Daily Bible Reflections
for December 20, 2014
;

Dear Friend,

This Saturday, follow the Spirit of God leading you.

Praying for you,

Bo Sanchez



20
December
Saturday
TODAY'S READINGS:

DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH
DIDACHE

 

I BELIEVE IN LOVE
 

“Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done unto me according to your word.” – Luke 1:38

 

Three years ago, the Lord called me to go full-time in ministry. I was working then for a multinational company with good compensation and benefits. I loved my job. Plus the company had just issued me a brand new car. A 24-year-old guy like me couldn’t have asked for more. But after discerning His will, I resigned and went full-time.

       A lot of people said, “You are so courageous.” Every time, I’d reply, “I am not courageous. I just deeply believe in God’s love for me.”

       That’s what Mary did. She was convinced not by the perks and glory of being the Mother of God. She was convinced when the Angel Gabriel told her that Elizabeth got pregnant in her old age. It was God’s love for her cousin and for her that sealed Mary’s yes.

       When God calls you to do something, trust in His love. After all, a Lover would wish only the best for His beloved. The only logical answer to God’s perfect love is always a yes. Fear not, for God will definitely bless your yes. Velden Lim (veldenlim@gmail.com)

 

Reflection: Finding it hard to say yes to God in the busyness of this season? Express your love to Jesus by giving Him the gift of time on His birthday.

 

Father in heaven, remind me of Your great love when I am afraid to say yes to you.

 

St. Dominic of Silos, pray for us.

 

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COMPANION

 

1ST READING
 

Our sin is a source of weariness to God, and not just our direct sin, but our indirect sin as well. The call to holiness demands our attention to every aspect of our faith walk. Ignorance of God’s will is no excuse for not doing it if we have not actively sought to discern it in the first place. Being a disciple of Jesus means to actively seek what God wants us to do.

 
Isaiah 7:10-14

10 The Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!” 12 But Ahaz  answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!” 13 Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary men, must you also weary my God? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.

 
P S A L M
 
Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R: Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.

1 The Lord’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. 2 For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. (R) 3 Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who may stand in his holy place? 4 “He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain. (R) 5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God his savior. 6 Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.” (R)

 
GOSPEL
 

Let us remember that one of the lines of the Angel Gabriel to Mary was, “Do not be afraid.” It is important for us to take this message to heart as we will face many daunting challenges in life. Unless we are sure of God’s presence with us and unless we are fearless in embracing His will, we will falter and stumble when fear takes over and governs our actions. Let us pray for the strength and conviction of heart necessary to be a disciple of Jesus in these difficult times.

 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness!

 
Luke 1:26-38

26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” 35 And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; 37 for nothing will be impossible for God.” 38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

 

think:  Let us pray for the strength and conviction of heart necessary to be a disciple of Jesus in these difficult times.

 
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 Obadiah and Jonah

 

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SABBATH

 

TO JESUS THROUGH MARY

 

A Catholic priest, well known as a good speaker, was invited by a Christian group to speak in their church about the Catholic devotion to Mary. Before he began his talk, he was reminded firmly by the pastor of the community that they are a Bible-based community and they do not say prayers to Mary as they were not “Mary worshippers.”

         As the Catholic priest began, he invited the congregation to stand and pray. “For our opening prayer, please open your Bibles to Luke 1:28.” Then he invited the congregation to read it aloud together. They read, “Hail, O highly favored daughter, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.” Then the priest invited them to turn their Bibles to Luke 1:42 and asked them again to read it aloud. They read, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Then he said plainly, “My dear friends, you have just prayed the Catholic prayer, the Hail Mary.”

         The “Hail Mary” is not a Catholic invention. It is a Scriptural prayer taken directly from today’s Gospel, Luke’s account of the Annunciation. The first part of the “Hail Mary” is taken from Luke 1:28, uttered by the Angel Gabriel no less. The second part is from Luke 1:42, a tribute spoken by the lips of Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist. Every Christian who claims to be Bible-based should not feel uneasy with the “Hail Mary.” In fact, ignoring the “Hail Mary” is not biblical.

         Every Catholic doctrine regarding Mary is Scriptural, i.e., from the Bible, as well as Christological, i.e., pointing to Christ. We give loving attention to Mary only insofar as she points us to Christ. Mary is our model and inspiration for she reminds every Christian, “Do whatever He tells you.”

         In a few days’ time, we will celebrate the birth of our Lord. May we never forget that Mary is inescapably a part of the Christmas mystery and, ultimately, of the Christian mystery. We look to Mary as the highest honor of the human race. We worship the fruit of her womb, Jesus the Emmanuel. Fr. Joel Jason

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Have you made an effort to study and understand the Catholic doctrines related to Mary? Have you made an effort to see how Scriptural and Christological they are?

 

O Mary, our tainted nature’s solitary boast, journey with us to Jesus, your Son. Amen.

 

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