READINGS for 2006-10-26

PRAYER HEALS

? For this reason I kneel before the Father? ? Ephesians 3:14

My cousin Gemma was attending a Christmas Party when her chest itched. A fresh wound, which was circular in shape, reddish and watery was found. Then another appeared. In two weeks time, her whole body (except the hands and feet) and her face were all covered with wounds. The doctors said that it was fungus and prescribed her topical medication. Her family brought her also to several albularyos. A month passed and neither the doctors nor the albularyos were able to cure her.
      Feeling hopeless, she planned to commit suicide twice. But she never did it for she knew it was a grave sin.
      One day, a long lost friend happened to be in their neighborhood and dropped by Gemmaps house. The friend mmediately told Gemma to see the formerps mom, who in turn, advised Gemma to go to Baclaran and Quiapo. The following morning, she did as she was told. It was the first time she had entered the church after the affiction. She prayed.
      When she got home, the itching stopped. Slowly, the wounds on her body dried up. After two weeks, she was completely healed and without any marks. Judith C.

REFLECTION:
Prayer defeats the devil?s purposes.

May I never allow the Devil?s lies to rob me of fullness of life.

1st READING

Ephesians 3:14-21

Each of us has reserves of strength and talent that we are yet to draw upon. I think we all tend to underestimate that which we are capable of. While this may be the prudent course to take rather than overestimate our abilities, it must never become an excuse for inactivity or a means by which we ?cop out? from doing the things which we are quite capable of doing. This is a challenge for us, yes, but it is one that is eminently possible to take on and succeed at, particularly if we regularly call upon the help of the Holy Spirit.

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

P S A L M

Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19

R: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

1 Exult, you just, in the LORD; praise from the upright is fitting. 2 Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; with the tenstringed lyre chant his praises. (R) 4 For upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are trustworthy. 5 He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full. (R) 11 But the plan of the LORD stands forever; the design of his heart, through all generations. 12 Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he has chosen for his own inheritance. (R) 18 But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, 19 to deliver  them from death and preserve them in spite of famine. (R)

G O S P E L

Luke 12:49-53

Whether Jesus is referring to the fire of His Spirit, the fire of His love, the fire of revival or many other types of holy fire is uncertain. The fire referred to here can probably be seen as all of the above! What is critical is that the desire that Jesus expresses here is intense and this is the way that it should be with us when we preach the Gospel and seek to live holy lives. Let us pry for the grace to be ?on fire? with love for God and as zealous as possible when bringing the Good News to the world. The intensity I refer to here is an holy intensity that is governed by the Holy Spirit, not the sort of man-made or inspired intensity that might lead a person into excessive actions. 

49 ?I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! 50 There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53 a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.?

my reflections
think: We all tend to underestimate that which we are capable of.

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God?s special verse/thought for me today______________________

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T O D A Y ? S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: _____________________________________

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Mark 10-11

JESUS? PARADOXICAL TEACHING

To one, a glass of water may be half-full; to another, that very same glass is half-empty. Similarly, someone may foolishly ask, ?Do stairs go up, or down? They seem to go both ways.?
      Somehow, it?s similar with the teaching of Jesus. No teacher could get more paradoxical. Yes, he came to inaugurate the Kingdom of God and to bestow peace on earth, but as he tells us in today?s Gospel he also came to cause division?yes, even in the smallest and most intimate of families.
      It really depends on how you look at things. If you seek truth, Jesus? teaching leads to happiness and peace; if you look for other things instead of truth (and what other thing could be more important than the truth?), it leads to division. When thorny situations arise, for instance, and our conscience tells us strongly that we cannot walk the same road even with our family and friends, how do we handle it?
      Christ?s all-consuming ardor (note that the etymology of this word has something to do with fire) brings light where it is dark and warmth where it is cold. Yes, it is like the refiner?s fire which purifies the gold by removing the dross. Try putting wax or dry straw instead to this fire. Don?t wonder at the result: it is certainly unequivocal. Fr. Martin M.

REFLECTION QUESTION:
Do I search for truth or other things?

Reveal to me my secret longings, and teach me to long only for what You long for.

St. Evaristus, pope martyr, pray for us.