Category: Gospel Reading

Gospel Reading and Reflection

IMPORTANCE OF MAN’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE FATHER (MATTHEW 10: 34-11: 1, JULY 13, 2020)

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

MATTHEW 10: 34-11: 1 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (JULY 13, 2020)

Do not think that I have come to establish peace on earth. I have not come  to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set man against his Father, and a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in – law. Each one will have as enemies, those of one’s own family.

Whoever loves more than Father and mother more than me, is not worthy of me. And whoever loves son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take up is cross and follow me, is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life, for my sake, will find it. 

Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes who sent me. The one who welcomes a prophet, as a prophet,  will receive the reward of a prophet; the one who welcomes a just man,because he is just man, will receive a reward of  just man. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to the one of these little ones, because he is my disciple, I assure you, he will not go unrewarded,” When Jesus had finish giving His twelve disciples these instructions, he went on from there, to teach and to proclaim his message in their towns. 

POINTS OF REFLECTION

Life is really a set of complicated things that oftentimes lead us into the wrong priorities.  Perhaps  life could be ordered in these priorities; God, self and family (closest neighbor), community. 

What is really ironic in this order of priorities is the twist that could happen anytime in the circumstance of life. Let’s say, an important gathering in the Christian community which runs counter to the birthday celebration of your father, mother or any member of the family  which opted you to choose in between the works of God and the family affairs. When you decide according to the herein stated priorities then, you will not be attending the family celebration instead proclaim the gospel of God in the community gathering. Though you pick a good choice, you could not deny the tendencies of indifference from your family. Grudges may craft up  and relationships at home may not be as good as it was. That is why Jesus said“I have not come  to bring peace, but a sword.” We know that the ways of God are not the same as the ways of man. Meaning giving in always to the demands of our family seeking favor against the works of evangelization would somehow make us unworthy unto Jesus. 

On the other side, this does not mean leaving our family unattended but encouraging them to join religious activities by accepting Jesus as our leading figure to attain the kingdom of God on the final day. In fact Jesus said “ pick up your cross and follow me.” Knowing one’s cross is important to follow God’s ways. Who knows, your  own family might be the cross for you to carry. 

Finally let us acknowledge that our relationship to God is very important and worth more than anything in this world. And remember that in  the process of fixing this relationship unto Him we need to carry our cross as Jesus carried his to save us all.

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Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23, JULY 12, 2020)

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

MATTHEW 13: 1-23 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (JULY 12, 2020)

That same day, Jesus left the house and sat down by the lade-side. Many people gathered around him. So he got into the boat, and sat down, while the crowds stood on the shore; and he spoke to them in parables and about many things. Jesus said, “The sower went out to sow; and, as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path; and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where there was little soil, and the seeds sprouted quickly, because the soil was not deep. But as soon as the sun rose, the plants were scorched; and withered, because they had no roots. Again, other seeds fell among thistles; and the thistles grew and choked the plants. Still, other seeds fell on good soil and produced a crop: some a hundredfold, others sixty, and others thirty. If you have ears, then hear!”

Then the disciples came to him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” Jesus answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the Kingdom of heaven, but not to these people. For the one who has will be given more; and he will have in abundance. But the one who does not have will be deprived of even what he has. That is why! Speak to them in parables; because they look and do not see; they are hear, you do not understand. In them, the words of the prophet Isaiah are fulfilled: However much you see, you do not perceive. For the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears hardly hear and their eyes dare not see. If they were to see with their eyes, hear with their ears and understand with their heart, they would turn back, and I will heal them. But bless are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because the hear. For I tell you, many prophets and righteous people have longed to see the things you see, but they did not see them; and to hear the things you hear, but they did not hear them.

Now listen to the parable of the sower. When a person hears the message of the kingdom, but does not take it seriously, the devil comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed that fell along the footpath. The seed that fell on the rocky ground stands for the one who hears the word, and accepts it at once with joy. But such a person has no roots, and endures only for a while. No sooner is he harassed or persecuted because of the word, that he gives up. The seed that fell among the thistles is the one who hears the word; but then, the worries of this life and the love of money choke the word; and it does not bear fruit. As for the seed that fell on good soil, it is the one who hears the word and understands it; this seed bears fruit and produces a hundred, or sixty, or thirty times more.”

POINTS OF REFLECTION

The love and goodness of God is extremely wonderful and amazing. He has showered us all of His abundance without due regard to our sinfulness as He let rain fall and the sun shines  to all regardless of who we are.

The seeds in this Bible reading are the words of God about His kingdom in heaven. The different soil condition from which these seeds are to be sown represents the human heart which could be doubting (soil along the footpath), uncommitted (rocky ground),  worrying  (ground full of thistles) and committed (good soil) heart.

With no exemption, everyone’s heart could  be one of those mentioned above. If you possess a doubting heart, there exist greater tendencies that you be easily deceived by the works of evil thereby forgetting the good things received from the Father. If you possess an uncommitted heart you manifest quick tendencies to respond to God’s word but eventually lose faith appetite for some reason hard to understand which makes one complacent in his Christian living. If you possess a worrying heart your tendencies are too much attachment to the material world, love of money and fame. If you possess a committed  heart your tendencies are to listen to God’s word, understand it and be able to grow in faith significantly by committing oneself unto Jesus and to the Father.

Regardless of who we really are : doubting heart, uncommitted heart, worrying heart and committed heart, His love  and goodness to us will forever be non selective. He will always send down rains to all and let the sun shine to all  until the judgment day.

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IMPORTANCE OF A LEADING FIGURE (MATTHEW 10:24-33; 7/11/ 2020)

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

MATTHEW 10:24-33 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (JULY 11, 2020)

A student is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. A student should be content to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. The head of the household has been called Beelzebul, how much more, those of his household! 

So do not be afraid of them! There is nothing covered that will not be uncovered. There is nothing hidden that will not be made known. What I am telling you in the dark, you must not speak in the light. What you hear in private, proclaim from the housetops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but have no power to kill the soul, rather, be afraid of him who can destroy both body and soul in hell.  For a few cents you can buy two sparrows. Yet not one sparrow falls on the ground without your Father knowing. As for you, every hair in your head has been counted. Do not be afraid: you are more than many sparrows!

Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. Whoever rejects me before others, I will reject before my Father in heaven. 

POINTS OF REFLECTION

Life is uncertain in the absence of a leading figure. All would be in negativity. The bigger picture of life is a choice between the life in light and life in darkness. A life in the light is a life with Jesus and his disciples united in the Christian community unto the Father. On the other hand, life in the dark is a life with Beelzebub’s sneaky disciples behind worldly tendencies, excesses and vices unto Satan.

It is indeed very important for all of us to know who our leading figure is. Having chosen our leading figure, shun us away from the pitfalls of destruction. As Jesus had told us in this Bible reading “A student is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master” urges us to pick a rightful leading figure which is equivalent to a teacher or a master in this context. Jesus emphasizes the lesson to learn by saying “a slave is not above his master and would be content and happy to become like his master.” By saying this, He means that being his followers, we are only to do what he had told us to do through the world of the Father as written in the Bible. Doing more than what God has not required would put us into the royal court in heaven in front of the Father with Jesus as the counsel subject for judgment. However, there will be no case for those who strictly follow His laws and do His works. This embodies very important limitations for a man  to qualify in Heaven.  

While it is truly impossible for us to assess every member of the family, organization and community, we are told to quickly determine all of them by just merely keeping an eye to their leaders as He said “If the head of the household has been called Beelzebul, how much more, those of his household!” Leader roughly tells us the qualities of his member.

Yes! life today is all about knowing the people around us claiming to be friends. But because of the works of the social media platforms; many are counting friends even without knowing them until something happens unexpectedly. Jesus reminded us to be careful to those who are hiding in darkness because what is hidden is not worthy to be in the light. Be suspicious about those who stay away from the open for they are keeping something undesirable which could become dangerous to us or to many. Hence, Jesus added what you learn from the dark let it be known in the light and shout it on the housetop. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but have no power to kill the soul.  For God values us more than anything else in this world as He said “the Father did not even allow a single sparrow falling without His knowledge and as for man, your hairs are counted and remember you are more than sparrow”

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MATTHEW 10:16-23 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (JULY 10, 2020)

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

Look, I send you out like sheep among wolves. You must be as clever as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard with people, for they will hand you over to their courts, and they will flog you in their synagogues. You will be brought to trial before rulers and kings because of me, so that you may witness to them and the pagans. But when you are arrested, do not worry about what you are to say, or how you are to say it; when the hours comes, you will be given what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father, speaking through you.

Brother will hand over his brother to death, and a father his child; children will turn against their parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever stands firm to the end will  be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, you will not have passed through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 

POINTS OF REFLECTION

The work of evangelization is not easy. As Christ disciples, we assumed a sheep personality that is humble and meek in character while proclaiming the gospel to the people in the community. Today’s community is difficult to evangelize because their values, beliefs and practices are getting away from that of the values prescribed in the teaching of the Bible.  Worst many of them even doubted the existence of God because of so much attention to the worldly tendencies and desire that deliberately drag them into the ways of darkness. 

 Religious communities nowadays face a tremendous challenge of persecution like what happens to the faithful in some other countries of the world where Christian communities are harassed and dehumanized because of their faith unto Jesus. 

Brothers and sisters, acts such as persecutions and the like should never be made a basis for desperation for God has promised to be with those who are experiencing hatred and persecution. Protection is with them every time and anywhere  as Devine worker. Our love, faith and complete trust to the lord serve as our shield and  helmet of salvation. 

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MATTHEW 10:7-15 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (JULY 9, 2020)

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

MATTHEW 10:7-15 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (JULY 9, 2020)

Go and proclaim the message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons.  Freely have you received, freely give.

Do not carry any gold or silver or money in your purses. Do not take a traveling bag, or extra shirt, or sandals, or a walking stick: workers deserve to be compensated. When you come to a town or a village, look for a worthy person, and stay there until you leave. When you enter the house, wish it peace. If the people are worthy people, your peace will rest on them; if they are not worthy people, your blessing will come back to you. And if you are not welcomed, and your words are not listened to, leave that house or that town, and shake the dust off your feet. I assure you, it will go easier for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment, than it will for the people of that town.  

POINTS OF REFLECTION

One of the most important Christian responsibilities was the work of evangelization. When we talk about evangelization, this is not only limited to the few who become  authority figure because of their deep knowledge of God’s laws and words but included as well ordinary Christian of this time  who by its way of life became a living witness of God’s presence in their own lives. 

Long before, evangelical works was oftentimes a form of home visitation wherein there was a sense of God’s penetration among home, families or people lives. For the host, the evangelizer could be disturbances which may opted them to say no if their lives were too busy. Doing in the same is not better in the eye of God for evangelizers come with the Holy Spirit who might invade into our homes or into our lives. Note that the consequence, as Jesus had said “it will be easier to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment, than it will for the people of that town” Negligence of God’s presence by way of  evangelizers pose a danger of eternal fire.    

Our experience as evangelizers is not that easy as one person thinks. In fact, we are deeply saddened because God has already given His initial judgment to those who despised the worker of God. Furthermore, Jesus said” When you enter the house, wish it peace. If the people are worthy people. Your peace will rest on them; if they are not worthy people, your blessing will come back to you.” In this particular line, Jesus promises a good offer when the evangelizer falls into unbelieving people saying that the blessing for the unworthy will come back to them. This is also an anchor verse why all of us are greatly encouraged to pray for our enemy or those who are considered as unworthy for what they have prayed for will be given to  those who  prayed for the unworthy.

In general, finding difficulty in praying those who are unworthy would mean poor in the blessings of God for much of His blessings bounce back in abundance from  the wall of the  unworthy.  

 

 

 

 

 

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MATTHEW 10: 1-7 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (JULY 8, 2020)

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him , and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to heal every disease and sickness.

These are the names of the twelve Apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew, the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon, the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, the man who would betray him.

Jesus sent these twelve on mission, with the instruction: “Do not visit pagan territory and do not enter a Samaritan town. Go, instead, to the lost sheep of the people of Israel. Go, and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

Being a unique and wonderful creation of God is expected to have also our calling of authority over many things of the world. In fact in this Bible reading, Jesus clearly said that as His disciple, we have authority over unclean spirits, drive  demons  away  and heal every kind of diseases and sickness.

Looking backward, the mentioned authority was more of magical powers from which disciples were doing out of their faith as Jesus had taught them. How about taking these things into present perspective? Could we still claim this authority most especially in this trying time that we are in now? Brothers and sisters, it seems that men were not able to enjoy this authority since the day of global pandemic. Since the onset of  quarantine measures, man’s religious functions were denied in exchange for health safety. With COVID man’s authority was taken, adversely affecting the existing world order. The scenario seems to be a complete opposite, of God’s mandate over us to have authority over the things on earth. After all, life after death is precious and important to be able to enjoin unto the Father in Heaven.

What God has set brothers and sisters will remain until the ends of the world. This global pandemic should not contain us instead, we will contain it and continue to triumph with God’s promise of authority. These things will happen very soon not the way like some two thousand years ago but rather in another way as God continue to bliss those who are task to study and work for the containment of this novel coronavirus.  After all God’s promise and plan is not reputable.

In totality, brothers and sisters, God always takes all authority on earth. And Being His sons and daughters, His authority is with us till the ends of time secured by the quality of faith while doing His works and proclaiming His words.

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MATTHEW 9:32-38 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (JULY 7, 2020)

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

As they were going away, some people brought to Jesus a man who was dumb, because he was possessed by a demon. When the demon was driven out, the dumb man began to speak. The crowds were astonished and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

But he Pharisees said, “He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons.”

Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom; and he cured every sickness and disease. When he saw the crowds, he was moved with pity; for they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are only few. Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest.

POINT OF REFLECTION

“Divided we fall united we stand”. Jesus was considered as the universal healer for He healed all kinds of sickness and driven demons to ease burdens. Being a healer, Jesus does not necessarily mean providing relief to physical, emotional and spiritual pain but considered as the great provider of all men’s need out of His love for us. But despite all these goodness, the Pharisees said that “ He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons.” Jesus answered that these could not be possible because  if evil fights against each other they would surely end up as losser.

Notice brothers and sisters in Christ that, many of our troubles are within the family. It has even resulted to killing of father, mother, brother, sister and son. Without God’s presence in the family would mean evil’s presence instead. Life is always define by one’s choice between the two forces, the forces of light and the forces of darkness. Family will bear no good in division.

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MATTHEW 9:18-26 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (JULY 6, 2020)

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

 

While speaking to them, official of the synagogue came up to Him, bowed before Him and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and place your hands on her, and she will live.” Jesus stood up and followed him with his disciples.

Then a woman, who had suffered from severe bleeding for twelve years, came up from behind and touched the edge of his cloak; for she thought, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

Jesus turned and said, “Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you.” And from the moment, the woman was cured,

When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the excited crowd, he said, “Get out of here! The girl is not dead. She is only sleeping!”  And they laughed at Him, but once the crowd had been turned out, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up. The news of this spread through the whole area.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

When a member of a dear family passed away unexpected, unimaginable sorrow would normally ruled over life dragging down spirit. Friends of the family would normally come to console for the purpose of giving their share to the bereaved family with the hope of consoling  a heavy heart. Yes, this is good but one thing that one needs to remember that their presence around does not mean owning very own grief but merely a co-griever. Though, their presence is needed but more than them, the bereaved family needs the presence of the giver of life, Jesus Christ.

It should be noted that on one’s downfall, the first and foremost hot line would be Jesus. Not anyone of the closest friends or even a family

from which many of us use to do.

This Bible reading told us that, Jesus is the solution of our toughest times. Only Jesus has the power to end up our unbearable and prolonged sufferings like the woman who had suffered severe bleeding for twelve long years. One might be suffering for a long time like the woman’s condition in this Bible reading but, Jesus said to the woman “courage my daughter, your faith has saved you.”

Ancient believers opined that God cannot be touched or moved by the ways of man because of His power. But such beliefs is completely nullified for Jesus was moved or completely touched by the depth of faith as illustrated by the faith of synagogue official who firmly believe that his dead daughter would surely came back to life upon Jesus’  laying hands. Likewise, the woman has shown equal faith by just touching the hem of Jesus cloth.

In general brothers and sisters, it is our faith that matters to the Lord. life’s sorrows and trials are  driving forces for us to come closer to the Father.

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MATHEW 11: 25-30 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION ( JULY 5, 2020)

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

 

On that occasiom, Jesus said, ” Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I praise you; because you hidden this things from the wise and learned , and revealed them to simple people. Yes, Father, this was your gracious will.

Everything has been entrusted to me by Father. No one knows the Son except the Father; and no one knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

The Holy Bible is divided into books clustered into noticiable periods such as the books in the Old Testament and the books in the New Testament. The first six books of the Old Testament contains numerous laws that comes to be of so much burden to the early believers. The pursuit of godliness was almost impossible so that many of them ended up on the wrong ways of living ráther than on the ways of God.

There were more or less 613 laws to be followed plus thousands of Oral traditions handed down from generation to generation. With all these, believers found this difficult and frustrating to follow all these in the duration of a life time.

The coming of Jesus was the pivotal point with due regard to the bigger picture of pursuing God’ kingdom in the simpliest way. The number of laws was significantly reduce into two of the greatest commandments with imphasis on loving God and thy neighbor. Thus, Jesus had said “take my yoke for it is easy so your burden is light.”

God promises to be with us all the time as it was written in the “Foot Prints in the Sand.” In our troubles, trials and problems, many are the times God opted to carry us for He will never leave us alone.

Hard times are opportunities for us to reunite God over and over again in this deceiving world till the last breath.

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MATTHEW 9:14-17 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (JULY 4, 2020)

by Roger, posted in Gospel Reading

Then the disciple of John came to him with the question, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast on many occasions, but not your disciples?”

Jesus answered to them, “How could you expect wedding guest to mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The time will come, when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then, they will fast.

No one patches and old coat with a piece of  unshrunken cloth, for the patch will shrink and tear an even bigger hole in the coat. In the same way, you don’t put new wind into old wine skins. If you do, the wine skins will burst and the wine will be spilt. No, you put new wine into fresh skins; then are preserved.

POINTS OF REFLECTION

When Jesus said “How could you expect wedding guest to mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?”,This  teaches us that abundance is with Him. Though such abundance was partial and momentary, it is right and proper for man to have so much desire of similar abundance in heaven.

For us human to achieve this desire, we need to be in conformity with the lord. We need to embrace what God wants us to become rather than forcing what we want from Him.

As Jesus had said “put the new wine into the fresh skins” is telling us that to have a new life with Him must come with a change in a new desire that matches with this new life so as not to spoil the whole about life.

 

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