​August 31, 2020 Monday
Gospel: Luke 4:16-30

“No prophet is accepted in his hometown”

Jesus came to his disciples and said “Go and make disciples of all Nations” (Matthew28:19). However, Jesus himself was not accepted as a prophet in his hometown. Thus, it is not surprising at all if our walk of faith is not easily understood or accepted in our family, workplace and by the people who know us well.

We are not our past. We had been transformed by the grace of God. Therefore, do not be discouraged. Rather, continue to remain focused and allow God to work in you. For “He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it.”

Holy Trinity help us to persevere when our faith is tested. To remain steadfast in bearing witness for you for the world. Amen.
#PrayVD

​August 30 2020 Sunday
Gospel: Mt 16:21-27

You must forget yourself, carry your cross and follow me!

Jesus in the Gospel today sets as an example for all of us – He is very much willing to suffer and take up His cross because He knows that this is according to the Lord’s will. In the same way, as followers of Christ, we ought to carry our cross and be like the example that He has set.

What is the cross that you are carrying right now? Your work? Your mission? Family? Friends? Whatever it may be, you should remember that thus very cross you have is given by the Lord Himself. And only when we carry it with our might and heart will we be able to live our lives to the full.

Jesus, help us carry our own crosses in our daily lives so just like you, we’ll be able to live peacefully with the Father.

#PrayVD

​August 29 2020 Saturday
Gospel: Mk 6: 17-29

He became greatly disturbed every time he heard him

In the Gospel today, we are told that Herod likes listening to John The Baptist even though he becomes greatly disturbed every time he hears him. Do you know someone like John in your life? That no matter how disturbed you become with his words, you still like listening to him?

The voices of reason may come in our lives in different forms – it may be in the image of your mother, father, friend, older sister, colleague. But no matter what the form or image may be, we shall be always thankful for them for they are the echoes of the Lord’s voice we can turn to when life becomes more complicated at times.

Mother Mary, pray for us so after we listen to the echoes of the Lord’s words, we too can become the voice of love and peace to other people around us. Amen.

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​August 28 2020 Friday
Gospel: Mt 25:1-13

And Jesus concluded, “Watch out, then, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

In the Gospel, there were five foolish and five wise young women waiting for the bridegroom. The wise are those who took extra oil for their lamps while the foolish did not take any extra.

In the same way, Jesus wants you to understand that in your life, you have a choice. Whether to be prepared or not. To be like the wise or to be like the foolish is your choice. And Jesus wants you to always be ready for you do not know when the one you are waiting for will arrive.

O Jesus, help us always be ready for the circumstances life will bring. May we always be read with extra faith as we wait for the bridegroom – as we wait for you.

#PrayVD

​August 27 2020 Thursday
Gospel: Mt 24: 42-51

Who then is a faithful and wise servant?

A faithful and wise servant is defined in the Gospel as someone who is in charge if the servants to give them their food at a proper time. As we are all servants of the Lord, how beautiful is it that our “Master” considers us a great servant not by the way we serve Him – but how we serve the other servants – by the way we serve each other.

O dear Lord, help us be faithful in serving our neighbors with our own hearts. May we never forget that as we serve them, we too serve You.

#PrayVD

​August 26 2020 Wednesday
Gospel: Mt 23:27-32

How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees!

Have you ever been called a hypocrite? In the Gospel of today, Jesus calls the teachers of the Law and Pharisees in his time hypocrites as they dwell too much in what other people perceive of them rather than what God perceives of them.
 
Jesus wants to remind us today that if there is someone that we shall please, it’s not the people – but the Lord Himself. For then will we only be able to live a life far from terrible.
 
Holy Trinity, help us live for the Lord and not for ourselves and the world. May we become instruments of change this world needs. Amen!

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​August 25 2020 Tuesday
Gospel: Mt 23:23-26

Clean what is inside the cup first, and then the outside will be clean too!

In the world of today, we may be likened with the teachers of Law and Pharisees as we put too much weight on what is seen – our appearance, status and possessions.

But in the Gospel today, Jesus wants to teach us what the true important matte is when it comes t practicing faith. It is not about the things that we offer that are visible in the naked eye but the things only God can see. The things inside of us – justice, mercy and honesty.
 
Dear Jesus, help us never forget that what’s inside of our hearts should be the first that we look into before anything else.
 
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​August 24 2020 Monday
Gospel: Jn 1:45-51

Jesus said, “You will see much greater things than this!”

In the Gospel today, Nathanael was surprised that even before he came to Jesus, he discovered that Jesus already knew who he was. Just like Nathanael, there may be times that we forget how much Jesus truly knows us.

But the truth is, even before we actually get to know ourselves, He’s always known what makes us happy, excited and sad – because He sees us under the fig tree.
 
O Jesus, may we also never forget that You are the Son of God! That You are the King of Israel! The one who cares about us the most! Amen.

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​August 12, 2020 – Wednesday
Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20
“when two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them.”
In the beginning of the Gospel reading, it connotes forgiveness and reconciliation; speaking with each other on the issue or matter of concern. If one committed a mistake, we speak first with him, also referred to as “fraternal correction,” not condemning or shaming the other.
We become conscious too that the effort is to forgive the other, not to begrudge the other or put him down, worse if we ostacize or exclude the other.

Differences are normal in any community, family or organization. But when we correct one another, for the betterment or for peace in the family or organization, it is following what Jesus said, that if we do this in His name, He is among us.
Lord, teach me too to be humble in accepting if I need to be corrected, and that I become an nstrument of your peace and reconciliation.
#PrayVD

August 11, 2020 – Tuesday
Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
“Whoever becomes humble like this child, is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven..”
How do we view a child? Open, innocently happy, attentive to our every word, frank and  honest... adores us, loves us holds no judgment nor grudges. That’s what Jesus wants us to be! Aside from the children, He means the little ones to also be the poor – those who have nothing, those who have been lost, or have turned their backs on the Church and God.
The little ones are those not socially important as they do not belong to the world of the powerful. But the disciples had to become like these little ones. They must grow down and toward the periphery, where the poor and the little ones live. In this way, they will be greater in the Kingdom!
Lord, teach us to be more humble, open and giving, that we may be better servants of the poor, and the lost.

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