27th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Gal 1:13-24
Brothers and sisters: You heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions. But when he, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me; rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the Apostles, only James the brother of the Lord. (As to what I am writing to you, behold, before God, I am not lying.) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown personally to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only kept hearing that “the one who once was persecuting us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” So they glorified God because of me.
Gospel: Lk 10:38-42
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
BEING EXPERTS OF COMMUNION: Jesus finds a welcoming home. Does Jesus need a place of oasis when he is fatigued and worn-out after a heavy day? Or is it that Jesus is there at the house of Lazarus to give consolation and comfort to his friends? Everyone engaged in the work of the gospel needs some welcoming friends especially when faced with rejections and failures. They need people with whom they can gleefully share their success stories too! Jesus comes as a friend to participate in the ordinary life of the community, the family. Jesus is present not only in our works but also in our conversations, meals, and recreations. In our busy life let us not forget to bring joy to our communities and families by our thoughtfulness to be with them like Jesus, especially at their significant events. Be the gospel of joy as St. Francis calls us to be.
Prayer: Lord, make me an instrument of peace
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LISTEN TO GOD: In the first reading, the people of Nineveh listened to the message of God from Jonah. They were asked to repent or perish within forty days. They, including their King, heeded to the message. After seeing their actions of repentance, God forgave them. In the Gospel, on the one part, Mary chose to listen to Jesus. On the other, Martha was busy preparing a meal for Jesus. We see Jesus praising Mary for choosing the best thing; Listening to Him. The two examples are a guideline for us that, a disciple is someone disposed to listen. We must choose to listen to God every day. Through this, we shall be His disciples. He talks to us through many ways, one being the Bible. Do we create time in our daily life to listen to Him?
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LISTENING TO JESUS’ WORD: There are many good things which we can do, but there is only one necessary. The daily listening of the Word of God is the necessary means to transform our lives into Christ like. The service and love of neighbor is born from the humble and silent listening to Jesus’ word, otherwise, our actions can easily fall into a mere activism without spirit and love. Through the attentive listening to Jesus like Mary, his word transforms us from within and God’s love becomes the source of all actions.
DAILY GOSPEL 