RVA Daily Reflection

Turn away not

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilTurning away from sin and its false comfortsReflection Date: October 18, 2024 Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time Feast of Saint Luke, evangelistDaily Readings: 2 Timothy 4:10-17; Luke 10:1-9
Will you turn your back on Christ for the world, or will you welcome Him into your heart? While it’s easy to say “no” to the first and “yes” to the second, does our life truly reflect these answers?
We turn away from Christ when we ignore the pleas of others, overlook their needs, or choose convenience and self-interest over His will. Each time we justify same-sex relationships or premarital sex in the name of love, skip Mass for the sake of work, steal out of urgency, or cheat and sell our votes because “everyone else is doing it,” we close our hearts to Jesus.
Every day, the Lord calls us in different ways, inviting us to a mission. Sometimes this mission asks us to reach out to strangers, while other times it involves those closest to us. 
Often, the mission can be difficult, and we may face rejection, criticism, or even condemnation. But the Lord assures us that He is always by our side, waiting for us to say “yes” to His call.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: Welcoming Christ into our lives means embracing the mission He entrusts to us, turning away from the sinful ways of the world, and letting go of its false comforts.

Which truth do you live?

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilTruth of Christ saves usReflection Date: October 17, 2024 Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary TimeMemorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and MartyrDaily Readings: Ephesians 1:1-10; Luke 11:47-54
There’s an old saying, “Truth hurts.” Don’t we often resent the person who tells us the uncomfortable truth about ourselves? 
This is exactly what Jesus confronts in today’s Gospel. He rebukes the scholars of the law for their rigid adherence to rules, while failing to live righteous lives. They hated Jesus for exposing the truth about them.
But Jesus doesn’t speak truth to destroy; rather, as the first reading reminds us, He speaks of redemption through His blood, poured out in the richness of His grace. This grace calls us to conversion—not through mere legalism, but according to God’s will.
We, too, are faced with the truth about our sinful ways. We are reminded that the world’s laws cannot offer the fullness of life. Who do we listen to when it comes to the truth about ourselves? It’s a tragedy if we align our hearts with the world’s version of truth, which often leads us to justify our sins and reject the truth that can set us free.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: The Lord has revealed His salvation. Do we recognize this truth and live by it? Or are we still living like the Pharisees—clinging to convenient beliefs that protect our pride? The truth of Christ may hurt, as it exposes the darkness within our hearts, but if we accept it, this is the truth that saves.

Woe or Wow

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilLet us seek guidance and strength from the SpiritReflection Date: October 16, 2024 Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary TimeDaily Readings: Galatians 5:18-25; Luke 11:42-46
Today, we are reminded that salvation does not come from blindly adhering to human laws while neglecting God’s call to love. True discipleship requires a willingness to sacrifice the desires of the flesh. 
The first reading urges us to follow the Spirit. But how do we follow the Spirit? How can we be sure we are doing so?
The first reading paints a picture of a life rooted in Christ, not limited by legalism but marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 
The Gospel reinforces this by calling us to "touch the lives of others." The Christian life, then, is one of self-giving and sacrifice, not just for our own sake but for the sake of others.
It can imagine Jesus rebuking us today, much like He did the Pharisees, for creating laws that justify actions that the first reading calls enslaving. How can we know if we are enslaved by such laws? 
The first reading lists the works of the flesh that contrast with the works of the Spirit: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfishness, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, and orgies. Are these not present in our world today?
Call to Action for Catholic Living: Amidst the prevalence of these works of the flesh and our enslavement to human laws, let us seek guidance and strength from the Spirit. Let today’s psalm be our heartfelt prayer: "Lord, let me follow you, that I may have the light of life."

The Law does not Save, Jesus does

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilMay our actions align with our faithReflection Date: October 15, 2024 Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary TimeMemorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the ChurchDaily Readings: Galatians 5:1-6; Luke 11:37-41
The law does not save, as today’s readings make clear. Unfortunately, many of us are content with just imposing or fulfilling the law.
Laws are important. They put order into the way we do things. However, if the law only focuses on the order of things but not the order of souls, then these are just hypocritical laws. If we fulfill the law to comply and avoid punishment, we, too, are hypocrites. 
Unfortunately, we have been conditioned to enact laws not aligned with the Law of God. We have been conditioned that if we follow the law, then we are covered; we are good. We often forget that what is legal may not necessarily be moral. While we may be saved from the consequences of not following the law, our soul suffers. 
For instance, there are laws allowing divorce, same-sex marriage, and the death penalty. But legalizing these does not make them moral. What is immoral in the eyes of God, remains so no matter how we legalize it. 
Call to Action for Catholic Living:  Today’s readings strongly call us to prioritize what is within—our soul and not the externals. May our actions align with our faith and be driven by our love for Christ, our true Savior.

Faith to See

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilWe may see the Lord in His gloryReflection Date: October 14, 2024 Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary TimeDaily Readings: Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31–5:1; Luke 11:29-32
Have you ever faced a moment in life when you didn’t understand what was happening and prayed for a sign, but none came? How did that make you feel—lost or hopeful? It's natural for us to seek signs as a form of assurance, especially when things don’t go as expected. 
We know of people whose faith has been shaken by life’s trials. Some have even questioned God or severed their relationship with Him entirely.
Today’s Gospel reminds us that we must hold onto faith in God’s plan, even when we don’t understand or see the signs we hope for. True faith means trusting beyond what our eyes can perceive, beyond our expectations.
What prevents us from seeing God in our daily lives? Why do we focus only on problems and despair? Sin clouds our vision and distorts our perception of God’s presence. The first reading tells us that only the Lord can free us from this blindness.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: Sin enslaves us, but Christ frees us from its grip. The Gospel calls us to repent and be converted, so we may see the Lord in His glory.

Unload to Enter

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilTransform our HeartReflection Date: October 13, 2024 Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary TimeDaily Readings:  Wisdom 7:7-11; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30 or 10:17-27
We had a classmate who could memorize lessons perfectly but struggled to apply the concepts when questions were rephrased. We called her "bookish." This mindset reflects what happens when we focus solely on the law without going the extra mile.
 In the corporate world, it's called "compliance for the sake of compliance"—doing just enough to meet the requirements but showing no effort to go beyond.
Today's Gospel challenges us to go beyond mere compliance to inherit eternal life. Jesus calls us to "sell our possessions," which means more than just material wealth. 
Our possessions include anything that weighs us down and distracts us from loving God—ambition, pride, envy, and even simple distractions like house chores or laziness. These are the excess baggage that block us from entering the narrow door to the Kingdom.
Often, we struggle to identify what we need to give up. Solomon, in the first reading, asks for wisdom—wisdom to know what matters most, beyond wealth and power. The second reading tells us that God's Word gives us the power to understand His will.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: We must not only hear God's Word but let it transform our hearts, freeing us to give up our excess baggage and focus on what truly matters—conversion of heart.

Keep the Word

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilBlessed are those who hear the word of GodReflection Date: October 12, 2024 Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary TimeDaily Readings: Galatians 3:22-29; Luke 11:27-28
Today's Gospel is not diminishing Mary but highlighting a deeper truth: attentiveness to God's Word is more important than biological ties to Jesus. Jesus' response underscores that our true relationship with Him is defined by how faithfully we keep His Word. Blessed are those who hear and observe God's Word.
Mary serves as the perfect example of this. Her obedience, unwavering trust, humility, faithfulness, and pure heart, aligned with Jesus, demonstrate how to truly keep God's Word. She didn’t just hear it—she lived it. This is why she is truly blessed.
But what about us? Do we know God's Word? Unfortunately, many of us are more familiar with words that destroy rather than the Word that gives life. We spread anger and hatred instead of seeking the Word that heals.
Why do we struggle to keep God's Word? One major reason is that we don’t truly know it. We can’t live what we don’t understand. And why don’t we know it? Often, it's because we don’t take the time to read or listen to it. The best opportunity to hear God's Word is at Mass—do we make this a regular part of our lives?
Call to Action for Catholic Living: Today’s readings remind us that, through baptism, we are clothed with Christ. To honor this identity, we must live by God’s Word in all we do, especially when times are tough.

Finding Shield in the Lord

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilIf God is with God, who can be against us?Reflection Date: October 11, 2024 Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time Daily Readings: Galatians 3:7-14; Luke 11:15-26
We often hear the phrase, “If God is with us, who can be against us?” But today’s readings invite us to ask a deeper, often overlooked question: “Are we with God?” This is something we can easily forget.
We frequently call on God to be with us, yet our actions don’t always reflect that we are truly with Him. If we examine our priorities, how we spend our time, our desires, and how we treat others, do these align with being with God? Or do they reflect that we are more aligned with the world?
In the Gospel, Jesus makes a powerful statement: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” To not be with God means we are living outside of His path. Consider, for instance, are we forgiving? Are we generous, even to those who cannot repay us? 
Do we reach out to the poor, the marginalized, and those in need? Do we attend Mass on Sundays out of genuine love for God, or merely out of obligation? What occupies our time and energy? Are these pursuits focused on God or consumed by worldly concerns?
Faith goes beyond simply following the law, as the first reading reminds us. When we love like Christ, we transcend the limitations of the law, because love cannot be confined by rules. Instead, we are moved by the Spirit, which frees us from being hindered by material limitations or structural inconveniences in fulfilling our mission. Why? Because it is the Lord who moves us.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: It is the Lord who gathers us, because we are with Him. Let us submit to His will and His ways, allowing His Spirit to guide our lives.

Knock, Knock

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilKnock and it shall be openedReflection Date: October 10, 2024 Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary TimeDaily Readings: Galatians 3:1-5, 7-14; Luke 11:5-13
One of the great temptations in today’s world is the illusion of self-sufficiency—the belief that we don’t need God. Society bombards us with the notion that anything is possible if we simply work hard enough. 
While perseverance is important, this mentality can subtly distance us from God, leading us to forget that He is the true source of all grace. We begin to see ourselves as the masters of our own fate, which weakens our relationship with the Father.
However, today’s Gospel reminds us of our dependence on God. Everything we are and everything we have is a gift of grace. This doesn't mean we should passively wait for life to happen or stop working hard. Rather, it emphasizes the need to ask. 
Though God already knows the deepest desires of our hearts, He never forces His will upon us. By asking Him for what we need, we demonstrate our faith, humility, and recognition that only through Him are all things possible.
The Gospel also teaches us the value of persistence—persistence in prayer and persistence in action. This persistence, which pleases God, is different from insistence. Persistence means not giving up, not losing heart, and trusting in God's mercy and perfect timing. 
It is about relying on His wisdom rather than imposing our own will. In contrast, insistence involves demanding that God meet our desires on our terms and within our timeline.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: Humility and persistence are the fruits of a deep faith in God's boundless mercy and love. When we knock with persistence, we express our trust in God’s timing and rely on His divine plan. Let us continue to approach God with a heart full of faith, trusting that He will answer in His perfect time.

Live Your Prayer

Author: Chrisma C. BangaoilWe should become the prayer that we prayReflection Date: October 9, 2024 Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary TimeDaily Readings: Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14; Luke 11:1-4
Have you ever prayed but felt like you were just going through the motions? You finish the prayer, yet there's a lingering emptiness, as though the words failed to resonate. 
Why does this happen? When we are truly attuned to ourselves, we recognize that the first person who should be moved by our prayer is us. If our prayer doesn’t inspire us to live differently, we feel a disconnect—a sense that something is missing.
The first reading illuminates this gap between who we are called to be and how we actually live. St. Paul describes this inconsistency as hypocrisy. When we fail to live as God’s children, as we are meant to, we experience inner unrest, a deep-seated conflict. Our actions and our identity as believers fall out of sync, and this dissonance disturbs our spiritual life.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus shows us how to bridge this divide by teaching us to pray with purpose. He begins by calling us to acknowledge God’s holiness and power and to desire His Kingdom above all else. This invites us to align our lives with His will, striving to live in a way that honors His Kingdom.
Then, Jesus instructs us to ask for what we need—not in excess or selfishness, but trusting that God will provide what is truly necessary. This teaches us to rely on God, rather than accumulating more than we require.
Finally, we are reminded of our own sinfulness and need for God’s grace. As recipients of His mercy, we are called to extend that same mercy to others, living out the love and forgiveness that we have received.
Call to Action for Catholic Living:  we are encouraged to let our prayers shape our hearts and guide our actions. When our prayers and lives are fully aligned, we don’t just say the words—we live them. It is in this union that we truly pray.