“Why do you recite my statutes... with your mouth?”– Psalm 50:16

       “Magnanakaw ka!” (You’re a thief!)

       When Edwin was a little boy, his aunt accused him of stealing milk from their kitchen. The spoonful of milk in his mouth caused Edwin to be beaten to a pulp.

       Edwin’s aunt was a devout Catholic. She would gather everyone and lead the nightly rosary prayer but would utter each Hail Mary with lightning speed. She would have made it to the Guinness Book of World Records for the Fastest Talking Rosary Leader had there been such a category. As if that wasn’t enough, she would squeeze in a few scowls here and there. She knew the rosary all right, but her life was hardly a prayer.

       The kitchen incident and his aunt’s behavior confused little Edwin. How can someone so prayerful be harsh and merciless?

       At certain points in our lives, we may have been like Edwin’s aunt. We chose to be right rather than loving. We know God by the book but fail to recognize Him in the face of our brothers and sisters. Let us remember that a truly prayerful life is backed up by a loving heart. Osy Erica (osy.erica@gmail.com)

Reflection: Do your actions follow what you preach? Remember that the real Gospel you preach is your life.

Lord, cover me with Your grace so I may stay true to what I preach. Make a sincere servant out of me, one whose life is a prayer and an offering to You.

St. Oliver Plunkett, pray for us.

14 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; then truly will the Lord, the God of hosts, be with you as you claim! 15 Hate evil and love good, and let justice prevail at the gate; then it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will have pity on the remnant of Joseph. 21 I hate, I spurn your feasts, says the Lord, I take no pleasure in your solemnities; 22 your cereal offerings I will not accept, nor consider your stall-fed peace offerings. 23 Away with your noisy songs! I will not listen to the melodies of your harps. But if you would offer me burnt offerings, 24 then let justice surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream.

R: To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

7 “Hear, my people, and I will speak; Israel, I will testify against you; God, your God, am I.” (R) 8 “Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, for your burnt offerings are before me always. 9 I take from your house no bullock, no goats out of your fold.” (R) 10 “For mine are all the animals of the forests, beasts by the thousand on my mountains. 11 I know all the birds of the air, and whatever stirs in the plains, belongs to me.” (R) 12 “If I were hungry, I should not tell you, for mine are the world and its fullness. 13 Do I eat the flesh of strong bulls, or is the blood of goats my drink?” (R) 16 “Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, 17 though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?” (R)

What is the significance of the miracles of Jesus where He drives demons out of people? Is possession a real possibility? It is, but it is probably not as common as some would make it out to be. Many phenomena we experience can be traced back to natural causes, in particular psychological ones. We need to be careful that we do not treat a natural difficulty of a person with a solution for demonic possession. This will not help anyone.

The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

28 When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road. 29 They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” 30 Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. 31 The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.” 32 And he said to them, “Go then!” They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. 33 The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. 34 Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.

think:  Any relationship, for it to work, should be a two-way street.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Chronicles 28-29

THE “PAGAN TERRITORIES” OF OUR LIVES

Today’s Gospel episode is a dramatic one, worthy perhaps of being made into a horror movie replete with computer-generated, 3D special effects. And yet, for all the gripping suspense and drama, the narrative ends on a somewhat strange note. When word spread about what had happened (particularly regarding the herd of swine), the entire town came out to meet Jesus — but only to beg Him to go away from their neighborhood.

       Why so? In the first place, this miracle of demonic expulsion took place in pagan territory. Biblical geography indicates that the town of Gadara (the setting of the incident), to the east of the Lake of Galilee, was an area inhabited by pagans or non-Jews. The herd of pigs confirms this fact, since pigs were considered as repulsive animals to Israelites.

       Applying it now into our lives, we ask ourselves: Is it possible that there are certain areas in our lives that are still “pagan territory,” in the sense that we would rather not have Jesus meddling therein? Perhaps He intends to purify and liberate us from the demons of our sinful habits, but we still prefer to bargain with Him. Or also (much like what we have in the First Reading today, when the prophet Amos denounces Israel’s noisy feasts and rituals), He wants to purge us from our proclivity for New Age or neo-pagan beliefs and practices, such as horoscopes, feng shui, tarot cards, palm reading, and so on. But we still do not want to let go of them, unfortunately.

       How then can we call ourselves genuine Catholics or Christians if we are given to such compromises in our faith? For such an authenticity in our beliefs and behaviors, there is no need for cinematic special effects. We just have to welcome Christ into our lives and to give witness to Him in all that we do. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are there some areas in your life that are off limits to Jesus? What are you hiding from Him?

Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to open and surrender my whole life to You.