PAUL THE APOSTLE

 

PAUL THE APOSTLE

I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie. – Romans 9:1 

Paul, while a man of God, persecuted the early Church, the new converts who followed the way of Jesus. But on his journey to Damascus, he had a dramatic conversion experience that caused him to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God. He would become one of the most dynamic, bravest, no-holds-barred evangelizers.

Paul is known for his letters in the New Testament. Four of these he wrote while he was in prison. His circumstance in prison was nothing to rejoice about, yet in his letters, he was always encouraging, in good spirits, and expressing more concern for the well-being of his flock than his own. His was a consistent message of continuing to have the zeal for Jesus and remaining steadfast in their faith, regardless of the hardships and anxiety they faced.

When we experience God’s call, first to conversion and then to follow in His footsteps, may we respond as Paul did—with humility, conviction, and availability. And when leading others to Jesus presents itself, may we exemplify fearlessness and compassion as Paul did. Erwin Roceles (erwin_roceles@yahoo.com)

Reflect: “I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.” (Philippians 4:12-13)

Lord, may I remain steadfast in my faith in You. Empower me with Your Spirit. Amen.

St. Candida Maria of Jesus, pray for us.

GIVE AND LIVE

 

“For if you want to save your own life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for my sake, you will find it.” – Matthew 16:25, GNT

I had the privilege of going to the Holy Land for a pilgrimage. It was such an amazing experience walking in the land where Jesus walked.

We visited the Sea of Galilee, so beautiful and teeming with life. We also went to the Dead Sea where, as its name states, everything is dead due to the high concentration of minerals in its water.

Why is one dead and one full of life when both of them get water from the same source, which is Mount Hermon? It’s because the Sea of Galilee receives water and lets it flow to other streams, while the Dead Sea just receives and has no outlet.

It’s amazing how this also applies to our lives. When we live our lives just for ourselves, we end up dead and alone. When we get stuck with pain and hatred in our hearts, we end up dead and alone. But when we live our lives thinking about others and how we can give more and love more, then we find ourselves living our lives to the fullest.

Today, give more so you can love more. Love more so you can live more. Monching Bueno (ramon_bueno@yahoo.com)

Reflect: Do you still have buried pains from the past? It’s time to let go. It’s time to move on. It’s time to live again.

Jesus, thank You for the chance to live again through Your mercy and love. Help us to forgive like You have forgiven us. Help us to move on and live for others. Amen.

St. Cajetan, priest, pray for us.

HAVE FAITH!

HAVE FAITH! 

Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour. – Matthew 15:28

“Honey, can you please buy me a few tablets of paracetamol? I have anheadache,” I asked my wife one weekend.

“We can pray first for your healing,” she said. I was convicted of having that first impulse to get over-the-counter medicine for my pain, rather than to come before the Lord and pray.

My wife’s simple reminder showed that I often turn to human solutions before I seek God’s help. So I asked my wife to lay her hands upon me and pray.

She claimed the promise in Mark 16:18, “They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

As she laid her hands on my head and prayed, I felt the healing touch of the Lord. It was like cold air flushing out my pain. We released our faith together and believed I was healed at that very moment.

And, indeed, the headache was gone. I was healed! Danny Tariman (dtariman.loj@gmail.com)

Reflect: Where is your faith? Who do you turn to when troubles come?

Lord Jesus, increase my faith. Let me not turn to You only as a last resort, but entrust to You even the small details of my life. Amen.

St. Addal, pray for us.

Daily Bible Reading - August 4, 2020

1st READING 

Jeremiah reminds the Israelites that they have brought disaster upon them because they have forsaken their commitment to God. How can God look after them if they are always running away? The Israelites experience life as a constant burden with open sores and injuries. They refuse to repent their infidelities and go back to the Lord. Someday, they will realize their errors and return to the Lord and He will heal them.

Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22

1 The following message came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book. 12 For thus says the Lord: Incurable is your wound, grievous your bruise; 13 there is none to plead your cause, no remedy for your running sore, no healing for you. 14 All your lovers have forgotten you, they do not seek you. I struck you as an enemy would strike, punished you cruelly. 15 Why cry out over your wound? Your pain is without relief. Because of your great guilt, your numerous sins, I have done this to you. 18 Thus says the Lord: See! I will restore the tents of Jacob, his dwellings I will pity; city shall be rebuilt upon hill, and palace restored as it was. 19 From them will resound songs of praise, the laughter of happy men. I will make them not few, but many; they will not be tiny, for I will glorify them. 20 His sons shall be as of old, his assembly before me shall stand firm; I will punish all his oppressors. 21 His leader shall be one of his own, and his rulers shall come from his kin. When I summon him, he shall approach me; how else should one take the deadly risk of approaching me? says the Lord. 22 You shall be my people, and I will be your God.

PSALM

Psalm 102:16-18, 19-21, 29, 22-23

R: The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

16 The nations shall revere your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory, 17 when the Lord has rebuilt Zion and appeared in his glory; 18 when he has regarded the prayer of the destitute, and not despised their prayer. (R) 19 Let this be written for the generation to come, and let his future creatures praise the Lord: 20 “The Lord looked down from his holy height, from heaven he beheld the earth, 21 To hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die.” (R) 29 The children of your servants shall abide, and their posterity shall continue in your presence, 22 that the name of the Lord may be declared in Zion; and his praise, in Jerusalem, 23 when the peoples gather together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord. (R)

 

 

 

GOSPEL

Today is the Feast day of St. John Mary Vianney, the patron of priests. This holy man transforms his parish through prayer and the sacrament of reconciliation. People walk for hundreds of miles to go to confession with St. John. He has a gift to see into the heart of a penitent and speak the words they need to hear for them to experience a deep conversion. He also tells some of the penitents to go home and reflect more on their sinfulness because they are not repentant enough to receive absolution.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.

Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14

1 Some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands when they eat a meal.” 10 He summoned the crowd and said to them, “Hear and understand. 11 It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles the man; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one.” 12 Then his disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” 13 He said in reply, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

Reflect: “What comes out of the mouth is what defiles one.” – Matthew 15:11

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T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST 

thank You, Lord, for: 

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Read the Bible in one year - 1 Maccabees 9-10

PASANG-AWA

PASANG-AWA

“Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.” – Matthew 15:13, NIV

Pasang-awa, or getting a passing grade out of pity, was how he was described. He was so unpromising and people expected very little from him. So after his ordination, he was assigned to an isolated village.

Thirty years later, France bestowed on him the medal of the Legion d’ Honneur, the country’s highest order of merit. Outwardly, he was the son of a peasant farmer; inwardly, he was a child of God. St. John Mary Vianney became a noted preacher and a beloved confessor. He would administer the sacrament of reconciliation for up to 18 hours a day! Tens of thousands visited his parish every year, turning it into a pilgrimage site.

What did he do with the medal he received? He sold it and gave the money to the poor.

When what we do is planted by God—whether it’s a business, a project, a ministry, or marriage—ignore the critics and keep going.

As they say, those rooted in God will never be uprooted! Marc V. Lopez (marcvlopez88@gmail.com)

Reflect: You are God’s child. Not even your sin can take that away from you. Confession makes you see the truth of who you are. When was your last confession?

Father, thank You for who I am in Christ. I am Your beloved—now and forever! I pray for the grace of the Holy Spirit to see that truth and to live it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

St. John Mary Vianney, priest, pray for us.

MORE THAN ENOUGH

A friend of mine had developed a habit of keeping her talents and capacities to herself. She loves hiding and running away from opportunities. She’s a good singer, but when asked to sing in a group, she quickly fades like a bubble. She also excels in the course she took in college but often tries to avoid any conversation related to it. And the list goes on and on.

One day, I asked her, “What keeps you from sharing your talents and skills?”

In a soft voice, she answered, “I feel so small whenever I’m with my friends or other people. I’m not proud enough to talk about college since I didn’t graduate from a prestigious university. They are all way better than me. I’ll never be enough.”

In today’s Gospel, the disciples are in a similar situation. What good will five loaves and two fish have in the midst of thousands of people to feed? But despite the seemingly insufficient offering, Jesus used it to feed the multitudes.

When we say, “Lord, this is all I have; I fear it won’t be enough,” the Lord will reply, “That’s all I want. You alone are already more than enough.” JM Nuqui (jmnuqui.invites@gmail.com)

Reflect: What are your five loaves and two fish? Does anything hinder you from offering and sharing your gifts?

Dear Lord, take and receive all that I have, all that I am. Amen.

St. Eusebius of Vercelli, bishop, pray for us.