Friday, October 26, 2012
SATURDAY 29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR II
OCTOBER 27, 2012
SATURDAY 29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR II
Eph 4:7-16 / Lk 13:1-9
EPHESIANS 4:7-16
But to each of us divine grace is given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said: When he ascended to the heights, he brought captives and gave his gifts to people. He ascended, what does it mean but that he had also descended to the lower parts of the world? He himself who went down, then ascended far above all the heavens to fill all things. As for his gifts, to some he gave to be apostles, to others prophets, or even evangelists, or pastors and teachers. So he prepared those who belong to him for the ministry, in order to build up the Body of Christ, until we are all united in the same faith and knowledge of the Son of God. Thus we shall become the perfect Man, upon reaching maturity and sharing the fullness of Christ. Then no longer shall we be like children tossed about by any wave or wind of doctrine, and deceived by the cunning of people who drag them along into error. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we shall grow in every way towards him who is the head, Christ. From him comes the growth of the whole body to which a network of joints gives order and cohesion, taking into account and making use of the function of each one. So the body builds itself in love.
LUKE 13:1-9
One day some people told Jesus what had occurred in the Temple: Pilate had had Galileans killed, and their blood mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus asked them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered this? No, I tell you. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did. And those eighteen persons in Siloah, who were crushed when the tower fell, do you think they were more guilty than all the others in Jerusalem? I tell you: no. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did." And Jesus continued with this story, "A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it, but found none. Then he said to the gardener, `Look here, for three years now I have been looking for figs on this tree, and I have found none. Cut it down, why should it use up the ground?' The gardener replied, `Leave it one more year, so that I may dig around it and add some fertilizer; perhaps it will bear fruit from now on. But if it doesn't, you can cut it down.'"
REFLECTION
Jesus' parable of the fig tree is intended for two groups of people. First, Jesus meant it for the instruction of the people of his time. Second, he meant it for the instruction of people for all time. The first group comprises the people of Israel. Jesus tells them that God gave them a special place in His plan and took special care of them. But they did not bear fruit. Jesus tells them further that, in spite of their failure, God will be patient with them a little longer. He will give them a second chance, like the fig tree.
The wider group of people for whom Jesus told this parable includes all of us here today. Jesus' parable applies to us. We are like Israel. God has given us a special place in His plan, and He has taken special care of us. God expects us to bear fruit. If we don't, then like Israel, God will give us a genuine opportunity to repent. If we don't repent, then like Israel, we will perish.
All of us can relate to that story. At some point in our lives, many of us were like the fig tree, in danger of being rejected as useless. But in His mercy, we were given another chance. Today's Gospel calls forth from us deep gratitude to God for that second chance, and solid determination on our part to make the most of our second chance. God will not force us into heaven. We must accept the loving help of God. We must produce the fruit of good deeds in repentance, humility, and love.
It is never too late to begin to change our lives for the better. Let us not disappoint Jesus who died to give us a second chance to redeem ourselves.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Mon Torres
- Fleur Torres
- Ditas dela Paz
… for the personal intentions of
- Pauline
- Flor
- Wilfredo L. De Leon
- Mary Wong
… In Memoriam: Dennis
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
SATURDAY 29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR II
Eph 4:7-16 / Lk 13:1-9
EPHESIANS 4:7-16
But to each of us divine grace is given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said: When he ascended to the heights, he brought captives and gave his gifts to people. He ascended, what does it mean but that he had also descended to the lower parts of the world? He himself who went down, then ascended far above all the heavens to fill all things. As for his gifts, to some he gave to be apostles, to others prophets, or even evangelists, or pastors and teachers. So he prepared those who belong to him for the ministry, in order to build up the Body of Christ, until we are all united in the same faith and knowledge of the Son of God. Thus we shall become the perfect Man, upon reaching maturity and sharing the fullness of Christ. Then no longer shall we be like children tossed about by any wave or wind of doctrine, and deceived by the cunning of people who drag them along into error. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we shall grow in every way towards him who is the head, Christ. From him comes the growth of the whole body to which a network of joints gives order and cohesion, taking into account and making use of the function of each one. So the body builds itself in love.
LUKE 13:1-9
One day some people told Jesus what had occurred in the Temple: Pilate had had Galileans killed, and their blood mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus asked them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered this? No, I tell you. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did. And those eighteen persons in Siloah, who were crushed when the tower fell, do you think they were more guilty than all the others in Jerusalem? I tell you: no. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did." And Jesus continued with this story, "A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it, but found none. Then he said to the gardener, `Look here, for three years now I have been looking for figs on this tree, and I have found none. Cut it down, why should it use up the ground?' The gardener replied, `Leave it one more year, so that I may dig around it and add some fertilizer; perhaps it will bear fruit from now on. But if it doesn't, you can cut it down.'"
REFLECTION
Jesus' parable of the fig tree is intended for two groups of people. First, Jesus meant it for the instruction of the people of his time. Second, he meant it for the instruction of people for all time. The first group comprises the people of Israel. Jesus tells them that God gave them a special place in His plan and took special care of them. But they did not bear fruit. Jesus tells them further that, in spite of their failure, God will be patient with them a little longer. He will give them a second chance, like the fig tree.
The wider group of people for whom Jesus told this parable includes all of us here today. Jesus' parable applies to us. We are like Israel. God has given us a special place in His plan, and He has taken special care of us. God expects us to bear fruit. If we don't, then like Israel, God will give us a genuine opportunity to repent. If we don't repent, then like Israel, we will perish.
All of us can relate to that story. At some point in our lives, many of us were like the fig tree, in danger of being rejected as useless. But in His mercy, we were given another chance. Today's Gospel calls forth from us deep gratitude to God for that second chance, and solid determination on our part to make the most of our second chance. God will not force us into heaven. We must accept the loving help of God. We must produce the fruit of good deeds in repentance, humility, and love.
It is never too late to begin to change our lives for the better. Let us not disappoint Jesus who died to give us a second chance to redeem ourselves.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Mon Torres
- Fleur Torres
- Ditas dela Paz
… for the personal intentions of
- Pauline
- Flor
- Wilfredo L. De Leon
- Mary Wong
… In Memoriam: Dennis
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Rex Owen O. Lucena
Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for families who are in need of healing
… 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!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
-- Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for families who are in need of healing
… 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!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
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