Thursday, October 12, 2006
Saturday 27th Week in Ordinary Time
October 14, 2006
Saturday 27th Week in Ordinary Time - Yr II
GALATIANS 3:22-29
Brothers and sisters: Scripture confined all things under the power of
sin, that through faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to
those who believe. Before faith came, we were held in custody under
law, confined for the faith that was to be revealed. Consequently, the
law was our disciplinarian for Christ, that we might be justified by
faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a
disciplinarian. For through faith you are all children of God in Christ
Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed
yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you
are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are
Abraham's descendants, heirs according to the promise.
LUKE 11:27-28
While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to
him, "Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you
nursed." He replied, "Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of
God and observe it."
REFLECTION
Paul makes a startling statement in today's first reading. The
statement rejects basic tenets of the Jewish faith and announces a new
way of looking at people and the relationships among them. It's a
statement, which, if we were to embrace it wholeheartedly, would be a
recognition of the equality of all human beings and would enable us to
build a world endowed permanently with justice and peace.
Paul says, "Each one of you is a child of God because of your faith in
Christ Jesus. All of you who have been baptized into Christ, have
clothed yourselves with him. There does not exist among you Jew or
Greek, slave or freeman, male or female."
The fact that Paul should make such a statement indicates the impact
faith in Christ has had on him. During all the years that preceded his
conversion, he began each day with a prayer with which all Jewish men
began each day, "I thank you, God, for not having made me a Gentile, a
slave or a woman."
It's a 180-degree change in direction for Paul. Faith in Jesus makes us
his brothers and sisters and therefore children to his Father. Baptism
publicly ratifies and proclaims our faith in Jesus. We who believe in
Jesus are made one in him for all the world to see.
OCTOBER 13, 2006
FRIDAY 27TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II
GALATIANS 3:7-14
Brothers and sisters: Realize that it is those who have faith who
are children of Abraham. Scripture, which saw in advance that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith, foretold the good news to
Abraham, saying, Through you shall all the nations be blessed.
Consequently, those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham
who had faith. For all who depend on works of the law are under a
curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not persevere
in doing all the things written in the book of the law. And that no
one is justified before God by the law is clear, for the one who is
righteous by faith will live. But the law does not depend on faith;
rather, the one who does these things will live by them. Christ
ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,
for it is written, Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree, that the
blessing of Abraham might be extended to the Gentiles through Christ
Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through
faith.
LUKE 11:15-26
When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: "By the
power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons."
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew
their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against
itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if
Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For
you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then,
drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them
out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger
of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come
upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his
possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and
overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and
distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and
whoever does not gather with me scatters. "When an unclean spirit
goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for
rest but, finding none, it says, `I shall return to my home from
which I came.' But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put
in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more
wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last
condition of that man is worse than the first."
REFLECTION
Jesus had just driven out a demon from a mute and the person finally
started speak. But instead of praising him for helping the poor
mute person, several people declared that Jesus must be getting his
power from the Devil. Some people say he should bring signs from
heaven as further evidence that he is the Messiah.
Perhaps we would never cite Jesus as a devil nor would we demand
that Jesus show us signs from Heaven. However, we should be
cautious with what we say because perhaps many times without meaning
to or realizing it, we may have given the Lord an ultimatum. This
happens especially when bad or tragic things occur in our lives.
Perhaps during those times we question why God allowed or even bring
these tragedies upon us. Perhaps when God does not answer our
prayers favorably, we get angry and insist that God grant our wishes
just because we feel we deserve them.
It was to Jesus' frustration that the people looked at the negative
of his miracles instead of the positive. But perhaps Jesus is
addressing us directly and is asking us today to review our actions
and examine our attitudes. Do we thank the God for the good things
in our lives or do we always look at the negative and find every
reason possible to blame God?
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray -
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
- for the speedy recovery and healing of Manuel Go.
- for the speedy recovery and healing of Domingo.
- for the speedy recovery and healing of Myra.
- for the safe travel of Frankie, Remy and Dolores.
- for the speedy recovery of EJ Alviar, Angel Alpasan, Ricah P.
Liquido, Norma V. Samala, Norma G. Samala, Mrs. Lasaga.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Matilde & Johnny Lu
- Birthday: Espie Sim
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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