Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Wednesday, 30th Week in Ordinary Time
26 October 2016
Wednesday, 30th Week in Ordinary Time
Green.
Eph 6:1 – 9 / Lk 13: 22 – 30.
Gospel Reading: Lk 13:22 – 30
Jesus went through towns and villages teaching and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, is it true that few people will be saved?"
And Jesus answered, "Do your best to enter by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you will stand outside; then you will knock at the door calling: 'Lord, open to us.' But he will say to you: 'I do not know where you come from.'
"Then you will say: We ate and drank with you and you taught in our streets! But he will reply: 'I don't know where you come from. Away from me all you workers of evil.'
"You will weep and grind your teeth when you see Abraham and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves left outside. Others will sit at table in the kingdom of God, people coming from east and west, from north and south. Some who are among the last will be the first, and others who were first will be last!"
Reflection
Jesus' prophetic words seem to welcome the non-Jews, the Gentiles into the faith. The Jews, being God's people, understandably find it hard to accept this. Often Jesus was met with dissent and disbelief. He, being a Jew, knew that it would be hard for Jewish believers to accept that God's love encompasses all other nations.
Such exclusivity of faith was prevalent not onlyamong Jewish people but also with many Christians as well. At times we think that those who are different from us in terms of beliefs and religious observance will not be saved. We fail to understand that it is not our outward behavior that determines our faithfulness to God. It is what we keep in our hearts.
It is in loving God with all our mind, heart, strength, and loving our neighbor, that we are able to follow God's commandments. When we cease to judge people, when we accept them for who they are, we slowly become more loving, and we begin to see God's presence in everyone, insider or outsider.
Let us keep in mind Pope Francis' words: "Today more than ever we are united by the ecumenism of blood, which further encourages us on the path toward peace and reconciliation."
WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:
BIRTHDAY
Fr. Gil G. Donayre, SJ
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Robert & Nazarina de Jesus
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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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:
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| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
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| distributed free and for personal use only.
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Tuesday, 30th Week in Ordinary Time
25 October 2016
Tuesday, 30th Week in Ordinary Time
Green.
Eph 5:21 – 33 / Lk 13:18 – 21
From the 1st Reading: Eph 5:31 – 33
Scripture says: Because of this a man shall leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a very great mystery, and I refer to Christ and the Church. As for you, let each one love his wife as himself, and let the wife respect her husband.
Gospel Reading: Lk 13: 18 - 21
Jesus continued speaking, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? Imagine a person who has taken a mustard seed and planted it in the garden. The seed has grown and become like a small tree, so that the birds of the air shelter in its branches."
And Jesus said again, "What is the kingdom of God like? Imagine a woman who has taken yeast and hidden it in three measures of flour until it is all leavened."
Reflection
What can mustard seeds and leaven teach us about the kingdom of God?
The tiny mustard seed literally grows to be a tree which attracts numerous birds because they love the little black mustard seed it produces. God's kingdom works in a similar way. It starts from the smallest beginnings in the hearts of men and women who are receptive to God's word. Let us look at the history of our parish. Who started it? How many people were the first parishioners? Remember the faces of the parish priests that were assigned here. Recall also the milestones that our parish have undergone through the sacrifices and generous contributions of our well-meaning parishioners.
And look at what we are now. Are we not like the mustard seed that grew into a big tree? So that we won't become proud of our achievement, let us be reminded the mysterious hand that makes the mustard seed grow. Is it not the Holy Spirit, the soul and architect of the Church that gives the increase to the little that we do? He works unseen and causes this transformation to happen.
Leaven is another powerful agent of change. A lump of dough left to itself remains just what it is. But when the leaven is added to it a transformation takes place which produces rich and wholesome bread that when heated, it becomes a life-sustaining food.
When we eat the bread it becomes part of us because of the process of assimilation. Similarly, when we yield to Jesus Christ, our lives are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
The kingdom of God present in us produces a transformation because we receive the new life which Jesus Christ offers. St. Paul says, "we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us" (2 Cor. 4:7).
Do you believe in the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in you?
WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:
BIRTHDAY
Betty Limpe Ngo
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
| distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
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