Daily Reflection Verses

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Thursday – 21 November 2013

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Verses:           

1 Maccabees 2:15-29

Psalm 50:1-2, 5-6, 14-15

Luke 19:41-44

1 Maccabees 2:15-29

¹⁵ And they that were sent from king Antiochus came thither, to compel them that were fled into the city of Modin, to sacrifice, and to burn incense, and to depart from the law of God.

¹⁶ And many of the people of Israel consented, and came to them: but Mathathias and his sons stood firm.

¹⁷ And they that were sent from Antiochus, answering, said to Mathathias: Thou art a ruler, and an honourable, and great man in this city, and adorned with sons, and brethren.

¹⁸ Therefore come thou first, and obey the king's commandment, as all nations have done, and the men of Juda, and they that remain in Jerusalem: and thou, and thy sons, shall be in the number of the king's friends, and enriched with gold, and silver, and many presents.

¹⁹ Then Mathathias answered, and said with a loud voice: Although all nations obey king Antiochus, so as to depart every man from the service of the law of his fathers, and consent to his commandments:

²⁰ I and my sons, and my brethren will obey the law of our fathers.

²¹ God be merciful unto us: it is not profitable for us to forsake the law, and the justices of God:

²² We will not hearken to the words of king Antiochus, neither will we sacrifice, and transgress the commandments of our law, to go another way.

²³ Now as he left off speaking these words, there came a certain Jew in the sight of all to sacrifice to the idols upon the altar in the city of Modin, according to the king's commandment.

²⁴ And Mathathias saw and was grieved, and his reins trembled, and his wrath was kindled according to the judgment of the law, and running upon him he slew him upon the altar:

²⁵ Moreover the man whom king Antiochus had sent, who compelled them to sacrifice, he slew at the same time, and pulled down the altar.

²⁶ And shewed zeal for the law, as Phinees did by Zamri the son of Salomi.

²⁷ And Mathathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: Every one that hath zeal for the law, and maintaineth the testament, let him follow me.

²⁸ So he, and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that they had in the city.

²⁹ Then many that sought after judgment, and justice, went down into the desert.

Psalm 50:1-2, 5-6, 14-15

50 Unto the end, a psalm of David,

² When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bethsabee.

⁵ For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me.

⁶ To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words and mayst overcome when thou art judged.

¹⁴ Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.

¹⁵ I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to thee.

Luke 19:41-44

⁴¹ And when he drew near, seeing the city, he wept over it, saying:

⁴² If thou also hadst known, and that in this thy day, the things that are to thy peace; but now they are hidden from thy eyes.

⁴³ For the days shall come upon thee, and thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and straiten thee on every side,

⁴⁴ And beat thee flat to the ground, and thy children who are in thee: and they shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone: because thou hast not known the time of thy visitation.

INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

ZEAL AND LOVE

He burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. – 1 Maccabees 2:24

In one of our mission communities, a particular woman caught my attention because she had never been absent since our first gathering, and she would faithfully bring all her children with her. She would intensely listen to the preaching of God’s Word. We learned that her husband left them without any financial support.

At one point, her son had leukemia. She claimed God’s promise, “Ask, and it will be given to you… knock, and the door will be opened for you” (Matt. 7:7). Her prayer was for an extension of her son’s life because according to the doctor, the child had only three months to live. But she learned that she ought to surrender to God’s will, whatever it might be. And God answered her prayer. Her son lived for more than a year after that. When it was time for him to go home to the Lord, he was spiritually prepared and she was also emotionally prepared.

Now, she still attends our prayer meetings and serves in our restroom ministry with zeal born out of experiencing God’s love and mercy. – Sabel

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for Your love and mercy towards Your servants. Amen.

Wise Words:

“If we will only surrender ourselves utterly to the Lord, and will trust Him perfectly, we shall find our souls ‘mounting up with wings as eagles’ to the ‘heavenly places’ in Christ Jesus, where earthly annoyances or sorrows have no power to disturb us.” – Hannah Whitall Smith

Source:

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

Living Water 2013

Daily Reflection Verses

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Wednesday – 20 November 2013

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Verses:           

2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31

Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15

Luke 19:11-28

2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31

¹There were also seven brothers who were arrested along with their mother. The king was trying to compel them to eat the forbidden pork by torturing them with whips and cords.

²⁰ The mother was particularly amazing and worthy of an honorable memory. She watched her seven sons die in the course of a single day but accepted it with a stout heart because of her hope in the Lord. ²¹ She encouraged each of them in their native language. Filled with noble thoughts, she fired up her womanly reasoning with manly courage, saying to them, ²² “I don’t know how you grew in my womb, nor did I grant the breath of life to you or arrange what makes you who you are. ²³ For this reason, the creator of the world—who brought about the beginning of humanity and searched out the origin of all things—will again mercifully give you both spirit and life, since you disregard yourselves because of his laws.”

²⁴ Antiochus thought that he was being treated with contempt and was suspicious of the tone of her voice. So he appealed to the youngest son, since he was still alive, not only through words but also through solemn pledges. If the young man turned from his ancestral practices, Antiochus promised him, he would make him both rich and prosperous, he would be considered a political advisor, and he would be entrusted with public affairs. ²⁵ When the young man wouldn’t accept the offer by any means, the king appealed to the mother to counsel the boy to save himself. ²⁶ After a great deal of urging, she agreed to try to persuade her son. ²⁷ By leaning toward her son and mocking the savage tyrant, she spoke in their native language: “Son, pity me who carried you in the womb nine months, nursed you for three years, nurtured you, and brought you into this stage of life with care. ²⁸ I beg you, child, to look at heaven and earth. See everything that is in them and know that God made these things from nothing, and created humankind in the same way. ²⁹ Don’t fear this killer but prove worthy of your brothers. Accept death so that in God’s mercy I should recover you with your brothers.”

³⁰ Just at the moment when she finished speaking, the young man said, “What are you all waiting for? I don’t intend to obey the king’s order, but I hear the command of the Law given to our ancestors through Moses. ³¹ But you, King, who have invented all sorts of evil against the Hebrews, will by no means escape God’s power.

Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15

A prayer of David.

¹Listen to what’s right, Lord;
    pay attention to my cry!
Listen closely to my prayer;
    it’s spoken by lips that don’t lie!
⁵ My steps are set firmly on your paths;
    my feet haven’t slipped.

⁶ I cry out to you because you answer me.
    So tilt your ears toward me now—
    listen to what I’m saying!
⁸ Watch me with the very pupil of your eye!
    Hide me in the protection of your wings,
¹⁵ But me? I will see your face in righteousness;
    when I awake, I will be filled full by seeing your image.

 

Luke 19:11-28

Faithful service

¹¹ As they listened to this, Jesus told them another parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought God’s kingdom would appear right away. ¹² He said, “A certain man who was born into royalty went to a distant land to receive his kingdom and then return. ¹³ He called together ten servants and gave each of them money worth four months’ wages. He said, ‘Do business with this until I return.’ ¹⁴ His citizens hated him, so they sent a representative after him who said, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ ¹⁵ After receiving his kingdom, he returned and called the servants to whom he had given the money to find out how much they had earned. ¹⁶ The first servant came forward and said, ‘Your money has earned a return of one thousand percent.’ ¹⁷ The king replied, ‘Excellent! You are a good servant. Because you have been faithful in a small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.’

¹⁸ “The second servant came and said, ‘Master, your money has made a return of five hundred percent.’ ¹⁹ To this one, the king said, ‘You will have authority over five cities.’

²⁰ “Another servant came and said, ‘Master, here is your money. I wrapped it up in a scarf for safekeeping. ²¹ I was afraid of you because you are a stern man. You withdraw what you haven’t deposited and you harvest what you haven’t planted.’ ²² The king replied, ‘I will judge you by the words of your own mouth, you worthless servant! You knew, did you, that I’m a stern man, withdrawing what I didn’t deposit, and harvesting what I didn’t plant? ²³ Why then didn’t you put my money in the bank? Then when I arrived, at least I could have gotten it back with interest.’

²⁴ “He said to his attendants, ‘Take his money and give it to the one who has ten times as much.’ ²⁵  ‘But Master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten times as much!’ ²⁶  He replied, ‘I say to you that everyone who has will be given more, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ²⁷  As for my enemies who don’t want me as their king, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”

²⁸ After Jesus said this, he continued on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

SHALOM

“Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.” – Luke 19:17

Oil price increases, fare hikes, wars, earthquakes, floods, typhoons, kidnappings and epidemics are just some of the things people in today’s world face. But our Lord Jesus has already figured out everything before He went to heaven. He said, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” (John 14:27)

Clearly, God has given us the gift of peace. We must believe, accept and decide to have it. We must adopt a good attitude even if things are not happening the way we want them to. When we have this spiritual strategy, all the things that have the potential to upset us will lose its hold on us.

Let us decide to enjoy peace regardless of the situation. We ought to walk around in faith, acting like healing belongs to us regardless of the symptoms. We should walk around like God’s provisions are ours, regardless of the figures we have in the bank. Let us remain faithful to His Word. – Roger

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You are the true source of peace. Let it flow through my heart and mind every day. Amen.

Wise Words:

“As no darkness can be seen by anyone surrounded by light, so no trivialities can capture the attention of anyone who has his eyes on Christ.” – St. Gregory of Nyssa

Source:

Common English Bible (CEB)

Living Water 2013

Daily Reflection Verses

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Tuesday – 19 November 2013

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 Verses:           

2 Maccabees 6:18-31

Psalm 3:2-7

Luke 19:1-10

2 Maccabees 6:18-31

Eleazar Dies for His Faith

¹⁸ There was an elderly and highly respected teacher of the Law by the name of Eleazar, whose mouth was being forced open to make him eat pork. ^19-20 But he preferred an honorable death rather than a life of disgrace. So he spit out the meat and went willingly to the place of torture, showing how people should have courage to refuse unclean food, even if it costs them their lives. ^21-22 Those in charge of the sacrifice had been friends of Eleazar for a long time, and because of this friendship they told him privately to bring meat that was lawful for him to eat. He need only pretend to eat the pork, they said, and in this way he would not be put to death.

²³ But Eleazar made a decision worthy of his gray hair and advanced age. All his life he had lived in perfect obedience to God's holy laws, so he replied,
    Kill me, here and now. ²⁴ Such deception is not worthy of a man of my years. Many young people would think that I had denied my faith after I was ninety years old. ²⁵ If I pretended to eat this meat, just to live a little while longer, it would bring shame and disgrace on me and lead many young people astray. ²⁶ For the present I might be able to escape what you could do to me, but whether I live or die, I cannot escape Almighty God. ²⁷ If I die bravely now, it will show that I deserved my long life. ²⁸ It will also set a good example of the way young people should be willing and glad to die for our sacred and respected laws.

As soon as he said these things, he went off to be tortured, ²⁹ and the very people who had treated him kindly a few minutes before, now turned against him, because they thought he had spoken like a madman. ³⁰ When they had beaten him almost to the point of death, he groaned and said,

The Lord possesses all holy knowledge. He knows I could have escaped these terrible sufferings and death, yet he also knows that I gladly suffer these things, because I fear him.

³¹ So Eleazar died. But his courageous death was remembered as a glorious example, not only by young people, but by the entire nation as well.

Psalm 3:2-7

² They talk about me and say,
    “God will not help him.”

³ But you, O Lord, are always my shield from danger;
    you give me victory
    and restore my courage.
⁴ I call to the Lord for help,
    and from his sacred hill he answers me.

⁵ I lie down and sleep,
    and all night long the Lord protects me.
⁶ I am not afraid of the thousands of enemies
    who surround me on every side.

⁷ Come, Lord! Save me, my God!
You punish all my enemies
    and leave them powerless to harm me.

Luke 19:1-10

Jesus and Zacchaeus

19 Jesus went on into Jericho and was passing through. ² There was a chief tax collector there named Zacchaeus, who was rich. ³ He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was a little man and could not see Jesus because of the crowd. ⁴ So he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus, who was going to pass that way. ⁵ When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to Zacchaeus, “Hurry down, Zacchaeus, because I must stay in your house today.”

⁶ Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed him with great joy. ⁷ All the people who saw it started grumbling, “This man has gone as a guest to the home of a sinner!”

⁸ Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Listen, sir! I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much.”

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Salvation has come to this house today, for this man, also, is a descendant of Abraham. ¹⁰ The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

ZACCHAEUS

“Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” – Luke 19:8

Tax collector. Hated by fellow Jews. A sinner. An encounter with Jesus brought forth repentance and transformation. This is Zacchaeus’ story. This is also my story, and the story of countless sinners touched by God’s love.

Romans 2:4 says; “Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” The Lord shows us His kindness in so many ways, using people and circumstances every day. And repentance is a gift of God. “If you ever cease to understand the value of repentance, you allow yourself to remain in sin” (Oswald Chambers). Repentance is not merely saying, “I’m sorry,” but is accompanied by action or an outward expression. Zacchaeus’ example of giving away half of his possessions and paying back four times those whom he had defrauded showed sincere repentance. Indeed, “godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation” (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Let us examine ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins. – Au

Prayer:

Father, I have sinned. Forgive me. Amen.

 

Wise Words:

“Humility, humility and always humility. Satan fears and trembles before humble souls. The Lord is willing to do great things, but on condition that we are truly humble.” St Padre Pio

Source:

Good News Translation

Living Water 2013

Daily Reflection Verses

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Monday – 18 November 2013

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Verses:             

1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63 

Psalm 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158

Luke 18:35-43

1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63

¹⁰ The wicked ruler Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus the Third of Syria, was a descendant of one of Alexander's generals. Antiochus Epiphanes had been a hostage in Rome before he became king of Syria in the year 137.

¹¹ At that time there appeared in the land of Israel a group of traitorous Jews who had no regard for the Law and who had a bad influence on many of our people. They said,
    Let's come to terms with the Gentiles, for our refusal to associate with them has brought us nothing but trouble. ¹² This proposal appealed to many people, ¹³ and some of them became so enthusiastic about it that they went to the king and received from him permission to follow Gentile customs. ¹⁴ They built in Jerusalem a stadium like those in the Greek cities. ¹⁵ They had surgery performed to hide their circumcision, abandoned the holy covenant, started associating with Gentiles, and did all sorts of other evil things.

^41-43 Antiochus now issued a decree that all nations in his empire should abandon their own customs and become one people. All the Gentiles and even many of the Israelites submitted to this decree. They adopted the official pagan religion, offered sacrifices to idols, and no longer observed the Sabbath. 

⁵⁴ On the fifteenth day of the month of Kislev in the year 145, King Antiochus set up
    The Awful Horror on the altar of the Temple, and pagan altars were built in the towns throughout Judea. ⁵⁵ Pagan sacrifices were offered in front of houses and in the streets. ⁵⁶ Any books of the Law which were found were torn up and burned, ⁵⁷ and anyone who was caught with a copy of the sacred books or who obeyed the Law was put to death by order of the king.

 ⁶² But many people in Israel firmly resisted the king's decree and refused to eat food that was ritually unclean. ⁶³ They preferred to die rather than break the holy covenant and eat unclean food—and many did die.

Psalm 119:53

⁵³ When I see the wicked breaking your law,
    I am filled with anger.

⁶¹ The wicked have laid a trap for me,
    but I do not forget your law.

¹³⁴ Save me from those who oppress me,
    so that I may obey your commands.

¹⁵⁰ My cruel persecutors are coming closer,
    people who never keep your law.

¹⁵⁵ The wicked will not be saved,
    for they do not obey your laws.

¹⁵⁸ When I look at those traitors, I am filled with disgust,
    because they do not keep your commands.

Luke 18:35-43

³⁵ As Jesus was coming near Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the road, begging. ³⁶ When he heard the crowd passing by, he asked, “What is this?”

³⁷ “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.

³⁸ He cried out, “Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!”

³⁹ The people in front scolded him and told him to be quiet. But he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David! Have mercy on me!”

⁴⁰ So Jesus stopped and ordered the blind man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, ⁴¹ “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Sir,” he answered, “I want to see again.”

⁴² Jesus said to him, “Then see! Your faith has made you well.”

⁴³ At once he was able to see, and he followed Jesus, giving thanks to God. When the crowd saw it, they all praised God.

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INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

YES

“What do you want me to do for you?” – Luke 18:41

For weeks, I wrestled with a decision: to accept a call to more responsibility, more accountability. The idea terrified me no end, not to mention that in involved speaking before a crowd.

In my heart, I knew it was the Lord calling me. But my flesh and my fears prevailed. Until it was time to make the decision, I sought signs from the Lord, secretly hoping that He would change His mind and assign somebody else.

“What do you want me to do for you?” (Luke 18:41) floored me. It was the answer to my questions. If I said yes, He would make sure I was equipped to fulfill my new assignment. If I said no, He would address all my questions and make up for my inadequacies. Besides, it was His work; I was merely a vessel.

With me “cornered,” I could not say anything but yes. Dr Charles Stanley said, “When you fully surrender, you place the consequences of your decision into the hands of an all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful God who holds the past , present and future.” – May

  

Prayer: 

Dear Jesus, grant me the grace to always surrender to the Father’s will, knowing that He is in control over every detail of my life. Amen.

Wise Words:

“Never say to God: ‘Enough’; simply say, ‘I am ready.’” Blessed Sebastian Valfre.

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Sources: 

verses from Good News Translation

Insightful Wisdom and Prayer from Living Water 2013

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - 17 November 2013

FIRST READING: A Reading from Book of the Prophet Malachi (Malachi 3:19-20)

The day already comes, flaming as a furnace. On that day all the proud and evildoers will be burned like straw in the fire. They will be left without branches or roots. On the other hand the sun of justice will shine upon you who respect my Name and bring health in its rays. You will come out leaping like fattened calves.

SECOND READING: A Reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians (2 Thess. 3:7-12)

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.

GOSPEL: A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 21:5-19)

Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven."

 

“But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life."

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Open the link below for the Word Exposed by Bishop Tagle: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89JP9qCYzkw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgrTPo3BX3w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPgr9n1wpsY

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Source of the text: Christian Community Bible and New International Version Bible

Becoming a Catholic

To become a full-fledged member of the Catholic Church, one must be baptised, be confirmed and must receive the holy Eucharist. 

There are three cases to consider:

 

A.      For an infant

An infant would become a catholic as long as he/she is baptised. However, the infant would become a full-fledged catholic later when he/she receives Confirmation and the Eucharist.

B.      For a willing adult in a normal process

An adult, to become a catholic, may receive Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist at the same time.

C.     For a child or an adult outside the Church

The one who has been validly baptised outside the Catholic Church may become Catholic by making a profession of the Catholic faith and being formally admitted into the Church, and immediately followed by Confirmation and the Eucharist.

Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion (Eucharist) are called the 3 Sacraments of Initiation because those are the basic requirements of membership. 

The sacrament of Baptism is a ritual that serves as an entrance to the Church. One must be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19). Baptism is done in order for a person to become part of the body of Christ (Col. 1:18; Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 12:13). In that way, a person will get the privileges - free from all sins (Heb. 9:22) and reborn as a child of God (John 3:3,5-8). Do you remember our first parents Adam and Eve (Gen 2; Gen 3)? Well, they are the reason why we got the original sin and are considered dead (Rom. 5:12-14; 3:23). To become alive, we can have it through Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:21; 3:24).

The Sacrament of Confirmation is the perfection of Baptism. It completes the grace that was initially given in Baptism. It would increase our sanctifying grace, strengthen our faith and personal relationship with Christ, it would make us entitled to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 8:14-17).

The Sacrament of Holy Communion or Eucharist is the only one of the three that we can or should repeatedly receive. In Holy Communion, we consume the body and blood of Jesus Christ that would unite us more closely to Him and would help us grow in grace by living a more Christian life (Matt. 26:26-28; John 6:51,53-58).

One more thing to consider is the prerequisite to receive the three sacraments of initiation. One must be a human being. ;)

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