Scripture Meditations for Daily Life
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Scripture Meditations For Daily Life 1 SABBATH is a study guide for the Scripture readings of each day. Its purpose is to encourage Catholics to understand with greater depth the Word of God and thereby apply it in their personal lives. Reprinting or reproducing any part of this magazine must be done with permission from the publishers. ISSN 0119-6561 EDITORIAL STAFF Editor in Chief Rissa Singson-Kawpeng Managing Editors Tess Atienza Joy Sosoban Editorial Assistant Angie Briones-Espuerta Design & Layout Rey de Guzman Cover Photo Raymund Sto. Domingo of the Risen Lord Catholic Community Dagupan City, Philippines Writers Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL Fr. Sandy Enhaynes Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP Fr. Brian Steele, MGL Fr. Joel O. Jason Fr. Benny Tuazon Chairman of the Board Bo Sanchez For more information, please contact: SHEPHERD’S VOICE #60 Chicago St., Cubao, Quezon City 1109 Philippines P.O. Box 1331 Quezon City Central Post Office 1153 Quezon City tel no: (632) 411-7874 to 77 fax: (632) 727-5615 or 726-9918 e-mail: [email protected]/[email protected] www.shepherdsvoice.com.ph 2 LIFE-CHANGING WORDS I’m Jackie, 25 years old. I’m a call center hopper. I was of “the world” when I entered the world of call centers. I seldom attended Sunday Mass. I just focused on what I was earning. A lot of trials, however, came my way. Since I worked on night shift, I became very sickly. It was like, sickness was my part-time job. I experienced bankruptcy not once but twice. To top it all, I felt so ALONE AND EMPTY. Last April 2, 2007, thanks to the Internet, I committed myself to be a part of the Kerygma Family. I am very happy to be a part of the Kerygma Family because I’m learning a lot of new things. I’m beginning to see things in a different perspective. I would like to thank you for your very inspiring and life- changing words… This is an excerpt from the many letters I receive from members of the Kerygma Family. Kerygma Family is a borderless, non-physical, virtual community of members spanning the entire world. We provide our members a complete spiritual support system to keep them growing in their spiritual and personal life. And we are just elated every time we receive letters from our members telling us stories of how Kerygma Family has helped them in their spiritual journey. We are happy because each letter is a confirmation that God exists, that He is present in every human being’s life, that He cares, that He answers prayers. If you’re not yet a member, you don’t know what you are missing! Log onto www.kerygmafamily.com for details. I remain your friend, Bo Sanchez 3 Numbers 6:22-27 January Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 (2a) Thursday Galatians 4:4-7 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Luke 2:16-21 THE VIRTUE OF “SINKING” INTO PEACE My mother is an only child; my father “Czardas,” “Pamulinawen” and has but one brother. But we belong other Iloco favorites. to a big extended family of cousins. After the commotion caused by Birthdays, weddings, graduations, visitors, among them the shepherds deaths and other transitions in life who brought exciting stories about are times for big reunions. Cousins angels singing and prophesying, and their families come and fill up the Gospel also speaks about the the occasion with their numbers and soothing picture of Mother Mary. In stories. Usually they come, hang the silence and privacy of her home around and may even stay for a day with Jesus and Joseph, Mother Mary and a night. “kept all these things, reflecting on My mother, the eldest of cousins them in her heart.” In that peaceful from my grandmother’s side, would silence, Mother Mary could have find herself busy with a lot of details. been glorifying and praising God in She enjoys it thoroughly but soon, her own way for all that happened after everything is over — after in the first Christmas, while the everyone has gone home, after the shepherds, as Luke narrated, glorified last dishes are kept — my mother and praised God in their loud and would sink into one of the chairs at excited style. the family living room. No, she’s not Perhaps this is the best way tired. She would be we can have our humming a tune, her REFLECTION QUESTION: prayer today. After face a countenance of Relax. Reminisce your experi- all the noise of the ences as you cross over to the contentment and joy. New Year. Embrace everything celebration, let us At times, she would with joy and with a smile. Hum embrace the reality even move over to a praise song to the Lord! of the first day of the upright piano the year in peaceful — a family heirloom Father God, as the new year contemplation. Let us — and for about an begins, I thank You for all that allow the Spirit to lead has been and all that will be. hour, she would fill May I recognize the work of Your us in a prayerful sigh: the house with her hands in my life this year. “We have crossed over beautiful renditions to another year. Thank of such pieces as Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. You, Dear Jesus.” “Love and Devotion,” Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP 4 1 John 2:22-28 January Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 Friday John 1:19-28 FACING THE COMPLETE ME: “I AM NOT… AND I AM…” “Czardas,” “Pamulinawen” and The beginning of the year is a time which we have to claim. To pretend other Iloco favorites. for making “projections.” We make that everything and everyone is After the commotion caused by resolutions for a better personal limitless is an illusion, a heresy even. visitors, among them the shepherds and moral life. Self-made sages Our optimism is good but for it to be who brought exciting stories about and soothsayers proclaim their a virtue, we have to couple it with angels singing and prophesying, fearless forecasts for events, places humility and tentativity. the Gospel also speaks about the and persons. Business persons and l Let us always affirm that we soothing picture of Mother Mary. In economists try to predict optimal live in God’s Presence, Providence the silence and privacy of her home trends in commerce and finance. and Mystery. John the Baptist said with Jesus and Joseph, Mother Mary Many even go through some rituals it well: “…there is one among you “kept all these things, reflecting on perceived to usher in good luck. whom you do not recognize.” Our them in her heart.” In that peaceful John the Baptizer appears in plans and projections rest on God’s silence, Mother Mary could have today’s liturgy as a good guide for compassion and mercy. There is no been glorifying and praising God in us. Amidst the tendency to overshoot such thing as pure science or pure her own way for all that happened our optimism at the onset of the rationality. We are thankful that as in the first Christmas, while the year — a false optimism that leads humans, we are the best of creation. shepherds, as Luke narrated, glorified many to place their REFLECTION QUESTION: Our progress, our and praised God in their loud and faith in superstition Gather all your plans for the civilization, our excited style. and magic — John the new year — plans for your- h i s t o r y a n d o u r Perhaps this is the best way Baptist stands out as self, for your family and for technologies prove we can have our a true mouthpiece of your career. Bow your head in this. But we are not prayer and submit everything prayer today. After God’s truth: to “Abba, Father.” gods. We remain to all the noise of the l Earthly reality be humble creatures, celebration, let us has two sides: “I Pray this Prayer of Humility: subjects not of some embrace the reality a m … a n d I a m “Loving God and Father, You unknown elemental of the first day of see that my trust is not based not…” We live in a on human actions. I trust in Your powers, but loved the year in peaceful finite world and we are mercy and love. By myself I can images of a Loving contemplation. Let us creatures on a journey. do nothing, but with You, I can and Personal God. To allow the Spirit to lead Perfection is not a do everything. For the love of believe in something us in a prayerful sigh: state but a process. We You, I want to do my best in all less than this makes things. To You, my God, be the “We have crossed over are always moving: honor. For myself, I only desire to us not Christians, to another year. Thank there are limits that be with You in heaven. Amen.” but practitioners of You, Dear Jesus.” we have to accept; “New Age.” Fr. Domie Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP Sts. Basil and Gregory Naziazen, Guzman, SSP there are possibilities Bishops, pray for us. 5 1 John 2:29-3:6 Psalm 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6 January John 1:29-34 Saturday EvERY PERSON’S LIFE IS A GREAT MYstERY Today’s reading is enigmatic, a of the victorious Lamb of Sacrifice characteristic common to many of mentioned in Revelations 5-7.