Daily Bible Reflections
for October 13, 2017
;

Dear Friend,

Offer your hardships and trials to the Lord this Friday.

Praying for you,

Bo Sanchez



13
October
Friday
TODAY'S READINGS:

DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH
DIDACHE

 

PRIZED
POSSESSION
 

When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. – Luke 11:21

 

       I felt my heart drop when I saw a lump of oily food land on my brand new signature bag that was sitting next to me over lunch. It was a gift given by our daughter, Trina, from her honeymoon trip and it was my precious possession.

       Google became my faithful guide in a desperate effort to restore the soiled spot on the leather. I dedicated many long hours trying out various methods from talcum power, to liquid detergent, to a homemade baking soda solution, and more.

       I was pleased with the outcome. My unprofessional hard work paid off and I gently put the purse back in its original dust bag, promising myself to be more careful.

       And then I realized that this is just a bag that I am overly protective of. It led me to imagine how God cares for me. “He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession” (James 1:18).

       You and I are the Lord’s prized possession. How do we protect what’s precious to Him? Mari Sison-Garcia (mari_sison_garcia@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: How do you think God feels when we damage His treasures?

 

Lord, give us the grace to realize how precious we are in Your eyes.

 
Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, pray for us.
 

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COMPANION

 

1ST READING
 

Israel has been without a homeland for almost 2,700 years, having been exiled by the Assyrians in about 721 BCE and receiving a state only in 1948 CE. The prophecy of Joel predicted dire consequences for Israel’s unfaithfulness. It just goes to show how destructive sin can be. We should learn from history and, thus, avoid sin at all cost. Is it worth suffering statelessness for 2,700 years because of a nation’s unwillingness to trust in the Lord’s care?

 
Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2

13 Gird yourselves and weep, O priests! Wail, O ministers of the altar! Come, spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God! The house of your God is deprived of offering and libation. 14 Proclaim a fast, call an assembly; gather the elders, all who dwell in the land, into the house of the Lord, your God, and cry to the Lord! 15 Alas, the day! For near is the day of the Lord, and it comes as ruin from the Almighty. 2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; 2 Yes, it is near, a day of darkness and of gloom, a day of clouds and somberness! Like dawn spreading over the mountains, a people numerous and mighty! Their like has not been from of old, nor will it be after them, even to the years of distant generations.

 
P S A L M
 
Psalm 9:2-3, 6, 16, 8-9

R: The Lord will judge the world with justice.

1 [2] I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will declare all your wondrous deeds. 2 [3] I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, Most High. (R) 5 [6] You rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; their name you blotted out forever and ever. 15 [16] The nations are sunk in the pit they have made; in the snare they set, their foot is caught. (R) 7 [8] But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has set up his throne for judgment. 8 [9] He judges the world with justice; he governs the peoples with equity. (R)

 
GOSPEL
 

The reality of the devil is often disputed by the supposedly more enlightened people of our day. Even some theologians doubt that the devil exists. They certainly ought to know better. The devil and his minions love this as it gives them a free hand to do whatever they want without such people suspecting anything, as they do not believe in the devil. Sometimes, we make it too easy for sin to enter us. May we never fall for this trap of the devil and may we help others see the errors of their ways.

 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The prince of this world will now be cast out, and when I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all to myself, says the Lord.

 
Luke 11:15-26

15 When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” 16 Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. 17 But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. 18 And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. 19 If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. 22 But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 24 “When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ 25 But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”

 

think: Recall the times when you have sinned. Do you realize now the devil’s role in it?

 
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Read the Bible in one year Sirach 1-5

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

 

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

 
 

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SABBATH

 

BE THE SIGN

 

Signs are important and significant for us human beings. They direct and guide us towards our desired destinations. Traffic signs are used to promote order and avoid confusion on the road. Bodily and physical signs called symptoms are indicators in evaluating our health condition. We express our sign of love and adoration to others by offering something significant such as gifts. Our seven  sacraments use visible signs in order to bring forth the invisible realities and grace to effectively flow to anyone who receives it. Almost everything makes use of signs.

       In the Gospel, the scribes and Pharisees question the exorcisms performed by Jesus. To further test Him, they demanded a sign from Jesus. Jesus never gave them any particular sign, simply because He is “The” sign that they are looking for. They failed to recognize that He is the one Whom they are looking for. Jesus is more than the Prophet Jonah’s sign. He is more than the great Wisdom of Solomon. Jesus invites them to see that He is already in their midst, the one they are looking and seeking for. He is already the message of the sign and the Sign Himself, for He is both the revealer and the revealed of the Father.

       In our desire to look and seek for a sign, we sometimes fail to see that we also have the ability to be a sign, i.e., to be a sign for others. Jesus is telling us not to be preoccupied with looking for a sign. Instead, He challenges us to be a sign — a sign of hope, a symbol of faith, and an icon of love. We, too, share in His mission. Such signs are already incorporated and inscribed within us. It only takes our desire, our “yes” to do this.

       Let me end with a story: Every Sunday, two men would always come out of their house at the same time, one goes to church, the other to play golf. The golfer would always invite the Mass goer to come play some golf with him and the other would politely decline. One Sunday, the golfer said, “I always invite you to play golf with me. How come you have never invited me to go to Mass with you?”

       Christians, be the sign the world is looking for! Fr. Joel Jason
 

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

Are you inhibited in your practice of the faith? Have you brought anyone, consciously or unconsciously, to Jesus and His Gospel?

 

May I be an icon today of Your love by leading others to Your presence. Amen.

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