 | Daily Bible Reflections
for December 14, 2010 |
|  Dear Lordie,
God has a great plan for your life?including this Tuesday.
Praying for you,
Bo Sanchez
| | Making a U-turn “’He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went.” – Matthew 21:29 What’s the hardest thing about being a Christian? For me it’s acting like one. It’s holding back angry words when somebody has made me so mad. It’s keeping myself from throwing a tantrum when I feel like exploding. Sometimes, I forget I’m a Christian. I sulk, I stop talking to the person who made me angry, I dig my heels in and don’t do what I know this minion of him who must not be named wants me to do. Then God starts poking me. He shows me His Word from the Bible. At first, I argue and justify. Again, He nudges me with Didache reflections. Or, He tells the priest to say something that’s obviously directed at me. Then I say, exasperated, “OK, Lord, what’s the loving, Christian thing to do?” (Picture me with arms crossed and eyebrows knit.) And then I soften up and go do whatever it is that I had to do in the first place — forgive and love. Not that I let the offense slide but I sandwich my point in between loving words. Lella Santiago (mirellasantiago@yahoo.com) REFLECTION: “We are not here to prove God answers prayer; we are here to be living monuments of God’s grace.” (Oswald Chambers) Lord, grant me the grace to respond as a Christian, especially in the most difficult of times. | |
Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top
| | COMPANION | 1st READING The day of conversion comes for us all. Let us pray that we do not miss it. I can think of few things less desirable than missing a moment of grace in my life. Imagine having to try and explain that on Judgment Day. God’s grace is far greater than a supersonic jet passing by and we missed it? I do not want to have to try and explain such blindness and hardness of heart. Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13 1 Thus says the LORD: Woe to the city, rebellious and polluted, to the tyrannical city! 2 She hears no voice, accepts no correction; in the LORD she has not trusted, to her God she has not drawn near. 9 For then I will change and purify the lips of the peoples, that they all may call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one accord; 10 from beyond the rivers of Ethiopia and as far as the recesses of the North, they shall bring me offerings. 11 On that day you need not be ashamed of all your deeds, your rebellious actions against me; for then will I remove from your midst the proud braggarts, and you shall no longer exalt yourself on my holy mountain. 12 But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD; 13 the remnant of Israel. They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue; they shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them. P S A L M Psalm 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19, 23 R: The Lord hears the cry of the poor. 1 [2] I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) 16 [17] The LORD confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. 17 [18] When the just cry out, the LORD hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. (R) 18 [19] The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. 22 [23] But the LORD redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him. (R) G O S P E L Many people know what the Church teaches but very few live out that teaching to the full. Whose life will give the more powerful witness, the one who knows and lives the teaching or the one who knows and fails to live the teaching? The answer is simple: “actions speak louder than words.” Matthew 21:28-32 28 Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. 30 The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. 32 When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.” my reflections t h i n k : Many people know what the Church teaches but very few live out that teaching to the full. God’s special verse/thought for me today________________ _________________________________________________________
T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________ _______________________________________________________ READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Hosea 6-10 | |
Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top
| | SABBATH | HUMILITY IN BEING THE “REMNANT” Our First Reading today is from a seldom-read book of the Bible, that of the prophet Zephaniah. The passage is somehow representative of the tone of the ntire book itself. If you notice, there are actually two parts in the First Reading given today (verses 1-2, and then, 9-13). First, we have a terrible denunciation; then the mood somewhat suddenly changes to a consoling and encouraging one. As one who lived during the degenerate times of the seventh century B.C., Zephaniah prophesied about the terrible “Day of the Lord.” But he also spoke of a holy remnant that would remain and would enjoy peace. Today’s Gospel mirrors such a combination. It opens with Jesus proposing for the consideration of the chief priests and elders the Parable of the Two Sons. After presenting these “two sides of the coin” (together with His strategy of blindsiding His listeners), our Lord denounces them for their lack of faith in John the Baptizer. Jesus even pulls the rug from under them by stating, “Let me make it clear that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.” That was terrible for the chief priests and elders to hear, and yet that was precisely Jesus’ point. Our Lord is certainly not one who minces His words. We might as well apply them to ourselves, too. The rest of the verse is: “When John came preaching a way of holiness, you put no faith in him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe in him. Yet even when you saw that, you did not repent and believe in him.” Yes, we can all fall victim to taking God’s interventions for granted. Or we often tend to identify ourselves with the better or higher class of Christians. Let us simply recall Zephaniah’s “remnant”: “For then will I remove from your midst the proud braggarts, and you shall no longer exalt yourself on my holy mountain. But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly....” Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB Reflection Question: Were there times in your life when you proudly let your head get the better of you? How open are you to the signs of the times? Lord, open my mind to Your mysterious ways. Let me not rely on my own judgment, but on the leadings of the Holy Spirit. Sts. Justus & Abundius, pray for us. | |
Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top
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