 | Daily Bible Reflections
for March 22, 2010 |
|  Dear Lordie,
Don't be discouraged! God will be with you through this week.
Praying for you,
Bo Sanchez
| | Wrong Judgment “You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone.” – John 8:15 When the 47-year-old Scottish spinster, Susan Boyle, stepped on the stage for the Britain’s Got Talent search, everyone was cynical. Some even laughed at her. Who wouldn’t? She was plain looking and not in any way a star material. But things changed the minute she sang. Everyone was stunned and mesmerized by her voice. Some were even moved to tears. She became an instant hit. It’s a shame how we find ways to pass judgment on one another. We come up with our own sets of standards for acceptability and draw lines defining what is good enough and what is not. This is not pleasing in the eyes of God. We are all children of God and as such, we are to accept everyone as they are and love them regardless of their looks or social status. We should be able to see the face of Christ in everyone. When we learn to do this, we begin to love others just as God loves us.Jane Gonzales (mjsg2468@yahoo.com) REFLECTION: We do our neighbors injustice when we judge them. Surely we wouldn’t want to be judged ourselves. Lord, forgive me when I am quick to judge. Help me accept everyone just as they are and see them the way You see them — through the eyes of unconditional love. Amen. | |
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| | COMPANION | 1st READING Each of us ought to pray for the grace to be inspired by the fearlessness of Daniel in standing up for righteousness and truth. We need more men and women today who are willing to do this and thus work for the Kingdom of God to be manifest in our world. Evil will prosper if the good man remains silent. Let us never be silent when justice is endangered. Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 (or Daniel 13:41c-62) 1 [Dan 13:1] In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim, 2 [Dan 13:2] who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah; 3 [Dan 13:3] her pious parents had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses. 4 [Dan 13:4] Joakim was very rich; he had a garden near his house, and the Jews had recourse to him often because he was the most respected of them all. 5 [Dan 13:5] That year, two elders of the people were appointed judges, of whom the Lord said, “Wickedness has come out of Babylon: from the elders who were to govern the people as judges.” 6 [Dan 13:6] These men, to whom all brought their cases, frequented the house of Joakim. 7 [Dan 13:7] When the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband’s garden for a walk. 8 [Dan 13:8] When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk, they began to lust for her. 9 [Dan 13:9] They suppressed their consciences; they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven, and did not keep in mind just judgments. 15 [Dan 13:15] One day, while they were waiting for the right moment, she entered the garden as usual, with two maids only. She decided to bathe, for the weather was warm. 16 [Dan 13:16] Nobody else was there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were watching her. 17 [Dan 13:17] “Bring me oil and soap,” she said to the maids, “and shut the garden doors while I bathe.” 19 [Dan 13:19] As soon as the maids had left, the two old men got up and hurried to her. 20 [Dan 13:20] “Look,” they said, “the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us; give in to our desire, and lie with us. 21 [Dan 13:21] If you refuse, we will testify against you that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you.” 22 [Dan 13:22] “I am completely trapped,” Susanna groaned. “If I yield, it will be my death; if I refuse, I cannot escape your power. 23 [Dan 13:23] Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord.” 24 [Dan 13:24] Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her, 25 [Dan 13:25] as one of them ran to open the garden doors. 26 [Dan 13:26] When the people in the house heard the cries from the garden, they rushed in by the side gate to see what had happened to her. 27 [Dan 13:27] At the accusations by the old men, the servants felt very much ashamed, for never had any such thing been said about Susanna. 28 [Dan 13:28] When the people came to her husband Joakim the next day, the two wicked elders also came, fully determined to put Susanna to death. Before all the people they ordered: 29 [Dan 13:29] “Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim.” When she was sent for, 30 [Dan 13:30] she came with her parents, children and all her relatives. 33 [Dan 13:33] All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping. 34 [Dan 13:34] In the midst of the people the two elders rose up and laid their hands on her head. 35 [Dan 13:35] Through her tears she looked up to heaven, for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly. 36 [Dan 13:36] The elders made this accusation: “As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman entered with two girls and shut the doors of the garden, dismissing the girls. 37 [Dan 13:37] A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her. 38 [Dan 13:38] When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime, we ran toward them. 39 [Dan 13:39] We saw them lying together, but the man we could not hold, because he was stronger than we; he opened the doors and ran off. 40 [Dan 13:40] Then we seized this one and asked who the young man was, 41 [Dan 13:41] but she refused to tell us. We testify to this.” The assembly believed them, since they were elders and judges of the people, and they condemned her to death. 42 [Dan 13:42] But Susanna cried aloud: “O eternal God, you know what is hidden and are aware of all things before they come to be: 43 [Dan 13:43] you know that they have testified falsely against me. Here I am about to die, though I have done none of the things with which these wicked men have charged me.” 44 [Dan 13:44] The Lord heard her prayer. 45 [Dan 13:45] As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel, 46 [Dan 13:46] and he cried aloud: “I will have no part in the death of this woman.” 47 [Dan 13:47] All the people turned and asked him, “What is this you are saying?” 48 [Dan 13:48] He stood in their midst and continued, “Are you such fools, O Israelites! To condemn a woman of Israel without examination and without clear evidence? 49 [Dan 13:49] Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her.” 50 [Dan 13:50] Then all the people returned in haste. To Daniel the elders said, “Come, sit with us and inform us, since God has given you the prestige of old age.” 51 [Dan 13:51] But he replied, “Separate these two far from one another that I may examine them.” 52 [Dan 13:52] After they were separated one from the other, he called one of them and said: “How you have grown evil with age! Now have your past sins come to term: 53 [Dan 13:53] passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent, and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says, ‘The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.’ 54 [Dan 13:54] Now, then, if you were a witness, tell me under what tree you saw them together.” 55 [Dan 13:55] “Under a mastic tree,” he answered. “Your fine lie has cost you your head,” said Daniel; “for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him and split you in two.” 56 [Dan 13:56] Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought. “Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah,” Daniel said to him, “beauty has seduced you, lust has subverted your conscience. 57 [Dan 13:57] This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel, and in their fear they yielded to you; but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness. 58 [Dan 13:58] Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together.” 59 [Dan 13:59] “Under an oak,” he said. “Your fine lie has cost you also your head,” said Daniel; “for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two so as to make an end of you both.” 60 [Dan 13:60] The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those that hope in him. 61 [Dan 13:61] They rose up against the two elders, for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury. According to the law of Moses, they inflicted on them the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor: 62 [Dan 13:62] they put them to death. Thus was innocent blood spared that day. P S A L M Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 R: Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side. 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; 3 he refreshes my soul. (R) He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. (R) 5 You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (R) 6 Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come. (R) G O S P E L The woman caught in adultery is no doubt a sinner. But the truth is, we all are. So what right have we to judge one another? Let us leave the judging to Someone who is sinless and thus has a right to judge. It is an added bonus that part of His nature is that He is also merciful to a fault. The adulterous woman (traditionally named Mary Magdalene) knows very well that she is a sinner and deserves at least some condemnation. Jesus tells her to go away and that her sins are forgiven. He also tells her that she should stop sinning. John 8:12-20 12 Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You testify on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified.” 14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone. 16 And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father who sent me. 17 Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two men can be verified. 18 I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me.” 19 So they said to him, “Where is your father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the treasury in the temple area. But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. my reflections t h i n k : T he truth is, we are all sinners. What right have we to judge one another? _________________________________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________ _______________________________________________________ READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Exodus 1-3 | |
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| | SABBATH | True Security I boarded a small plane from the airport of Zamboanga on the way to my engagement with the Carmelite sisters of Jolo who invited me to give them talks on St. Paul, his life and his thoughts. Our take-off was delayed, and later I found out that it was because we were waiting for the governor of Sulu who was also a passenger of that flight. Minutes later, he arrived with his bodyguards. When we arrived at the small airport of Jolo, the entrance of the facility was filled with well-wishers and with armed men who whisked away the governor and his party using a convoy of black SUVs. Soon, it was my turn to be fetched by the Carmelite sisters who, to my surprise, also had to go around with a battle-geared marine personnel serving as their guard. I learned later that this is the “standard operating procedure” for the bishop, the handful of priests and nuns serving the prelature of Jolo: they have to notify the marines about their movement around the place, and they are provided armed marine personnel for protection. At first, I enjoyed the thought of moving around with an armed guard. I thought it would make me feel like the politicians who announce their comings and goings with the movement of their cohort of guards. The Gospel today reminds us that Jesus had a greater source of security: His great confidence in the ever-present and ever-knowing “Father” who created all and who continues to sustain all. I believe that beyond the much appreciated presence of marine escorts, the church workers of Jolo also have this in their hearts and minds: God is “Our Father.”Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP Reflection Question: From where comes your courage and confidence to face life’s daily challenges and uncertainties? Enumerate the material resources (educational plans, insurance plans, pre-need plans, real estate) you have invested in, with the thought that these could serve as securities in life. In the end, pray reflectively “The Lord’s Prayer.” Father in heaven, You are my main security blanket. Let me never fear the challenges of life. Let me trust in You! St. Nicolas Owen, pray for us. | |
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