 | Daily Bible Reflections
for September 12, 2010 |
|  Dear Lordie,
Celebrate God's love through His Word for you this Sunday!
Praying for you,
Bo Sanchez
| | Say Amen , Brotha! “How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat…” – Luke 15: 17 When I was in high school, I would read the Bible (mostly New Testament) and write down “quotable quotes” on my thick scratch pad. It was a time when televangelists (non-Catholic, of course) ruled TV and actually converted people who watched them. I was one of those. I subscribed to the beliefs of the World Wide Church of God then. Copying verses from the Bible was a part of my search for truth. One day I got so confused on what to believe that I decided to call God in prayer, “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Noah” instead of simply “God.” It was my way of making sure I was praying to the “right guy.” Years later, as I started my return to the Catholic Church via a pre-UPCAT prayer meeting, I learned that this was an acceptable way to call God in the Old Testament. Funny that I came to my own conclusions about what to call God only to find out I was right — and I wasn’t even a practicing Catholic then. Much like the son in Luke 15 thinking about the good meals at home when he was in a foreign land, our stories started and ended the same way. We went back to our Father’s home, safe and sound. Jomar Hilario (jomar.hilario@gmail.com) REFLECTION: “The pattern of the prodigal is: rebellion, ruin, repentance, reconciliation, restoration. “ (Edwin Louise Cole) Have you been searching for God in the right places? | |
Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top
| | COMPANION | 1st READING One of the roles of any group leader is to seek the good of that group. Moses was not implicated in the transgression of the people, yet he intercedes for them before God. Herein lies one of the great lessons of Moses for all leaders: even when your people fail you, you need to stand by them and help them pick themselves up and recover. It is not in success that true leadership is measured, but in times of difficulty that the measure of leadership comes to the fore. Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 7 The LORD said to Moses, “Go down at once to your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved. 8 They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them, making for themselves a molten calf and worshipping it, sacrificing to it and crying out, ‘This is your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!’ 9 I see how stiff-necked this people is,” continued the LORD to Moses. 10 “Let me alone, then, that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them. Then I will make of you a great nation.” 11 But Moses implored the LORD, his God, saying, “Why, O LORD, should your wrath blaze up against your own people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with so strong a hand? 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and how you swore to them by your own self, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised, I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.’ ” 14 So the LORD relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people. P S A L M Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19 R: I will rise and go to my father. 1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 10 [12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11 [13] Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) 15 [17] O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. 17 [19] My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. (R) 2nd READING There is no doubt in my mind that Paul is aware that he is unworthy of the role he plays in the life of the Early Church. Such humility is healthy insofar as it does not negate the further truth that God chooses the unworthy and calls them to be leaders according to both grace and the power of the Holy Spirit. This dynamic is at the heart of the lives of all the saints and needs to be at the heart of our lives as well if we are going to be a part of God’s plan for the salvation of all. 1 Timothy 1:12-17 12 Beloved: I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. 13 I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief. 14 Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. 16 But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. 17 To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. G O S P E L The three parables in today’s Gospel remind us of the great mercy of God and how He rejoices in our repentance. He is always waiting to welcome us home and rejoices when we come no matter how far we have strayed. Sinners we all are without a doubt, some greater than others. However, it is important to remember that God’s love and forgiveness is greater than our sinfulness and if we are willing to humble ourselves we will experience its power in our lives — the power of redemption. Luke 15:1-32 1 The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, 2 but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So to them he addressed this parable. 4 “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy 6 and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. 8 “Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ 10 In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” 11 Then he said, “A man had two sons, 12 and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. 13 After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. 14 When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. 15 So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. 16 And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. 17 Coming to his senses he thought, “How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. 18 I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.” ’ 20 So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ 22 But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. 25 Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. 26 He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. 27 The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. 30 But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ 31 He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. 32 But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ ” my reflections t h i n k : It is in times of difficulty that the measure of leadership comes to the fore. _________________________________________________________
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 Psalm 91-95 SABBATH PAUSE My weekly time with God THANK YOU LIST Things to be grateful for from the past week ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ SPECIAL NEEDS Things to ask God for in the coming week ________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ HIDDEN TREASURE Most important word God told me this week ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ | |
Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top
| | SABBATH | Divine Failure or Divine Mercy? In January 2009, controversy arose over an ad posted in the subways and the buses that ply in London, England. Sponsored by an Atheist Federation, the ad goes, “There is probably no God. Stop worrying and enjoy your life.” When one of the members of the Federation was interviewed, she said something to this effect: “We are taught that God never lets evil go unpunished. But unbelievers abound and they even thrive so there is probably no God, thus, the ad.” It was an ad meant to mock Christians and God’s justice. Today’s first reading shows Yahweh relenting in the punishment He had threatened to inflict on His people upon the intervention of Moses. Some interpret this as a divine “weakness,” a chink in the Divine armor. Some even interpret it as a “power failure” on the part of God. If a weak man like Moses can overturn God’s decision, what kind of God is that? Some may see this Exodus episode as a failure of sorts but for those attuned to the ways of God, it is not a failure but rather a merciful postponement. It is not a postponement of the inevitable but time given for the possibility of renewal. It is not a divine failure. Rather, it is Divine Mercy. Today’s Gospel is from Luke 15 containing Jesus’ three beautiful parables on God’s mercy towards sinners: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost (prodigal) son. Jesus teaches us that God indeed is just, but He is more than just. He is love. Through the loving embrace of the father welcoming the prodigal son, Jesus invites us to have confidence in the Father’s mercy. But let us be reminded that God’s mercy is not to be mocked. Friends, Jesus calls us to trust in the Father’s mercy, not to presume it. Trust is the attitude of a lover. Presumption is the attitude of a user. When we presume something, we become complacent and abusive. A Christian who presumes God’s mercy willingly sins by thinking, “After all I can always go to confession.” Be a lover, not a user.Fr. Joel O. Jason Reflection Question: 1. What is your attitude towards others? That of a lover or that of a user? 2. Before God’s mercy, is your disposition one of presumption or trust? Lord, help me to grow in trust and confidence in Your Divine Mercy. St. Macedonius, pray for us. | |
Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top
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1. The FEAST is the one of the happiest places on earth. Find one near you!
PICC Sunday (2 sessions) 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 10:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. PICC, Roxas Blvd. Feast Builder: Bo Sanchez Pasig Sunday (2 sessions) 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Valle Verde Country Club (beside The ULTRA) Feast Builders: George Gabriel and Obet Cabrillas Quezon City Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 12 n.n. Convention Hall, Bureau of Soils, Visayas Ave., Q.C. Feast Builder: Eng Si Alabang Sunday (2 sessions) 11:00 a.m - 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 2/L X-site Entrance, Festival Mall, Alabang
Feast Builder: Arun Gogna Rizal Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Valley Fair Arcade, Ortigas Ext. Taytay, Rizal Feast Builder: Pio Espanol
Bustos Sunday 2:30 p.m - 5:30 p.m. San isidro labrador Parish, Liciada, Bustos Feast Builder: Chito Manaois Valenzuela Sunday 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Cinema 1, SM Valenzuela Feast Builder: Eng Si Contact no. 09175789554 Ortigas Monday 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Roofdeck, Prestige Tower, F. Ortigas Ave., Pasig City
Feast Builder: Vic Espanol Makati Thursday, 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. AIM Conference Center, Benavidez cor Paseo de Roxas Feast Builder: Randy Borromeo Manila Friday, 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Cinema 4, SM Manila (near City Hall), Manila Feast Builder: Obet Cabrillas Angeles 1st & 3rd Friday, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Professional Bldg., Angeles University Foundation, Angeles City Feast Builder: Marvin Tan Laguna Saturday 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
2/F Activity Center, Pavillion Mall, Km. 35 San Antonio, Binan, Laguna Feast Builder:s Hermie Morelos & Jon Escoto Marilao (2 sessions) Saturday, 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Cinema 2, SM Marilao, Bulacan Feast Builder: Alvin Barcelona Baliuag Saturday 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Cinema 1, Baliuag, Bulacan Feast Builder: Chito Manaois Contact no. 09174358746/09228190198 CEBU 1st & 3rd Sunday of each month
9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. University of San Carlos North Campus, Mango Ave., Cebu City Feast Builder: Oscar Alino Contact nos. 4128142/09212413801/09232908009 DAVAO Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Labrecque Hall, San Pedro College, C. de Guzman St.,Davao City Feast Builder: Jing Sto. Domingo Contact nos. 0822865081/0922251822
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