JUST AS HE SAYS

But the Lord stood by me... – 2 Timothy 4:17

“I am afraid,” the little one cries out. The mother gently holds her hand and walks her to the dentist’s chair.

“There is no more hope, I just lost my job and no one believes in me,” the 21-year-old guy sobs. His best friend nudges him and reminds him, “Aren’t we going to my father’s office tomorrow? He knows how good you are in designing houses. He wants you to help him with a new project.”

“I have no money to buy milk for my daughter, and my husband has left me,” cries a young wife. Her neighbor presses a P500 bill into her hand, and tells her, “Stock up on milk for your kid, and tomorrow, come with me to this store. I told the manager that I have the right person for his front desk. He needs someone who can speak Mandarin to cater to his Chinese clients.”

“My daughter needs a colonoscopy, and it costs P17,000. Where will I get the money?”

The next day, this mother falls in line at 5:00 in the morning at a government hospital, gets an appointment for a free colonoscopy for her daughter, and the results show that there is nothing wrong.

It is just as Paul said, “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength.” Chelle C.

REFLECTION:

When all hope is gone and you are alone, do you believe that Someone cares?

Teach me to trust forever in Your Love. 

2 Timothy 4:10-17

Luke accompanied Paul on some of his missionary journeys. In fact, if you read the Acts of the Apostles carefully, you can discover this firsthand where the narrative moves from third to first person indicating that the author, Luke, is now with Paul. I will leave it up to you to find the verse where that happens. It is important for us to remember that we are not standing alone in the service of God. We serve as a part of the Body of Christ, with others, seeking to achieve the same end of proclaiming the Good News of salvation to the ends of the world.

10 For Demas, enamored of the present world, deserted me and went to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry. 12 I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, the papyrus rolls, and especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 You too be on guard against him, for he has strongly resisted our preaching. 16 At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it.

P S A L M

Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18

R: Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

10 Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. 11 Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. (R) 12 Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations. (R) 17 The LORD is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. 18 The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. (R)

G O S P E L

Luke 10:1-9

The harvest gets richer and richer all the time as more and more people are born and less and less people seem to take their Christian faith seriously enough to stand up for the moral principles of the Gospel. Too often we hear people proclaiming that they are Christians, yet at the same time, their actions give evidence to a totally different set of truths. It is time for Christians to take a stand on the pressing moral issues of our time — marriage, sexuality, abortion, the family, corruption, social justice and so on. Let us look for ways in which we can heighten others’ awareness of these issues through the witness of our lives.

1 The Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. 2 He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. 3 Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ 6 If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. 8 Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, 9 cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

my reflections

think: We serve as a part of the Body of Christ, with others, seeking to achieve the same end of proclaiming the Good News of salvation to the ends of the world.

 _________________________________________________________

God’s special verse/thought for me today________________

_________________________________________________________

T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

_______________________________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR  Matthew 18-20 

Today we celebrate the life of St Luke the evangelist who has left a wonderful account on the story of Jesus in the Gospel and in the Acts of the Apostles. Luke tells his readers that he too has carefully investigated from the beginning an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us. Luke is a physician by profession and proved to be a faithful companion of Paul.

Today’s gospel is Luke’s account of the 72 disciples, sent out by Jesus before He Himself was to visit the towns and villages. It is an appropriate gospel as we celebrate and remember a man who gave his life also to the cause of spreading the good news and promoting the Kingdom of God. We can well imagine that what we hear in the gospel would have been similar to the experiences that Luke and Paul discovered on their missionary travels. As Luke traveled with Paul they too were to travel light as we hear in the Gospel, “carrying no purse, bag or sandals.” Luke with Paul also may have experienced the welcoming hospitality that Luke writes about in the Gospel as they moved from town to town. I would imagine that his being a doctor would come in very handy also in his missionary travels.

The life of Luke is an example for us always. We all have different gifts and talents, skills and professions which have been given to us by God. In every circumstance we too can use our skills and expertise in building the Kingdom of God. As our late Holy Father, John Paul II stated in his encyclical, “At the beginning of a new Millennium”, the spreading of the good news is not only a task for the professionals, meaning those missionaries who have dedicated their life to such a cause. We are called to be missionaries in whatever state we are in. In fact it is part of our baptismal calling and duty to be announcers of the Kingdom in words and deeds.

It’s a great witness to Christianity when I hear of efforts being carried out that promote the dignity of the human person. We all hear stories of medical doctors, teachers, and the experts who can carry out their functions in places where there are those less fortunate. We all have a part to play in the plan of God. Luke gives us this fine example. Let us take up the example of Luke in our days and use the gifts and skills God has given to promote His glory. Fr. Brian Steele

REFLECTION QUESTION: What are the talents and natural skills I have? Where can I use them in my daily life? How can I best promote the Kingdom of God in society using these gifts, talents, skills and expertise given me?

Lord use me as You will. I offer You my skills, talents and expertise. May You be glorified in all that I do and say, for the well being of the dignity of human life .Give me opportunities where I can best use what You have given me. Amen.

St. Gwen, widow and martyr, pray for us.