Pathways of Hope

Monday, February 15, 2021 Feast of St Jerome Emiliani Feast of St Josephine Bakhita PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - NEVER DOUBT MARK 8:11-13 11The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, to test him. 12And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation." 13And he left them, and getting into the boat again he departed to the other side. Reflection by: Alvin Fabella: COO-EScience. South Sector Evangelization Head, Ligaya ng Panginoon Community. Speaker. Retreat Master. Radio anchor, Kakaiba Ka! Contributor- Didache. Author.

Saturday, March 20, 2021 PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - "Be in Awe of God's Word" JOHN 7:40-53 40When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This is really the prophet." 41Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42Has not the scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" 43So there was a division among the people over him. 44Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. 45The officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?" 46The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!" 47The Pharisees answered them, "Are you led astray, you also? 48Have any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49But this crowd, who do not know the law, are accursed." 50Nicode'mus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51"Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?" 52They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee." 53They went each to his own house, Reflection by: Atty. Ted Te: Human rights lawyer. Faculty member. Regional director for Western Visayas-Lingkod ng Panginoon, Sector evangelization head-Pathways. Former spokesperson-Supreme Court.

Friday, March 19, 2021 Feast of St. Joseph PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - Uprightness, Obedience and Courage MATTHEW 1:16, 18-21, 24 16and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 18Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; 19and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; 21she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 24When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, Reflection by: Abyong Calo: Lay missionary/brother-Servants of the Word. Regional Director for Mega Manila and International missions (UAE and Singapore)-Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon. Licensed Electrical Engineer.

Thursday, March 18, 2021 PATHWAYS OF HOPE: Never Forget the Works of God in your Life JOHN 5:31-47 31If I bear witness to myself, my testimony is not true; 32there is another who bears witness to me, and I know that the testimony which he bears to me is true. 33You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34Not that the testimony which I receive is from man; but I say this that you may be saved. 35He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has granted me to accomplish, these very works which I am doing, bear me witness that the Father has sent me. 37And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen; 38and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe him whom he has sent. 39You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me; 40yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41I do not receive glory from men. 42But I know that you have not the love of God within you. 43I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44How can you believe, who receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; it is Moses who accuses you, on whom you set your hope. 46If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. 47But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?" Reflection by: Raoul Roncal: Lay missionary/Brother-The Servants of the Word. Theology Instructor-Ateneo de Manila University. Licensed Engineer (ECE)

Wednesday, March 17, 2021 PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - Accepting Jesus as my Lord and Saviour JOHN 5:17-30 17But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working still, and I am working." 18This was why the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but also called God his Father, making himself equal with God. 19Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise. 20For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all that he himself is doing; and greater works than these will he show him, that you may marvel. 21For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25"Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself, 27and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man. 28Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. 30"I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. Reflection by: Christopher Luke Felix: Compliance Executive for a local bank. Missionary for the youth and young adults called FIT (Faith, Integrity and Truth). Covenanted Member- Servants of Yahweh Covenant Community-KL, Malaysia.

Tuesday, March 16, 2021 PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - DO YOU WANT TO BE MADE WELL? JOHN 5:1-16 1After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Beth-za'tha, which has five porticoes. 3In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed. 5One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" 7The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me." 8Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." 9And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked. Now that day was the sabbath. 10So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet." 11But he answered them, "The man who healed me said to me, `Take up your pallet, and walk.'" 12They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, `Take up your pallet, and walk'?" 13Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you." 15The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16And this was why the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did this on the sabbath. Reflection by: Steve Sandoval: CEO and Training Director-LeadCore Training and Consultancy, Strategic Planner, Organizational Development Expert, Site Leader-Pathways Sta. Rosa, Pastoral Leader-Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon

Monday, March 15, 2021 PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - FOLLOW AND BELIEVE JOHN 4:43-54 43After the two days he departed to Galilee. 44For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast, for they too had gone to the feast. 46So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Caper'na-um there was an official whose son was ill. 47When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." 49The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. 51As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was living. 52So he asked them the hour when he began to mend, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." 53The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live"; and he himself believed, and all his household. 54This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. Reflection by: Alvin Fabella: COO-EScience. South Sector Evangelization Head, Ligaya ng Panginoon Community. Speaker. Retreat Master. Radio anchor, Kakaiba Ka! Contributor- Didache. Author.

Sunday, March 14, 2021 4th Sunday of LENT PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - THE DEPTH OF CHRIST'S LOVE JOHN 3:14-21 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." 16For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God. Reflection by: Aldem Salvana: Meta-NLP Trainer. Meta-Coach. Chief Learning Executive-Breakthrough Coaching and Consulting Inc. Author-The World Class Coach. Covenanted Member-Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon.

Saturday, March 13, 2021 PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - Broken Vessels Bearing God's Perfect Light LUKE 18:9-14 9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: 10"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." Reflection by: Atty. Ted Te: Human rights lawyer. Faculty member. Regional director for Western Visayas-Lingkod ng Panginoon, Sector evangelization head-Pathways. Former spokesperson-Supreme Court.

Friday, March 12, 2021 PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT MARK 12:28-34 28And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" 29Jesus answered, "The first is, `Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' 31The second is this, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." 32And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that he is one, and there is no other but he; 33and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." 34And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him any question. Reflection by: Abyong Calo: Lay missionary/brother-Servants of the Word. Regional Director for Mega Manila and International missions (UAE and Singapore)-Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon. Licensed Electrical Engineer.

Thursday, March 11, 2021 Feast of St Aurea PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - WHO IS THE STRONGEST? LUKE 11:14-23 14Now he was casting out a demon that was dumb; when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke, and the people marveled. 15But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Be-el'zebul, the prince of demons"; 16while others, to test him, sought from him a sign from heaven. 17But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul. 19And if I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 20But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace; 22but when one stronger than he assails him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoil. 23He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. Reflection by: Raoul Roncal: Lay missionary/Brother-The Servants of the Word. Theology Instructor-Ateneo de Manila University. Licensed Engineer (ECE)

Wednesday, March 10, 2021 Feast of St John Ogilvie PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - RULES ARE NOT MEANT TO BE BROKEN MATTHEW 5:17-19 17"Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Reflection by: Abyong Calo: Lay missionary/brother-Servants of the Word. Regional Director for Mega Manila and International missions (UAE and Singapore)-Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon. Licensed Electrical Engineer.

Tuesday, March 9, 2021 PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - Forgiven First MATTHEW 18:21-35 21Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" 22Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. 23"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; 25and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' 27And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, `Pay what you owe.' 29So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. 31When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; 33and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' 34And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. 35So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." Reflection by: Bobby Quitain: Lawyer. Professor. Best-selling author. Preacher. Missionary.

Monday, March 8, 2021 PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH JESUS? LUKE 4:24-30 24And he said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his own country. 25But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Eli'jah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land; 26and Eli'jah was sent to none of them but only to Zar'ephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Eli'sha; and none of them was cleansed, but only Na'aman the Syrian." 28When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29And they rose up and put him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong. 30But passing through the midst of them he went away. Reflection by: Alvin Fabella: COO-EScience. South Sector Evangelization Head, Ligaya ng Panginoon Community. Speaker. Retreat Master. Radio anchor, Kakaiba Ka! Contributor- Didache. Author.

Sunday, March 7, 2021 PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - LIVE WITH ZEAL FOR JESUS JOHN 2:13-25 13The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. 15And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; you shall not make my Father's house a house of trade." 17His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for thy house will consume me." 18The Jews then said to him, "What sign have you to show us for doing this?" 19Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?" 21But he spoke of the temple of his body. 22When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. 23Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs which he did; 24but Jesus did not trust himself to them, 25because he knew all men and needed no one to bear witness of man; for he himself knew what was in man. Reflection by: Lorna Campos: Leadership Trainer. Meta-Coach. Mentor. Youth Facilitator. Inspirational speaker. Covenanted member-Ligaya ng Panginoon. Senior woman leader-University District

Saturday, March 6, 2021 PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - OUR GOD WHO IS AND GIVES OUR ALL LUKE 15:1-3, 11-32 1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." 3So he told them this parable: 11And he said, "There was a man who had two sons; 12and the younger of them said to his father, `Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. 13Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. 14And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. 15So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. 17But when he came to himself he said, `How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants."' 20And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21And the son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22But the father said to his servants, `Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; 23and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; 24for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. 25"Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. 27And he said to him, `Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' 28But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29but he answered his father, `Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. 30But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' 31And he said to him, `Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'" Reflection by: Atty. Ted Te: Human rights lawyer. Faculty member. Regional director for Western Visayas-Lingkod ng Panginoon, Sector evangelization head-Pathways. Former spokesperson-Supreme Court

Friday, March 5, 2021 Feast of St Olivia PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - PARABLE OF THE WRETCHED SERVANT MATTHEW 21:33-43, 45-46 33"Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. 34When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; 35and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. 37Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, `They will respect my son.' 38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, `This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.' 39And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" 41They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons." 42Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: `The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? 43Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it." 45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46But when they tried to arrest him, they feared the multitudes, because they held him to be a prophet. Reflection by: Abyong Calo: Lay missionary/brother-Servants of the Word. Regional Director for Mega Manila and International missions (UAE and Singapore)-Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon. Licensed Electrical Engineer

Thursday, March 4, 2021 Feast of St Casimir PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - THE STORY OF US LUKE 16:19-31 19"There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20And at his gate lay a poor man named Laz'arus, full of sores, 21who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; 23and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Laz'arus in his bosom. 24And he called out, `Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Laz'arus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.' 25But Abraham said, `Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Laz'arus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' 27And he said, `Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, 28for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' 29But Abraham said, `They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' 30And he said, `No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31He said to him, `If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'" Reflection by: Raoul Roncal: Lay missionary/Brother-The Servants of the Word. Theology Instructor-Ateneo de Manila University. Licensed Engineer (ECE)

Wednesday, March 3, 2021 Feast of St Catherine Drexel PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - JESUS CHRIST IS FAR GREATER THAN CAPTAIN AMERICA Matthew 20: 17-28 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Reflection by: Christopher Luke Felix: Compliance Executive for a local bank. Missionary for the youth and young adults called FIT (Faith, Integrity and Truth). Covenanted Member- Servants of Yahweh Covenant Community-KL, Malaysia

Tuesday, March 2, 2021 Feast of St Agnes of Bohemia PATHWAYS OF HOPE: SHORT REFLECTIONS ON THE DAILY GOSPEL READING - Inward Change rather than Outward Change Matthew 23: 1-12 Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Reflection by: Steve Sandoval: CEO and Training Director-LeadCore Training and Consultancy, Strategic Planner, Organizational Development Expert, Site Leader-Pathways Sta. Rosa, Pastoral Leader-Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon