Scripture Reflection and Prayer : Journeying together

Tuesday, 28 October 2025

SALVATION IS BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

20251029 SALVATION IS BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

29 October 2025, Wednesday, 30th Week in Ordinary Time

First reading

Romans 8:26-30

The Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words

The Spirit comes to help us in our weakness. For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words, and God who knows everything in our hearts knows perfectly well what he means, and that the pleas of the saints expressed by the Spirit are according to the mind of God.

We know that by turning everything to their good God co-operates with all those who love him, with all those that he has called according to his purpose. They are the ones he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers. He called those he intended for this; those he called he justified, and with those he justified he shared his glory.

How to listen

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 12(13):4-6

Lord, I trust in your mercy.

Look at me, answer me, Lord my God!

Give light to my eyes lest I fall asleep in death,

lest my enemy say: ‘I have overcome him’;

lest my foes rejoice to see my fall.

Lord, I trust in your mercy.

As for me, I trust in your merciful love.

Let my heart rejoice in your saving help.

Let me sing to the Lord for his goodness to me,

singing psalms to the name of the Lord, the Most High.

Lord, I trust in your mercy.

Gospel Acclamation

Jn14:6

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord;

No one can come to the Father except through me.

Alleluia!

Or:

cf.2Th2:14

Alleluia, alleluia!

Through the Good News God called us

to share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 13:22-30

The last shall be first and the first last

Through towns and villages Jesus went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ He said to them, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.

‘Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself knocking on the door, saying, “Lord, open to us” but he will answer, “I do not know where you come from.” Then you will find yourself saying, “We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets” but he will reply, “I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men!”

‘Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves turned outside. And men from east and west, from north and south, will come to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.

‘Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.’

SALVATION IS BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ROM 8:26-30; LK 13:22-30]

Some people like to speculate about God and the future. They enjoy engaging in theological discussions about God, how we are saved, and what heaven might be like. They try to imagine how heaven would be and what we will be like in the next life. One question that intrigues many is the one people asked our Lord: “Sir, will there be only a few saved?” When we ask such a question, are we doing so out of curiosity or genuine concern for our own salvation? The truth is, Jesus is not interested in speculative questions–just as He was not concerned with predictions about the end times. As He said, “But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come.” (Mk 13:32f)

Indeed, rather than speculating about when God’s kingdom will come or how many will be saved, it is far more important for us to ensure that we ourselves are saved. The best way is to remain prepared and ready at all times. Instead of wondering whether others will reach heaven, we should focus our energy on living rightly. We must discipline ourselves and carry our cross after our Lord if we are to enter into the fullness of life. For the Lord said, “Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.” Entering the Kingdom of God is indeed a grace from God, but it requires our active cooperation.

Entry into the Kingdom of God is not attained merely through membership in the Church by baptism. We must go beyond mere association with Christ to living the life of Christ. As the Lord said, “Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself knocking on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ but he will answer, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets,’ but he will reply, ‘I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men!'” Membership and mere association–by race or baptism–cannot save us unless we share in His life and love. Exposure to and knowledge about Jesus are not enough to qualify us to enter the Kingdom of God. What we need is a personal relationship with the Lord and a genuine commitment to His message and person. Heaven is not simply another place; it is allowing the reign of God to rule our hearts, minds, and wills. Heaven is ultimately about our relationship with God, others, and ourselves.

This is why we cannot take baptism for granted, as if it were a guaranteed passport to heaven. As the Lord warned the Jews against complacency: “There will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves turned outside. And men from east and west, from north and south, will come to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.” We must avoid a false sense of security simply because we are Catholics. God’s blessing is given to all who embrace Him and His Gospel. In fact, those who have been given more opportunities and graces will be judged even more strictly. As the Lord said, “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 12:47f)

This does not mean, however, that salvation depends solely on our efforts. Salvation is not about the number of good deeds we have done. Rather, it is about being transformed in Christ through His love for us. Salvation is a free gift from God, and we must allow His grace to work in us through the Holy Spirit. St. Paul says, “The Spirit comes to help us in our weakness. For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words, and God who knows everything in our hearts knows perfectly well what he means, and that the pleas of the saints expressed by the Spirit are according to the mind of God.” (Rom 8:26-27) At the end of the day, we must remain humble before the majesty of God. As St. Paul reminds us, we cannot foresee the future and often pray for the wrong things that may ultimately harm rather than help us. Many of us seek what we think is good, but only God knows what is truly best for each of us. What is good for one person may not be good for another, and God knows our weaknesses better than we do.

True prayer is a relationship that ultimately comes from God praying in and through us. God, our loving Father, knows us better than we know ourselves and chooses what is best for us. Our groaning becomes one with God’s because the Holy Spirit identifies with the groans of the Church and the world in their longing for true freedom amid imperfection and suffering. Instead of comparing ourselves with others or wondering whether others are saved, we should turn to Him in faith and humility, saying, “Give light to my eyes lest I fall asleep in death, lest my enemy say: ‘I have overcome him.’ As for me, I trust in your merciful love. Let my heart rejoice in your saving help. Let me sing to the Lord for his goodness to me, singing psalms to the name of the Lord, the Most High.” What truly matters for our salvation is knowing that God is with us and that we walk in His truth and love.

We can have confidence that our prayer will be answered because of the steadfastness of God’s love, which presupposes that we love Him. “We know that by turning everything to their good, God co-operates with all those who love him, with all those whom he has called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28) We must trust in God’s plan and choices for us, for He is always at work in our lives. He works for the good of His people and in all things for those who love Him. Hence, if we truly love God, we will cooperate with His will and willingly accept His plan for our lives. If we humbly believe that God is our wise and loving Father, then we will accept whatever treatment He gives us for our healing. We do not struggle alone, for His grace is sufficient for us. His grace leads us to Him through both the joys and the sufferings of life.

Through our trials and tribulations, the Lord purifies us further. We may not always make the right choices, but if we are sincere, He will guide and strengthen us along the way. Through both our successes and failures, God grants us the grace to attain eternal life in Him. Everything will ultimately work for our good because God does all things well. As the author of Hebrews says, “For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore, lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.” (Heb 12:11-13)

In the final analysis, for those who love God, St. Paul says we will become like Christ–and that is heaven. “They are the ones he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers. He called those he intended for this; those he called he justified, and with those he justified he shared his glory.” (Rom 8:29-30) Sharing in Christ’s life and glory is what salvation is all about. We become sons and daughters of God in the Son. Through God’s graciousness and our cooperation with His will, we reach our ultimate goal–to become the glory of God. As St. Paul says, “Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Rom 3:23f) In this way, God’s plan of salvation is fulfilled, for He created us out of His goodness so that we might share in His life, love, and joy. This is what predestination truly means: that He destined all of us for a deep relationship with Him, so that we might live in communion with one another. St. Paul wants us to turn away from mere theological speculation and instead embrace a renewed sense of assurance in faith. Indeed, he affirms this confidence, saying, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil 1:6)

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, 27 October 2025

ORDINARY APOSTLES BUT STILL APOSTLES

20251028 ORDINARY APOSTLES BUT STILL APOSTLES

28 October 2025, Tuesday, Ss Simon & Jude, Apostles

irst reading

Ephesians 2:19-22

In Christ you are no longer aliens, but citizens like us

You are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone. As every structure is aligned on him, all grow into one holy temple in the Lord; and you too, in him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit.

How to listen

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 18(19):2-5

Their word goes forth through all the earth.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God,

and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.

Day unto day takes up the story

and night unto night makes known the message.

Their word goes forth through all the earth.

No speech, no word, no voice is heard

yet their span extends through all the earth,

their words to the utmost bounds of the world.

Their word goes forth through all the earth.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Te Deum

Alleluia, alleluia!

We praise you, O God,

we acknowledge you to be the Lord.

The glorious company of the apostles praise you, O Lord.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 6:12-19

Jesus chooses his twelve apostles

Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them ‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor.

He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. People tormented by unclean spirits were also cured, and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him because power came out of him that cured them all.

ORDINARY APOSTLES BUT STILL APOSTLES

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Eph 2:19-22; Lk 6:12-19]

Today, we celebrate the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude. Why do we celebrate these two saints together? What do they have in common? Firstly, we note that in the list of the Twelve Apostles, they are always placed next to each other: “Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became the traitor.” In truth, we do not have much information about them. They are among the least known of the Twelve Apostles. Perhaps for this reason, they were placed near the end of the list, just before the apostle who betrayed our Lord, Judas Iscariot. Among the Twelve, the most well-known and often highlighted in the Scriptures are Peter, James, and John, followed by Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew the tax collector, and James, son of Alphaeus.

But that is the usual way we see them — a human and worldly way of classifying people. We tend to give prominence to the better-known apostles and saints based on the work they do and how often they are mentioned or publicised. We assume that those who receive more attention are more important in the eyes of God. Although it is true that they had significant roles to play in the economy of salvation and in the Church, it is just like those of us who are leaders. We have been chosen among others to hold office. Yet, we do not always deem those who are appointed to be the best, as if there were no others who could do better.

Appointments and positions, however, are God’s prerogative, not ours to choose. The grace He gives to each of us is different. In his Letter to the Ephesians, St Paul wrote, “The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.” (Eph 4:11-13) Writing to the Corinthians, St Paul said, “All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.” (1 Cor 12:11)

So too for the apostles. We do not know the criteria by which Jesus chose His apostles. Indeed, examining the list of the Twelve, we know they were ordinary men — not wealthy, influential, famous, or highly educated. Writing to the Corinthians, St Paul reminded them, “Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Cor 1:26-29) It is clear that if we are called to serve the Lord, it is not dependent on our intellectual brilliance, social connections, or status. In fact, God chooses the ordinary to manifest His power and glory.

Notably, the apostles were a diverse group of people, with different ideological backgrounds and temperaments, not to mention different occupations and causes. Matthew was a tax collector — hated by revolutionaries — and Simon the Zealot, whose feast we celebrate today, was most likely a nationalist or one who sought to defend the Jewish identity. How could they live in peace together as the Twelve or even collaborate in the mission of our Lord? Yet Jesus chose them, knowing that His grace and love would unite them for a common cause and mission.

Truly, in the mind of God, they were all apostles, each given different gifts and functions, but all for the good of the Church. It does not matter what role or position we hold in the eyes of the world. What is more important is that we live out our calling. In the case of the apostles, they are the foundation of the Church, as St Paul wrote, “You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone.” The Church of God is founded on Jesus as the cornerstone, but it rests on twelve pillars — the Twelve Apostles who handed on the apostolic faith to the Church. Our faith, to be authentic, must be traced to their witness to Christ and their teaching. Thus, it is not one apostle alone but the apostolic college that guarantees the truth of the faith. This is why the Catholic Church continues to teach that the Magisterium rests on the College of Bishops, who are successors of the apostles, teaching in unity with Peter as the head of the apostolic college.

At the end of the day, the structure exists for one goal — the building of God’s family. Regardless of our position in the Church, what matters most is that we belong to God’s household: “You are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household.” In the family, everyone is important to each other. Happiness and joy come when our family is united in love and mutual service. This unity is possible only when we make use of the structure given to the Church for our spiritual growth in unity with the Lord and with one another: “As every structure is aligned on him, all grow into one holy temple in the Lord; and you too, in him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit.”

Indeed, the secret to fulfilling our unique role in the Church is to be aligned with the Spirit of Christ through intense prayer, just as Jesus was throughout His ministry. It is significant that in today’s Gospel, the evangelist underscores that Jesus prayed the entire night before choosing the Twelve Apostles: “Jesus went out into the hills to pray, and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came, he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them apostles.” At other times, the evangelists simply mentioned that Jesus prayed, but here they emphasise that He spent the whole night in prayer. Thus, Jesus must have truly consulted His Father before selecting those whom He called to be His apostles. We too must always remain aligned with our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are called to learn from Simon the Zealot and Jude Thaddeus. Both played minor roles in the Gospel. Jude is distinguished from Judas Iscariot, as both share the same name. Jude is mentioned in the Gospel of John when he asked the Lord, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.” (Jn 14:22-24) This remains an important question even today because it is our concern too — why Jesus is not revealed to everyone. The answer is the same now as then: we come to see Jesus when we open our hearts to Him, and He will live in us.

We can be sure that Simon and Jude took the words of Jesus seriously because both were passionate about the mission the Lord gave them. Tradition tells us that they went east from Palestine into what was then Persia to bring the Gospel to the nations and that both died as martyrs. They were not concerned about making names for themselves; they were concerned only with proclaiming the Gospel to all nations. In a special way, we also pray to St Jude, who is known as the patron saint of hopeless causes. Perhaps this is in contrast to Judas Iscariot, who lost hope in himself and in God. On the contrary, St Jude reminds us that for God, there is no lost soul, for He comes for the lost sheep. We are all important to Him. So, like Simon the Zealot, let us learn from them what it means to be passionate for lost souls and faithful to the Gospel, even unto death. This is what makes us truly apostles.

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.