Jesus will ask: “When I was thirsty, did you give Me something to drink?” - Daily Bible Reflections March 21,2016

HOLY MONDAY

 

INTENTIONAL

DISCIPLESHIP

 

“To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the  dungeon, those who live in darkness!” – Isaiah 42:7

 

This young man was deaf and was desolate. His wife abandoned him for another man and left their four children with him. He had a drinking problem. Recently, he had an accident that required hipbone replacement. He was jobless and took financial support from his parents who lived in the US. He was directionless, apart from the directions his mother gave him via Skype.

       The parents asked me for help. He lived not too far from our house. For a couple of Sundays, I took the time to bring him and his kids to a weekly Catholic Sunday event called The Feast. After a few weeks, his mother happily told me that her son said, “I love you, Mama” — something he never said before.

       Last I heard, he was already employed in a company that hires the deaf and mute. I was elated and thanked God that He gave liberty to this young man, my nephew.

       Intentional discipleship bears fruit by bringing people out of the pits of life. Rolly España (rollyespana@homeliving.com.ph)

 

Reflection: Jesus will ask: “When I was thirsty, did you give Me something to drink?”

 

Jesus, let me see You in the next person who asks for my help. I pray that I do enough as the Spirit leads me.

 

Blessed John of Parma, pray for us.

Pope Francis Says: “I can say that the most beautiful and natural expressions of joy which I have seen in my life were in poor people who had little to hold on to.” - Daily Bible Reflections March 14,2016

WHO’S PAYING THE BILL?   The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. – Psalm 23:1          One day, I invited two cousins to have breakfast with me. We ended up in a pricey resto. I prayed I wouldn’t bust my budget.        Then a friend and his girlfriend entered the resto. We said hi, and the couple sat in a corner table. When they were about to leave, my friend whisphered to me, “I already paid your bill.”      At another time, my husband Ed and I invited my sister and her husband to lunch. We ended up in a pricey resto, and again, I prayed we wouldn’t bust our budget.        Just then, the owner of the restaurant, a friend of ours, walked in. The moment she saw Ed, she asked, “Do you have your camera with you?” She knew Ed is a press photographer. That day, she needed to take pictures of her best dishes which would be featured in a television show.        Ed kindly took the pictures of the dishes.       When we were about to pay our bill, the cashier told us the owner had instructed her not to charge us.        These are memories that make me smile every time I come across today’s Psalm 23. Cynthia U. Santiago (cusantiago@gmail.com)   Pope Francis Says: “I can say that the most beautiful and natural expressions of joy which I have seen in my life were in poor people who had little to hold on to.”   Lord, when I fret about my needs, let me remember that You are my Good Shepherd.   St. Maximillian, pray for us.

“The evils of our world — and those of the Church — must not be excuses for diminishing our commitment and our fervor. Let us look upon them as challenges which can help us to grow.” - Daily Bible Reflections March 8,2016

EXCUSES

 

       “I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” – John 5:7

       “Sir, the line at the train station was very long. I wasn’t able to take the first available ride,” Gel replied when I asked why he was late again.

      There are people who blame others or situations for things they should be responsible for. They point fingers at others or see situations taking control over them. In short, they find excuses.

         Just like the man in today’s Gospel. He wants to be healed but finds an excuse — somebody else gets into the pool ahead of him. This may be the reason Jesus asked him, “Do you want to be healed?”

       Friend, do you really want to change? Stop blaming others. Just do what you need to do! Start leaving early for appointments so you won’t be late. Dispose of rubbish properly so our drains don’t clog when it rains. Use pedestrian lanes instead of crossing anywhere. Follow traffic rules even if there is no traffic enforcer in sight.

       Start with yourself now. As the Bible says, “God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love and self-discipline”

(2 Timothy 1:7). Danny Tariman (dtariman.loj@gmail.com)

 

Pope Francis Says:“The evils of our world — and those of the Church — must not be excuses for diminishing our commitment and our

fervor. Let us look upon them as challenges which can help us to grow.”

 

Lord, give me the strength of self-discipline that I may not blame others.

 

St. John of God, religious, pray for us.

 

Pope Francis Says: “The devil is the father of lies. We forget to remain, at heart, children of God. That is sin: [to] forget at heart that we are children of God.” - Daily Bible Reflections March 2,2016

DO NOT FORGET

 

However, be on your guard and be very careful not to forget the things your eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart as long as you live. – Deuteronomy 4:9

 

       Forgetfulness is man’s greatest enemy. Because of forgetfulness, people sin. A thief forgets that the item he’s stealing is not his. A womanizer forgets that he has a wife and a family waiting for him at home.

       Because of forgetfulness, people worry. A parent worrying about her son’s tuition fee forgets that she had the same problem last year, yet God provided.

       Because of forgetfulness, people are unhappy. It’s always easier to count one’s problems than blessings.

       The only time forgetting is good for you is if it is applied to our hurts, grudges and resentments.

      Don’t let the worries of today make you forget the glories of yesterday. If you want to live a fantastic life, don’t forget to remember these three things every day:

       First, remember what the Lord has done in your life.

       Second, remember who He is.

       Third, remember who you are in His eyes.

     You are His child. And a parent never forgets His child. Velden Lim (veldenlim@gmail.com)

 

 

Pope Francis Says: “The devil is the father of lies. We forget to remain, at heart, children of God. That is sin: [to] forget at heart that we are children of God.”

 

Lord, when I am drowning, remind me that my Lifeguard walks on water.

 

St. Agnes of Bohemia, pray for us.

 

“Forgive, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace.” (Jonathan Lockwood Huie) - Daily Bible Reflections March 1, 2016

DO IT FOR YOUR SOUL

 

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?” – Matthew 18:21

 

       Can you imagine yourself taking a bath only once a month? You’ll freak out, right? But let’s say there’s a water shortage and a

presidential decree was issued that showers can only be taken every 30 days, with a maximum of two gallons of water for each Filipino per bath.

       Entering into an air-conditioned room will be a nightmare. Prayer meetings will prohibit the lifting of hands. The basketball ring will be lowered to four feet.

       My message? That you and I do more deranged things than bathing monthly. For example, when we do not forgive others every day. Our bodies need regular washing because we get dirty every day. But so do our hearts. Because each day, people hurt us, offend us, forget us, snub us, step on us, or reject us. But if we choose to forgive everyone every day, we cleanse our hearts.

       Some people, however, will accumulate their hurts. Perhaps in a Holy Week retreat, they decide to forgive all their enemies. But without such rare events, they just become filthier each day. Their spirits begin to smell. Their stench becomes flammable. For these people, hell begins now.

  Forgive — and you’ll smell fresh each day. Bo Sanchez (bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com)

 

Reflection: “Forgive, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace.” (Jonathan Lockwood Huie)

 

Grant me the grace, Lord, to forgive and let go of my hurts each day.

 

St. David of Wales, bishop, pray for us.