22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

 

Short Reflection for the 22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) 

Readings: Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29; Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a; Luke 14:1, 7-14.

Selected Passage:  "When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.” (Luke 14: 12-13) 

Meditation:  The Gospel is a strong challenge to us and a reminder that the poor and the hungry must have places at our table else we are NO different from the Scribes and the Pharisees. .  If we invite only friends and kinfolks and the wealth and the powerful, we have already received our rewards. So next time we throw a party, we simply ask whether the poor and the crippled are also fed else Cuidate (BEWARE)! Cf. www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

DHIKR SIMPLE METHOD... 

1st step: Write the Dhikr (the Arabic word for REMEMBRANCE) in your heart. 

2nd step: Let the Dhikr remain always in on your lips and mind - RECITING the Dhikr silently as often as possible... 

3rd step:  Be attentive to the disclosure of the meaning/s of the
Dhikr in your life. 

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) - The Narrow Gate

Short Reflection for the 21^st Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) 

Readings: Isaiah 66:18-21; Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13; Luke 13:22-30.

Selected Passage: “Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" He answered them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” (Luke 13: 23-24) 

Meditation:  To enter the Kingdom of God is not a question of strength and merit.  No one is strong enough and neither anyone is meritorious enough to win the Kingdom! It is a GIFT.  But walking along the path of Jesus means to bear fruits. And fruits associated to the lives of Christians are – justice, charity and mercy! So pray for these fruits. Remember that the Kingdom is God’s gratuitous offer to all! Cf. www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

DHIKR SIMPLE METHOD... 

1st step: Write the Dhikr (the Arabic word for REMEMBRANCE) in your heart. 

2nd step: Let the Dhikr remain always in on your lips and mind - RECITING the Dhikr silently as often as possible... 

3rd step:  Be attentive to the disclosure of the meaning/s of the
Dhikr in your life. 

Bapa Jun Mercado, omi

Badaliyya - Philippines

Short Reflection for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) 

Readings: Jeremiah 38: 4-6, 8-10; Hebrew 12: 1-4; Luke 12: 49-53

Gospel Passage:  "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! (Luke 12: 49-50) 

Meditation:  Jesus spoke of his own Baptism of fire – his suffering, death and resurrection that others may have life.   It is the fire that burns yet purify.  The fire in our life is always the symbol of energy and zeal.  This is our zeal for the kingdom of God manifest in our love of God and Love of neighbors, especially the least. Hold on to that fire else we become a walking dead.  Cf. www.badaliyya.blogspot.com    

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Short Reflection for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Readings: Wisdom 18: 6-9; Hebrew 11: 1-2. 1-12; Luke 12: 32-48

Gospel Passage: “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” (Luke 12: 32-34)

Meditation:  The kingdom is given to us for FREE! The gospel’s challenge to us is show that we, truly, treasure the kingdom both in our words and deeds. Our deeds reveal the real treasure in our heart. Work for the treasure that does NOT wear out and NO thief can reach nor moth destroy. cf. www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

South Sudan Refugees in Uganda

Uganda received 0ver 30, 000 refugees in just three weeks and reception facilities are overflowing. Recent fighting in South Sudan has caused the wave of new arrivals, putting pressure on its southern neighbour, which is already hosting half a million refugees...

“The new refugee influx of South Sudan refugees is a huge burden to the government. We are constrained in terms of providing social services to these new refugees,” Titus Jogo, a refugee official at the Ugandan prime minister’s office, told IRIN. “We are looking for additional resources to provide them with social services like medical care, water, shelter and other basic necessities.”

By early December 2015, Uganda had become home to almost 511,000 refugees and asylum seekers, making it the third largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, after Ethiopia and Kenya.

As of 24 July, more than 30,000 refugees had crossed into Uganda to flee uncertainty and fighting in South Sudan between government troops of President Salva Kiir and forces loyal to First Vice President Riek Machar. Humanitarian agencies say the sudden influx has severely stretched the resources and capacity of refugee collection points, transit centres and reception centres in the northwestern part of the country. (Source: IRIN News)

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Short Reflection for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) - Our Father Sunday

Readings: Genesis 18: 26-32; Colossians 2: 12-14; Luke 11: 1-13

Selected Passage:  "And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11: 9-10)

Meditation:  We need to hold on to our belief that our God is a Merciful Father!  And we do not tire praying, asking, seeking and knocking… ‘Everyone who asks, receives; the one who seeks, finds, and the one who knocks, the door will be opened’! Cf. www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Short Reflection for the 16^th Sunday of the Ordinary Time (C)

Readings:  Genesis 18: 1-10; Colossians 1: 24-28; Luke 10: 38-42

Gospel Passage:  “There is need only for one thing.  Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” (Luke 10: 41)

Meditation:  Like Martha, we are, often, burdened with so many worries and we forget what is very important.  Often this means simply to accompany someone and listen with compassion and love. We are anxious about many things: what are we to eat; what are we to wear; and what are we to do? Mary has shown us the way, that is, being in communion with the Lord and listening to him. www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C): The Good Samaritan

Short Reflection for the 15^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C): the Good Samaritan

Readings:  Deuteronomy 30: 10-14; Colossians 1: 15-20; Luke 10: 25-37 

"And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10: 29)

Selected Passages: "A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.”

“But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him.” (Luke 10: 30-34)

Meditation: The parable of the Good Samaritan challenges us to “REVISE” our understanding of neighbor. The person in need is a neighbor to us. And people who need us most are our special neighbor. And beware that we do not pass by on the opposite side when we see a neighbor in need.

Mercy without WORKS is DEAD!

The Holy Father reflected during his address on works of mercy, drawing inspiration from today’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew 25:31.

“In fact, it is good never to forget that mercy is not an abstract word, but a style of life. It is one thing to speak of mercy and another to live mercy. Paraphrasing the words of Saint James the Apostle, (cf. 2:14-17), we can say: mercy without works is dead in itself. It is in fact thus!”

What renders mercy alive, he explained, is its constant dynamism in going to meet the needs and necessities of others.  “Mercy has eyes to see, ears to listen, hands to resolve,” he said.

Warning

The Pope lamented that so often, so many are unaware of the suffering and needs of others, or remain completely indifferent.

“Sometimes we pass before dramatic situations of poverty and it seems that they do not touch us; everything continues as if there were nothing, in an indifference that in the end renders us hypocrites and, without realizing it, it results in a form of spiritual lethargy, which renders our mind insensitive and our life sterile.”

Roll up Sleeves

“One who has experienced the Father’s mercy in his own life cannot remain insensitive in face of the needs of brothers,” Francis said, noting Jesus’ teachings do not allow for escapes, but call for helping those who hunger and thirst, the naked, the stranger, the sick and those in prison (cf. Mt25:35-36),

(Source: Zenit 7/1/16)

Never Grow Weary....

NEVER GROW WEARY

All of us experience tension in our lives: tension in our families, tension in our friendships, tension in our places of work, tension in our churches, tension in our communities, and tension within our conversations around other people, politics, and current events. And, being good-hearted people, we carry that tension with patience, respect, graciousness, and forbearance – for a while! 

Then, at a certain point we feel ourselves stretched to the limit, grow weary of doing what is right, feel something snap inside of us, and hear some inner-voice say: Enough! I’ve put up with this too long! I won’t tolerate this anymore!

And we let go. We let go of patience, respect, graciousness, and forbearance, either by venting and giving back in kind or simply by fleeing the situation with an attitude of good riddance. Either way, we refuse to carry the tension any longer.

Mature parents put up with a lot of tension in raising their children. Mature teachers put up with a lot of tension in trying to open the minds and hearts of their students. Mature friends absorb a lot of tension in remaining faithful to each other. Mature young women and men put up with a lot of sexual tension while waiting for marriage. Mature Christians put up with a lot of tension in helping to absorb the immaturities and sins of their churches.

Men and women are noble of character precisely when they can walk with patience, respect, graciousness, and forbearance amid crushing and unfair tensions, when they never grow weary of doing what is right.

But all of this will not be easy. It’s the way of long loneliness, with many temptations to let go and slip away. But, if you persevere and never grown weary of doing what is right, at your funeral, those who knew you will be blessed and grateful that you continued to believe in them even when for a time they had stopped believing in themselves.

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Dhikr for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

The Short Reflection for 14^th Sunday of the Ordinary Year (C)

Readings: Isaiah 66: 10-14; Galatians 6: 14-18; Luke 10 10:1-12. 17-20

Selected Text:  “Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household’.” (Luke 10: 3-5)

Reflection:  The mission or the ministry is no bed of roses.  The demands are great – carry no moneybag, no sack, and no sandals! The disciples of the Lord are sent like lambs among wolves. And their first message is ‘Peace to this household.’  Yes, the disciples are PEACEMAKERS! www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

DHIKR SIMPLE METHOD

Dhikr is an Arabic word that means remembrance.  Our dhikr prayer is remembrance of God’s Words and Deeds.

1^st step: Write the Dhikr in your heart.

2^nd step: Let the Dhikr remain always in on your lips and mind - RECITING the dhikr silently as often as possible...

3^rd step:  Be attentive to the disclosure of the meaning/s of the Dhikr in your life.

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Short Reflection for 12^th Sunday of the Ordinary Year (C)

Readings: Zechariah 12: 10-11. 13:1; Galatians 3: 26-29; Luke 9: 18-24

Selected Text:  “Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say that I am?’ They said in reply, ‘John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ Then he said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter said in reply, ‘The Messiah of God’.” (Luke 9: 18-20)

Reflection:  Today, each one us is being confronted to answer that same question, “Who Jesus is in our lives…? There is NO more escaping behind the ‘rug’ of rituals and formulas!  Jesus Christ is the source of life and the forgiveness of sins. Trough him we receive life in its fullness.  See www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Short Reflection for 11^th Sunday of the Ordinary Year (C)

Readings: 2 Samuel 12: 7-19. 13; Galatians 2:18. 19-21; Luke 7: 36 - 8: 3

Selected Text:  “So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven because she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The others at table said to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (Luke 7: 

Reflection:  In the gospel, Jesus directly challenges us by citing a sinner whose sins are forgiven, because ‘she has shown great love’.  Jesus shows what truly matters, that is, love and compassion. Love of God and love of neighbor and acting on them both in words and deeds are far more worth than any rituals, holocausts and formulas. Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees with many faces. www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

Corpus Christi (C)

Short Reflection for the Corpus Christi Sunday (C)

Readings: Genesis 14: 18-20; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26; Luke 9: 11b-17

Selected Gospel Passages: “Give them some food yourselves. Five loaves and two fish are all we have. Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and he blessed them and broke them and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied”.

Meditation: The Feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ reminds us of the price of redemption.  He broke his body and shed his blood that we may have life!  Thus when we eat his body and drink his blood we share his life.

Today, we, too, journey through arid ways and arduous paths. At times, this journey is characterized by hopelessness and near despair, but in the midst of all these, we are invited to share and break bread with those with none.  We all share our blessings all will be satisfied and we shall fully understand the meaning of Jesus breaking and sharing his life that all may have life. See: www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

The Feast of the Pentecost

Short Reflection for the Feast of Pentecost

Readings: Acts 2: 1-11; 1 Corinthians 12: 3b – 7. 12-13; John 20: 19-23

Selected Passage: And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (John 20: 22-23)

Meditation: The feast of the Pentecost celebrates the coming down of the Holy Spirit. Jesus did NOT leave us orphans. He gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit - the power to forgive sin and to give NEW life! These are the two marks of the presence of the Holy Spirit: first, the forgiveness of sins; and second, the gift of life. www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord

Short Reflection for the Feast of the Ascension (C) 

Readings: Acts: 1: 1-11; Ephesians 1: 17-23; Luke 24: 46-53

Selected Passage:  And he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24: 46-48)

Meditation: The power of resurrection is made manifest in the repentance and forgiveness of sins! We are witnesses of this wonder! The Feast of the Ascension reminds all sundry that even we cannot physically see the person we love, he/she is always present within us. The risen Lord is always present within us – in the celebration of the Sacraments; in his words; and in our good deeds for our neighbors in need. www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

DHIKR SIMPLE METHOD... 

1st step: Write the text or Dhikr (the Arabic word for REMEMBRANCE) in your heart. 

2nd step: Let the text remain always in on your lips and mind - RECITING the text silently as often as possible... 

3rd step:  Be attentive to the disclosure of the meaning/s of the text in your life.

Short Reflection for the 6^th Easter Sunday (C)

Readings: Acts 15: 1-2. 22-29; Revelation 21: 10-14. 22-23; John 14: 23-29

Selected Passage:  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. (John 14: 27)

 Reflection:  There are many things that bother us and cause us so many anxieties. The Gospel tells us ‘do not let our hearts be troubled or afraid’.  The Risen Christ remains with us in his words and in when we gather and remember his words and deeds, especially at the breaking of the bread.  The Risen Lord gives us PEACE!  www.badaliyya.blogspot.com

5th Sunday of Easter (C)

Short Reflection for the 5^th Easter Sunday (C)

Readings: Acts 14: 21-27; Revelation 21: 1-5; John 13: 31-33. 34-35

Selected Passage:  “I give you a new commandment: * love one another as I have loved you, so you also should love one another.  This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13: 34-35)

 Reflection:  The new measure of our love for on another is the love of Christ for each one of us.  Jesus shows his love in the CROSS, that is, Jesus’ self-expenditure that we may have life to the full.  ‘Love one another as I have loved you’. By this kind of love, people will know that we are his disciples! www.badaliyya.blogspot.com