Daily Bible Reflections
for January 13, 2018
;

Dear Friend,

This Saturday, follow the Spirit of God leading you.

Praying for you,

Bo Sanchez



13
January
Saturday
TODAY'S READINGS:

DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH
DIDACHE

 

WAZE IT
 

“Follow me.” – Mark 2:14

 

       I use Waze on my phone when I drive. Even if the navigation app clearly dictates instructions on where to turn or where to go before I reach the right corner, I still have the itch to look at the map and study it for myself. I’m someone who wants to get a bird’s eye view of the route, the journey, the plan, even though all I really need to do is sit back, drive, and listen. It’s an itch to see how far or near the route will be, or the familiarity of it.

        I find that I’m the same way when it comes to my life — I always want to see the whole picture. But I realize that God doesn’t always give us the view from above. Because no matter how long and hard, or short and easy the road is, His instruction is to train ourselves to be sensitive to His voice and to trust — to sit back, drive, and listen. And to follow Him. Dinah Gabriel (dchikiamco@gmail.com)

 

Reflect: Is there something in your life that you’re anxious about? Do you feel lost? Listen to His voice. He’ll tell you where to go.

 

Lord, give us the grace to trust even if we don’t see what lies ahead.  Help us to anchor ourselves on Your promise that our future will be filled with hope. Amen.

 

St. Hilary, bishop and doctor of the Church, pray for us.

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COMPANION

 

1ST READING
 

Saul represents the human choice for a king — a man head and shoulders above the rest. He comes from a good family and lacked nothing. Samuel anoints him and Saul begins to rule the people. In our government, our political leaders start out well but end up mired in corruption because of greed and human weakness. Let us pray daily that our leaders will be faithful in upholding the rights and provide the needs of the people they govern.

 
1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1

1 There was a stalwart man from Benjamin named Kish, who was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite. 2 He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man. There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people. 3 Now the asses of Saul’s father, Kish, had wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go out and hunt for the asses.” 4 Accordingly they went through the hill country of Ephraim, and through the land of Shalishah. Not finding them there, they continued through the land of Shaalim without success. They also went through the land of Benjamin, but they failed to find the animals. 17 When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord assured him, “This is the man of whom I told you; he is to govern my people.” 18 Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said, “Please tell me where the seer lives.” 19 Samuel answered Saul: “I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. In the morning, before dismissing you, I will tell you whatever you wish. 10:1 Then, from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head; he also kissed him, saying: “The Lord anoints you commander over his heritage. You are to govern the Lord’s people Israel, and to save them from the grasp of their enemies roundabout. This will be the sign for you that the Lord has anointed you commander over his heritage.”

 
P S A L M
 
Psalm 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R: Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

1 [2] O Lord, in your strength the king is glad; in your victory how greatly he rejoices! 2 [3] You have granted him his heart’s desire; you refused not the wish of his lips. (R) 3 [4] For you welcomed him with goodly blessings, you placed on his head a crown of pure gold. 4 [5] He asked life of you: you gave him length of days forever and ever. (R) 5 [6] Great is his glory in your victory; majesty and splendor you conferred upon him. 6 [7] For you made him a blessing forever; you gladdened him with the joy of your face. (R)

 
GOSPEL
 

If we repent of our sins and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us there should be no obstacle in following the Lord. Let us remember this, particularly when we are tempted to judge others as unworthy. God desires to save us all, without exception. Let us give others the chance to repent and change through God’s grace in them.

 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.

 
Mark 2:13-17

13 Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. 14 As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. 15 While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. 16 Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

 

think: How do you think the disciples felt when Jesus called Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him?

 
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Read the Bible in one year John 13-15

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

 

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________

 

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SABBATH

 

TABLE OF DISARMAMENT

 

One of the first lessons we learned in minor seminary came from our refectorian and nurse, Sr. Gloria, who said that a person is known by how he eats. That’s why she was meticulous with our table manners. The dining table is one of the most sacred spaces in every home and institution because when we dine, we not only share food but also ourselves. This is why Jesus chose to have the meal as the setting and sign of His presence through the Holy Eucharist. Every celebration is capped with food and drinks. Every meeting is followed by a meal.

       When I taught in a boys’ school, I insisted to my students that every first date must be in a fine dining restaurant. We are united every time we share a meal. Likewise, we realize right away when people are not in good terms, especially our parents, when they do not eat together or when they are cold to each other while eating. In a sense, the table is where we are disarmed because we do not eat with our enemies or with weapons in one hand. When we come to the table, we express our being disarmed of malicious thoughts, suspicions, grudges, mistrust, and sinister plots. Such was the disposition of Jesus in dining with sinners — disarmed of judgment and condemnation, but armed with kindness and mercy.

       In the Gospel, the Pharisees questioned why Jesus ate with sinners. Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17, NIV). By not joining the meals, the scribes admitted their being armed with judgments and suspicions against the sinners and tax collectors, and even with Jesus. In the Holy Eucharist, Jesus joins us and invites us to partake in His meal because He has nothing against us but His love and forgiveness. He is totally disarmed that even before we say sorry for our sins, He is there, waiting for us in the Church for the Eucharist.

         When we eat, the focus is not on the food but on the person. When we focus on the person, we try to see their goodness. When we are disarmed of our negativities, that is when God arms us with His blessings. Fr. Nick Lalog

 

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

How does your eating reveal your true self, your attitude toward others and to God?

 

Lord Jesus Christ, help us to strip ourselves of so many things that cover us, preventing us from being filled with Your power and kindness especially in the Eucharist.

 

Today, I pray for: ________________________________________

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