Daily Reflection Verses

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Wednesday – 15 January 2014

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Verses:         

1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20

Psalm 40:2, 5, 7-10

Mark 1:29-39

1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20

The Lord Calls Samuel

3 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

 ² One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. ³ The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. ⁴ Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.” ⁵ And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

⁶ Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

⁷ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

⁸ A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. ⁹ So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

¹⁰ The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

¹⁹ The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. ²⁰ And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.

Psalm 40:2, 5, 7-10

² He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.

⁵ Many, Lord my God,
    are the wonders you have done,
    the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
    were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
    they would be too many to declare.

⁷ Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
    it is written about me in the scroll.
⁸ I desire to do your will, my God;
    your law is within my heart.”

⁹ I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;
    I do not seal my lips, Lord,
    as you know.
¹⁰ I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
    I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
    from the great assembly.

Mark 1:29-39

Jesus Heals Many

²⁹ As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰ Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. ³¹ So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

³² That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. ³³ The whole town gathered at the door, ³⁴ and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place

³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ³⁶ Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷ and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

³⁸ Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” ³⁹ So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

It cannot be doubted that the poor can more easily attain the blessing of humility than those who are rich. In the case of the poor, the lack of worldly goods is often accompanied by a quiet gentleness, whereas the rich are more prone to arrogance. Nevertheless, many wealthy people are disposed to use their abundance not to swell their own pride but to perform works of benevolence. They consider their greatest gain what they spend to alleviate the distress of others. This virtue is open to all men, no matter what their class or condition, because all can be equal in their willingness to give, however unequal they may be in earthly fortune.

-- Pope St. Leo the Great

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Source:

New International Version (NIV)

Photos acquired thru Google search

Bakit Hindi Nag-aasawa Ang Mga Pari?

Ito po ay hango mula sa talakayan namin ng mga kapatid na Muslim na sina Abdul Bakie Talilisan at Jamal Udin sa "Head-to-Head: The Debate of Religions" (kopya ang orihinal na talakayan at mga salitang ginamit).

Tinatanong nina Abdul Bakie Talilisan at Jamal Udin ang tungkol sa hindi pag-aasawa ng mga pari.

Abdul Bakie Talilisan

Tanong: Bakit hindi nag aasawa ang mga pare? so ngaun mag paliwanag kaung mga cristiano! Ibig sabihin ba nito bakla ang mga pare nyo?

Sagot ko: Okay, nagtatanong ka kung bakit hindi sila nag-asawa... ang sagot: dahil bago nila tinanggap ang pagkapari, kasama sa sinumpaan nila sa tungkulin ang hindi pag-aasawa. Ito ay tinatawag na "vow of celibacy"...

Abdul Bakie Talilisan  

Tanong: Eh sino po ba ang guma(gawa) ng batas na bawal silang mag asawa? eh katulad po nung sinabi ni jamal udin pumonta ka sa mundo at mag parami pinapangaral po nila un diba po eh bakit sila pa ang sumoway na ito kung talagang nanini wala sila sa diyos,

Sagot ko: Pasensya na kung hindi ko agad masagot. marami kasi akong inasikaso. dapat sana'y isa-isa lang. hindi yan batas, bro Abdul, kundi requirement yan sa magpapari. kung mag-apply ng trabaho, may mga requirements diba? Tulad kung mag-apply ka bilang sundalo, ilan sa mga requirements ay dapat physically fit ka at maaabot mo yung height requirement. Sa pagpapari ay may requirements din, at ang hindi pag-aasawa ay isa na dun dahil kapag pari ang isang tao, ang community na hawak niya ay itinuturing na kanyang pamilya na. At masyadong busy ang pagiging pari...

 

Jamal Udin  

Yung tanong ko naman po Kaibigang #JoeMar ang sagutin nyo!

Sagot ko: ///(Tanong ni Jamal Udin) Kapatid na #JoeMar, magandang umaga sayo! Hehe Di naman po pinakikialaman, pinupuna lang. Kung hindi kasi ako nakakalimot may Talata sa Bibliya na GO TO WORLD AND MULTIPLY. Merun po bang ganyang Talata? Hehe Dahil kung merun, PAGSUWAY SA DIYOS ANG GINAGAWA NG MGA PARI O KUNG SINO MANG NAGBABAWAL NG PAG-AASAWA. /// 

=> Ah ganun ba bro Jamal Udin? kaya pala daming asawa si Muhammad dahil naka-focus siya sa talatang iyan. Good for him dahil ang Jesus namin ay walang asawa. Si San Pablo na masugid na tagasunod ni Jesus ay wala ring asawa. Ang ginagawa nila ay abala sila sa pagtuturo sa mga tao upang magkaroon ng kaligtasan at hindi ang magkaanak.

Nagtatanong ka kung meron bang talata sa bibliya? Bibigyan kita. 1 Corinthians 7:7-9:

7  Nais ko sanang ang bawat isa ay makatulad ko. Ngunit may kanya-kanyang kaloob mula sa Diyos at ang mga ito'y hindi pare-pareho.

8  Ito naman ang masasabi ko sa mga walang asawa at sa mga biyuda: mabuti pa sa kanila ang manatiling walang asawa tulad ko. 

9  Ngunit kung hindi sila makapagpigil sa sarili, mag-asawa na sila; mas mabuti ang mag-asawa kaysa di-makapagpigil sa matinding pagnanasa.

Bakit kaya hinikayat ni San Pablo ang mga tagasunod na walang asawa? 1 Cor. 7:25-35:

25  Tungkol naman sa mga taong walang asawa, wala akong maibibigay na utos mula sa Panginoon. Ngunit magbibigay ako ng aking opinyon bilang isang taong mapagkakatiwalaan sapagkat kinahabagan ako ng Panginoon.

26  Dahil sa matinding kahirapan sa kasalukuyan, inaakala kong mabuti pa sa isang tao ang manatili sa kanyang kalagayan. 

27  Ikaw ba'y isang lalaking may asawa na? Huwag kang makipaghiwalay. Wala ka pa bang asawa? Huwag mo nang hangaring magkaasawa. 

28  Ngunit kung ikaw ay mag-aasawa, hindi ka nagkakasala. Kung ang isang dalaga ay mag-asawa, hindi rin siya nagkakasala. Ngunit ang nag-aasawa ay magdaranas ng mga kahirapan sa buhay na ito, at iyan ang nais kong maiwasan ninyo.

29  Mga kapatid, ito ang ibig kong sabihin: malapit na ang wakas ng panahon, kaya't mula ngayon, ang may asawa ay mamuhay na parang walang asawa; 

30  ang mga nananangis, na parang di nananangis; ang mga nagagalak, na parang di nagagalak; ang namimili, na parang walang ari-arian, 

31  at ang mga may tinatamasa sa sanlibutang ito, na parang wala silang tinatamasa. Sapagkat ang lahat ng bagay sa daigdig na ito'y hindi na magtatagal.

32  Nais kong mailayo kayo sa mga alalahanin sa buhay. Ang pinagkakaabalahan ng lalaking walang asawa ay ang mga gawaing ukol sa Panginoon---kung paano niya mabibigyan ng kaluguran ang Panginoon. 

33  Ngunit ang pinagkakaabalahan ng lalaking may asawa ay ang mga bagay ng sanlibutang ito---kung paano niya mabibigyang kaluguran ang kanyang asawa. 

34  Dahil dito'y hati ang kanyang malasakit. Gayundin naman, ang pinagkakaabalahan ng isang babaing walang asawa o ng isang dalaga ay ang mga bagay ukol sa Panginoon, sapagkat nais niyang maitalagang lubusan ang sarili para sa paglilingkod sa Panginoon. Subalit ang iniintindi ng babaing may-asawa ay ang mga bagay ng sanlibutang ito---kung paano niya mabibigyang kaluguran ang kanyang asawa.

35  Sinasabi ko ito upang matulungan kayo. Hindi ko kayo hinihigpitan; ang nais ko'y maakay kayo sa maayos na pamumuhay at nang lubusan kayong makapaglingkod sa Panginoon.

Si San Pablo na walang asawa ay nagsasabing tularan siya: 

1 Cor 11:1 - Tularan ninyo ako, gaya ng pagtulad ko kay Cristo. 

= > Kaya ang mga pari ay hindi nag-asawa bro. para focus sila sa bokasyon nila para sa kaligtasan ng mga mananampalataya... Sana ay maliwanag na sayo Jamal Udin...

Daily Reflection Verses

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Tuesday – 14 January 2014

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Verses:         

1 Samuel 1:9-20

1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8

Mark 1:21-28

1 Samuel 1:9-20

⁹ Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. ¹⁰ In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. ¹¹ And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

¹² As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. ¹³ Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk ¹⁴ and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

¹⁵ “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. ¹⁶ Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

¹⁷ Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

¹⁸ She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

¹⁹ Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. ²⁰ So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”

1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8

Hannah’s Prayer

2 Then Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
    in the Lord my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
    for I delight in your deliverance.

⁴ “The bows of the warriors are broken,
    but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
⁵ Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
    but those who were hungry are hungry no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
    but she who has had many sons pines away.

⁶ “The Lord brings death and makes alive;
    he brings down to the grave and raises up.
⁷ The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
    he humbles and he exalts.
⁸ He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
    and has them inherit a throne of honor.

“For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
    on them he has set the world.

Mark 1:21-28

Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit

²¹ They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. ²² The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. ²³ Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, ²⁴ “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

²⁵ “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” ²⁶ The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

²⁷ The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” ²⁸ News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: ... And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty; for he is the Lord thy God, and him they shall adore.

-- Ps. xliv. 11, 12

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Source:

New International Version (NIV)

Photos acquired thru Google search

Daily Reflection Verses

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Monday – 13 January 2014

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Verses:         

1 Samuel 1:1-8

Psalm 116:12-19

Mark 1:14-20

1 Samuel 1:1-8

The Birth of Samuel

1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. ² He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

³ Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord. ⁴ Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. ⁵ But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb. ⁶ Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. ⁷ This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. ⁸ Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

Psalm 116:12-19

¹² What shall I return to the Lord
    for all his goodness to me?

¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and call on the name of the Lord.
¹⁴ I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people.

¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the Lord
    is the death of his faithful servants.
¹⁶ Truly I am your servant, Lord;
    I serve you just as my mother did;
    you have freed me from my chains.

¹⁷ I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
    and call on the name of the Lord.
¹⁸ I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people,
¹⁹ in the courts of the house of the Lord—
    in your midst, Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord.

Mark 1:14-20

Jesus Announces the Good News

¹⁴ After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵ “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

¹⁶ As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ¹⁸ At once they left their nets and followed him.

¹⁹ When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. ²⁰ Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

How do you love yourself? Is your love a purely worldly one? If so you will desire always to abide here. But if your love for here is a heavenly love, you will desire, or at least be ready and glad, to depart hence when- soever it shall please the Lord.

-- St. Francis de Sales

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Source:

New International Version (NIV)

Photos acquired thru Google search

The Baptism of the Lord (Feast)

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Sunday – 12 January 2014

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Verses:         

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7

Psalm 29:1-4, 3, 9-10

Acts 10:34-38

Matthew 3:13-17

FIRST READING: A Reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7)

The Servant of the Lord

 42 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
    and he will bring justice to the nations.
² He will not shout or cry out,
    or raise his voice in the streets.
³ A bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
⁴     he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
    In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

⁶ “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
    I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
    to be a covenant for the people
    and a light for the Gentiles,
⁷ to open eyes that are blind,
    to free captives from prison
    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Psalm 29:1-4, 9-10)

¹ Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
² Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

³ The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
    the God of glory thunders,
    the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
⁴ The voice of the Lord is powerful;
    the voice of the Lord is majestic.
⁹ The voice of the Lord twists the oaks
    and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

¹⁰ The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
    the Lord is enthroned as King forever.

SECOND READING: A Reading from the Book of Acts (Acts 10:34-38)

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. ³⁶ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ³⁷ You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

GOSPEL: A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Matthew (Matthew 3:13-17)

The Baptism of Jesus

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. ¹⁴ But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

¹⁵ Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

¹⁶ As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

It is better to say one Our Father fervently and devoutly than a thousand with no devotion and full of distraction.
-- St Edmund

For the mass, you may visit Sambuhay TV Mass at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ORHUf0PCQo

Source:

www.ewtn.com

New International Version (NIV)

Pictures thru google search

YouTube

Daily Reflection Verses

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Saturday – 11 January 2014

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Verses:         

1 John 5:14-21

Psalm 149:1-6, 9

John 3:22-30

1 John 5:14-21

¹⁴ This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

¹⁶ If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. ¹⁷ All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

¹⁸ We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. ¹⁹ We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. ²⁰ We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

²¹ Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

Psalm 149:1-6, 9

¹ Praise the Lord.

Sing to the Lord a new song,
    his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.

² Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
    let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
³ Let them praise his name with dancing
    and make music to him with timbrel and harp.
⁴ For the Lord takes delight in his people;
    he crowns the humble with victory.
⁵ Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor
    and sing for joy on their beds.

⁶ May the praise of God be in their mouths
    and a double-edged sword in their hands,
⁷ to inflict vengeance on the nations
    and punishment on the peoples,
⁸ to bind their kings with fetters,
    their nobles with shackles of iron,
⁹ to carry out the sentence written against them—
    this is the glory of all his faithful people.

Praise the Lord.

John 3:22-30

John Testifies Again About Jesus

²² After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. ²³ Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. ²⁴ (This was before John was put in prison.) ²⁵ An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. ²⁶ They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

²⁷ To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. ²⁸ You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ ²⁹ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. ³⁰ He must become greater; I must become less.”

Prayer should be accomplished by grace and not by artifice.
-- St Jane Frances de Chantal

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Source:

New International Version (NIV)

Photos acquired thru Google search