Saturday 26 August
Saturday of week 20 in Ordinary Time Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary First reading - Ruth 2:1-3,8-11,4:13-17 “I have been told all you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband’s death, and how you left your own father and mother and the land where you were born to come among a people whom you knew nothing about before you came here.’ Here we see a way by which we can become part of the plan of God for others. The way is to see and acknowledge the goodness in others. Boaz learnt the goodness of Ruth from others. He acknowledged it and welcomed it. This is the way. Acknowledge the goodness in others to become part of the plan of God for them. We understand the plan of God when we find the goodness in others. When we don’t see the goodness in others, we become alienated from the plan of God. In the plan of God for others we also have our place, we also find the plan of God for us. We can get that place; we can understand the plan of God when we recognize the goodness in others. Let’s reflect: Am I recognizing the goodness in others to understand the plan of God for me?
Friday 25 August
Friday of week 20 in Ordinary Time Saint Louis Saint Joseph of Calasanz, Priest First reading - Ruth 1:1,3-6,14-16,22 “Do not press me to leave you and to turn back from your company, for ‘wherever you go, I will go, wherever you live, I will live. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God”. These words of Ruth are so profound in a relationship within the family. Ruth completely embraces the faith and customs of her husband forever. In the words of Ruth we can see how much she identifies herself with the faith of her husband. Not only that, but also her relationship with Naomi, her mother-in-law. In the reading we see, “But Ruth clung to her”. This is the depth of relationship. Clinging to the other. Ruth completely embraces with her heart the customs and faith of her husband. With that also the family of her husband forever. This clinging to the family of her husband made her part of the genealogy of Jesus Christ. When God calls us, be ready to cling completely and forever to the plan of God. That makes the difference in our life.
Thursday 24 August
Saint Bartholomew, Apostle - Feast First reading - Apocalypse 21:9-14 “The city walls stood on twelve foundation stones, each one of which bore the name of one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” We are celebrating the Feast of St. Bartholomew, one of the Apostles. The Apostles have a great role in our faith. They are the witness of the resurrection of Christ. They are the foundation stones. The more we are close to the foundation stones, the more we are stronger. But at the same time, we have the challenge of the weight of the whole structure. But in so far as we grab the foundation stone, we are safe. The faith and witness of the Apostles are to be accepted with gratitude. Most scholars today identify Bartholomew as Nathanael whom Philip brought to Jesus. It’s important to have a personal devotion to each of the Apostles so that we can find a stronger foundation for our faith. Let’s reflect: How much I find time to develop a personal relationship with the Apostles?
Wednesday 23 August
Wednesday of week 20 in Ordinary Time Saint Rose of Lima, Virgin First reading - Judges 9:6-15 The plan of God is to produce fruits according to the talents given to us. Our vocation is to be for others. The answers of the olive tree, fig tree and vine show exactly that they are supposed to serve others, and nothing can let them forego that. They could answer that because they are well aware of what they can produce and what are the qualities of their fruits. Recognizing one’s own talents and the utility of these talents for others is necessary to understand our vocation. The talents in us are gifts of God. Knowing the gifts of God will help us to know the plan of God for us. Knowing how the gifts of God can help others will help us more to know our vocation. Let’s reflect: Do I recognize my talents and its utility for the service of others to know the plan of God for me?