Daily Bible Reflections
for August 6, 2009;

Dear Friend,

Be blessed by His Creative Word this Thursday!

Praying for you,

Bo Sanchez

6
 August
Thursday
TODAY'S READINGS:

DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH
DIDACHE

 

THE GRIP
 
Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know I am with you…” – Joshua 3:7
 
It’s amazing how God, in our weakest and darkest hours, ever lovingly sends His power over us, to lead and guide us where He intends us to be.
When my relatives in Sydney registered me to participate in the Hillsong Conference ‘07, I was the least excited. Not knowing what to expect and what it will yield and lead me to, I resorted to begging off a ridiculous number of times. Not to mention that I was extremely “busy” minding some intense emotional and personal issues at that time.
However, in one prayer of submission to our Lord two nights before my departure date, God impressed upon my heart “His grip” that assured me that He wanted me there and that He had everything under control.
As if a strong arm held me through a raging river so I could safely cross, I felt suddenly secure. And so I went. Now my friends, you are reading one of the very reasons why God wanted me there: to bear witness to it here, in my very first reflection for Didache. Eugene Cailao
 
REFLECTION:
The Lord can only gain control over us as much as we allow Him to. Let us be humble in our prayers and accept that we are incapable without Him.
 
I humble myself under Your Mighty Hand, Lord, that in due time You may exalt me. I cast all my cares unto You, Father God. Bless me.
 

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COMPANION

 

1st READING
 
It is very clear that God will exact justice on all who sin. Just because we might get away with our sin here on earth is no guarantee that the Lord of the Universe will not catch up with us in the end. Fear of judgment may not be the most perfect motivation for good works but it is certainly an effective one. Let us pray that if there is any fear in the way we act in relation to God, we would be able to turn that fear into love by getting to know God more deeply.
 
Daniel 7:9-10. 13-14
9 As I watched: Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was snow bright, and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. 10 A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. 13 As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, 14 He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.
 
P S A L M
 
Psalm 97:1-2. 5-6. 9
R: The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
1 The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad. 2 Clouds and darkness are round about him, justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. (R) 5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The heavens proclaim his justice, and all peoples see his glory. (R) 9 Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth, exalted far above all gods. (R)
 
2nd READING
 
It is a tremendous privilege to witness firsthand the actions of God and His miracles as He intervenes in the lives of His people. It is important for us to know that God still works miracles today if we have the faith to request them and trust that He will respond. We need to pray more fervently for a deepening of our faith. So much more will be possible if we entrust more of what we do to the power of God’s grace.
 
2 Peter 1:16-19
16 Beloved: We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, “This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
 
G O S P E L
 
The Feast of the Transfiguration recalls one of the more remarkable Gospel epiphanies where we are reminded of the glory of God. We also glimpse the meaning of becoming one with Him in the service of God’s kingdom. We never work alone. There is an illustrious line of men and women who have paved the way for us, showing us the possibilities if only we would have faith and put our trust in God. Elijah and Moses symbolize the fullness of the means of revelation of the Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament and Jesus surpasses them both. Let us live in the spirit of Jesus and thus fulfill both the Law and the Prophets.
 
Mark 9:2-10
2 Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4 Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. 7 Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” 8 Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.
 
my reflections
think:We never work alone. There is an illustrious line of men and women who have paved the way for us, showing us the possibilities if only we would have faith and put our trust in God.
 
_________________________________________________________

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
_______________________________________________________
 
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Tobit 1-3
 
 

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SABBATH

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH THE LORD
 
Both the First Reading and the Responsorial Psalm for today (the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord) focus on something clear and central: the glory of God, the so-called “shekinah,” characterized by elements typical of the great theophanies of the Old Testament (for example, visible manifestations of God, accompanied by extraordinary celestial signs). This is not only to demonstrate God’s power and dominance, but also to manifest His majesty and the holy fear which inspires reverence on our part. In fact, we ought to go beyond mere awe and admiration. Such can be our reaction, too, when we watch a movie laden with special effects, or also a bit like Peter in today’s Gospel account.
In any case, the same Peter learned his lesson (so to speak), as we see years after the event, in his Second Letter (which is also our Second Reading). Therein he wrote, “We were eyewitnesses of his sovereign majesty.” And he eventually passed from eyewitness to witness, as a martyr who offered his life for God. It was indeed an extraordinary experience for him, a personal encounter with the Lord which truly marked him for the rest of his life. Just like Peter, and James and John too, all of us also have in some way an extraordinary experience of the Lord in our lives. Let’s not forget our very own baptism. With that primordial sacrament, God also said of us (as it were), “This is my beloved Son.”
And so, we do not need to “make three tents,” so to speak, one each for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Instead, we ought to nourish and deepen our relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thanks to the adoption extended to us by the Father, we all are conformed to the likeness of the Son, in the Holy Spirit. The Triune God transfigures us as well, without the needfor any theophanies. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB
 
Reflection Question:
Recall your encounter/s with the Lord. Have you remained an eyewitness or have you been transformed to a witness?
 
Lord, may my experience of You lead me to be a witness for You by the way I live  my life.
 
Sts. Justus and Pastor, Martyrs, pray for us.
 

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