Daily Bible Reflections
for November 20, 2014
;

Dear Friend,

Never lose sight of Jesus this Thursday.

Praying for you,

Bo Sanchez



20
November
Thursday
TODAY'S READINGS:

DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH
DIDACHE

 

THE PRIVILEGED ONE
 

For the Lord takes delight in his people, honors the poor with victory. – Psalm 149:4

 

For most of my life, I thought that being less fortunate begets humility. That one can’t be proud when there are others around him who prove to be more privileged or talented.

       There was a time when I had a failed relationship and I became insecure about many things. I was self-conscious about the way I looked and how others saw me. I was so sold into thinking that I wasn’t worthy of anything better than my current situation. I felt doomed.

       But I prayed with my heart and hoped that days would turn out brighter. Then slowly, I started to feel the air that I breathed. I noticed the thick calf muscles that made me stand sturdy. I perceived my tongue that allowed me to taste every bit of salt, pepper and spices that touched it. I appreciated that I was alive! The months that followed saw me making 1,200-meter laps in the pool, doing more heartfelt renditions of my songs, taking care of my relationships more deeply, and appreciating each new day.

       God healed me inside. And these days, instead of wallowing in self-pity or insecurity, I tell myself how privileged I am. After all, I’m a child of God. Eugene Cailao (eugenecailao@gmail.com)

 

Reflection: What can you do that can make our Father in heaven glad?

 

In all of life’s misfortunes, Lord, please help me to see the blessing and the strength that only You can bestow.

 

St. Edmund Rich, pray for us.

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COMPANION

 

 
1ST READING
 

Like yesterday, the focus here is God, the one who is worthy to open the scroll and read it. All the imagery does is to emphasize the importance of the redemptive figure. We need to be careful not to read too much into the imagery of the Book of Revelation — treating it like a code to be decoded for the special message it contains. The message is simply that Jesus is Lord of all and we had better make sure that we remember to acknowledge Him as such.

 
Revelation 5:1-10

1 I, John, saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to examine it. 4 I shed many tears because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to examine it. 5 One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed, enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the elders, a Lamb that seemed to have been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes; these are the seven spirits of God sent out into the whole world. 7 He came and received the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. 8 When he took it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones. 9 They sang a new hymn: “Worthy are you to receive the scroll and to break open its seals, for you were slain and with your Blood you purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation. 10 You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on earth.”

 
P S A L M
 
Psalm 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 9

R: The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.

1 Sing to the Lord a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful. 2 Let Israel be glad in their maker, let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. (R) 3 Let them praise his name in the festive dance, let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp. 4 For the Lord loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory. (R) 5 Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their couches; 6 let the high praises of God be in their throats. 9 This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia. (R)

 
GOSPEL
 
 

It will not always be easy to follow Christ. We will meet opposition often, both spiritual and physical in nature. We should be prepared so that when we encounter it, we will be able to overcome it through trust in the victory of Jesus over all things that come against His elect, namely us. Let us never be frightened by the prospect of what lies ahead but always be open to move with the graces He bestows on us.

 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

 
Luke 19:41-44

41 As Jesus drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. 44 They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

 

think:  We must always be open to move with the graces God bestows on us.

 
 
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
 
____________________________________
 
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
 

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Jeremiah 43-46 S

 

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SABBATH

 

BITTER TEARS, NOT!

 

I am definitely what those who really know me say that I am — a cry baby. My tear ducts are shallow and, when touched, my tears flow readily and copiously. That was what happened when early last year, I saw the cinematic version of the musical Les Miserables. But a similar thing happened when I saw the live coverage of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI taking leave of the Vatican on February 28, 2013. It was pretty much the same when, at 2 a.m., Manila time of March 14 last year, the white smoke almost suddenly changed the mood of the vast throngs that waited patiently for the election of the new pope.

       Today’s Gospel is not exactly my favorite passage, but it is definitely one that resonates with me and one that I feel so at home in. I don’t have to ask why the Lord cried (the word in Greek is even stronger!). I am not bothered by my own tears and definitely not those of other people. I just take them as they are — expressions of deep feelings — and feelings are what make us human to the core. I am consoled that my Lord and my God, being truly human, is one who is like me in all things, except sin.

       But truth to tell, my feelings, though not wrong in themselves, can be shallow. Being a counselor, I know that they can be “projections” onto others of my inner state or my unresolved issues. They stand for me and for my own selfish needs, possibly unmet, which then are tantamount to “losses,” that I feel compelled from within to grieve over.

       There is nothing selfish and self-serving, though, in Jesus’ tears. They all have to do with selfless love — for the city and its people — on account of the impending doom that would befall them. There is nothing there but compassion for a people who would come to grief, all because they missed the “time of their visitation.” They were tears — not of blame, not of bitter disappointment, but of love.

       I feel good not because the Lord cries, too, but because He cries for love of me and you. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: When did you last cry? What were the tears for?

 

Lord, thank You for showing us Your humanity. It gives me hope that I can overcome my sinful tendencies and become more like You.

 
 
 

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