Daily Bible Reflections
for December 4, 2014
;

Dear Friend,

This Thursday, remember that He knows you and loves you.

Praying for you,

Bo Sanchez



4
December
Thursday
TODAY'S READINGS:

DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH
DIDACHE

 

DISASTER MAGNET
 

But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. – Matthew 7:26

 

       Watching news about destructive typhoons can be both horrifying and touching. We’ve seen exasperating footage showing people who bring disaster upon themselves. Like squatters refusing to leave their houses built right at the edge of waterways that flood when it rains or a guy plunging his car straight into the flood. The motorist claimed it was the fault of the government, the TV reporter and the people on the street for not warning him. Never mind if the water was obviously high already and other vehicles were parked at the end of the street waiting for the flood to recede. That guy still thinks that his car getting submerged was just not his fault!

       We may want to shake some sense into these foolish people but then, are we any different? How about when we disobey God? We turn a deaf ear to His warnings and then claim our misfortune is not really our fault.

       Contrary to what many people think, the adversities that come our way when we do something wrong aren’t God’s punishment. They are consequences of our wrong choices. But when we choose to obey His way, then we can expect that His blessings are not far behind. Lella M. Santiago (mirellasantiago@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: Examine your life and see if there are pockets of disaster caused by your own foolish actions.

 

Father, help me build my house on the firm foundation of Your Word.

 

St. John Damascene, priest and doctor of the Church, pray for us.

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COMPANION

 

1ST READING
 

It is easy to simply give up in the face of difficulty. A man or woman of faith should never give up (despair at the hopelessness of a situation) because by faith we know that there is always a way through a difficult situation — if we put our faith in God and look hard enough for it. Jesus promised us that He will never abandon us and so we know that He will always provide what we need to be His disciples.

 
Isaiah 26:1-6

1 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we; he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us. 2 Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith. 3 A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you.” 4 Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock. 5 He humbles those in high places, and the lofty city he brings down; he tumbles it to the ground, levels it with the dust. 6 It is trampled underfoot by the needy, by the footsteps of the poor.

 
P S A L M
Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27

R: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. (R) 19 Open to me the gates of justice; I will enter them and give thanks to the Lord. 20 This gate is the Lord’s; the just shall enter it. 21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior. (R) 25 O Lord, grant salvation! O Lord, grant prosperity! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord. 27 The Lord is God, and he has given us light. (R)

 
GOSPEL
 

Jesus makes it clear that faith is more than mere assent to a set of beliefs. It also involves acting upon those beliefs. We are saved by faith but faith is nothing unless it is lived. It is easy to say one believes in this or that, but the truth and reality of those beliefs is known through one’s life. The Letter of James challenges us to demonstrate our faith by the way we live. This is the ultimate demonstration or test of faith.

 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call him while he is near.

 
Matthew 7:21, 24-27

21 Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 24 Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 26 And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

 

think:  We are saved by faith but faith is nothing unless it is lived.

 
 
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 Ezekiel 33-36

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SABBATH

 

PARABLE OF THE CROSS

 

Today’s Gospel is about the hearers and doers. The hearers heard God’s Word then did nothing: “Their house was built on sand.” The doers also heard God’s Word and it mobilized them: “Their house was built on rock.” So when the flood came, the first was destroyed, the latter remained. As the Apostle James says, “Faith without action is dead.”

         A story goes that, one day, people of various races were present and serving as judges in a court. They were condemning one person who was tied to a chair. That person on trial was none other than God. All people — prostitutes, beggars, victims of holocaust, wars, crimes, and so on — were shouting at God. “You are guilty! You allowed all these horrible things to happen. You said You love us but where were You in times of pain, persecution, vindication and betrayals?”

         Then immense silence covered the room and the cross suddenly appeared. This story is called the parable of the cross.

         What is the moral of the story? Anyone can say, “I love you,” but only a few can “do” “I love you.” God never said, “I love you;” He did it — on the cross. Fr. Joel Jason

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you a hearer or a doer?

 

Lord, never let me grow complacent of Your love. May I always prove my love to You through my actions.

 

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