RVA Daily Reflection

Pray!

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilOur prayers connect us to God Reflection Date: October 28, 2024 Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary TimeFeast of Saints Simon and Jude, ApostlesDaily Readings: Ephesians 2:19-22; Luke 6:12-16
Jesus prayed. In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus fervently praying before He made a big decision of choosing the twelve apostles. We see here the importance of being connected with God in prayer if we want to ensure that our decisions and actions are aligned with His will.
Do we pray? What do we pray for? Do we pray for wisdom to know God’s will for us or do we pray for things that we want to have? Do we pray for enlightenment or do we dictate what we want God to give us?
There may be many times that we feel our prayers are not being answered that we stop praying. But God answers all prayers. When our prayer asks for wisdom or enlightenment, I am sure that it is always granted. The problem is when we pray for wisdom yet insist on what we want. Sometimes, God says no to our prayers. That’s still an answer. Sometimes, He says wait. That is also an answer. 
Call to Action for Catholic Living:   Our prayers connect us not only to God but with our fellow members of the household of God. 
Our prayer then should not only focus on our personal need but on the good of all the members of the household. In this way, we become a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Persistent Faith

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilPersistent faith compels us to proclaim the Lord's goodnessReflection Date: October 27,  2024 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary TimeDaily Readings:  Jeremiah 31:7-9; Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52
How deep is your faith in God? Do you keep your faith despite the challenges that may shake you? Today’s Gospel speaks of the unwavering faith of Bartimaeus, the blind mind. He continued to call on Jesus all the more even when he was rebuked by many.
We see in Bartimaeus his persistent faith. Persistent faith is faith that grows consistently, not giving up but not demanding or insistent. Rather, it is faith that is dependent of how and when the Lord will answer. Persistent faith propels one to continue to hope even when things become hopeless.
Persistent faith also leads us to follow the way of Jesus. Many of us seek Jesus when we need Him but go one our own way after our prayer has been answered. This is self-serving faith. Bartimaeus showed us that receiving God’s mercy should lead us to total conversion. Persistent faith means we live in gratitude, always recognizing that everything that we have is God’s as such we are to be channels of charity and mercy.
Persistent faith moves us to proclaim the goodness of the Lord in all our ways. The first reading tells us to proclaim the saving grace of the Lord. How do we do that? The second reading tells us how. 
We do proclaim the saving grace of God by glorifying not ourselves in our achievements or good works but only God! We submit our will to His will, that is, we do what we do according to the will of God because only when we do the will of God that our actions are worthy of glorifying the Lord. 
Call to Action for Catholic Living:  Do you have a persistent faith or a self-serving faith? May we always proclaim that the Lord has done great things for us and may the joy that fills us move us to bring Christ’s joy to others.

Repent or Perish

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilRepentance cultivates a forgiving heartReflection Date: October 26, 2024 Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary TimeDaily Readings: Ephesians 4:7-16; Luke 13:1-9
Jesus sends a very strong message of the need for repentance in today’s Gospel. His call for repentance even comes with a threat: Repent or you will perish.
Why does Jesus want us to repent? The first reading tells us ‘so that we can live the truth in love we should grow in every way into Christ’.
If we do not live the truth, that is as children of God, we perish because we are not true to our identity. Apart from Christ, we are nothing. We get tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery. We fall into the from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.
To repent then is to acknowledge Jesus and be united with Him in every way. Unity in faith with Jesus should propel us to align our will and actions to His will. We cannot say we believe if our actions show otherwise. We can’t be united in faith with Jesus if we are unforgiving, conceited, unmerciful and attached to worldly matters. 
Call to Action for Catholic Living:  To repent is to nurture a forgiving heart, to be generous especially to those who have nothing to give us back, to be merciful and kind, and to live always in the grace of God through our sincere reception of the Sacraments

No need for sign

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilWith Christ that we see and act rightlyReflection Date: October 25, 2024 Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time Daily Readings: Ephesians 4:1-6; Luke 12:54-59
I hear a lot of people asking for signs these days – signs if he or she is the right person to marry, which decision to make, which choice to take or which offer to accept. At times, many of us become superstitious interpreting or rather misinterpreting the things happening to us or around us as signs of something like end of the world.
Jesus rebuked those asking for signs. In today’s Gospel He said, ““Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?” 
Why are we often confused about our choices and actions that we need sign? Why can’t we judge for ourselves what is right?
This is because we are separated from God. This is because our will is not aligned to His will. The first reading tells us, “Preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace”. If we are united with God, if we are at peace with God, we always see His face. 
Call to Action for Catholic Living: We always know what to do because we are focused on Him. Our vision is blurred, so is everything else, when we break our bond with Christ. 
Only through Christ, in Christ and with Christ that we see and act rightly.

Stand your ground!

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilStand firm in our commitment to goodness  Reflection Date: October 24, 2024 Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary TimeDaily Readings: Ephesians 3:14-21; Luke 12:49-53
How cruel it is to hear Jesus talking about causing division even among families! The Gospel seems to be the opposite of the first reading which speaks about love and the fullness of God. How can a God so full of love be speaking of division?
It is not the only time that Jesus speaks of division. He has always been clear about the division between good and evil. Jesus speaks of the need to draw the line between what is good and evil, what is of God and what is not. 
So those who choose evil voluntarily separate themselves from those who choose to love God and do good. A priest friend always tells me that sin bears its own consequence, that is, separation from God.
Indeed, when we fail to do God’s will, it isn’t God who punishes us. When we sin, we are automatically choosing to be separated from God. We choose to live apart from God. We choose to live in darkness. In so doing, we bring punishment unto ourselves.
We are presented with choices each day. We are always confronted with ‘to be or not to be’, ‘to do or not to do’ options. What makes it difficult to choose is when we are not connected with Christ. It is by God’s grace that we are able to be good and to do good. When we are not under God’s grace, the evil choice becomes too attractive to resist. 
Call to Action for Catholic Living: May we always receive the grace to stand firm our ground to be good and to do good despite all the pressures around us to be and to do otherwise.

Be consistent!

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilStrive to respond consistently to God's loveReflection Date: October 23, 2024 Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary TimeDaily Readings: Ephesians 3:2-12; Luke 12:39-48
I lost my phone inside the convent five days ago. I heard someone open the dining room sliding door but I did not bother to check who. An hour later, when I went out of my room to get my phone from the dining room’s bamboo chair, it was not anymore there.
Had I known that it was a thief who entered the convent, I would have opened my door and prevented the thief. It was evening, but I did not know that a thief would be coming that evening.
So, I lost my phone and everything that was stored in it—all because I had not known. I was careful on other days but on other days I was not.
Don’t we live our lives this way? Some days, we go to Church. Some days we pray. Some days, we do good. Some days, we put God in our lives. But other days, we don’t. When it’s not convenient, we don’t. When things are okay and we are having fun, we don’t. When we are busy, we don’t.
Call to Action for Catholic Living:  God’s grace is ever flowing. God’s love is ever-present. God’s mercy is ever available. How about us? Are we consistently recognizing God’s grace? Are we consistently responding to His love? Are we consistently availing of his mercy?

Be ready!

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilBe ready to maintain peace with the LordReflection Date: October 22, 2024 Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary TimeMemorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the ChurchDaily Readings: Ephesians 2:12-22; Luke 12:35-38
We often prepare for many things in life-travels, birthdays, graduations, interviews—but how often do we prepare for the inevitable: death? True preparation is not just about securing funeral plans but readying our souls to meet the Lord. Are we worthy to join Him at His eternal banquet?
Today's Gospel calls us to be vigilant and ready for the Master’s return. Vigilance means living with Christ at the center of our lives, resisting the temptations of worldly desires, vices, and distractions. 
When we neglect prayer and detach ourselves from Christ, we risk losing our spiritual focus.
In many parts of the world, people no longer prioritize prayer or spiritual readiness, focusing instead on worldly concerns like power, wealth, and control over life and death. But these pursuits only push Christ away from our lives.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: We are reminded today to keep our focus on Christ, live in His peace, and be ever ready for His return. This is our call to action as Catholics.

Your Worth, Your Wealth

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilOur efforts should draw us closer to the LordReflection Date: October 21, 2024 Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary TimeDaily Readings: Ephesians 2:1-10; Luke 12:13-21
The message of today’s readings is clear—no earthly wealth matters in heaven. We cannot take anything with us when we die, and the Gospel reminds us that we do not know the hour of our death. It warns us to guard against greed, as life is not measured by possessions. How seriously have we taken this call?
In contrast, the world pushes us to constantly strive for more—more possessions, more achievements, more status—believing that these will make us more valuable. Life becomes a race, a competition, often at the expense of others. But this is the surest way to lose sight of heaven. 
How often have we chosen worldly success over the self-denial and sacrifice that lead to eternal life?
It is foolish to burden ourselves with things that do not lead to everlasting life. The first reading reminds us that we have been saved—so, are we living as people saved by Christ, or do we continue to cling to sin?
Working hard is not wrong; in fact, we should work diligently. Saving money is not bad either—some people depend on us. God has given us talents to develop and use wisely. But all our efforts should ultimately draw us closer to the Lord.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: Our material wealth is not just for our needs but for the Church’s mission to bring souls to the Father. The talents we nurture should not be for our personal satisfaction alone, but to lead others to Jesus.

Compete in Holiness

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilThe competition worth pursuing is one of holinessReflection Date: October 20, 2024 Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary TimeDaily Readings:  Isaiah 53:10-11; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45 or 10:42-45
The world often feels like a vast arena of competition, where many strive to outrun, outdo, or outshine others to reach the top. Success is frequently measured by power, status, or accolades, leading people to chase an illusion of greatness. In this pursuit, some may even resort to putting others down, masking their own shortcomings.
But this Sunday’s readings offer a different vision of greatness—greatness found in humility, sacrifice, and selflessness. True greatness is not in being first, but in being last, in giving one's life so others may live. 
We are reminded of the innocent, suffering servant who was ultimately glorified, pointing us to Jesus, who, though sinless, embraced suffering for our sake.
Shouldn’t we feel humbled knowing that Jesus, blameless and pure, took on our human frailties? While we compete for success, Jesus took on our humanity to lead us to the fullness of life.
The only competition worth pursuing is one of holiness: striving to be the last, the servant of all. Are we the first to volunteer at church, to help the needy, to forgive, or to step aside so others may go first? Are we quick to contribute but content to be the last to partake? Do we reach out to those in need and refuse to give up on them?
Call to Action for Catholic Living: Our call to holiness is to embrace being the least and the last before God, always ready to walk the way of the cross. But we cannot do this alone. Let us confidently seek God’s grace and mercy to help us on this journey.

Do not worry

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilMay the eyes of our hearts be opened to the hope of God's callReflection Date: October 19, 2024 Saturday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary TimeMemorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, MartyrsDaily Readings: Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 12:8-12
I live by the mantra: “When God sends, He sustains.” As I write this reflection, I’m proctoring an exam and keeping an eye on the clock for my 8:50 p.m. flight. The exam ends at 6:30 p.m., and I still haven’t finished preparing for my two-day talk. I’m tempted to set this aside and work on my presentation instead. But priorities matter—not based on what pays more, but on what nourishes the soul.
Today’s readings remind us not to worry, as long as we are faithfully pursuing the mission God has called us to, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our anxieties often stem from resisting or failing to acknowledge God in our lives. The first reading paints a picture of a life lived in harmony with Christ.
What do you worry about? Are your efforts aligned with God’s call, or are they driven by worldly demands? If you find yourself overwhelmed with worry, perhaps it’s because your focus is too tied to this world.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: May the eyes of our hearts be enlightened to the hope of God’s call, finding peace in the One who fills all things in every way.