Daily Reflection Verses

St. Agnes, Virgin, Martyr (Memorial)

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Tuesday – 21 January 2014

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Verses:         

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Psalm 89:20-22, 27-28

Mark 2:23-28

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Samuel Anoints David

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

² But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”

The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”

⁴ Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”

⁵ Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” ⁹ Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” ¹⁰ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” ¹¹ So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

¹² So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

Psalm 89:20-22, 27-28

²⁰ I have found David my servant;
    with my sacred oil I have anointed him.
²¹ My hand will sustain him;
    surely my arm will strengthen him.
²² The enemy will not get the better of him;
    the wicked will not oppress him.
²⁷ And I will appoint him to be my firstborn,
    the most exalted of the kings of the earth.
²⁸ I will maintain my love to him forever,
    and my covenant with him will never fail.

Mark 2:23-28

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

²³ One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. ²⁴ The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

²⁵ He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? ²⁶ In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”

²⁷ Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

What fine edification a soul gives who, when greeted with scorn, answers gently to conciliate the offensive individual; or perhaps makes no reply at all, nor complains to others, but maintains a placid expression and shows no bitterness. We are asserting that because we love God, we will not allow anyone to make us respond to an offense in a non-Christian way.

-- St. Alphonsus Liguori

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Source:

New International Version (NIV)

Photos acquired thru Google search

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Sunday – 19 January 2014

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Verses:         

Isaiah 49:3, 5-6

Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-10

1 Corinthians 1:1-3

John 1:29-34

FIRST READING: A Reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 49:3, 5-6)

³ He said to me, “You are my servant,
    Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”

 ⁵ And now the Lord says—
    he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
    and gather Israel to himself,
for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord
    and my God has been my strength—
⁶ he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
    to restore the tribes of Jacob
    and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
    that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Psalm 40:2, 4, 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.

⁴ Blessed is the one
    who trusts in the Lord,
who does not look to the proud,
    to those who turn aside to false gods.

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.

SECOND READING: A Reading from the Book of Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:1-3)

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

² To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

GOSPEL: A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to John (John 1:29-34)

 

John Testifies About Jesus

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ³¹ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

³² Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. ³³ And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

God, the Creator of all things, is so full of mercy and compassion that whatever may be the grace for which we stretch out our hands, we shall not fail to receive it.

-- St Bernard

For the mass, you may visit Sambuhay TV Mass at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJRm0qCx3vs

Source:

www.ewtn.com

New International Version (NIV)

Pictures thru google search

YouTube

Daily Reflection Verses

Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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Saturday – 18 January 2014

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Verses:         

1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1

Psalm 21:2-7

Mark 2:13-17

1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1

Samuel Anoints Saul

9 There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bekorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. ² Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else.

³ Now the donkeys belonging to Saul’s father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys.” ⁴ So he passed through the hill country of Ephraim and through the area around Shalisha, but they did not find them. They went on into the district of Shaalim, but the donkeys were not there. Then he passed through the territory of Benjamin, but they did not find them.

¹⁷ When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.”

¹⁸ Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”

¹⁹ “I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will send you on your way and will tell you all that is in your heart. ²⁰ As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and your whole family line?”

10 Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?

Psalm 21:2-7

² You have granted him his heart’s desire
    and have not withheld the request of his lips.
³ You came to greet him with rich blessings
    and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
⁴ He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
    length of days, for ever and ever.
⁵ Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;
    you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.
⁶ Surely you have granted him unending blessings
    and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
⁷ For the king trusts in the Lord;
    through the unfailing love of the Most High
    he will not be shaken.

Mark 2:13-17

Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners

¹³ Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. ¹⁴ As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

¹⁵ While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. ¹⁶ When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

¹⁷ On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Can you expect to go to heaven for nothing? Did not our Savior track the whole way to it with His tears and blood? And yet you start at every little pain.

-- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

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Source:

New International Version (NIV)

Photos acquired thru Google search

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...