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27/11/2023

📆 𝗡𝗼𝘃. 𝟮𝟳, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯
🟩 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞
🏅 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐥
👐 𝑽𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕: 🟢/⚪

1️⃣ 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰: Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20
🎼 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑷𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒎: Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 [Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young Men 29-30, 31, 32, 33, 34; R. (29b)]
ℛ. (52b) 𝙂𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧!

✝️ 𝑮𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒍
📖 A Proclamation from the Holy Gospel According to Luke [Lk 21:1-4 NABRE]

When [Jesus] looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

- The Gospel of the Lord.

💭 𝑻𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚’𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔
𝐀 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐨𝐝

“𝗜 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁; 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗹𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲, 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆, 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱.”
𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟮𝟭:𝟯–𝟰

We must all see ourselves as this poor widow by offering our “whole livelihood” to Christ. Everything we have is a gift from God, and it must be offered back to God, sacrificially, as our gift to Him. The material offering made by this poor widow was two small coins worth very little. The truth is that even if you were the richest person in the world and donated all that you had to God, it would greatly pale in comparison to the gift given to us by our Lord. We are all poor in the big picture of God’s grace and His Kingdom. The most any one of us can offer is symbolized by these two small coins.

As you look at your own life, how willing are you to give everything you have to our Lord for His glory and service? The only appropriate “offering” we are called to give to our Lord is the “sacrifice” of our entire life. This spiritual truth is something very difficult for those who are very wealthy in the things of this world. Material wealth offers an easy way to live in comfort. Money can provide every modern convenience, entertainment, fun, worldly security and much of what this world has to offer. But money cannot buy fulfillment. It cannot satisfy us in the truest sense. This is why many people who live very luxurious lives are not truly happy.

Happiness is found in sacrifice. Specifically, it is found in sacrificial love by which we dedicate everything we are and all that we have to the sole purpose of the glory of God and the furtherment of His Kingdom. Sadly, when one is rich in the things of this world, it is easy to think that offering a portion of their wealth, such as a tithe, means that they can keep and use the rest any way they want. But that’s not true. Giving of ourselves completely to God and to His service does not necessarily mean that we donate all of our money to the Church. But it does mean that we offer everything to God. For many, when this complete offering is done every day, God will lead them to use their material resources for the raising of their family, to take care of their basic needs, and, at times, to even enjoy various comforts in life. But the real question is whether or not you truly live as though all you have and all you are is God’s and is to be used for His glory and the furtherment of His will.

Reflect, today, upon this poor widow. She was greatly blessed to have very little. This made it easier for her to remain detached from money and other forms of material wealth. And in that detachment, she gave all to God. She entrusted all to Him, and Jesus noticed and praised her. Reflect upon our Lord’s reaction to you and to the offering of your life to Him. If you are holding back from our Lord, then use the witness of this poor widow to inspire you to daily dedicate everything to the service of God in accord with His holy will.

𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦: Catholic Daily Reflections
𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺: Dan Richard N. Sumcio | Drich N. Sumcio

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26/11/2023

📆 𝗡𝗼𝘃. 𝟮𝟲, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯
👑 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭, 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 (𝐀)
👐 𝑽𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕: ⚪

𝑳𝑨𝑺𝑻 𝑺𝑼𝑵𝑫𝑨𝒀 𝑶𝑭 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑳𝑰𝑻𝑼𝑹𝑮𝑰𝑪𝑨𝑳 𝒀𝑬𝑨𝑹 “𝑨”
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗘 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗢 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘, 𝗪𝗘 𝗗𝗢 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧
Today, the last Sunday of the liturgical year, we honor Jesus Christ as King of the Universe and our King. We gather to celebrate not only his triumph and glory, but also his justice. Today's Gospel tells us that, as the Judge of all human beings, he will base his irrevocable decision on the way we have treated our neighbor. He, in fact, considers as done to himself whatever we do to our brothers and sisters.

On this Solemnity of Christ the King we also thank the Lord for all the blessings he has granted us in the course of the liturgical year now about to end. In particular, we thank him for the innumerable spiritual graces. Let our Eucharist today, then, be a hymn of glory and thanks to Jesus, the only King of our hearts, and a renewal of our allegiance to him.

1️⃣ 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17
𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘴𝘳𝘢𝘦𝘭 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦, 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘥-𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨.
🎼 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑷𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒎: Psalm 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6
ℛ. (1) 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙙; 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩.
2️⃣ 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰𝑰: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28
𝘈𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

✝️ 𝑮𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒍: Matthew 25:31-46
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘑𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘑𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘣𝘰𝘳.
📖 A Proclamation from the Holy Gospel According to Matthew [Mt 25:31-46 NABRE]

[Jesus said to his disciples:] “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’ Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

- The Gospel of the Lord.

💭 𝑻𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚’𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔
𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐛
𝘽𝙮 𝙁𝙧. 𝙅𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙪𝙨 𝙋. 𝘽𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙖𝙮𝙖, 𝙎𝙎𝙋

Traditionally, the word “king” is associated with royalty and all its power, privilege, and worldly ambition. Kingdom was and is associated with power, destruction of enemies (both real and imagined), conquest of territory, wealth, and prestige. Today “king” is used in many things: Burger King, Lion King, Elvis—the king of rock and roll, and Budweiser—the king of beers.

The climax of the Church's liturgical calendar is dedicated to the universal kingship of Christ to orient us to a radical understanding of greatness in the light of God’s kingdom. Christ is king by reason of his “charity which exceeds all knowledge.”

The manifold evils in this world could be because men and women had relegated Christ to the sacristy or had thrust him out of their lives in pursuit of worldly fulfillment and greatness. This was the diagnosis of Pope Pius XI when, on December 11, 1925, he proclaimed the last Sunday of the Church's liturgical year as the feast of Christ the King, to celebrate Jesus as the King of the universe.

The Gospel pictures the Son of Man who sits on his glorious throne separating the sheep from the goats. This image is reminiscent of Ezekiel 34 where the main point is the care of the shepherd (representing God) and the protection of the sheep. On the right, the just (the sheep) are surprised to hear that there is no judgment for them. It has already taken place in their kindness and sensitivity to the marginalized—the hungry, thirsty, strangers, sick, naked, and imprisoned. They are welcomed to inherit the kingdom of God prepared for them. On the left, the “goats” hear the dreadful words of the Son of Man, “Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” They, too, are taken aback because their judgment took place long ago due to their indifference in the suffering of the lost, the least, and the last.

As in all trials, the verdict is passed not on thoughts but on actual deeds of kindness. Matthew says that this lack of sensitivity to the plight of the marginalized is already a judgment on oneself. The inability to concretize charity constitutes a judgment.

Matthew reminds us that there is no distinction when it comes to the criterion of caring. This is similar to Paul's injunction: in Christ “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male nor female” (Gal 3:28), there is neither Christian nor unbeliever. Compassion is non-discriminatory and borderless. No distinction is to be made as to who should be the recipient of one's love.

Matthew is not telling us to act as if Jesus is in the marginalized so that we could love them. The evangelist stresses that ww should love the least in our society as they are, because they are human beings like us with dignity. It is not wrong to see Christ in the downtrodden, but it could sidetrack us from person-centered love. Love the least in our society because of their worth as human beings—because in the end only love matters. It flows from an understanding of God as loving. It is to love for the sake of love.

Moreover, today's theme stresses that faith alone is not enough. Faith is a verb. It is active in love. It is a participation in Christ's love whether we label it so or not. The presence of the marginalized in our midst should be grabbed as an opportunity to grow in charity and compassion. They make all of us better human beings and better Christians. As Dorothy Day, founder of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳, says in the final page of her autobiography, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, “We cannot love God unless we love each other.”

To be among the “righteous” welcomed by Jesus, one must live out one's faith in concrete actions of love and mercy. This radical call to love the marginalized without condition is only part of the call to discipleship—to walk an extra mile, to turn the other cheek, to love one's enemies, to forgive without condition, to be a little child, to be born again, to be servant of all, to dine with sinners, to embrace lepers, and to reconcile with others. It is to bring change and hope and peace to a world torn by hatred and conflict.

The demand of the Kingdom is on this moment, this day, and this generation. It is now!

𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦: Main and Gospel introductions from Euchalette by Word and Life Publications, 26 November 2023 | Solemnity of Christ the King, Year A
Reading introductions and Reflections from Sambuhay Missalette by St Paul's Media Pastoral Ministry, November 26, 2023 | Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (A)
𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺: Dan Richard N. Sumcio | Drich N. Sumcio

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⚜️ 𝙎𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨.

25/11/2023

📆 𝗡𝗼𝘃. 𝟮𝟱, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯
🌿 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐚, 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲𝐫
⛪ 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝑭𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒂: 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡, 𝐀𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐮), 𝐌𝐚𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲
👐 𝑽𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕: 🟢/⚪/🔴

1️⃣ 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰: 1 Maccabees 6:1-13
🎼 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑷𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒎: Psalm 9:2-3, 4 and 6, 16 and 19
ℛ. 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙊 𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙙.

✝️ 𝑮𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒍
📖 A Proclamation from the Holy Gospel According to Luke [Lk 20:27-40 NABRE]

Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone's brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.” Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” Some of the scribes said in reply, “Teacher, you have answered well.” And they no longer dared to ask him anything.

- The Gospel of the Lord.

💭 𝑻𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚’𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

“𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗵, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 ‘𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱’ 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗺, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗮𝗰, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯; 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲.”
𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟮𝟬:𝟯𝟳–𝟯𝟴

Jesus gives this response to some of the Sadducees who question Him about the resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the body, whereas the Pharisees did. Thus, the Sadducees asked Jesus about the resurrection of the body using an almost unheard of example. They refer to the levirate law found in Deuteronomy 25:5ff which states that if a married man dies before having children, the brother of that man must marry his wife and provide descendants for his brother. Thus, the Sadducees present the scenario where seven brothers die, each one subsequently taking the same wife. The question they posed was, “Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.” Jesus answers by explaining that marriage is for this life, not the life to come at the resurrection. Therefore, none of the brothers will be married to her when they rise.

Some spouses have a hard time with this teaching, in that they love their spouse and desire to remain married in Heaven and at the time of the final resurrection. For those who feel this way, rest assured that the bonds of love we form on earth will remain and even be strengthened in Heaven. And when the end of the world comes and all of our bodies rise and are reunited with our souls, those bonds of love will remain stronger than ever. However, marriage, in the earthly sense, will be no more. It will be replaced by the pure love of the new life to come.

This teaching gives us reason to ponder further the beautiful teaching of our Lord about His return in glory and, as we say in the Creed, “the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” We profess this belief every Sunday at Mass. But for many, it can be hard to understand. So what do we actually believe?

Simply put, we believe that when we die, our body is “laid to rest,” but our soul enters a moment of particular judgment. Those who remain in mortal sin are eternally separated from God. But those who die in a state of grace will eternally live with God. Most people who die will most likely die with some lasting venial sins on their soul. Thus, Purgatory is the grace of final purification that the person’s soul encounters upon death. Purgatory is simply the purifying love of God which has the effect of eliminating every last sin and imperfection, and every attachment to sin, so that the purified soul can see God face-to-face in Heaven. But it doesn’t stop there. We also believe that at some definitive time in world history, Jesus will return to earth and transform it. This is His Final Judgment. At that time, every body will rise, and we will live eternally as we were intended to live: body and soul united as one. Those souls who are in mortal sin will also be reunited with their bodies, but their body and soul will live separated from God forever. Thankfully, those who are in a state of grace and have endured their final purification will be resurrected and share in the new Heavens and new Earth forever, body and soul as God intended.

Reflect, today, upon this glorious teaching of our Lord that you profess faith in every time you pray the Creed. Keeping your eyes on Heaven and, especially, on the final and glorious resurrected state in which you will live in the new Heaven and Earth must become your daily practice. The more we live with this holy expectation, the more we will live here and now as a time of preparation for this final existence. Build treasure now in anticipation of this glorious day and believe that it is the eternity to which you are called.

𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦: Catholic Daily Reflections
𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺: Dan Richard N. Sumcio | Drich N. Sumcio

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⚜️ 𝙎𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨.

24/11/2023

📆 𝗡𝗼𝘃. 𝟮𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯
🌿 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐚𝐦, including Saints Andrew Trần Dũng-Lạc & Jean-Théophane Vénard, M.E.P., Priests
📿 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧
👐 𝑽𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕: 🔴/⚪

1️⃣ 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰: 1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59
🎼 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑷𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒎: 1 Chronicles 29:10bcd, 11abc, 11d-12a, 12bcd
ℛ. (13b) 𝙒𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚, 𝙊 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙮 𝙂𝙤𝙙.

✝️ 𝑮𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒍
📖 A Proclamation from the Holy Gospel According to Luke [Lk 19:45-48 NABRE]

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.’ ” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

- The Gospel of the Lord.

💭 𝑻𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚’𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲, 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀.
𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟭𝟵:𝟰𝟳–𝟰𝟴

Jesus had just entered Jerusalem for the upcoming Feast of Passover. He arrived in that holy city and then returned again the next day and entered the Temple area. As He witnessed the corruption of those selling animals for the Temple sacrifices, Jesus responded with fervent preaching in an attempt to cleanse the Temple from this corruption. He quoted the Prophet Isaiah and cried out, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” Luke’s Gospel points out the reaction of the chief priests, the scribes and the leaders of the people. They were “seeking to put him to death.” However, as the Gospel further relates, “they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.”

It’s important to consider this passage within its context. The words that Jesus spoke were words that sought to cleanse the Temple of corruption. With the approval of the temple priests, who benefitted from the temple tax, there were many people who were using the practice of divine worship to make a profit for selfish gain, turning the Temple into a marketplace. Jesus could see this clearly, and many of the people would have also sensed the corruption of these practices. Though they needed to purchase animals for the ritual sacrifices and Passover meal, many of them were most likely disturbed by this abuse. Therefore, as Jesus spoke with fervor and condemnation, it angered those who were responsible for the corruption but left the people with consolation. Hence, they were “hanging on his words.”

The Gospel is always consoling, and, for those who are open, it leads them to hang on every word that is spoken. It refreshes and invigorates, clarifies and motivates. Usually when we think of the Gospel, we think of words that are gentle and inviting—words of mercy to the sinner and compassion for those who are struggling. But sometimes the pure Gospel message from our Lord fiercely attacks sin and evil. And though this may be shocking to the evil doers, to those with pure faith, these words also refresh and strengthen.

Today, we need the full Gospel message. Many need to hear Jesus’ gentle invitation to conversion by which their heavy burdens are lifted. But many others need to hear His firm words of condemnation. And the Church as a whole needs both of these messages to be proclaimed if we are to fully participate in the apostolic ministry of our Lord. Only our Lord has the right to condemn, chastise, and call others to repentance. But we are all called to share in this mission of our Lord. And though we do not have the right to judge the hearts of others, when we see objective evil and disorder within our world and even within our Church, we must cry out with our Lord, “My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And when we do hear the holy and inspired words of God’s messengers who boldly and courageously proclaim the truth and call others to repentance, it should inspire, invigorate and console us as we find ourselves hanging on their every word.

Reflect, today, upon the Gospel messages that need to be preached in our day and age that are both inspired by God and are also fervently directed at corruption within the world and even within our Church. Allow yourself to support such holy preaching and to be inspired by it. Hang on these holy words of God’s prophets today. As you do, God will protect them and inspire them to continue His holy mission of purification.

𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦: Catholic Daily Reflections
𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺: Dan Richard N. Sumcio | Drich N. Sumcio

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⚜️ 𝙎𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨.

23/11/2023

📆 𝗡𝗼𝘃. 𝟮𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯
🇻🇦 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈, 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞 & 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲𝐫
🙏🏼 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐧, 𝐀𝐛𝐛𝐨𝐭
🌿 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨, 𝐒.𝐉., 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭 & 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲𝐫
🦃 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐔.𝐒. 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲)—𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
👐 𝑽𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕: 🟢/⚪/🔴

1️⃣ 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰: 1 Maccabees 2:15-29
🎼 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑷𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒎: Psalm 50:1b-2, 5-6, 14-15
ℛ. (23b) 𝙏𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙂𝙤𝙙.

✝️ 𝑮𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒍
📖 A Proclamation from the Holy Gospel According to Luke [Lk 19:41-44 NABRE]

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

- The Gospel of the Lord.

💭 𝑻𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚’𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔
𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰

“𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂; 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.”
𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟭𝟵:𝟰𝟯–𝟰𝟰

Jesus spoke these words as He looked at Jerusalem from a distance, preparing to enter that holy city for the last time in preparation for His passion and death. As He spoke these words, the Gospel says that Jesus wept over the city. Of course, it wasn’t primarily tears over the future physical destruction of the Temple and invasion by Roman forces. It was first and foremost tears over the lack of faith of so many which was the true destruction He mourned.

As mentioned above, the city of Jerusalem was indeed sieged by the military commander Titus in the year 70 A.D. Titus was acting under the authority of his father, the emperor, and destroyed not only the Temple but also much of the city itself, as well as the Jewish inhabitants.

As Jesus approached the city of Jerusalem, so as to enter the Temple one last time to offer His life as the definitive Sacrificial Lamb for the salvation of the world, Jesus knew that many within this holy city would not accept His saving sacrifice. He knew that many within that city would become the instruments of His pending death and would have no remorse for killing the Savior of the World. And though this one point can easily be missed, it should be emphasized that Jesus’ reaction was not fear, it was not anger, it was not disgust. Rather, His reaction was holy sorrow. He wept over the city and its inhabitants despite what many of them would soon do to Him.

When you suffer injustice, how do you react? Do you lash out? Condemn? Get defensive? Or do you imitate our Lord and allow your soul to be filled with holy sorrow? Holy sorrow is an act of love and is the appropriate Christian response to persecution and injustice. Too often, however, our response is not holy sorrow but anger. The problem with this is that reacting in unholy anger does not accomplish anything good. It does not help us to imitate Jesus, and it doesn’t help those with whom we are angry. Though the passion of anger can be used for good at times, it becomes a sin when it is selfish and a reaction to some injustice done to us. Instead of this unholy anger, seek to foster holy sorrow in imitation of Jesus. This virtue will not only help your soul grow in love of those who have hurt you, it will also help them to see more clearly what they have done so that they can repent.

Reflect, today, upon your own approach to the evil you face in your life. Consider carefully your interior and exterior reaction. Do you mourn with love over sins you witness and experience? Do you mourn, with a holy sorrow, over your own sins and the sins of others? Work to foster this form of love within you and you will find that it can become a motivation for you to help transform the sins you commit and the sins of others you endure.

𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦: Catholic Daily Reflections
𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺: Dan Richard N. Sumcio | Drich N. Sumcio

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22/11/2023

📆 𝗡𝗼𝘃. 𝟮𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯
🌿 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚, 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲𝐫
👐 𝑽𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕: 🔴

1️⃣ 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰: 2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31
🎼 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑷𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒎: Psalm 17:1bcd, 5-6, 8b and 15
ℛ. 𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙙, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨, 𝙢𝙮 𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡.

✝️ 𝑮𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒍
📖 A Proclamation from the Holy Gospel According to Luke [Lk 19:11-28 NABRE]

While people were listening to [Jesus] speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately. So he said, “A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’ His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’ But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said, ‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’ He replied, ‘Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.’ Then the second came and reported, ‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’ And to this servant too he said, ‘You, take charge of five cities.’ Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’ He said to him, ‘With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’ And to those standing by he said, ‘Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.’ But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’ He replied, ‘I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.’ ”

After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

- The Gospel of the Lord.

💭 𝑻𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚’𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔
𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠

“𝗔 𝗻𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗯𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻. 𝗛𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, ‘𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻.’ 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀, 𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲, ‘𝗪𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴.’”
𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟭𝟵:𝟭𝟮–𝟭𝟰

There are three categories of people in this parable. The first includes those who received a gold coin and followed the master’s request to “engage in trade” until he returned. The second has those who received the same command but were lazy and failed to produce any good fruit from that which our Lord has given them. And the third includes those who “despise” our Lord and do not want Him as their King.

Upon the king’s return, this first category of people are represented by the two servants who took the gold coins, engaged in trade, and made five and ten more. These are those who have much apostolic zeal. God not only calls us to use the gifts we have received to expand His Kingdom on earth, He also expects it of us. His expectation is a command of love. For those who understand this command, they see it as a glorious invitation to make an eternal difference in the lives of many. They do not see the apostolic works to which they are called as a burden. Rather, they see them as a joy, and that joy fuels their efforts. The result will have exponential effects for God’s Kingdom.

The second category of people is illustrated by the one servant who kept the one gold coin “stored away in a handkerchief” out of fear. These are the people who avoid evangelizing and furthering the Kingdom of God out of fear. Fear is paralyzing. But giving in to fear is a sin. It’s a lack of faith and trust in God. Serving God will inevitably require courage on our part. It will demand that we step out of our comfort zone and do that which we may not immediately feel comfortable doing. But as that servant in the parable foretold, God is a demanding God. And He will not accept fear as an acceptable excuse not to zealously help to build the Kingdom of God.

The third category of people is the category in which you definitely do not want to fall. These are those who actively work to undermine God’s Kingship and reject Him as God. The world is filled with these people. The only thing we need to say about those who fall into this category is that which our Lord said of them. “Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.”

Reflect, today, upon which category of people your life most fully resembles. Most likely it is one of the first two. Do you have great zeal for God’s Kingdom? Are you willing to do all that you can to help build His Kingdom? Are you willing to do so even at the cost of great personal sacrifice? If so, then rejoice and know that an abundant reward awaits. But if you are one who struggles with fear, specifically, if you struggle with a fear to evangelize, to share the Gospel and to live your faith openly with humility and love, then spend more time with this parable and the fate of that one servant who hid the coin in the handkerchief. Engage in the apostolate. Commit yourself to the furtherance of God’s Kingdom. Dispel all fear and know that you will never regret putting your whole heart and soul into the service of God and the building of His Kingdom.

𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦: Catholic Daily Reflections
𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺: Dan Richard N. Sumcio | Drich N. Sumcio

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