span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL ACCLAMATION</span></p></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Behold the king will come, the Lord of the earth, and he himself will lift the yoke of our captivity.</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Luke 5:17-26</b></span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">17</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">were sitting there, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">18</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">19</sup></span> But </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">middle in front of Jesus. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">20</sup></span> When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “As for </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">you, your sins are forgiven.” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">21</sup></span> Then the scribes and Pharisees began to </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">ask themselves, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">alone can forgive sins?” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">22</sup></span> Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">in reply, “What are you thinking in your hearts? <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">23</sup></span> Which is easier, to </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">24</sup></span> But that </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">sins”—he said to the one who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">up your stretcher, and go home.” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">25</sup></span> He stood up immediately before </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">God. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">26</sup></span> Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today.”</span></span></p></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Reflect: “If our greatest need had been money, then God would have sent us an economist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, then He sent us a Savior.” – Max Lucado</span></span></p></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">______________________________</span> </p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: grey; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST</span></b> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">thank You, Lord, for:</span> </span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">____________________</span> </p></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: grey; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Read the Bible in one year - Ezekiel 45-48 </span></b></p></div></span></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-59187171209505164842020-12-06T07:18:00.001+08:002020-12-06T07:18:02.694+08:00Listen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjjgswsibK5KO6ZsBNLZrTqfq-BJb3J44Ekn_EhVw8xngX_0_Ipdocj5Ros5ZPktPMvO2wJLQVbLIm3iQ5xZBmVVJU7SUtzYMmyUnqqlMuddM9GEAV-QGnf9fgLccW3Ajt_PxdAPSWSbX/s239/daily%252Breflection1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjjgswsibK5KO6ZsBNLZrTqfq-BJb3J44Ekn_EhVw8xngX_0_Ipdocj5Ros5ZPktPMvO2wJLQVbLIm3iQ5xZBmVVJU7SUtzYMmyUnqqlMuddM9GEAV-QGnf9fgLccW3Ajt_PxdAPSWSbX/s0/daily%252Breflection1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> <span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Listen </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 12.394pt 0.231262pt 0pt 21.462pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.649002pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A priest was greeting the people at the church entrance after Mass when a child grabbed his hand and handed him money. Surprised, the priest asked the child, “What is this for my child?” The child said, “I thought you could use the money. After your homily, my mother whispered to me that you are the
poorest preacher this parish has ever had.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367371pt 0.231232pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.458pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In February 2019, a national conference for priests was arranged. It was titled “The Joy of Preaching.” Several speakers, both priests and lay people, were invited to help us priests rediscover the joy in preaching. One lay speaker spoke of the need for priests to better our homilies to offset what he termed a “crisis in preaching.” I can
only nod in agreement. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367371pt 0.242279pt 0pt 21.957pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.227pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But if we can speak of a crisis in preaching, I believe we can also speak of a crisis in listening. I do not speak here of a collective hearing disability. I’m not talking about an aural listening, i.e, to listen with one’s ears. I’m speaking of a cardiac listening, i.e., to listen with one’s heart (from the Greek </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">kardia </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or heart). Notice, therefore, that at the heart of the word “heart” (pun intended), is the word “ear.” Listening is, in essence, the proper function of the heart. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.220276pt 0pt 21.957pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.875pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is why both First Reading and the Gospel of Mark remind us of a “voice crying out in the desert,” calling us to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. The desert is a place of silence. In fact, it is so silent, you can literally hear the beating of your heart. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.187042pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-indent: 17.974pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What do you hear as December 25 approaches? The sound of carols, new gadgets, get-togethers, eating binges? What makes you excited in the heart? Christmas beckons. And as that day approaches, I think of that familiar carol, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” What is that song inciting us to hear? It beckons us to listen with our heart to “the child, the child, sleeping
in the night, He will bring us goodness and light. He will bring us goodness and light!” This Christmas, let us remember to leave space in our hearts for the Child who will bring us goodness and light. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fr. Joel Jason </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.187042pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-indent: 17.974pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.187042pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.974pt;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">REFLECTION QUESTION </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.187042pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.974pt;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Christmas approaches, listen to your heart. What do you hear? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.187042pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.974pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.187042pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.974pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amidst the many attractions of the Christmas season, attract my heart, O God. Amen. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.187042pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.974pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.187042pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.974pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, I pray for: __________________________________________________________ </span></p>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-36969347530136933732020-12-06T07:16:00.004+08:002020-12-06T07:16:23.393+08:00Daily Bible Reading - December 6, 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMavWS6QZ4Rb2ZKSJRimCWN7j7-smtHqmB7dELJU64uITsF3ov-7ZMgprWqIiDYs321j4wYtTxQfUL1_isyjSTrHfhk8iMG5ymNud4Lef3jc203phWYy5ku6SAqgeTY06a37-Dp6S8K-ia/s293/daily%252Breading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMavWS6QZ4Rb2ZKSJRimCWN7j7-smtHqmB7dELJU64uITsF3ov-7ZMgprWqIiDYs321j4wYtTxQfUL1_isyjSTrHfhk8iMG5ymNud4Lef3jc203phWYy5ku6SAqgeTY06a37-Dp6S8K-ia/s0/daily%252Breading.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Second SUNday of Advent</span></p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">1st READING</span> </span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">I remember getting struck by Handel’s “The Messiah,” not only by the </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">beautiful words but also the music that accompanied them. May the Scriptures </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">impact us in the same unforgettable way. The Word of God has the power to </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">transform us from within in ways we can barely understand.</i></span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11</b></span></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">1</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">2</sup></span> Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; indeed, she has received from the hand of the Lord double for all her sins. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">3</sup></span> A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">4</sup></span> Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; the rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">5</sup></span> Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">9</sup></span> Go up onto a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings; cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news! Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God! <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">10</sup></span> Here comes with power the Lord God, who rules by his strong arm; here is his reward with him, his recompense before him.<span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"> 11</sup></span> Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care. </span></span></p></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">PSALM</span></p></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Psalm 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14</b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">R: Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.</b></span></span></p></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">9 </span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">I will hear what God proclaims; the Lord—for he proclaims peace to his people. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">10</sup></span> Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">11</sup></span> Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">12</sup></span> Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">13</sup></span> The Lord himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">14</sup></span> Justice shall walk before him, and prepare the way of his steps. </span></span><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</span></span> </b></p><p style="color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">2nd READING</span> </span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">God knows exactly the right time on what He needs to do in our lives. On </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">our part, the key in accomplishing His will is obeying Him. Why would we wait </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">before we surrender to Him? Let us place ourselves in God’s hands and allow </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">the perfect timing of His grace to work.</i></span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">2 Peter 3:8-14</b></span></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">8</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">9</span></sup> The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">10</span></sup> But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out. <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">11</span></sup> Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion, <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">12</sup></span> waiting </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">13</sup></span> But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">14</sup></span> Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.</span></span></p></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">PSALM</span></p></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL</span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Salvation is the work of the Lord and His Spirit. We are all called to proclaim </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">the Gospel about the life and ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus, and the </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">power of the Holy Spirit. God needs us to animate the message and proclaim it.</i></span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL ACCLAMATION</span></p></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all flesh shall see the salvation of God.</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Mark 1:1-8</b></span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">1</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">2</sup></span> As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">3</sup></span> A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">4</sup></span> John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">5</sup></span> People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.<span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"> 6</sup></span> John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey.<span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"> 7</sup></span> And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. <sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">8 </span></sup>I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”</span></span></p></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Reflect: </span><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Who is a model of humility you look up to? What traits does this person have that you wish to emulate?</span></span></p></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">______________________________</span> </p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: grey; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST</span></b> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">thank You, Lord, for:</span> </span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">____________________</span> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: grey; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Read the Bible in one year - Ezekeil 41-44 </span></b></p></div></div></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-1475244592338941082020-12-04T08:53:00.003+08:002020-12-04T08:53:28.628+08:00Active Dreaming<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Lf1FB5s0xF0ggfmrESO3PC8vOumXYLZwbYwBS-BwjiBUeNUvHVwsUpEC6bmzjOTPTGFF2ovr6syMcgzmYauEXz3Wkla9RDhkpzItEdKsYXOigFj1dRy9lSa5ErrOe_DVm4A5WR4mXz71/s299/cache_3151984504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Lf1FB5s0xF0ggfmrESO3PC8vOumXYLZwbYwBS-BwjiBUeNUvHVwsUpEC6bmzjOTPTGFF2ovr6syMcgzmYauEXz3Wkla9RDhkpzItEdKsYXOigFj1dRy9lSa5ErrOe_DVm4A5WR4mXz71/s0/cache_3151984504.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Active Dreaming</span></p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 12.394pt 0.209167pt 0pt 21.462pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.230999pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A couple—both sixty years old—was celebrating their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. While walking on the beach, they stumbled upon a lamp where a genie resides. After freeing the genie, they were granted the proverbial three wishes. The man immediately said, “I want you to give me a fleet of
cars!” Immediately, the wish was granted. As a follow-up, he requested again, “Give me lots and lots of cash.” It was granted. Then finally, he whispered to the genie, “Give me a wife forty years younger than me.” Immediately, he became a hundred years old. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.275238pt 0pt 22.111pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-indent: 17.886pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe the genie was dumb. Or maybe, he saw through the selfishness of the husband who only thought of his wishes. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.220276pt 0pt 22.067pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-indent: 18.194pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our readings for today speak of Advent dreams fulfilled and realized. The First Reading outlines for us the vision of Isaiah, the promise to be brought about by the awaited coming Messiah: “The deaf shall hear . . . the eyes of the blind shall see . . . and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.” In the Gospel, we see a glimpse of the fulfillment of that vision. Two
blind men from Capernaum were healed of their blindness. The season of Advent speaks of the joyful anticipation of hopes realized and promises fulfilled in the coming of the long-awaited Messiah. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.264313pt 0pt 21.968pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.864pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, I would like to propose that we look at the Advent season not only from the point of view of the two blind men who were healed but from the point of view of Jesus who performed the healing. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.220245pt 0pt 22.166pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-indent: 17.831pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make your Advent season not only a passive one—a time for receiving. Rather, make it an active one—a time for giving. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.264191pt 0pt 22.111pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-indent: 17.721pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This Advent, ask not only that your prayers may be answered. Pray also that you may be the answer to other people’s prayers. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fr. Joel Jason </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.264191pt 0pt 22.111pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-indent: 17.721pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.264191pt 0pt 22.111pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.721pt;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">REFLECTION QUESTION </span><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When was the last time you actually went out of your way to do something for someone who you do not even know? In prayer, look into your heart and ask the Lord to elevate the desires of your heart from being a
recipient to being a giver. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.264191pt 0pt 22.111pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.721pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.264191pt 0pt 22.111pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.721pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord Jesus, Emmanuel, may I not passively wait for Your coming. May I hasten Your coming by being Your instrument of love and service. Amen. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.264191pt 0pt 22.111pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.721pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.264191pt 0pt 22.111pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.721pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, I pray for: ________________________________________________</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-60514149073690599992020-12-04T08:50:00.007+08:002020-12-04T08:50:57.218+08:00Daily Bible Reading - December 4, 2020<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZ7UeLLlN-53_FIfs9MiIJlsBTr1tQP1zlmi6n6jbEMuz9YmHWGFRXLIVGuSxq85aOh7CwSOKTOCMwL77NYKPV1e7V8qTfjzmtqafN9JCCXDGfGWqYqalFWb-SOwWyzi05vtIJMTbTkZI/s263/daily-bible-reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZ7UeLLlN-53_FIfs9MiIJlsBTr1tQP1zlmi6n6jbEMuz9YmHWGFRXLIVGuSxq85aOh7CwSOKTOCMwL77NYKPV1e7V8qTfjzmtqafN9JCCXDGfGWqYqalFWb-SOwWyzi05vtIJMTbTkZI/s0/daily-bible-reading.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;">1st READING</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </span></p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Regeneration is a slow process in the natural world; it can be the same </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">in the spiritual world even if God is at its helm. He renews His people, but its </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">completion will take time. God also works in us over time—not everything </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">happens in an instant. Our world conditions us to be “instant junkies,” expecting </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">everything to happen immediately. Spiritually, this may not be the healthiest way to </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">achieve change. A gradual transformation often endures for a longer time. </i></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Isaiah 29:17-24 </b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">17</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> Thus says the Lord God: But a very little while, and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard, and the orchard be regarded as a forest! <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">18</sup></span> On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; and out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">19</sup></span> The lowly will ever find joy in the Lord, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">20</sup></span> For the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have gone; all who are alert to do evil will be cut off, <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">21</sup></span> those whose mere word condemns a man, who ensnare his defender at the gate, and leave the just man with an empty claim. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">22</sup></span> Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of the house of Jacob, who redeemed Abraham. Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of, nor shall his face grow pale. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">23</sup></span> When his children see the work of my hands in his midst, they shall keep my name holy; they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob, and be in awe of the God of Israel. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">24</sup></span>Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding, and those who find fault shall receive instruction. </span></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">PSALM</span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14</b></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6d6e71; font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">R: The Lord is my light and my salvation.</b></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">1</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?<b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"> (R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">4</sup></span> One thing I ask of the Lord; this I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord and contemplate his temple. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">13</sup></span> I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">14</sup></span> Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> </span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL</span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">The men who are healed of their blindness do not remain silent about </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">the miracle they received, nor should we be afraid to speak up and share what </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">God has done for us. We can be silenced by fear of what others think or how </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">they respond to our testimony. This should not deter us from giving witness </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">to God’s work in us. Today’s Gospel reminds us to share our experiences of the power of </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">the Holy Spirit so others may come to know the Good News. </i></span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL ACCLAMATION</span></p></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Behold, our Lord shall come with power; he will enlighten the eyes of his servants.</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Matthew 9:27-31</b></span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">27</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">28</sup></span> When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">29</sup></span> Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">30</sup></span> And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">31</sup></span> But they went out and spread word of him through all that land. </span></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Reflect: </span>“Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous but sinners.” – Mark 2:17</span></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">______________________________</span> </p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: grey; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST</span></b> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">thank You, Lord, for:</span> </span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">____________________</span> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: grey; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Read the Bible in one year - Ezekiel 33-36 </span></b></p></div></div></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-58104230395623874922020-11-24T08:08:00.003+08:002020-11-24T08:08:25.759+08:00TURN, TURN, TURN <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdL4RuTlR1u63NeLZycQwTwTPWrB9fkFGMoEOxpYmBIrqjuyKhcDHtLsxJkT-Ijl9uAKUlqSaq8gYWI1wgxqG6jsWVyvLE0WQfIJQGeZIArGdEhQV4v5hHHfxYHVPoThh60GcUvR0afUH/s900/catholic-daily-readings-and-reflections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdL4RuTlR1u63NeLZycQwTwTPWrB9fkFGMoEOxpYmBIrqjuyKhcDHtLsxJkT-Ijl9uAKUlqSaq8gYWI1wgxqG6jsWVyvLE0WQfIJQGeZIArGdEhQV4v5hHHfxYHVPoThh60GcUvR0afUH/s320/catholic-daily-readings-and-reflections.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">TURN, TURN, TURN </span></p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 13.594pt 0.308258pt 0pt 21.836pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.307999pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ‘60s singing group, The Byrds, popularized something that both the Old and New Testaments taught, as indeed, taught by the passage from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: “There is a season for everything under the heavens.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.198303pt 0pt 21.759pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.502pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One thing about getting older is that one can look back realistically and see past events for what they were, not for what one wanted them to be. Being young has its advantages definitely, but seeing things in future realistically may not be one of them. One can dream of big things, but what one conjures up in dreams and desires may or may not come true for you
and me. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.0440674pt 0pt 21.957pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.304pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God knows how many plans I have made, how many projects I started, and how many worthy and unworthy dreams I have conceived, and not everything ended up as what the world calls success. In retrospect, not everything was meant to be. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367432pt 0.275208pt 0pt 21.957pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.227pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But Stephen Covey, more than two decades ago, taught us to look realistically at something that is not yet but still to come. “Begin with the end in mind,” he counseled. Start out not with whimsical dreams but with a long, hard look at how everything will end up eventually, sooner or later. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.0774536pt 0pt 21.968pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.864pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This, in essence, is what today’s readings remind us of—that there is an end to the world and the realm of worldly time as we know them. The readings help us set our sights on the end—the reality of the final judgment at the Second Coming of the Lord, at the end time. This is something that has always been part of the whole teaching of the
Church since the beginning. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.264313pt 0pt 22.133pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.699pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The past is over and done with, and there is not much we can do about it except accept it. The future is yet unfolding, and while we rightfully think we can do a lot about its outcome, the one certainty that we all would do well to remember is what the liturgy throughout this week reminds us of. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 74.0141pt 0pt 39.832pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The time to reap will come. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 74.0141pt 0pt 39.832pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 74.0141pt 0pt 39.832pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">REFLECTION QUESTION </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 74.0141pt 0pt 39.832pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 74.0141pt 0pt 39.832pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: right; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do you regard your unfulfilled dreams? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 74.0141pt 0pt 39.832pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 74.0141pt 0pt 39.832pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: right; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let me trust in Your ways, Lord—now and for always. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 74.0141pt 0pt 39.832pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 74.0141pt 0pt 39.832pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, I pray for: __________________________________________________________ </span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /></span></div></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-27879083639044150922020-11-24T08:06:00.002+08:002020-11-24T08:06:14.054+08:00Daily Bible Reading - November 24, 2020<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5kKixKqjaYiwat42uRP6z0Bhcg4zfHH41bCwow-ihkV0hlpJ8Yt9cfN66ibmvGKebrvs02tIdPgYp-H7fG6xnCBT0GQ3Y_SO-RcrPalenUQET4wwUQmVDTiv9utSjS-sRT9pyVSRe6Hc/s263/daily-bible-reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5kKixKqjaYiwat42uRP6z0Bhcg4zfHH41bCwow-ihkV0hlpJ8Yt9cfN66ibmvGKebrvs02tIdPgYp-H7fG6xnCBT0GQ3Y_SO-RcrPalenUQET4wwUQmVDTiv9utSjS-sRT9pyVSRe6Hc/s0/daily-bible-reading.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;">1st READING</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </span></p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">There are times when we bear bad fruit because of our sinfulness. We </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">need the correction and guidance of the Holy Spirit and our pastoral carers. </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">This is a natural and essential aspect of a disciple’s life. The grace of repentance </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">is directly linked to the death of Jesus on the cross—the means by which our </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">sins are forgiven.</i></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Revelation 14:14-19</b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">14</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> I, John, looked and there was a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man, with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">15</sup></span> Another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap the harvest, for the time to reap has come, because the </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">earth’s harvest is fully ripe.” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">16</sup></span> So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">17</sup></span> Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven who also had a sharp sickle. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">18 </sup></span>Then another angel came from the altar, who was in charge of the fire, and cried out in a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth’s vines, for its grapes are ripe.” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">19</sup></span> So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage. He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury. </span></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">PSALM</span></span></p></div></div></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13</b></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6d6e71; font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">R: The Lord comes to judge the earth.</b></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">10</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> Say among the nations: the Lord is king. He has made the world firm, not to be moved; he governs the peoples with equity. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">11</sup></span> Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills it resound; <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">12</sup></span> let the plains be joyful and all that is in them! Then shall all the trees of the forest exult. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">13</sup></span> Before the Lord, for he comes; for he comes to rule the earth. He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with his constancy. </span><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</span></b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL</span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">If we have a clear conscience, then we have no reason to worry about our </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">faith. A clear conscience is what God wants for us. However, people do not put </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">any effort into forming their consciences, and it is impossible to know if we are </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">acting according to it. We should never act upon an ill-formed conscience as </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">it has no authority.</i></span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL ACCLAMATION</span></p></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.</span></i></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Luke 21:5-11</b></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">5</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">6</sup></span> “All that you see here—the days will come when there will not be left a stone </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">7 </sup></span>Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">8</sup></span> He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them! <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">9</sup></span> When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">10</sup></span> Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">11</sup></span> There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Reflect: </span><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;">“There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience.” – French Proverb</span></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">______________________________</span> </p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: grey; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST</span></b> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">thank You, Lord, for:</span> </span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">____________________</span> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: grey; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Read the Bible in one year - Baruch 1-3 </span></b></p></div></div></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-61168260920785589692020-11-23T08:47:00.002+08:002020-11-23T08:47:13.366+08:00WHAT MAKES A GIFT A GIFT? <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGBm1b9Ng3OxBmNfAlL8epu-5jC2m6-0jyqv2y2peRj2RXTDyrFFY8SmuJPFNiFcsTHl-AiA7AnZYwSzDsvIOjG9Dsd1NhlHkPWrmBSMkxXdTtkb2fwuQ1sYrTLUUArqXuRmMBrajCDhg/s775/d6nv6kscqs6pl9khx8z8puxqk2l.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="775" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGBm1b9Ng3OxBmNfAlL8epu-5jC2m6-0jyqv2y2peRj2RXTDyrFFY8SmuJPFNiFcsTHl-AiA7AnZYwSzDsvIOjG9Dsd1NhlHkPWrmBSMkxXdTtkb2fwuQ1sYrTLUUArqXuRmMBrajCDhg/s320/d6nv6kscqs6pl9khx8z8puxqk2l.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHAT MAKES A GIFT A GIFT? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 13.594pt 20.4062pt 0pt 1.067pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.109999pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus was very observant. He spotted that poor widow whom nobody noticed. She was a nobody. But for Jesus, everybody counts, especially those whom the majority ignores and pushes aside. She had two small coins and gave both. And Jesus praises her and values her very small, insignificant gift more than the offerings of
the rich. He directs our attention to what determines the value of any gift. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367371pt 20.4283pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.139pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is, first of all, the spirit in which the gift is given. When we give with a grudge, that’s not the right spirit. Such an attitude devalues the gift. When we give for the sake of prestige, again such a gift loses much of its value. What then is the right spirit? Look at the widow. She gave, perfectly knowing that nobody would see her, except God, and
she gave everything because she could not help it. She must have experienced the goodness of God to her so many times that she just could not help but give everything she had. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367371pt 20.3952pt 0pt 1.177pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.48pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is another lesson Jesus gives us about gifts. In giving real gifts, sacrifice must be involved. The rich threw their money into the collection boxes and Jesus realized that they had calculated how much they could afford without feeling the loss. The widow showed a reckless generosity; she gave everything and would now rely totally on God’s
providence. We might not have to go that far when we select and buy gifts for Christmas, but just recycling fruit cakes certainly does not include the aspect of sacrifice and does not make the gift valuable at all. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3953pt 0pt 1.496pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.491pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Far more important is what we give to God. He gave us everything. He “emptied Himself and became man,” Saint Paul wrote. What do I give in return? We are often stingy. We bargain, find excuses to avoid tithing. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.4943pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-indent: 18.568pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God meets us every day in the poor, the sick, and the marginalized. There, we are offered opportunities to show our gratitude and give God what is His— seen only by Him. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.4943pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-indent: 18.568pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.4943pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-indent: 18.568pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.4943pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.568pt;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">REFLECTION QUESTIONS </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.4943pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.568pt;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To whom do you plan to give a gift this Christmas? Why do you plan to give it? Do you have the right motive and attitude? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.4943pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.568pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.4943pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.568pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord, bless me and help me to be more generous—to give and not to count the cost. Amen. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.4943pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.568pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.4943pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.568pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, I pray for: __________________________________________________________ </span></p><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" /></span></div>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-76462307316679331982020-11-23T08:44:00.006+08:002020-11-23T08:44:48.412+08:00Daily Bible Reading - November 23, 2020<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ar4IbZQFh2wUjtNqG_xbEEIZnjx8zfDUMDhxGbLotxh0PkjbyBEfyB2NP2x94C1C6Yxda9agMoje-8JWlWwwu3m41qBsZ_uW-z1ioSWtt0UutZ8JuW44EEmerwdZvZ9rvawPVcET1ybN/s293/daily%252Breading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ar4IbZQFh2wUjtNqG_xbEEIZnjx8zfDUMDhxGbLotxh0PkjbyBEfyB2NP2x94C1C6Yxda9agMoje-8JWlWwwu3m41qBsZ_uW-z1ioSWtt0UutZ8JuW44EEmerwdZvZ9rvawPVcET1ybN/s0/daily%252Breading.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;">1st READING</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </span></p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">The Lord will come again in glory, and everyone will know that Jesus </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Christ is the Lord of all. Let us cling to this truth in the midst of difficulties and </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">persecution. This is our hope—our trials as Jesus’ disciples are worthwhile </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">because of the glory we will receive in heaven.</i></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Revelation 14:1-3, 4-5</b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">1</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> I, John, looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">2</sup></span> I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">3</sup></span> They were </span></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">singing what seemed to be a new hymn before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been ransomed from the earth.<span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"> 4</sup></span> These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been ransomed as the first fruits of the human race for God and the Lamb. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">5</sup></span> On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished. </span></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">PSALM</span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6</b></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6d6e71; font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">R: Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.</b></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">1</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> The Lord’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">2</sup></span> For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">3</sup></span> Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who may stand in his holy place? <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">4</sup></span> He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(</b><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">5</sup></span> He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God his savior. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">6</sup></span> Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob. </span><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</span></b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL</span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Let us reflect on how the poor widow has given far more, as she gave from </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">what she needed to live on while the wealthy gave from their excess. We have </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">not truly been tested in our faith until we give beyond our means and step out </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">in faith that God will provide what we need to accomplish His will.</i></span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL ACCLAMATION</span></p></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Times; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Stay awake! For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.</span></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Luke 21:1-4</b></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">1</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">2</sup></span> and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">3</sup></span> He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">4</sup></span> for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Reflect: </span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;">“This is the meaning of true love: to give until it hurts.” – St. Teresa of </span><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Calcutta</span></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">______________________________</span> </p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: grey; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST</span></b> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">thank You, Lord, for:</span> </span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">____________________</span> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: grey; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Read the Bible in one year - Lamentations 1-5 </span></b></p></div></div></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-41810651208993547982020-11-21T04:37:00.004+08:002020-11-21T04:37:55.145+08:00SIMPLE OBEDIENCE IS BEST <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqY99P-tOjAxDGSCCCk4EzJbvijAFSPfV6-2T28DrfX9DAAwn1pjnqFVv-QUiEZDO5nSJ0dxwJKdMIBMYNmxUYbQc1pMdOAWfD-B2Rk8XXsNmrkOzCtgDSJnWOL4wrJjjBQfFlaTQF1Z98/s239/daily%252Breflection1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqY99P-tOjAxDGSCCCk4EzJbvijAFSPfV6-2T28DrfX9DAAwn1pjnqFVv-QUiEZDO5nSJ0dxwJKdMIBMYNmxUYbQc1pMdOAWfD-B2Rk8XXsNmrkOzCtgDSJnWOL4wrJjjBQfFlaTQF1Z98/s0/daily%252Breflection1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">SIMPLE OBEDIENCE IS BEST </span></p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 13.594pt 20.1862pt 0pt 1.661pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.165001pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mary and some of Jesus’ relatives are looking for Him. When they find Him, they send word that they are waiting for Him outside. Jesus takes this opportunity to teach the people something about the nature of discipleship. There is an almost universal respect for the role of a mother in teaching and bringing up a child. Is Jesus’ response, then, rude
and uncaring toward Mary His mother? I think not. Jesus is simply saying that it is even more important to respect God’s will in our lives. God holds a higher call over our life than either or both of our parents do. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3843pt 0pt 1.892pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.897pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, I am not saying that we should disregard our parents. We must still respect them in every way. We are not to try and use one against the other. However, we need to balance our respect for them with an unbreakable commitment and obedience to God’s will. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367432pt 20.395pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.469pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For example, I can remember telling my parents about my desire and decision to become a priest. I had not talked to them about my discernment at all. I realize now that it would have been better if I did. When I told them I knew deep within my heart two things. First, that I wanted my parents’ blessing for the decision I was making. Second, that I believed that
it was what God wanted for me and even if they were not happy with my decision, I would go ahead with it anyway. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3071pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.469pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fortunately, they were happy and gave me their blessing. It is not that I would have enjoyed defying my parents, but the will of god and His call had a greater pull on my life. I never doubted that my parents would want to stop me. In fact, they gave me their full support. It was one of the happiest moments of my life to know that Mom and Dad were behind me in
my decision. I know of others who pursued the path of priesthood without their parents’ blessing because God’s call was the greater. It is a practical example of Jesus’ words when He says to those around Him that it is those who do the will of His Father in heaven who are His mother and sister and brother. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3071pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.469pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3071pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.469pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3071pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.469pt;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">REFLECTION QUESTION </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3071pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.469pt;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is there anything that you would allow to deflect you from God’s will for your life? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3071pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.469pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3071pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.469pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord Jesus, help me to be obedient and persevering when it comes to Your will. Amen. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3071pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.469pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3071pt 0pt 1.518pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.469pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, I pray for: __________________________________________________________ </span></p></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-13604553053499994712020-11-21T04:35:00.003+08:002020-11-21T04:35:47.771+08:00Daily Bible Reading - November 21, 2020<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwr-ZzI4UYJC5oRGSssyK3QNJrHS0q0jehKYeF4v51o0MSmgETQvXyAKQF5dtvMvlKsRyJhlDBvyQz1a6V0gkZrrh0XiVB-gdBnGGI6Lyf6T20FV5yjWc32JVkMtU4JuNBzYBKUVPmAkl/s954/E05E7ED3-C4F4-4AE6-84E7-A564921238F2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwr-ZzI4UYJC5oRGSssyK3QNJrHS0q0jehKYeF4v51o0MSmgETQvXyAKQF5dtvMvlKsRyJhlDBvyQz1a6V0gkZrrh0XiVB-gdBnGGI6Lyf6T20FV5yjWc32JVkMtU4JuNBzYBKUVPmAkl/s320/E05E7ED3-C4F4-4AE6-84E7-A564921238F2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary</i></p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;">1st READING</span><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Singing praises to God is a great way to enter into prayer and thanksgiving. </i></span><i style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">The gift of song—along with everything we do or say—should always glorify </i><i style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">the Lord. Today, secular music fails to praise and honor God. Let us choose the </i><i style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">music we listen to, lest we be led astray..</i></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Zechariah 2:14-17 (or Revelation 11:4-12)</b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">14</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the Lord. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">15</sup></span> Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they shall be his people, and he will dwell among you, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">16</sup></span> The Lord will possess Judah as his portion of the holy land, and he will again choose Jerusalem. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">17</sup></span> Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the Lord! He stirs forth from his holy dwelling.</span></span></p></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">PSALM</span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Luke 1:46-47, 48-49, 50-51, 52-53, 54-55 (or Psalm 144:1, 2, 9-10)</b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6d6e71; font-family: DINPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">R: The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.</b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">46</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">47</sup></span> my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">48</sup></span> “For he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">49</sup></span> the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.” <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">50</sup></span> “He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">51</sup></span> He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.” <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">52</sup></span> “He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">53</sup></span> He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he has sent away empty.<b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">54</sup></span> “He has come to the help of his servant Israel, for he has remembered his promise of mercy, <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">55</sup></span> the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.”</span><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</span></b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL</span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Jesus reminds us of the true focus of the Gospel—obedience to His will. </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Let us not be distracted by people who wield power either in the world or in </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">the Church. Our salvation does not depend on what or who we know but how </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">faithful we follow God’s call.</i></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL ACCLAMATION</span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.</span></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"></span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: black; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Matthew 12:46-50 (or Luke 20:27-40)</b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">46</sup></span> While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">47</sup></span> Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">48</sup></span> But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">49</sup></span> And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">50</sup></span> For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”</span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Reflect: </span><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;">“Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.” – Charles Stanley</span></p></div></span></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"></span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">______________________________</span> </p></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">______________________________</span> </p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">______________________________</span> </p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background: gray; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST</span></b> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">thank You, Lord, for:</span> </span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">____________________</span> </p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background: gray; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Read the Bible in one year - Jeremiah 47-49 </span></b> </span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-51616155850447237252020-11-20T08:31:00.002+08:002020-11-20T08:31:06.334+08:00A HOT-TEMPERED JESUS? <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfJj4yyuUGYS7KNTvnAbgvqdg3R5QJNogHBIREfaXDN5qlilLZez16I0tIg4fx-2kt_u0-q4RIJXl8OwJqMt8ZNSSjUT_Wd_u1Z8T3JVu7tXnIMJdjVyKc8tI94HrmN6MjH2LBYa6IodM/s1200/CDR-app-Header-1200x630-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfJj4yyuUGYS7KNTvnAbgvqdg3R5QJNogHBIREfaXDN5qlilLZez16I0tIg4fx-2kt_u0-q4RIJXl8OwJqMt8ZNSSjUT_Wd_u1Z8T3JVu7tXnIMJdjVyKc8tI94HrmN6MjH2LBYa6IodM/s320/CDR-app-Header-1200x630-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">A HOT-TEMPERED JESUS? </span></p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 13.594pt 0.220245pt 0pt 21.462pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.649002pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are you a hot-tempered person? Then you must enjoy today’s Gospel passage about the cleansing of the Temple. But before you take Jesus as a model and an excuse for your outbursts, reflect a bit more about the situation. Wasn’t Jesus the incarnation of God’s love? Didn’t He say He was meek and humble?
Surely He was not a hot-tempered man. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367371pt 0.220184pt 0pt 21.836pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.831pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We said yesterday that Jesus shed tears not so much about the destruction of a building, but because of the suffering people inflict on themselves when they refuse to listen to His message of peace. Similarly, the cleansing of the Temple is not just the cleaning of the holy building, of the House of God from business and corruption. The Temple stands for
God’s relationship with His people, the Body of Jesus who compared His Body with the Temple. It stands for all followers of Christ whom Saint Paul called “temples of the Holy Spirit.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.242279pt 0pt 21.968pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.49pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the Temple area was polluted by moneymaking vendors, the relationship of Israel with God had been polluted by greed and rebellion. Prophets and people sent by God had been persecuted and even killed. This pained Jesus so much that in a prophetic action, He showed the people how they were offending the love and kindness of God. And soon they would arrest,
torture, and even kill Him, the real Temple of God. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.220245pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.491pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But Jesus also saw the defilement of many temples of the Holy Spirit, of us. There are those who ignore God and engage in premarital sex but then cry when a baby is on the way. There are many marriages where a partner becomes unfaithful. There are those who engage in corruption and end up suffering when they are exposed. So much evil is done by
us! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.264221pt 0pt 21.979pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.369pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus wants us to be saved. But we often live our life as if there were no eternal tomorrow. Look at the angry Jesus today, at the frustration of a lover whose love is refused, the frustration of loving parents who experience ingratitude. Do you want to cause Him that pain? </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.264221pt 0pt 21.979pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.369pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.264221pt 0pt 21.979pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.369pt;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">REFLECTION QUESTIONS </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 0.264221pt 0pt 21.979pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.369pt;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Which sin or bad habit defiles most the temple of the Holy Spirit that is your body? What are you going to do to avoid this sin? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 11.1006pt 5.16406pt 0pt 25.5021pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord, whenever I am tempted to sin, make me remember Your love and how much sin hurts You. Amen. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin: 11.1006pt 5.16406pt 0pt 25.5021pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, I pray for: __________________________________________________________ </span></p></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-59678172885993641482020-11-20T08:29:00.003+08:002020-11-20T08:29:29.691+08:00Daily Bible Reading - November 20, 2020<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Fw-wA4saQfH6C7DIOiPLlamlhZDoozrbSgcnv-NtvOdOSt7UqomM4_S-_R717SGw_kVkwuXZwS7RFSMRMtaNRksITM0whGwQWrcPTr3O0jRynEInmzRgDxsn4Kstb-frdETymIy_cPoE/s263/daily-bible-reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Fw-wA4saQfH6C7DIOiPLlamlhZDoozrbSgcnv-NtvOdOSt7UqomM4_S-_R717SGw_kVkwuXZwS7RFSMRMtaNRksITM0whGwQWrcPTr3O0jRynEInmzRgDxsn4Kstb-frdETymIy_cPoE/s0/daily-bible-reading.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;">1st READING</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </span></p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">There are times when the Word of God is sweet, but our experience of it </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">is far from sweet. This is because we sin and turn away from God’s Word and </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">become disappointed in ourselves. Sometimes, following God requires us to </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">embrace suffering.</i></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Revelation 10:8-11</b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">8</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> I, John, heard a voice from heaven speak to me. Then the voice spoke to me and said: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”<span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"> 9</sup></span> So I went up to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. He said to me, “Take and swallow it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">10</sup></span> I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and swallowed it. In my mouth it was like sweet honey, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">11</sup></span> Then someone said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">PSALM</span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131</b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6d6e71; font-family: DINPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">R: How sweet to my taste is your promise!</b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">14</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> In the way of your decrees I rejoice, as much as in all riches. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">24</sup></span> Yes, your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">72</sup></span> The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">103</sup></span> How sweet to my palate are your promises, sweeter than honey to my mouth! <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">111</sup></span> Your decrees are my inheritance forever; the joy of my heart they are. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">131</sup></span> I gasp with open mouth in my yearning for your commands. </span><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</span></b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL</span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">When it comes to our faith, there are certain things that retain their </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">sacredness. We need to respect this for our sake and for others. Adoration </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">chapels and churches are places of prayer. It is understandable that people </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">might speak with each other, but it should be limited in case there are those </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">who wish to continue to pray and reflect.</i></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL ACCLAMATION</span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: larger; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.</span></span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Luke 19:45-48</b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">45</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">46</sup></span> saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">47</sup></span> And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">48</sup></span> but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words. </span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Reflect: </span><span style="font-family: DINPro; overflow-wrap: break-word;">How do you behave in the Lord’s house? How do you show respect </span><span style="font-family: DINPro; overflow-wrap: break-word;">while attending Mass?</span></p></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">______________________________</span> </p></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">______________________________</span> </p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">______________________________</span> </p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background: gray; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST</span></b> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">thank You, Lord, for:</span> </span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">____________________</span> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background: gray; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Read the Bible in one year - Jeremiah 43-46 </span></b> </p></div></div></div></div></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-9508499080214951522020-11-19T04:57:00.005+08:002020-11-19T04:57:57.383+08:00THE TEARS OF GOD <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUZJYR-runkX91f5NXVEEJJF8ZzbC8KQXf96iMqIM2Ah8c8tyj3NA8fdEr_MTtdPZQ5qaXb2C0rdCIEWxyPzsr99msRTrQBHe4HPKaz25ksZLuBQ1XRkYImssXQQ_Y1Z-wJl-2YXnFqj9/s1200/CDR-app-Header-1200x630-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUZJYR-runkX91f5NXVEEJJF8ZzbC8KQXf96iMqIM2Ah8c8tyj3NA8fdEr_MTtdPZQ5qaXb2C0rdCIEWxyPzsr99msRTrQBHe4HPKaz25ksZLuBQ1XRkYImssXQQ_Y1Z-wJl-2YXnFqj9/s320/CDR-app-Header-1200x630-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">THE TEARS OF GOD </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is rare that men shed tears. And when they do, they try not to be seen by others. But Jesus wept—openly. That He wept at the tomb of a friend, we can understand. But to shed tears over a city that would be destroyed? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.3733pt 0pt 1.496pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.161pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The view from the Mount of Olives is breathtaking even until now. It must have been even more impressive when the Temple in all its splendor still stood. When the planes of the terrorists smashed into the World Trade Center, and we saw it on TV, many shed tears. I thought at that time: “What if they struck the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in
Rome?” My eyes turned misty. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367401pt 20.2631pt 0pt 1.804pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.205pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But Jesus did not only think about the destruction of a building. He thought of the horrible suffering the people would undergo. Jesus knew that rebellious groups were planning to overthrow the Romans and that this would lead to the horrors of destruction. If only they would listen to Him, accept His message of peace, and abandon their dreams of political power.
But they would not listen. So He exclaims: “If you, even today, would recognize peace!” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367432pt 20.2194pt 0pt 1.782pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.875pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The tears of Jesus shed over Jerusalem are the tears of God—when He sees His children suffer because they do not listen, running into all kinds of problems and needless pain because we foolishly rebel. I have a confession to make. Sometimes I think, “Wouldn’t it be better to be a minister of a non-Catholic community which tries so hard to do
what their pastor tells them?” Why such thoughts? You cannot imagine the frustration of many priests who try every Sunday to prepare a good homily but do not see any change in the lives and attitude of their faithful. If a priest gives a lousy homily, don’t condemn him immediatley. He might just be so frustrated that he lost the energy to prepare a good one “because it’s useless.” Ask yourself today: How many of my problems, how much of my suffering is caused by ignoring the words of Jesus? How many tears have I caused Him to shed because I ignore what He tells me through the Gospel and through the teachings of the Church? </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367432pt 20.2194pt 0pt 1.782pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.875pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367432pt 20.2194pt 0pt 1.782pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.875pt;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">REFLECTION QUESTION </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367432pt 20.2194pt 0pt 1.782pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.875pt;"><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Which of my sufferings and problems could I have avoided had I listened to the Lord and obeyed Him? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367432pt 20.2194pt 0pt 1.782pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.875pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367432pt 20.2194pt 0pt 1.782pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.875pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord, I know I have caused You many tears because of my disobedience to You. Forgive me my foolishness. Amen. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367432pt 20.2194pt 0pt 1.782pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.875pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367432pt 20.2194pt 0pt 1.782pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 17.875pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, I pray for: __________________________________________________________ </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-18965337352521662922020-11-19T04:55:00.005+08:002020-11-19T04:55:47.934+08:00Daily Bible Reading - November 19, 2020<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iI9dUohFp2ic7ER2FwSmmesLnVK0X7OiWgTJGpk0T3gibxUv_exAbtN-Q7btAkZA-XkWcX0J6R1-tz9KG8lIqKThEEynHF7QZjb97w6APwkNPPXAdkaZXtVoJplq4Lpph5vT2DQM7Mv8/s600/Daily-Time-with-God.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iI9dUohFp2ic7ER2FwSmmesLnVK0X7OiWgTJGpk0T3gibxUv_exAbtN-Q7btAkZA-XkWcX0J6R1-tz9KG8lIqKThEEynHF7QZjb97w6APwkNPPXAdkaZXtVoJplq4Lpph5vT2DQM7Mv8/s320/Daily-Time-with-God.png" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;">1st READING</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </span></p><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Jesus is worthy to know the Word and will of God. Nothing is hidden </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">from us—Jesus has revealed to us all that the Father has revealed to Him. His </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">first priority is our salvation. How often do we choose our own comfort over </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">service to the Gospel? Like Jesus, let us make sacrifices for the greater good.</i></span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word;">.</span></span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Revelation 5:1-10</b></span></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">1</span></sup></span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> I, John, saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">2</sup></span> Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">3</sup></span> But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to examine </span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">it. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">4</sup></span> I shed many tears because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to examine it. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">5</sup></span> One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed, enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.” <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">6</sup></span> Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the elders, a Lamb that seemed to have been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes; these are the seven spirits of God sent out into the whole world. </span><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">7</span></sup></span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> He came and received the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">8</sup></span> When he took it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">9</sup></span> They sang a new hymn: “Worthy are you to receive the scroll and to break open its seals, for you were slain and with your Blood you purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">10</sup></span> You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on earth.”</span></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">PSALM</span></p></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Psalm 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 9</b></span></p></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6d6e71; font-family: Avenir; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">R: The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.</b></span></p></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 5pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: 6pt;">1 </span><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Sing to the Lord a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">2</sup></span> Let Israel be glad in their maker, let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">3</sup></span> Let them praise his name in the festive dance, let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">4</sup></span> For the Lord loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory. <b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">(R)</b> <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">5</sup></span> Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their couches; <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">6</sup></span> let the high praises of God be in their throats. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">9</sup></span> This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.</span><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> (R)</span></b></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: small; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL</span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Jesus mourns over the majority of the Jews who fail to recognize Him </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">as the Messiah. The hardness of their hearts led them astray. It is difficult to </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">accept the Gospel as we have to humble ourselves and confess our sins. Let us </i></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro; font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">pray daily for the grace of humility to always see Jesus as our Lord and Savior.</i></span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">GOSPEL ACCLAMATION</span></p></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.</span></span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Luke 19:41-44</b></span></span></p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;">41</span></sup></span><span style="font-family: New; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">42</sup></span> saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">43</sup></span> For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. <span style="font-size: x-small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><sup style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">44</sup></span> They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”</span></div></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 9pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Reflect: </span><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;">“The rescue for sinners, the ransom from heaven, Jesus Messiah, Lord </span><span style="font-family: Avenir; overflow-wrap: break-word;">of all.” – Chris Tomlin</span></span></p></div><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">______________________________</span> </p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: grey; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST</span></b> </p><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: DINPro; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 800; overflow-wrap: break-word;">thank You, Lord, for:</span> </span></p><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word;">____________________</span> </p></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"> </p></div></div><p style="overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify;"><b style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: grey; color: white; font-size: 14pt; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Read the Bible in one year - Jeremiah 39-42 </span></b></p></div></span>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552598638368674315.post-2433972326592265452020-11-18T10:18:00.005+08:002020-11-18T10:18:48.510+08:00BE YOURSELF BEFORE GOD<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6ThOiAeF3tDN9laucfW0Tn6WDtCZK0XKN03sCxVvbT5QQv-DtB-vedTQO6pTbiPO7SVkzK3J89ZN9qeqsozNmMr-EnMDFgib3XX0aOCP0T2WQMMAW8a9JWLr61hQvCaC5cgqRnlLwRJ4/s1406/Daily-Relfection.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="1406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6ThOiAeF3tDN9laucfW0Tn6WDtCZK0XKN03sCxVvbT5QQv-DtB-vedTQO6pTbiPO7SVkzK3J89ZN9qeqsozNmMr-EnMDFgib3XX0aOCP0T2WQMMAW8a9JWLr61hQvCaC5cgqRnlLwRJ4/s320/Daily-Relfection.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Avenir, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">BE YOURSELF BEFORE GOD </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 13.594pt 0.220215pt 0pt 22.111pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.0439987pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am glad that I am not a judge. I would not enjoy reading today’s parable about the unjust judge. In case a judge reads this reflection, please don’t get angry with Jesus. Listening to Jesus’ parables, we all get a slap in the face once in a while. Like when I read the parable of the Good Samaritan where a hated Gentile is portrayed as better than
the priest. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367371pt 0.20932pt 0pt 21.671pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 17.677pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus exhorts all of us today “to pray at all times without losing heart.” We know well how difficult it is to persevere in prayer. This can have several reasons. We might be very busy and think that we waste too much precious time when we pray. Or we have experienced that God did not answer our prayer. Or our prayer has lost spontaneity. Maybe our
prayer is too often just a repetition of formula prayers and not a real encounter with God. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367432pt 0.242218pt 0pt 21.968pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.139pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Look at the widow. Her prayer was insistent, almost violent. Did you ever become violent before God? This parable could help us to free ourselves from a wrong notion about prayer. Prayer is not always peaceful and calm. The psalms in the Bible provide many examples of tortured prayers. Some accuse God of not listening, of being far away, of not caring. There are
psalms which are outbursts of people nearly breaking down in despair, demanding that God punish their enemy. These are real prayers, and I am glad they are in the Bible. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.198303pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.491pt;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 11pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before God, we are not supposed to make nice speeches, to cover up our inner emotions, to use sweet words we don’t actually mean. Prayer must not always be lofty. The widow had a problem and she submitted it to the only one who could solve it—the judge. And when she addressed him, she did not beat around the bush. So, tell God what you feel, tell
Him when you are angry with Him, tell Him about what your enemy has done to you. God is a great shock absorber. He knows us because He made us. And He understands. It is always better to tell all this to God than to someone else. If we let steam out in the presence of God, He can and will give us inner peace. All the angry psalms in the Bible end with a feeling of inner peace and new hope. And then we can pray nice words that come from the heart. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.198303pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.491pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.198303pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.491pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.198303pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.491pt;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">REFLECTION QUESTION </span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.198303pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.491pt;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;">Do you easily give up when your prayers are not immediately answered? </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.198303pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.491pt;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.198303pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.491pt;"><span style="font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.198303pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.491pt;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Lord, send Your Holy Spirit to teach me how to pray and never give up. Amen.</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.198303pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.491pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.198303pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: justify; text-indent: 18.491pt;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0.367386pt 0.198303pt 0pt 21.693pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center; text-indent: 18.491pt;"><span style="font-size: smaller; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Arial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">Today, I pray for: _________________________________________________________</i></span></span></p>Nil Sarmientohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13955431872138679831noreply@blogger.com0