Sunday
October 26^th

30^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1^st Reading: Sir 35:12-14, 16-18:
The Lord is judge and shows no partiality. He will not disadvantage the poor, he who hears the prayer of the oppressed. He does not disdain the plea of the orphan, nor the complaint of the widow. The one who serves God wholeheartedly will be heard; his petition will reach the clouds.

The prayer of the humble person pierces the clouds, and he is not consoled until he has been heard. His prayer will not cease until the Most High has looked down, until justice has been done in favor of the righteous.

2^nd Reading: 2 Tim 4:6-8, 16-18:
As for me, I am already poured out as a libation, and the moment of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, with which the Lord, the just judge, will reward me, on that day, and not only me, but all those who have longed for his glorious coming.

At my first hearing in court, no one supported me; all deserted me. May the Lord not hold it against them. But the Lord was at my side, giving me strength, to proclaim the word fully, and let all the pagans hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will save me from all evil, bringing me to his heavenly kingdom. Glory to him forever and ever. Amen!

Gospel: Lk 18:9-14:
Jesus told another parable to some people, fully convinced of their own righteousness, who looked down on others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself, and said, ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people, grasping, crooked, adulterous, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of all my income to the temple.’

“In the meantime the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ I tell you, when this man went back to his house, he had been reconciled with God, but not the other. For whoever makes himself out to be great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be raised up.”

Reflection:
The word “Pharisees” (from the Hebrew perūchīm) means “the separated ones”.

And in today’s gospel reading which contains Jesus’ Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, we are told that the Pharisee of this parable “stood by himself,” that is, was standing apart from the congregation. Why? Probably so that he would not accidentally come in contact with the clothes of an unscrupulous Jew and thus contract a ritual uncleanness. We notice that the Pharisee speaks the truth in the description of his conduct. He is indeed a quite respectable fellow.

What spoils his prayer is the self-righteous pride which inspires it, along with its contempt for other men. The tax-collector of the parable is aware of the shamefulness of his profession. Furthermore, conversion is practically impossible for him because he would have to give up his livelihood, and also because he would have to reimburse everyone he has exploited. But how could he ever locate all such individuals? His position is hopeless and he can only ask for God’s mercy.

The paradox here is that the Pharisee, who thought he did not need justification, returns home unjustified, whereas the worthless sinner returns home justified. Despising others is a loser’s game. Let us beg Christ “gentle and humble of heart” (Mt 11:29) to help us become humble. Today I will praise the good points and accomplishments of those I meet.

Monday
October 27^th

1^st Reading: Romans 8:12-17:
Brothers and sisters, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba, Father!”

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

Gospel: Lk 13:10-17:
Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath, and a crippled woman was there. An evil spirit had kept her bent for eighteen years, so that she could not straighten up at all. On seeing her, Jesus called her and said, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” Then he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight and praised God.

But the ruler of the synagogue was indignant, because Jesus had performed this healing on the Sabbath day, and he said to the people, “There are six days in which to work. Come on those days to be healed, and not on the Sabbath!”

But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Everyone of you unties his ox or his donkey on the Sabbath, and leads it out of the barn to give it water. And here you have a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound for eighteen years. Should she not be freed from her bonds on the Sabbath?”

When Jesus said this, all his opponents felt ashamed. But the people rejoiced at the many wonderful things that happened because of him.

Reflection:
There are two powerful gospel stories in Luke 7:36-50 and Luke 13:10-17. The first is the story of a woman who entered the house of a Pharisee, named Simon. He had invited Jesus for a meal; while at table, she began to wash the feet of Jesus with both her tears and ointment.

The second is a woman bent over for eighteen years. The two women have something in common – shame, worthlessness and their oppressive exclusion due to their bodies (sin, sickness, bleeding, and deformity). Their wretched bodies make them outsiders in a socio-cultural-religious context which considers them impure, subservient, and invisible.

In the narrative, they all break the rules of culture and religious purity and observance. The first enters the house of Simon without being invited; the second appears before Jesus in the synagogue on the Sabbath. What is so significant about the movement of the two women is reality of the disempowered outsider who initiates the miracle process.

The bent-over woman invited Jesus to break the Sabbath in favor of her liberation from years of deformity, suffering, and exclusion. She became part of, and was an active participant in, the Reign of God as well as privileged beneficiary of the miracle and empowerment of Jesus. Faith seeking embodiment shatters any justification to the violence done against women and children today. All bodies are sacred and resist any form of commodification and exclusion.

Tuesday
October 28^th

Jude

Simon

1^st Reading: Eph 2:19-22:
Brothers and sisters:
You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Gospel: Lk 6:12-16:
Jesus went out into the hills to pray, spending the whole night in prayer with God. When day came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them whom he called apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James son of Alpheus and Simon called the Zealot; Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who would be the traitor.

Reflection:
When I applied to the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), the interviewer from the Vocation Office asked me, ‘Why do you want to become an SVD?” I said that I wanted to become a missionary. He inquired further, “Why?” I reasoned that I wanted to give witness to the goodness of God, to help and be one with the great missionary work of the Church to bring Jesus to the world. After a few weeks I received a notice of acceptance. But I’m not sure if my answers did the work. The Church remembers today two apostles who were great missionaries, St. Simon the Zealot, and St. Jude son of James.

Their feast is jointly celebrated most probably because in the roster of apostles they are listed one after the other, and because both ended up in Persia in their missionary journey where they met martyrdom in the 1st century. We should not miss to admire their exemplary missionary character; they spent every ounce of their strength to preach Jesus. All of us Christ’s faithful are called to be missionaries. The world is a big mission field. But we do not need to go far to do this task. Right in our own backyards, in our own homes and communities, we can preach Jesus.

Wednesday
October 29^th

1^st Reading: Romans 8:26-30:
Brothers and sisters: The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.

We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.

Gospel: Lk 13:22-30:
Jesus went through towns and villages teaching, and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, is it true that few people will be saved?”

And Jesus answered, “Do your best to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has gone inside and locked the door, you will stand outside. Then you will knock at the door, calling, ‘Lord, open to us!’

“But he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’

“Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets!’

“But he will reply, ‘I don’t know where you come from. Away from me, all you workers of evil.’

“You will weep and grind your teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves left outside. Others will sit at table in the kingdom of God, people coming from east and west, from north and south. Some who are among the last, will be first; and some who are among the first, will be last!”

Reflection:
I have encountered many Christian groups in the course of my life as a college student. They were very attractive groups because they showed care for students from the province like me who had no family or friends nearby. Their warmth makes one feel at home right away and their cordial personalities give that feeling that you have been friends for a long time.

These, of course, I noticed soon, were just introductory moves. The real motive is conversion, especially when the newcomer happens to be a Roman Catholic. Indoctrination slowly becomes part of the gathering. And before long, they will lead you to pray for forgiveness and to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Then hugs come rushing, some accompanied with tears, to congratulate you for having been saved. There is a beautiful portion in this gospel text that provides a great caution for all Christians. Not everyone who accepts and recognizes Jesus as Lord is assured of salvation. It is only for those who pass the test of the narrow door.

It is true that believing in Jesus is a fundamental requisite. But the process does not stop there. Throughout one’s life should be an avoidance of evil and of doing wicked things, and embracing the cost of discipleship, always persevering, always generous, and always loving.

Thursday
October 30^th

1^st Reading: Rom 8:31b-39:
Brothers and sisters:
If God is for us, who can be against us? He did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all,
how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us.

Who will condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? As it is written:

For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.

No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel: Lk 13:31-35:
Some Pharisees came to Jesus and gave him this warning, “Leave this place and go on your way, for Herod wants to kill you.” Jesus said to them, “Go and give that fox my answer: ‘I drive out demons and heal today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my course!’ Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and for a little longer, for it would not be fitting for a prophet to be killed outside Jerusalem.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you slay the prophets and stone your apostles! How often have I tried to bring together your children, as a bird gathers her young under her wings, but you refused! From now on you will be left with your temple and you will no longer see me until the time when you will say: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Reflection:
Two outstanding traits in the personality of Jesus evident in the gospel are courage and determination. He knew that there was a threat against his life and yet he was not deterred from doing his work. He could just have postponed things and allowed the heat of controversy to cool down as most of us are inclined to do.

But most important was the accomplishment of his mission. And greater than the preservation of his life and assurance of security was doing God’s will. I don’t believe that he didn’t value his own life, but he was well aware that he needed to spend it for the glory of the Father.

We were not born into this world by accident. Our existence has a purpose. And according to the 1941 Baltimore Catechism whose contents are basically in consonance with the 1994 Catechism of the Catholic Church, the purpose of man’s existence is to know, to love, and to serve God. This is our duty. This is our mission.

May we learn from the courage and determination of Jesus that we too may not be discouraged by hardships and difficulties and face the risk even when our life is on the line.

Friday
October 31^st

Halloween

1^st Reading: Romans 9:1-5:
Brothers and sisters: I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are children of Israel; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

Gospel: Lk 14:1–6:
One Sabbath Jesus had gone to eat a meal in the house of a leading Pharisee, and he was carefully watched. In front of him was a man suffering from dropsy; so Jesus asked the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” But no one answered. Jesus then took the man, healed him and sent him away. And he addressed them, “If your lamb or your ox falls into a well on a Sabbath day, who among you doesn’t hurry to pull it out?” And they could not answer.

Reflection:
“Is it lawful to cure people on the sabbath or not?” No law is really absolute if keeping the law itself obstructs a society from doing good. Then, we must seek the Law above the law. We must ask whether the law we keep is really equal to the good that must be done despite it.

Saturday
November 1^st

All Saints’ Day

1^st Reading: Rev 7:2-4, 9-14:
I saw another angel, ascending from the sunrise, carrying the seal of the living God, and he cried out with a loud voice, to the four angels empowered to harm the earth and the sea, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads.”

Then, I heard the number of those marked with the seal: a hundred and forty-four thousand, from all the tribes of the people of Israel: After this, I saw a great crowd, impossible to count, from every nation, race, people and tongue, standing before the throne, and the Lamb, clothed in white, with palm branches in their hands, and they cried out with a loud voice, “Who saves, but our God, who sits on the throne, and the Lamb?”

All the angels were around the throne, the elders and the four living creatures; they, then, bowed before the throne, with their faces to the ground, to worship God. They said, Amen. Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power and strength to our God forever and ever. Amen! … “Who are these people clothed in white …“

“They are those who have come out of the great persecution; they have washed, and made their clothes white, in the blood of the Lamb.”

2^nd Reading: 1 Jn 3:1-3:
Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure.

Gospel: Mt 5:1-12a:
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. He sat down and his disciples gathered around him. Then he spoke and began to teach them:

“Fortunate are those who are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Fortunate are those who mourn; they shall be comforted. Fortunate are the gentle; they shall possess the land. Fortunate are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.

“Fortunate are the merciful, for they shall find mercy. Fortunate are those with pure hearts, for they shall see God. Fortunate are those who work for peace; they shall be called children of God. Fortunate are those who are persecuted for the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Fortunate are you, when people insult you and persecute you and speak all kinds of evil against you because you are my followers. Be glad and joyful, for a great reward is kept for you in God. For that is how this people persecuted the prophets who lived before you.”

Reflection:
Saints are people like us, of flesh and blood.

They came from all walks of life: John Paul II and John XXIII were popes; Ezekiel Moreno was a priest and bishop; Thomas More was a lawyer and statesman; Margaret of Scotland was queen, wife, and mother of 10; Therese of Lisieux was a nun; Tarcisius was an altar boy; Francis of Asissi was a deacon; Pedro Calungsod was a catechist; Lorenzo Ruiz was a layman; Isidore was a farmer; Louis and Zellie Martin were husband and wife, etc. They were very much like us.

But what makes the difference? The difference lies in the fact that their Christian Faith dictated and gave direction to their way of life. The difference is that they lived the Faith they embraced, and the Gospel they believed. They were totally devoted to Jesus.

They had their own weakness, and like us they had to struggle with human inclinations and temptations, but they triumphed in their pursuit of holiness; they were Christians in and out. They took to heart not to stain their identity as children of God.

“Be like saints” is our battle cry today. It will indeed be a great rejoicing when someday we will find each other counted and numbered among the saints, among those who will be marked and sealed as children of God (Rev. 7:3; 1 Jn 3:1,2).