Daily Bible Reflections
for April 3, 2017
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Dear Friend,

Be God's blessing to the world this Monday!

Praying for you,

Bo Sanchez



3
April
Monday
TODAY'S READINGS:

DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH
DIDACHE

 

TRAFFIC VIOLATION
 

“I am completely trapped… Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord.” – Daniel 13:22-23

 

    Once, a policeman flagged me down for swerving. It was a questionable violation since I didn’t change lanes recklessly. Nevertheless, the traffic enforcer said he would issue me a ticket but was reminding me that I’d have to pay a fine as well as attend a driving seminar because of my violation. In other words, he was giving me the chance to settle my fine in a more convenient way — by giving him grease money.

        I immediately told him that I was a practicing Christian and that I don’t give bribes. I also told him that if he did think I violated the law, then it’s just right that he give me a ticket. Even as I boldly said that, I prayed that the Lord would make the policeman release me without a ticket. After a while, he told me to be more mindful next time and let me go scot-free!

         We think we need to compromise our faith if we want to get things done in this country. We forget the power of the Lord that can work in the midst of the darkest of circumstances.

          Christians, let’s be light to our world. And even if standing up for our faith won’t get us off the hook, let’s remember what Susanna said in our verse above. Rissa Singson Kawpeng (justbreatherissa@gmail.com)

 

Reflection:“Integrity is doing the right thing. Even when no one is watching.” (C.S. Lewis)

 
Help me, Lord, to live for You no matter what the cost.
 
St. Benedict the African, pray for us.
 

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COMPANION

 

1ST READING
 

Nothing escapes the Lord and He vindicates the righteous in the end. In today’s reading, Daniel saves Susannah by revealing the evil intentions of her accusers. Fear of God helps us to live righteously. But if we lose our way and choose to follow evil, we will be held accountable for the wrong we have done.

 

Daniel 13:41-62 (or Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62)

41 The assembly condemned Susanna to death. 42 But Susanna cried aloud: “O eternal God, you know what is hidden and are aware of all things before they come to be: 43 you know that they have testified falsely against me. Here I am about to die, though I have done none of the things with which these wicked men have charged me.” 44 The Lord heard her prayer. 45 As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel, 46 and he cried aloud: “I will have no part in the death of this woman.” 47 All the people turned and asked him, “What is this you are saying?” 48 He stood in their midst and continued, “Are you such fools, O children of Israel! To condemn a woman of Israel without examination and without clear evidence? 49 Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her.” 50 Then all the people returned in haste. To Daniel the elders said, “Come, sit with us and inform us, since God has given you the prestige of old age.” 51 But he replied, “Separate these two far from each another that I may examine them.” 52 After they were separated one from the other, he called one of them and said: “How you have grown evil with age! Now have your past sins come to term: 53 passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent, and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says, ‘The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.’ 54 Now, then, if you were a witness, tell me under what tree you saw them together.” 55 “Under a mastic tree,” he answered. Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you your head, for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him and split you in two.” 56 Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought. Daniel said to him, “Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you, lust has subverted your conscience. 57 This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel, and in their fear they yielded to you; but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness. 58 Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together.” 59 “Under an oak,” he said. Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you also your head, for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two so as to make an end of you both.” 60 The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those that hope in him. 61 They rose up against the two elders, for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury. According to the law of Moses, they inflicted on them the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor: 62 they put them to death. Thus was innocent blood spared that day.

 
P S A L M
 
Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6

R: Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; 3 he refreshes my soul. (R) He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. (R) 5 You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (R) 6 Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. (R)

 
GOSPEL
 

Jesus reminds us that we are all sinners and no one has the right to judge others. We sinners should challenge one another to respond to the call to repentance and conversion. Let us leave the final judgment to God and strive to rise from our sinfulness.

 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live.

 
John 8:1-11

1 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. 4 They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. 7 But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. 10 Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

 

 think: What have you learned from Jesus about helping a friend who has fallen into sin?

 
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Read the Bible in one year Exodus 13-15

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

 

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

 

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SABBATH

 

TRUTH AND MERCY

 

Two women dominate today’s readings. One was named, the other was not. Both were accused — unfairly, unjustly, undeservedly — of something they did not commit. Both were delivered from certain death. The former prayed as earnestly as pleadingly with only their faith and a deep sense of inner truth as bases.

       The two stories were perfect centerpieces last year, the Jubilee Year of Mercy. But while jubilee years happen only once every so many years, the mercy of God is something worth extolling and celebrating year in and year out.

       Susanna prayed earnestly and passionately. She was as accepting of the truth about God as the truth about herself. She addressed God who, she was sure, was “aware of all things before they come to be.” It was a prayer in truth. But she, too, prayed about the truth inside her, the truth about her being “about to die, though [she] has done none of the things with which these wicked men have charged [her].” There was truth in her prayer.

       The other unnamed woman, whose sin was anything but unnamed (it was a crime of adultery), was neither shameless nor guiltless. The truth stared everyone in the face, and the same truth shone in her crestfallen and  downcast face. Men — her accusers — and a mob thirsting for some blood and raring for some action were rabid in their demand. The woman must die. Does it surprise you that the same supporting actors make the cut and steal the scene? Yes — scribes and Pharisees!

       The truth must not run away. The truth must prevail. And the truth, so said the ever-loyal-to-the-Law Scribes and Pharisees, must win the day, even as the culprit must lose her life. There was silence. Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground in silence. The woman stood in silent sorrow and mute acceptance of her fate. The Gospel does not say whether she prayed, but her silence spoke eloquently of a person’s sinful truth accepted, and the brilliant but mute proclamation of God’s merciful truth.

       No words needed here. No recriminations. “Go, and sin no more!” Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

---------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

Are you weighed down by your sins? Come before Jesus in the silence of your heart. Feel His merciful love.

Father, I do not deserve Your love. And yet Your truth and mercy prevail in Jesus whom You sent tosave me from sin and death. Amen.

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