Scripture Reflection and Prayer : Journeying together

Tuesday, 2 September 2025

KEEPING OUR FOCUS

20250903 KEEPING OUR FOCUS

03 September 2025, Wednesday, 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

First reading

Colossians 1:1-8

The message of the truth has reached you and is spreading all over the world

From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy to the saints in Colossae, our faithful brothers in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

We have never failed to remember you in our prayers and to give thanks for you to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ever since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you show towards all the saints because of the hope which is stored up for you in heaven. It is only recently that you heard of this, when it was announced in the message of the truth. The Good News which has reached you is spreading all over the world and producing the same results as it has among you ever since the day when you heard about God’s grace and understood what this really is. Epaphras, who taught you, is one of our closest fellow workers and a faithful deputy for us as Christ’s servant, and it was he who told us all about your love in the Spirit.

How to listen

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 51(52):10-11

I trust in the goodness of God for ever and ever.

I am like a growing olive tree

in the house of God.

I trust in the goodness of God

for ever and ever.

I trust in the goodness of God for ever and ever.

I will thank you for evermore;

for this is your doing.

I will proclaim that your name is good,

in the presence of your friends.

I trust in the goodness of God for ever and ever.

Gospel Acclamation

1P1:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

The word of the Lord remains for ever:

What is this word?

It is the Good News that has been brought to you.

Alleluia!

Or:

Lk4:17

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Lord has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,

to proclaim liberty to captives.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 4:38-44

He would not allow them to speak because they knew he was the Christ

Leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever and they asked him to do something for her. Leaning over her he rebuked the fever and it left her. And she immediately got up and began to wait on them.

At sunset all those who had friends suffering from diseases of one kind or another brought them to him, and laying his hands on each he cured them. Devils too came out of many people, howling, ‘You are the Son of God.’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.

When daylight came he left the house and made his way to a lonely place. The crowds went to look for him, and when they had caught up with him they wanted to prevent him leaving them, but he answered, ‘I must proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do.’ And he continued his preaching in the synagogues of Judaea.

KEEPING OUR FOCUS

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Col 1:1-8; Ps 52:10-11; Lk 4:38-44]

Most of us live extremely busy lives because we wear so many hats and juggle multiple responsibilities. We have full-time careers that keep us occupied, and at the same time, we must care for our children, elderly parents, in-laws, and siblings. We worry about our children’s studies and education, while also needing to maintain good communication with our spouse–not just about household matters but also on an emotional level. If we have loved ones who are sick, immobile, or suffering from conditions such as dementia or Parkinson’s disease, even more time and attention are required. At the same time, we are called to be responsible to the community, the Church, and society at large. We feel the need to give our time and resources in service. In short, everyone seems to be asking for a part of us.

In the Gospel, we also see the hectic life of Jesus. We read that He preached regularly in the synagogues: “And He continued His preaching in the synagogues of Judaea.” Immediately after a tiring service in the synagogue, He was called to heal Peter’s mother-in-law. Without delay, He went to Simon’s house because the illness was severe. Later that evening, “all those who had friends suffering from diseases of one kind or another brought them to Him, and laying His hands on each, He cured them. Devils too came out of many people, howling, ‘You are the Son of God.'” Such was the life of Jesus. Even after rising early the next morning to pray, the people came looking for Him, giving Him no peace.

Our problem is that we often cannot say “no”. We run around frenzied with activity, and as a result, we burn out. We become edgy, resentful, and short-tempered. In trying to help others, stress causes us to be careless with our words and actions, and we end up hurting people unconsciously or even deliberately. Our spouse may be wounded by our remarks, our children resent us for losing our temper or not spending quality time with them, and even parishioners may feel hurt when priests or religious speak to them harshly.

What is the real problem? We have lost our bearing and focus. We get caught up in responsibilities and forget the hope before us. What should be an act of love becomes a mere duty or chore. We forget our mission and lose the spirit of relationship. Jesus, however, was clear about His mission. When urged to remain in one place, He replied firmly, “I must proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do.” He did not seek comfort, security, or popularity, nor did He try to build His own kingdom.

He came to heal and proclaim the Good News of God’s love and eternal life for all. He resisted the temptation to be made king by the people because He knew the Good News was not for one group, but for everyone.

As for us, we often forget what we are called to do. We forget that our work contributes not just to personal success but to the nation and society. We forget that raising children is not only about ensuring academic success but forming them in love and truth. Too often, we use them as trophies rather than nurturing their whole person. Caring for elderly parents, likewise, is not a burden but a way of growing in love and sharing God’s love with them. Priests, too, can lose sight of their mission, becoming ambitious and seeking approval, recognition, or control, rather than serving God’s people humbly.

At the root of all these is the lack of prayer and quiet time with the Lord. Scripture tells us, “When daylight came he left the house and made his way to a lonely place.” Without prayer and discernment, we lose focus. When we are not in touch with ourselves and our motives in what we do, we start to do things more for ourselves – seeking security, comfort, happiness, or glory – than for God or others. Of course, it is so difficult to admit that our motives are not pure. Many of us are too blind to our hidden motives. Jesus was always conscious of this subtle temptation to seek glory and security. Thus He rebuked the devils “and would not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.” He did not want the people to come to Him for the wrong reasons. He was not trying to build His kingdom but to announce the Good News of His Father’s kingdom of love.

The lives of St. Paul and the early Christians in the first reading remind us of what it means to stay focused. St. Paul praised them, saying: “We heard about your faith in Christ and the love that you show towards all the saints because of the hope which is stored up for you in heaven.” They lived with faith, hope, and love. Their faith gave them a certain hope of eternal life, which sustained them even in persecution. Their hope in Christ gave rise to charity, lived not only in belief (orthodoxy) but also in practice (orthopraxis). Their strong faith led them to spread the Good News widely: “The Good News which has reached you is spreading all over the world and producing the same results as it has among you ever since the day you heard about God’s grace and understood what this really is.” They did not keep the Good News for themselves.

Hence, it behoves us to cling to Jesus as the centre of all our activities. Without Him, we become the centre of our own lives, seeking our own security, comfort and glory. The psalmist reminds us: “I am like a growing olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the goodness of God for ever and ever.” We must be rooted in Christ, drawing wisdom and love from Him, if we are to proclaim His goodness and love. If we do not come to Jesus daily, we will lose our focus and direction and we will not find the strength to continue loving and serving selflessly.

There is no excuse for neglecting prayer, no matter how busy we are or what position we hold in life. If Jesus the Son of God saw the need to pray to His Father daily, we who are only sons of men need to pray even more. Jesus drew strength from His Father’s love and He was always in communion with Him. We too must do the same – not merely reciting prayers but being in living relationship with God. If we claim to be too busy to pray, we must remember that Jesus was even busier – yet He made time to pray. It comes down to priorities. If prayer is important, we will make time. If not, we will always find excuses. Like Jesus, we must rise early to pray in silence and peace, finding our own “desert” space so that we can be recharged each morning and find the strength for the rest of the day. It is better to sleep earlier and give up late-night distractions so that we can begin each day in His love and wisdom. Without this grounding, our lives will be disordered, and we will create more problems for ourselves and others.

Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections

Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.

Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.

Monday, 1 September 2025

PREPARING FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD

20250902 PREPARING FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD

02 September 2025, Tuesday, 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

First reading

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6,9-11

Keep strengthening one another

You will not be expecting us to write anything to you, brothers, about ‘times and seasons’, since you know very well that the Day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. It is when people are saying, ‘How quiet and peaceful it is’ that the worst suddenly happens, as suddenly as labour pains come on a pregnant woman; and there will be no way for anybody to evade it.

But it is not as if you live in the dark, my brothers, for that Day to overtake you like a thief. No, you are all sons of light and sons of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober. God never meant us to experience the Retribution, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that, alive or dead, we should still live united to him. So give encouragement to each other, and keep strengthening one another, as you do already.

How to listen

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 26(27):1,4,13-14

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.

The Lord is my light and my help;

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

before whom shall I shrink?

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.

There is one thing I ask of the Lord,

for this I long,

to live in the house of the Lord,

all the days of my life,

to savour the sweetness of the Lord,

to behold his temple.

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness

in the land of the living.

Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.

Hope in the Lord!

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.

Gospel Acclamation

Heb4:12

Alleluia, alleluia!

The word of God is something alive and active:

it can judge secret emotions and thoughts.

Alleluia!

Or:

Lk7:16

Alleluia, alleluia!

A great prophet has appeared among us;

God has visited his people.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 4:31-37

'I know who you are: the Holy One of God'

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because he spoke with authority.

In the synagogue there was a man who was possessed by the spirit of an unclean devil, and it shouted at the top of its voice, ‘Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the devil, throwing the man down in front of everyone, went out of him without hurting him at all. Astonishment seized them and they were all saying to one another, ‘What teaching! He gives orders to unclean spirits with authority and power and they come out.’ And reports of him went all through the surrounding countryside.

PREPARING FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [1 Th 5:1-6,9-11; Ps 27:1,4,13-14; Lk 4:31-37]

St Paul reminded his people to be prepared for the Day of the Lord. This is something often neglected in the Church’s teaching and in the minds of many of our faithful. Perhaps sixty years ago, people were more conscious of the need to prepare for the day of judgment. In those days, when many lived in poverty, suffered poor health, and had shorter life spans, there was a keen awareness that life on earth is fleeting. People placed their hope in a better life after death and in the happiness of heaven.

Today, however, we have become more prosperous. Standards of living have improved tremendously, we enjoy greater luxuries, and advances in health care have extended our life spans. Because of this, many are preoccupied with working, earning money, or simply enjoying life. Thoughts of death and the Day of the Lord are often the last things on their minds. We live as though we will remain here forever, with little fear of death, trusting that we will be cared for and able to die gracefully and with dignity even in old age. This is why there seems to be little urgency to remind people of the Day of the Lord. For many, it feels too unreal when life is comfortable and going well.

St Paul warns his people that the Day of the Lord will come “like a thief in the night”, meaning when we least expect it. At night, we are tired and asleep; it is dark, and we cannot see clearly. That is why a thief strikes at night, when we are unaware of what is happening. So too in our spiritual life–when we live in darkness, leading irresponsible lives, indulging in harmful activities and illegitimate pleasures, we harm ourselves, our health, our work, and our relationships without even realizing it.

Secondly, St Paul says, it will come “as suddenly as labour pains come on a pregnant woman; and there will be no way for anybody to evade it.” Indeed, although an expectant mother knows the day of delivery will come, she also knows that when it happens, it will be sudden and unstoppable. Likewise, there is always the temptation to postpone conversion, thinking we still have plenty of time. This is the Evil One’s greatest weapon: to lull us into the illusion that repentance can wait. We keep delaying until it is too late. If we ignore the signs of the times and neglect the opportunities God gives us to live in the light, the day will come when we can no longer turn back, and regret will be all that remains. We can meet with a fatal accident, even though most of us think it is very unlikely because we are not so unlucky. Perhaps not, but our health and families may be destroyed. As Scripture warns, “It is when people are saying, ‘How quiet and peaceful it is’ that the worst suddenly happens.”

Yet the good news for us Christians is that, firstly, we have been enlightened in the truth. St. Paul says, “It is not as if you live in the dark, my brothers, for that Day to overtake you like a thief. No, you are all sons of light and sons of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober.” Unlike people in the world, we have no excuse. By our baptism, we have been inserted into Christ, and died to sin and risen to new life in Christ. We are children of God, adopted sons and daughters in Christ. As the psalmist declares: “The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; before whom shall I shrink?” Having been enlightened by the Lord, we are accountable for the gifts we have received. As Jesus taught: “That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded” (Lk 12:47-48).

Secondly, we have been saved by Christ through His death and resurrection.

In union with Him, we are able to overcome trials and temptations because we do not walk alone on this journey of faith, hope, and charity. We have the Word of God. We have Christ in our life, and the Christian community to support us in our journey. His death has revealed to us the destruction of sin and the depth of God’s love and mercy. His resurrection assures us that the final word is not hatred and death but love and life. Indeed, His desire is that we live. “God never meant us to experience the Retribution, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that, alive or dead, we should still live united to Him.”

Consequently, today, we are called to reaffirm our faith in Jesus as the Holy One of God. In the Gospel, even the demons recognized Him as the Holy One of God. In the face of the holiness of God, they cried out in fear. Before Him, they were powerless. Jesus rebuked them: “‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the devil throwing the man down in front of everyone, went out of him without hurting him at all.” Yet, although the devil knew Jesus was Lord, he did not submit to Him. Knowledge about Jesus is one thing, knowing Him is another thing all together, as St. James writes: “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe–and shudder” (Jas 2:19). Faith in Jesus requires personal commitment and surrender to His lordship.

Confessing to the Lordship and divinity of Jesus requires us to recognize the power of His Word. We must take the teaching of Christ seriously because Jesus is the Word of God in person. When Jesus “taught them on the sabbath. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because he spoke with authority.” We cannot compromise the Gospel and the Word of God by distorting it, reducing it, or diluting the truth of the Bible to suit secularism, individualism or materialism. Jesus not only taught with authority, but He demonstrated His words by His life and actions. After He delivered the man from the unclean spirit, “Astonishment seized them and they were all saying to one another, ‘What teaching! He gives orders to unclean spirits with authority and power and they come out.’ And reports of him went all through the surrounding countryside.” As Christians, we too must be faithful to the Word of God that is entrusted to us, living it out consistently in our daily lives.

To assist us in our faith, St Paul urges us to be united not just with Christ but with the Christian community as well. He wrote, “So give encouragement to each other, and keep strengthening one another, as you do already.” We need the support of the Christian community, which is why it is important that we gather together as Christians at least once a week, if not more often, to share with each other the Word of God, to gather together in worship, especially in the celebration of the Eucharist, so that we can continue to be encouraged in our faith. Unless we encourage each other in this journey of faith, the temptation to stray because of loneliness and discouragement – especially in times of trial – is very high. With our brothers and sisters always reminding us of Christ’s love for us, we will remain firm in our faith.

In this way, we can be confident of victory in Christ whenever and however the Day of the Lord comes. We are prepared because we walk in faith, hope, and charity. Indeed, there is no greater hope we can have than eternal happiness with the Lord. With the psalmist, we pray, “There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this I long, to live in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, to savour the sweetness of the Lord, to behold his temple. I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. Hope in him, hold firm and take heart. Hope in the Lord!” Hence, we approach the Day of the Lord not with fear and dread but with joy and the expectation of fulfilment in Him.

Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections

Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.

Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.