Daily Bible Reflections
for August 19, 2017
;

Dear Friend,

Be inspired with His message to you this Saturday!

Praying for you,

Bo Sanchez



19
August
Saturday
TODAY'S READINGS:

DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH
DIDACHE

 

ASK THE CHILDREN
 

“Let the children come to me… for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” – Matthew 19:14

 

       There’s a classic song by the legendary Pinoy folk band, Asin, titled, “Itanong Mo sa Mga Bata” (Ask the Children).

       We, of course, believe it’s poetic. Because we think it’s us adults who know the answer.

      Yet, see how adults solve, or are not solving, the problems of the world today. See how the problems may have even aggravated because we think as adults and not as children.

        Because the solution to war, caused by discrimination, prejudice and inequality are tolerance, mutual respect and forgiveness, which children quickly give to one another.

       Because the solution to hunger and poverty is less greed and more sharing, which children easily learn.

       Because the solution to depression and hopelessness is a little more joy and laughter, hope, faith and trust, which children naturally manifest.

       And because the solution to most, if not all, problems is more love, which children purely personify.

        No wonder our Lord Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.” Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: Check your actions if they are more childlike or childish – if it is God’s Kingdom you are propagating, or just yourself.

 

Dear God, may the true child in me continue to live, that I may belong to Your kingdom forever. Amen.

 

St. John Eudes, priest, pray for us.

 

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COMPANION

 

1ST READING
 

The people and Joshua agree that they will serve the Lord. This is a new commitment for a new beginning in the Promised Land. It does not take long for the people to get restless with the new ideas of the pagan countries around them. They will soon be clamoring for a king and all that goes with a monarchy. It may be a good form of governance when the kings are righteous and holy; however, it becomes a disaster when they are corrupt and self-serving.

 
Joshua 24:14-29

14 Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, and address them, saying: “Fear the Lord and serve him completely and sincerely. Cast out the gods your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” 16 But the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord for the service of other gods. 17 For it was the Lord, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among all the peoples through whom we passed. 18 At our approach the Lord drove out all the peoples, including the Amorites who dwelt in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.” 19 Joshua in turn said to the people, “You may not be able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God who will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20 If, after the good he has done for you, you forsake the Lord and serve strange gods, he will do evil to you and destroy you.” 21 But the people answered Joshua, “We will still serve the Lord.” 22 Joshua therefore said to the people, “You are your own witnesses that you have chosen to serve the Lord.” They replied, “We are, indeed!” 23 Joshua continued: “Now, therefore, put away the strange gods that are among you and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” 24 Then the people promised Joshua, “We will serve the Lord, our God, and obey his voice.” 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem, 26 which he recorded in the book of the law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was in the sanctuary of the Lord. 27 And Joshua said to all the people, “This stone shall be our witness, for it has heard all the words which the Lord spoke to us. It shall be a witness against  you, should you wish to deny your God.” 28 Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his own heritage. 29 After these events, Joshua, son of Nun, servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten.

 
P S A L M
Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 11

R: You are my inheritance, O Lord.

1 Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; 2 I say to the Lord, “My Lord are you. 5 O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. (R) 7 I bless the Lord who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. 8 I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. (R) 11 You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. (R)

 
GOSPEL
 

Jesus wants to assure us that even children are welcome in the Kingdom of heaven. In fact, they have much to teach us about being a citizen of heaven.  Jesus shows a child’s trust and faith in his parents as an example of what our faith in God should be like. The implicit nature of a child’s trust is needed in our relationship with God. It is this “default position” that will ensure that we do not stray too far from His will if we are willing to trust it.

 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

 
Matthew 19:13-15

13 Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

 

think: The Kingdom of God belongs to the childlike.

 
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Read the Bible in one year Job 18-21

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

 

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

 
 
 

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SABBATH

 

SERVING IN AND BELONGING

TO GOD’ KINGDOM

 

Age doesn’t matter, as the cliché goes. By way of a corollary, we can also say that being young need not be an obstacle when it comes to serving God. Proof of this? The many saints who were young — children, adolescents, young adults — like Dominic Savio, Agnes of Rome, Aloysius Gonzaga, Pedro Calungsod, Maria Goretti, and more. Indeed, no one is too young to serve and follow God.

     The people of Israel, picking up the challenge of their leader Joshua’s example, did not hesitate to affirm their dedication and commitment to God. As we read in today’s First Reading, they repeatedly declared, “We will serve the Lord... we also will serve the Lord, for He is our God… We will serve the Lord… We will serve the Lord, our God, and will listen to His voice.”

       We can almost picture this in our minds, that the Israelites’ entire families, with their youth and young children as well, uniting in such a rousing pledge to God. We can almost hear their high-pitched voices. All this spills over to the Gospel, reaching a kind of climax of Jesus’ welcoming the children unto Himself. He didn’t only welcome them; He even defended them against the scoldings of the disciples. Those disciples probably meant well; maybe they didn’t want their Master to be disturbed. Little did the disciples know that they were only creating more chaos, through their scolding, and preventing the children from being brought to Jesus.

        It was the Lord Himself who pulled the surprise. Not only did He allow them to draw near Him; He even laid His hands on their heads and blessed them. And most of all, He uttered a most remarkable statement: “The Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

           Let’s not hinder them. Let’s allow them to come and draw near to the Lord, by all means. In that way, we too can be like them and, thus, belong to God’s Kingdom — together as one family, regardless of age. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

  

---------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS -----------

Have you done our part, or at least helped a bit, in letting the youth be more involved in your church groups and activities? Or are you instead being an obtacle to them?

 

Bless, dear God, the youth of today. Indeed, You welcomed them and asserted their belonging to the Kingdom of God. May we, too, be as one household with them, always happily serving You. Amen.

 

 

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