Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

R.    (23b)  To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.
I take from your house no bullock,
no goats out of your fold.”
R.    To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
R.    To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
R.    To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

–   For the Church, that the People of God and its leaders may follow the promptings of the creative Spirit, to speak to the people of today in the language of today, the ever-new message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we pray:

–   For artists, poets and inventors, that they may reveal to us the splendor of creation and the riches of life beyond its apparent drabness, we pray:

–   For our communities, that we may not be afraid of authentic change and draw from Christ the courage to start the renewal of the world and of the Church with the renewal of ourselves, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord, our God,
with bread and wine, we celebrate
the covenant you renew with us
in the blood of Jesus Christ.
Make us indeed your new faithful people
bound to you in an everlasting union of love.
Renew our hearts;
make us your new wine of hope and joy,
that we may rebuild this earth today
and march forward with your Son
toward a new heaven,
where you will be our God forever.

Prayer after Communion

God of hope,
you have given us Jesus, your Son,
as our companion on the road
for understanding the old familiar things
with a new and young heart
and for renewing ourselves and the world.
Let him prod us on
when we try to compromise
by merely patching up the old here and there;
let him curb our impatience
when we try to rush people
beyond their capacity for growth.
Lead us ever forward through our trusted guide,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Blessing

Yes, it is not easy to change ourselves, our Church, our world. But life is growth. We have to grow up to the size and the stature of Christ. We have to become mature Christians in mature communities, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

REFLECTION:

Mark 2: 18-22

Embracing Freedom and Mercy in Christ

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that His message is ever new, challenging us to live as authentic Christians by embracing His transformative Word. Using the analogy of new wine in fresh wineskins, Jesus calls us to let go of rigid, outdated mindsets and make room for the surprises in the newness of life that He offers.

Jesus teaches that His Word surpasses all human ideologies, breaking the bonds of pride and self-righteousness. It invites us into the freedom of trust in God’s mercy. The Lord’s precept that “He desires mercy, not sacrifice” underscores that true discipleship is not about rigid adherence to external practices but about interior conversion and living out God’s love in justice, charity, forgiveness, and mercy.

As Pilgrims of Hope, we are called to be docile to God’s Word and open to the Holy Spirit’s action in our lives. This requires courage to move beyond our comfort zones and a willingness to embrace the newness of Christ’s call. His Word can disrupt our plans and challenge our assumptions, but it is always life-giving, drawing us closer to the heart of God.

At times, the enemy may deceive us with half-truths or ideologies that distort our faith, but Jesus leads us to freedom. To be a Christian is to trust in His grace, to allow His Word to renew us continually, and to let mercy, not judgment, guide our actions.

Let us ask for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was the first to receive the “new wine” of God’s Word, that we may also become fresh wineskins, ready to carry the joy, hope, and mercy of Christ to the world.

Embracing Freedom and Mercy in Christ - Youtube 

Mk 2: 18-22

May we be sensitive to the signs of the times

One day, when the Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist were fasting, some people asked Jesus, “Why is it that both the Pharisees and the disciples of John fast but yours do not?” …. And no one puts new wine into old wine skins, for the wine would burst the skins, and then both the wine and the skins would be lost. But new wine, new skins!”

Mario did his specialization in biblical theology at the Gregorian in Rome, but he felt called by God to follow the spirituality of Nazareth and joined the Little Brothers of the Gospel. He was sent to a mountain village in Venezuela to work with the farmers in an agricultural cooperative. The farming community rose up early in the morning and gathered together in the small chapel for the Mass celebrated by Mario. Then, after a light breakfast of coffee and cornbread, they all went to their respective work in the field, including Mario.

Instead of books, paper and pen, Mario had to carry water pipes from one slope to another to water the crops. At times, a basket hung on his back as he picked the ripened coffee beans. He also had to study again, this time, a scientific method of farming that is environment-friendly, which he in turn shared with the people.

He did not miss the academe and the research he used to do before for he was happy with his two brothers in the fraternity and the farmers of the village, with whom they worked and prayed as one community.

Jesus, may we be sensitive to the signs of the times that we may respond appropriately to do what is most urgent, opportune and effective. Amen.

May we be sensitive to the signs of the times - Youtube

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

DAY 2

Bearing with one another in love

Verse for the day:

With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bear with one another in love (Eph 4:2).

Additional Scripture passages: Zechariah 7:8-10; Psalm 25:6-10; Luke 10:30-36

Reflection

The Apostle Paul exhorts us to live in a manner worthy of our Christian calling, offering profound social guidance. He calls believers “with all humility and gentleness, with patience” to “bear with one another in love” (Eph 4:2). This divine calling is not merely a personal journey but is vividly expressed in our interactions with others.  The four virtues  Paul highlights–humility, gentleness, patience, and tolerance–are all crucial for nurturing loving relationships. To embody these virtues means approaching others with a spirit of genuine humility,  extending gentleness even towards those who test our patience,  and showing forbearance with those who challenge us. Most profoundly, it involves “bearing with one another” despite our differences, thereby reflecting a love that transcends all earthly divides and embodies the grace of  God's boundless compassion.

A question to consider

How can the virtues of humility, gentleness, patience, and tolerance, as mentioned in the letter to the Ephesians, help us, as believers, navigate and overcome divisions within our local Christian communities?

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, you show us how to be patient with one another in humility and gentleness. May the light you have shone on our path lead us towards unity and help us heal the wounds of division and indifference that often break communities apart.

Amen.