Daily Bible Reflections
for February 21, 2011;

Dear Friend,

Be God's blessing to the world this Monday!

Praying for you,

Bo Sanchez

21
 February
Monday
TODAY'S READINGS:

DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH
DIDACHE

 

The Power of Prayer
 
“This kind can only come out through prayer.” – Mark 9:29
 
“Just pray about it,” a friend told me this a long time ago when I was in a bad situation and I felt like I had reached the end of my rope.
“Just like that?” I asked. I was hoping she would give me some advice so I wondered, “What is it about prayer that makes one think everything will be fine when we actually do it? Sure, I’d pray, but it won’t change anything!” I was so wrong.
We often come before God in prayer with various requests for guidance, healing, forgiveness and all other pleas for help. We give Him praise whenever these requests are granted. But in difficult situations that cause frustration and desperation, we sometimes find ourselves doubting if things can be resolved with just a simple prayer. What we don’t realize is that prayer is actually our greatest tool because it is the fundamental exercise of faith and hope. It’s a necessary process of abandoning the world and all the lies in it and connecting with God who leads us to what is true and real. It purifies our thoughts, feelings, motives, will and our entire being. It brings about peace that enables us to have a better perspective of things.
Try it. It really does wonders. Jane Gonzales-Rauch (mjsg2468@yahoo.com)
 
REFLECTION:
Prayer may not eliminate our troubles but it will surely change our soul.
 
Thank You, Lord, for the gift of prayer that refreshes our soul and gives us peace when we most need it. Amen.
 
 

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COMPANION

 

1st READING
 
The wisdom of God will always remain a little beyond our understanding. This is a reminder to us that we are not God and therefore must submit our lives to Him. Let us pray that we will be able to discern the wisdom that really matters from that which does not and then choose to focus our lives upon it. Let us pray for a deeper appreciation for the truth and so be drawn into a deeper relationship with God’s wisdom and truth.
 
Sirach 1:1-10
1 All wisdom comes from the LORD and with him it remains forever. 2 The sand of the seashore, the drops of rain, the days of eternity: Who can number these? 3 Heaven’s height, earth’s breadth, the depths of the abyss: Who can explore these? 4 Before all things else wisdom was created; and prudent understanding, from eternity. 5 To whom has wisdom’s root been revealed? Who knows her subtleties? 6 There is but one, wise and truly awe-inspiring, seated upon his throne: 7 It is the LORD; he created her, has seen her and taken note of her. 8 He has poured her forth upon all his works, upon every living thing according to his bounty; he has lavished her upon his friends. 9 Fear of the LORD is glory and splendor, gladness and a festive crown. 10 Fear of the LORD warms the heart, giving gladness and joy and length of days.
 
P S A L M
 
Psalms 93:1, 1-2, 5
R: The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
1 The LORD is king, in splendor robed; robed is the LORD and girt about with strength. (R) And he has made the world firm, not to be moved. 2 Your throne stands firm from of old; from everlasting you are, O LORD. (R) 5 Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed, holiness befits your house, O LORD, for length of days. (R)
 
G O S P E L
 
It is Jesus’ depth of relationship with His Father that enables Him to perform miracles. Let this be an encouragement to us to grow in our relationship with Jesus so that we would be better able to serve in the Kingdom of God and more likely to see the power of God at work in our ministry. Let us never doubt that God wants to use us for His purposes and that part of this will involve working miracles in His name.
 
ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R: Alleluia, alleluia
 
Mark 9:14-29
14 As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John and approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. 15 Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him. 16 He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. 18 Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.” 19 He said to them in reply, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.” 20 They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth. 21 Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood. 22 It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him.  But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” 24 Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” 25 Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” 26 Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. 28 When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive it out?” 29 He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”
 
my reflections
t h i n k : Let us pray that we will be able to discern the wisdom that really matters from that which does not and then choose to focus our lives upon it.
 
God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
_________________________________________________________

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

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SABBATH

 

PRAY AND FAST WITH LOVE
When the disciples were unable to cast out the mute spirit from the boy, they asked Jesus, “Why could we not drive this one out?” Jesus said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.” The answer of Jesus is intriguing, isn’t it?
First, it implies that there are other kinds of evil spirits. Beware of them. Second, it implies that there are evil spirits that can be driven out through means other than prayer. What other means can be used to cast out evil spirits? Love drives out evil just as it covers a multitude of sins.
Third, it also implies that those who drive out evil spirits are not always necessarily praying. Were the disciples not praying when they attempted to cast out the mute spirit without the help of Jesus? We are no better, aren’t we?
One thing is certain though: What seems to be impossible can be made possible through prayer. Through prayer, closed minds open, cold hearts ignite and stubborn spirits obey. Through prayer, impure hearts are cleansed and enslaved spirits are freed. Through prayer, wounded hearts are healed, and evil spirits are cast out.
Sometime ago, a celebrity-friend of mine emailed me from San Francisco, USA, asking for prayers for her family that was going through a difficult time. She said that she herself was fervent in her prayers: she goes to Mass and prays the rosary every day. She ends her email with a statement that, coming from a celebrity like her, moved me. “Tomorrow,” she wrote, “I will begin fasting.” I thought fasting has lost its significance for so-called “modern people.” I was mistaken.
Prayer and fasting never lose their importance. In Jesus’ earthly life, prayer and fasting were effective means in conquering evil. They remain effective to this day.
The devil is real. It continues  to manipulate people. Demonic possessions are real. They continue to enslave people. But prayer and fasting are also real and always powerful against evil. Love gives prayer and fasting the power to
cast out demons. Thus, never forget to always pray and fast with love. Fr. Bobby Titco
 
Reflection Question:
Is there love in my praying and fasting?
 
Cast out from me, O Lord, all evil spirits. Teach me to pray and fast always with love. I surrender my whole self to you. Make me a dwelling place of Your Spirit. Make me a channel of Your Spirit unto others. Amen.
 
St. Gundebert, pray for us.
 

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