Daily Bible Reflections
for January 17, 2018
;

Dear Friend,

This Wednesday, may you hear His voice in your heart!

Praying for you,

Bo Sanchez



17
January
Wednesday
TODAY'S READINGS:

DIDACHE | COMPANION | SABBATH
DIDACHE

 

BACKED BY GOD
 

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” – 1 Samuel 17:45

 

       Have you ever felt small compared to other people? Was there a time in your life when you doubted your own abilities?

       I think all of us go through this kind of experience at some point in our lives.

    I remember when I first thought of writing a book. I felt unsure of myself. I didn’t feel confident as an author. I wasn’t sure if I could finish it. I didn’t know much about publishing and selling a book. I didn’t even have the funds to print it. But God helped me overcome these hurdles. He gave me confidence by reminding me that the wisdom I share in my book comes from Him. It was meant to be shared with other single ladies so they too could benefit from it. He also provided for all my needs for this book project.

       After a few months, I finished and published my first book, When My Bridegroom Comes. Since then, I’ve been touching lives through the books I’ve written. I’m currently writing my fifth book. It feels so good to be backed by our awesome God! Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag (teresa@fulllifecube.com)

 

Reflect:Where does your confidence lie — in your education, position, money and network, or in God?

 

Lord, help me remember that even though I may be small in the eyes of men, I am big in Your eyes because I am Your child. Amen.

 

St. Anthony, abbot, pray for us.

The all-new Feast mobile app is finally here! All the content you love from here may also be found in our new app and so much more! Please make sure to download the new Feast App, as we will eventually stop updating this version soon.

Let's continue to grow together with our all-new Feast app! Download and upgrade today: Feast App for Android | Feast App for iOS.


Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top

Get your daily readings and more for free inside the Feast App!
Google PlayStore     iOS AppStore

COMPANION

 

1ST READING
 

David’s successful battle against Goliath worsens his relationship with Saul. Saul becomes more jealous of David. The Scriptures remind us that David’s victory is based on his trust in God and stands in contrast to Saul’s disobedience to God’s will.

 
1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51

32 David spoke to Saul: “Let your majesty not lose courage. I am at your service to go and fight this Philistine.” 33 But Saul answered David, “You cannot go up against this Philistine and fight with him, for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth.” 37 David continued: “The Lord, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will also keep me safe from the clutches of this Philistine.” Saul answered David, “Go! The Lord will be with you.” 40 Then, staff in hand, David selected five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s bag. With his sling also ready to hand, he approached the Philistine. 41 With his shield bearer marching before him, the Philistine also advanced closer and closer to David. 42 When he had sized David up, and seen that he was youthful, and ruddy, and handsome in appearance, he held David in contempt. 43 The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog that you come against me with a staff?” Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods 44 and said to him, “Come here to me, and I will leave your flesh for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.” 45 David answered him: “You come against me with sword and spear and scimitar, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel that you have insulted. 46 Today the Lord shall deliver you into my hand; I will strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will leave your corpse and the corpses of the Philistine army for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field; thus the whole land shall learn that Israel has a God. 47 All this multitude, too, shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he shall deliver you into our hands.” 48 The Philistine then moved to meet David at close quarters, while David ran quickly toward the battle line in the direction of the Philistine. 49 David put his hand into the bag and took out a stone, hurled it with the sling, and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone embedded itself in his brow, and he fell prostrate on the ground. 50 Thus David overcame the Philistine with sling and stone; he struck the Philistine mortally, and did it without a sword. 51 Then David ran and stood over him; with the Philistine’s own sword which he drew from its sheath, he dispatched him and cut off his head.

 
P S A L M
 
Psalm 144:1, 2, 9-10

R: Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

1 Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war. (R) 2 My refuge and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, my shield, in whom I trust, who subdues peoples under me. (R) 9 O God, I will sing a new song to you; with a ten-stringed lyre I will chant your praise, 10 You who give victory to kings, and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword. (R)

 
GOSPEL
 

Today’s Gospel shows once again that love and compassion prevail over the letter of the law. Jesus heals a man on the sabbath, not to break the Sabbath law about work and rest. Jesus helps the man because he needed to be healed. He wants to do the right thing. Let us pray for the grace to follow the law and to do so with love and compassion.

 
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people.

 
Mark 3:1-6

1 Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. 2 They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him. 3 He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” 4 Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. 5 Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

 

think: Like Jesus, do you have the courage to go beyond what is lawful to do what is right?

 
_______________________________________________
 
_______________________________________________
 
_______________________________________________
 
_______________________________________________
 
 

Read the Bible in one year Matthew 4-6

 

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

 

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________

 

The all-new Feast mobile app is finally here! All the content you love from here may also be found in our new app and so much more! Please make sure to download the new Feast App, as we will eventually stop updating this version soon.

Let's continue to grow together with our all-new Feast app! Download and upgrade today: Feast App for Android | Feast App for iOS.


Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top

Get your daily readings and more for free inside the Feast App!
Google PlayStore     iOS AppStore

SABBATH

 

GOD BLESSES PERSONS, NOT THINGS

 

Some friends invited me to an exclusive pilgrimage to the Holy Land last year. It was a first-class trip that I had so much time to rest and pray. On our way to Galilee after an overnight stay at a resort near the Dead Sea, we went to Masada and Qumran, passing through the vast expanse of desert. I wondered why God did not bless Israel with fertile land, with a lot of minerals and water. Worst of all, peace has eluded the Holy Land that has always been surrounded by enemies ever since. Before reaching our destination in Tiberias, I realized the answer to my question: God blesses people, not things. In all prayers for blessing, what is blessed are the people, not the things that they ask to be blessed like cars, houses, building, rosaries, and Bibles.

       In today’s Gospel, St. Mark tells us how Jesus grieved at the hardness of heart of the people in the synagogue: “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than destroy it?”(Mark 3:4). People were focused on the law than on the person with a withered hand. Like them, we too miss the whole point that Jesus came for people, not things. This was the mistake of Goliath in the First Reading when he focused more on his weapons and the slingshot of David, forgetting about God fighting for Israel.

       According to Pope Benedict XVI, the desert in the Bible is a symbol of our first love — the love of God. He said that Jesus and the prophets, including the saints, often retreated to the desert to experience God’s loving presence and providence. The cool and dry weather of Qumran caves preserved for over a thousand years the Dead Sea Scrolls, considered the most complete collection of Old Testament books, accidentally discovered by a wandering shepherd after World War II. Often, our most profound discoveries in life are the result of our desert experiences. It is when we are dry and impoverished that we experience God blessing our hearts and soul more than our possessions. Fr. Nick Lalog

 

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

When do you truly feel so blessed inside — when you have so many material things or when you have less?

 

Lord Jesus Christ, we’re sorry when we focus more on the things around us than the persons in me and around me. Amen.

 

Today, I pray for: ______________________________________

The all-new Feast mobile app is finally here! All the content you love from here may also be found in our new app and so much more! Please make sure to download the new Feast App, as we will eventually stop updating this version soon.

Let's continue to grow together with our all-new Feast app! Download and upgrade today: Feast App for Android | Feast App for iOS.


Didache | Companion | Sabbath | Top

Get your daily readings and more for free inside the Feast App!
Google PlayStore     iOS AppStore

 

 

We are happy to be sending this to you. Aside from our work of evangelization, the Feast also supports 10 foundations for the poor. Would you like to be part of this humble mission of helping our beneficiaries by donating?  Click here to share in God's work through the Feast Mercy Ministries. 

Do You Want Your Friend To Receive This Email?
Friend's Email:

 


Thank you for being part of the Feast family!

JOIN THE FEAST: Find a spiritual family. Join the Feast!
Find one near you! Check out our Feast locations and schedules here: feast.ph/locations. You may also follow us on Facebook for more Feast community-wide updates.

PRAY-OVER SESSIONS: Need someone to talk to? Want someone to pray with you?
Get in touch with our LOJ Pastoral Care Center at 0923 132 3071 (Sun) and 0917 145 3756 (Globe) from Monday to Saturday 8 AM to 10 PM. You may also set a session via chat here.

DOWNLOAD THE FEAST APP: Feed your faith with the all-new Feast mobile app! Keep receiving God's Message daily on your mobile.

Download today!  Feast App for Android | Feast App for iOS

LOVE OFFERINGS AND DONATIONS: Let’s continue the cycle of generosity. Choose how you want to give to our Feast Mercy Ministries foundations:

After your transfer/ deposit, please send a copy of your deposit slip with your name and contact number to support@kerygmafamily.com so that we can have a record of your donation

1. Register for monthly giving here: www.feastmercyministries.com/give

2. Online thru PayPal:  PayPal.me/KerygmaFamily 

3. Through bank deposits and transfers:

Account name:  Shepherd’s Voice Radio and Television Foundation      

4. Give through GCASH: Scan the QR Code below

For any concerns or inquiries regarding your donation, please contact Joya from the Feast Mercy Ministries at (+632) 8725-9999 or +639989684416. Thank you again and God bless you more!