“...blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you…” – Luke 14:14

My Dad has had a health crisis for almost ten years now. It started with a simple surgery to remove gall bladder stones. Since then, two other major surgeries and eight minor ones have been performed on him to repair the damage. My parents spent too much of their retirement money on hospital bills and checkups... until God sent us our present surgeon.

He is one doctor who has taken care of my father in every sense of the word. Dr. Arcilla placed a tube to prevent Daddy’s ducts from collapsing. One Christmas Eve, the tube was accidentally pulled out of its place. We were panicking since we knew, as it had happened before, that if it took too long for the tube to be reinserted, another operation would have to be done. We tried not to call our angel doctor, but just had to.

What happened next was amazing. Our good doctor invited us to his home, 7 p.m. on December 24, just when his entire family was getting ready to go to Mass. He reinserted the tube, checked  Daddy’s condition, and sent him home (with free antibiotics), patting him on the back saying all would be fine. And guess what, he did not charge a single cent. A house call on Christmas Eve, free of charge!

God’s love made manifest on earth. Lallaine G.

REFLECTION:

If anyone you know reads this, will he or she think of you?

Lord, bless those who bless us in big and small ways. May we be a blessing to others as well. 

Romans 11:29-36

Paul continues his struggle to understand why the Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah. What does he come to in the end? Simply that the ways and mind of God are hidden in the depths of His wisdom which we have little if any hope of being able to understand fully. Contrary to initial appearances, this is not a position of despair but of hope in that it expresses the truth that God’s wisdom is at work here; it is just that he, Paul, cannot understand it. This is often the case with my life, and perhaps yours as well.

29 The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. 30 Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too may [now] receive mercy. 32 For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor? 35 Or who has given him anything that he may be repaid? 36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

P S A L M

Psalm 69:30-31, 33-34, 36-37

R: Lord, in your great love, answer me.

29 [30] But I am afflicted and in pain; let your saving help, O God, protect me. 30 [31] I will praise the name of God in song, and I will glorify him with thanksgiving. (R) 32 [33] “See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts be revived! 33 [34] For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.” (R) 35 [36] For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. They shall dwell in the land and own it, 36 [37] and the descendants of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall inhabit it. (R)

G O S P E L

Luke 14:12-14

Jesus is very clear that the only influence we should seek to cultivate is that which concerns God. Any ‘tit for tat’ influence we may gain in this world is worthless when it comes to the question of salvation because the world cannot provide any path to eternal life. In fact, it governs only paths leading to death! What path do you want to follow? I know where I want to go!

12 Then he said to the host who invited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. 13 Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; 14 blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

my reflections

think: What path do you want to follow?

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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  Luke 13-15 

It is natural for us to seek out the company of persons who are familiar and agreeable for us. During gatherings, we tend to find a place among friends, acquaintances and relatives. Coming to a new event, we look around for familiar faces. We find joy in sharing table with friends and relatives, especially with those who are good to us and close to us. Even Jesus loved to share his meals and intimate talks with his dear Twelve disciples.

Whenever he comes to Jerusalem, the Gospels note that he preferred to lodge in Bethany, in the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus.

How then are we to take the words of Jesus in our Gospel passage?

These words in the Gospel are “hyperbole.” Jesus exaggerated his words –in the usual Semitic way – to bring home a point of teaching. The teaching is this: real faith must make us share our goodness not only with those who are good and have the ability to repay us… but real faith makes us share goodness with those who have nothing: no resources, no prestige, etc. We expect our repayment to be one that comes from the Lord.

The thing is, it is getting harder and harder to put Jesus’ teaching into practice. Today’s culture had made it more natural for us to suspect strangers with all kinds of evil motives! We fear that our being good may be misread and even taken advantaged of.

Let us then pray to the Lord to help us be men and women who still believe in the basic goodness that resides in each one – friends and strangers, alike. Fr. Domie, SSP

REFLECTION QUESTION: SOMETHING TO DO — Do something good, and be nice to someone who never knew you… to someone you are not intimate with.

Teach me to walk the extra mile.

St. Laetus, priest, pray for us.