Reflection on reading for March 22nd tuesday in holy week
"Lord, i am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and i shall be healed!" this is your love lord, and the power of it. the eucharist was your body and blood given up for us, and yet, as it has been said, Judas, could not love you back. St Thomas Aquinas said " No other Sacrament has greater healing power, through it sins are purged away and virtues are increased, the soul is enriched with an abundance of every spiritual gift." open my heart lord, to make me able to see your love. oepen my heart to make me be able to accept you gift to me. help me love you lord. and use me for your will.
Reading I
Is 49:1-6
Hear me, O islands,
listen, O distant peoples.
The LORD called me from birth,
from my mother's womb he gave me my name.
He made of me a sharp-edged sword
and concealed me in the shadow of his arm.
He made me a polished arrow,
in his quiver he hid me.
You are my servant, he said to me,
Israel, through whom I show my glory.
Though I thought I had toiled in vain,
and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength,
Yet my reward is with the LORD,
my recompense is with my God.
For now the LORD has spoken
who formed me as his servant from the womb,
That Jacob may be brought back to him
and Israel gathered to him;
And I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,
and my God is now my strength!
It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5ab-6ab, 15 and 17
R (see 15ab) I will sing of your salvation.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me, and deliver me;
incline your ear to me, and save me.
R I will sing of your salvation.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
R I will sing of your salvation.
For you are my hope, O Lord;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother's womb you are my strength.
R I will sing of your salvation.
My mouth shall declare your justice,
day by day your salvation.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R I will sing of your salvation.
Gospel
Jn 13:21-33, 36-38
Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified,
"Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."
The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant.
One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved,
was reclining at Jesus' side.
So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant.
He leaned back against Jesus' chest and said to him,
"Master, who is it?"
Jesus answered,
"It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it."
So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas,
son of Simon the Iscariot.
After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him.
So Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."
Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him.
Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him,
"Buy what we need for the feast,"
or to give something to the poor.
So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.
When he had left, Jesus said,
"Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself,
and he will glorify him at once.
My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.
You will look for me, and as I told the Jews,
‘Where I go you cannot come,' so now I say it to you."
Simon Peter said to him, "Master, where are you going?"
Jesus answered him,
"Where I am going, you cannot follow me now,
though you will follow later."
Peter said to him,
"Master, why can I not follow you now?
I will lay down my life for you."
Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me?
Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow
before you deny me three times."
Saturday, June 19, 2004
fear.
i wrote this poem when i was in prayer just now. dunno why.. but cannot post.. so i have to write again.
not forsaken.
to let go,
and be lost,
to be groping,
on nothing,
to search,
but onli in body.
why?
to not love,
to forget you.
to be isoated.
or rather,
my own heart,
isolated from you.
to go back to a place,
where i do not see love.
where, i lose
sight of you.
where all around,
seem lost,
not in you,
but in themselves.
to be in a world,
where people care,
onli about the surface.
and to forsake you.
or rather to,
lose you again.
or perhaps,
not being able to find your love again.
to be forced,
to not spend time with you.
and my biggest fear,
is that i will not love you.
fears
i wrote this in the middle of the reflection.. i dunno whether it's good. but this is what i realli feel.
forsaken?
to let go,
and be last,
to be groping,
on nothing,
to search,
but only in body.
why?
to not love,
to forget you
to be isolated
or rather my own heart,
isolated from you.
to go back to,
a place.
where i do not see.
love.
where i lose sight of you.
where all around,
seem lost.
not in you,
but in themselves.
to be in a world where people,
care onli about the surface.
and to forsake you.
or rather to,
lose you again.
or perhaps,
not being able to,
find you once again.
to be forced
to not spend time with you.
and my biggest fear,
is to not love you.
Friday, June 11, 2004
law- reflection for 10th june
To Err is Human, to Forgive is Divine
Father Andre LaSana, LC
i could not help... but be encaptured by such a phrase.. how true it is... and yet, so few see this. we always tend to look out for pple's weaknesses. perhaps this is human. and yet, it is because of such a nature, that we find fogiveness so hard. we over look the very essence if of faith3.
how much harder is it, to forgive rather than stay angry at someone?
"
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother,
‘Raqa,' will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, ‘You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna."
yet jesus tells us today that we cannot stay angry bat someone, if we wanted to enter the kingdom of heaven. yes... it is indded that today's reading focuses on forgiveness.. perhaps not so much on how we are wronged and need to be forgiven, but rather. in this case, to forgive those who have wronged us... perhaps this is the hardest to do.. but as god has forgiven us, so can we.
ytd 10th june's readings. whoops.. din do it.
oh well... have to say i am getting suckier.. falling behind time.. forgive me oh lord. wel.. two readings today.
Reading I
1 Kgs 18:41-46
Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink,
for there is the sound of a heavy rain."
So Ahab went up to eat and drink,
while Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel,
crouched down to the earth,
and put his head between his knees.
"Climb up and look out to sea," he directed his servant,
who went up and looked, but reported, "There is nothing."
Seven times he said, "Go, look again!"
And the seventh time the youth reported,
"There is a cloud as small as a man's hand rising from the sea."
Elijah said, "Go and say to Ahab,
‘Harness up and leave the mountain before the rain stops you.'"
In a trice the sky grew dark with clouds and wind,
and a heavy rain fell.
Ahab mounted his chariot and made for Jezreel.
But the hand of the LORD was on Elijah,
who girded up his clothing and ran before Ahab
as far as the approaches to Jezreel.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13
R (2a) It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.
You have visited the land and watered it;
greatly have you enriched it.
God's watercourses are filled;
you have prepared the grain.
R It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.
Thus have you prepared the land:
drenching its furrows, breaking up its clods,
Softening it with showers,
blessing its yield.
R It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.
You have crowned the year with your bounty,
and your paths overflow with a rich harvest;
The untilled meadows overflow with it,
and rejoicing clothes the hills.
R It is right to praise you in Zion, O God.
Gospel
Mt 5:20-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother,
‘Raqa,' will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, ‘You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."
Thursday, June 10, 2004
reflections... a day late.. but better late than never.
i guess i am looking at this whole thing without much thought... maybe i shall talk about god's abundant love then. well.. god so loved us.. so much.. he did'nt need to prove his love to us, yet when elijah prayed.. he prayed for god to redeem us. to t6ake us back and to show us the way// that tell alot about god.. how he onli wanted us back.tht is how much he loves us...
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
9th june readings
Reading I
1 Kgs 18:20-39
Ahab sent to all the children of Israel
and had the prophets assemble on Mount Carmel.
Elijah appealed to all the people and said,
"How long will you straddle the issue?
If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him."
The people, however, did not answer him.
So Elijah said to the people,
"I am the only surviving prophet of the LORD,
and there are four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal.
Give us two young bulls.
Let them choose one, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood,
but start no fire.
I shall prepare the other and place it on the wood,
but shall start no fire.
You shall call on your gods, and I will call on the LORD.
The God who answers with fire is God."
All the people answered, "Agreed!"
Elijah then said to the prophets of Baal,
"Choose one young bull and prepare it first,
for there are more of you.
Call upon your gods, but do not start the fire."
Taking the young bull that was turned over to them, they prepared it
and called on Baal from morning to noon, saying,
"Answer us, Baal!"
But there was no sound, and no one answering.
And they hopped around the altar they had prepared.
When it was noon, Elijah taunted them:
"Call louder, for he is a god and may be meditating,
or may have retired, or may be on a journey.
Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened."
They called out louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears,
as was their custom, until blood gushed over them.
Noon passed and they remained in a prophetic state
until the time for offering sacrifice.
But there was not a sound;
no one answered, and no one was listening.
Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me."
When the people had done so, he repaired the altar of the LORD
that had been destroyed.
He took twelve stones, for the number of tribes of the sons of Jacob,
to whom the LORD had said, "Your name shall be Israel."
He built an altar in honor of the LORD with the stones,
and made a trench around the altar
large enough for two measures of grain.
When he had arranged the wood,
he cut up the young bull and laid it on the wood.
"Fill four jars with water," he said,
"and pour it over the burnt offering and over the wood."
"Do it again," he said, and they did it again.
"Do it a third time," he said,
and they did it a third time.
The water flowed around the altar,
and the trench was filled with the water.
At the time for offering sacrifice,
the prophet Elijah came forward and said,
"LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
let it be known this day that you are God in Israel
and that I am your servant
and have done all these things by your command.
Answer me, LORD!
Answer me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God
and that you have brought them back to their senses."
The LORD's fire came down
and consumed the burnt offering, wood, stones, and dust,
and it lapped up the water in the trench.
Seeing this, all the people fell prostrate and said,
"The LORD is God! The LORD is God!"
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 16:1b-2ab, 4, 5ab and 8, 11
R (1b) Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."
R Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
They multiply their sorrows
who court other gods.
Blood libations to them I will not pour out,
nor will I take their names upon my lips.
R Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
O LORD, my allotted portion and cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
Gospel
Mt 5:17-19
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven."
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
reflections
well.. there was this wonderful reflection done in the word among us.. beautiful thing bout how elijah in kings, with his actions (i.e. helping the widow) was in fact being the salt and the light of god.
bascially this whole salt and light thingy... is about how we need to be instruments, and we need to shine thru his love.
we are the salt of the earth. but what good are we, if we do not show the rest of the world his love. we are the light. but we will be hidden under that tub if we choose not to show his love. we are what we are. and that can never be changed. so the first part is about spreading god's love...
well i have another tier to add.. blah.. in conjuction with the preaching done by fr. richard ambrose. we all have the spirit in us, and now we are all called.. (in today's gospel as well) to shine in the love of christ. we are all called to share this love we have.. we are the salt of the earth. we are the light. but what good are we, if we do not shre his love?
8th june 2004- salt and light
the three readings-
the gospel:
matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples:
"You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father."
Reading I
1 Kgs 17:7-16
The brook near where Elijah was hiding ran dry,
because no rain had fallen in the land.
So the LORD said to Elijah:
"Move on to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there.
I have designated a widow there to provide for you."
He left and went to Zarephath.
As he arrived at the entrance of the city,
a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her,
"Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink."
She left to get it, and he called out after her,
"Please bring along a bit of bread."
She answered, "As the LORD, your God, lives,
I have nothing baked;
there is only a handful of flour in my jar
and a little oil in my jug.
Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks,
to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;
when we have eaten it, we shall die."
Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid.
Go and do as you propose.
But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.
Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.
For the LORD, the God of Israel, says,
‘The jar of flour shall not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'"
She left and did as Elijah had said.
She was able to eat for a year, and Elijah and her son as well;
the jar of flour did not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 4:2-3, 4-5, 7b-8
R (7a) Lord, let your face shine on us.
When I call, answer me, O my just God,
you who relieve me when I am in distress;
Have pity on me, and hear my prayer!
Men of rank, how long will you be dull of heart?
Why do you love what is vain and seek after falsehood?
R Lord, let your face shine on us.
Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one;
the LORD will hear me when I call upon him.
Tremble, and sin not;
reflect, upon your beds, in silence.
R Lord, let your face shine on us.
O LORD, let the light of your countenance shine upon us!
You put gladness into my heart,
more than when grain and wine abound.
R Lord, let your face shine on us.
whee.. a first
never used blogspot b4.. also dunno why i have another blog.. but i guess this is dedicated to bible camp, and to hmm.. reading the bible and daily medidations i hope i can upkeep, well.. the lord will make a way....
x a leap of faith x
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