 | Daily Bible Reflections
for June 29, 2011 |
|  Dear Lordie,
See Him beside you this whole Wednesday!
Praying for you,
Bo Sanchez
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| | Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles who and why He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” – Matthew 16:15 Especially for politicians, surveys are tools in gauging popularity, doing propaganda or promoting a platform. In today’s passage, Jesus asks everyone a survey question, “Who do you say I am?” But Jesus didn’t ask out of selfish gain. He wasn’t interested to know how popular He was. Instead, He asked because His own disciples needed to know how close they were to God and what kind of relationship they had with Him. Peter excelled in his response because God enabled him. Jesus acknowledged the anointing and Peter, an uneducated fisherman enlightened by the Holy Spirit, became our first Pope. He is like that bishop who was asked why he became a priest. Fatigued after a long day and without even thinking, he answered, “Because I love Jesus.” As he said it, he began to cry because, just like Peter, he knew the answer was from his heart. Rod Velez (rod.velez@gmail.com) REFLECTION: When Jesus asks you, “Who do you say that I am?” where does your answer come from? More than possessions, first among anyone, greater than any ambition, lead me to love You most of all; not only intellectually but from my heart and soul. | |
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| | COMPANION | 1st READING Peter is miraculously freed from prison after having been arrested by Herod. This demonstrates the degree to which God is willing to intervene in human affairs to allow His will to be accomplished. There was still much for Peter to do, so God frees him to continue the work of building the Church. We have to learn to trust that things happen according to the permissive will of God, trusting always that God will bring good from the situation. Acts 12:1-11 1 In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, 3 and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also. — It was the feast of Unleavened Bread. — 4 He had him taken into custody and put in prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. He intended to bring him before the people after Passover. 5 Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the church was fervently being made to God on his behalf. 6 On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison. 7 Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, “Get up quickly.” The chains fell from his wrists. 8 The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” 9 So he followed him out, not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first guard, then the second, and came to the iron gate leading out to the city, which opened for them by itself. They emerged and made their way down an alley, and suddenly the angel left him. 11 Then Peter recovered his senses and said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting.” P S A L M Psalms 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 R: The Lord delivered me from all my fears. 1 [2] I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 3 [4] Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. 4 [5] I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) 7 [8] The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 [9] Taste and see how good the LORD is; happy the man who takes refuge in him. (R) 2nd READING Paul explains to Timothy that he is willing to pour out his life as a libation for the sake of the Gospel. Are we willing to fight the good fight, so to speak, when it comes to giving our lives in the service of the Gospel or do we have other agendas for our lives? Let us be honest as we examine our motives for doing the things we do and seek to surrender more to God’s will rather than our own. 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 6 I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. 8 From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. 17 The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. G O S P E L Recognizing Jesus’ true identity as the Son of God, the Messiah, is a major step forward in Peter’s faith, as well as the faith of the Apostles. It is also important that we be able to express who we think Jesus is! Yes, we know His identity as a piece of information passed on to us from others, but do we truly know it from deep within our psyche? Have we experienced the truth that Jesus is the Messiah? Faith is meant to be experiential and this is one of the basic experiences that lays the foundation for a disciple’s life. Let us pray that we experience this truth. ALLELUIA R: Alleluia, alleluia You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. R: Alleluia, alleluia Matthew 16:13-19 13 When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. 18 And so I sayto you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” my reflections t h i n k : We have to learn to trust that things happen according to the permissive will of God, trusting always that God will bring good from the situation. God’s special verse/thought for me today________________ _________________________________________________________
T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________ _______________________________________________________ READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Psalm 36-40 | |
Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top
| | SABBATH | GREAT THINGS COME IN PAIRS Today we honor a pair of really great saints: Sts. Peter and Paul. Although both saints did have their differences and even conflicts with one another during their lifetimes, Christian art, architecture and liturgy (since the first century down to the present day) emphasize the bond of friendship between them. Sts. Peter and Paul are associated with the city of Rome, where their tombs and basilicas are located. But in one not-so-well-known church in the city, the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo, you can find two marvelous paintings of the two saints, accomplished by the terrific 16th century painter Caravaggio. They are known with these titles: The Fall of St. Paul and The Crucifixion of Peter. A simple Internet search can help you visualize these. Contemplating them may even reveal an interesting contrast (and at the same time a complementariness) between two aspects of these two saints, and consequently two aspects as well of our Catholic Church. The first is the scene of the conversion of Saul, more than just his fall from the horse. He is lying flat on his back, with arms outstretched, completely fallen on the ground. The second painting, is the scene of the inverted crucifixion of Peter. He is depicted as already positioned on his cross and being raised up. Some art experts and commentators say it is a symbol of Jesus’ founding of the Church upon the faith of Peter (today’s Gospel). And so, if in the first we have a falling down or a conversion, in the second it is a raising up. Aren’t these two aspects also in all of us members of the Church? There is in us, and in the Church as a whole, both a falling down and a rising up, a conversion and an establishment. Sure, the Church is never without crises and reforms. But as the Jesuit theologian Gerald O’Collins pointed out, “If the Church is going to face satisfactorily the challenges posed by the forces that currently move and change the world, both fidelity and freedom are needed.” “ Fidelity and freedom”— now that’s another nice pair of good things. May Sts. Peter and Paul help us maintain them as well. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB Reflection Question: Identify one aspect in the life of Sts. Peter and Paul that you want to emulate. Grant me, Lord, the grace to follow you radically as Sts. Peter and Paul did. Amen. St. Mary, pray for us. | |
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