ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED

“If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” – John 10:24

Will I accept this service in our community? Should I continue to entertain this suitor? Which dress should I wear — the red or the pink?

If God has spoken plainly to some people in the past, can He also speak plainly to me when I’m in a dilemma?

I have asked God all these questions before — from the life-changing questions to the mundane or even vain. Believe me, He has answered them all... but not always plainly. Many times, He gives His answers through circumstances, the people around me or my prayer time. On a few occasions, He made things plain and clear. It really doesn’t matter much how He speaks. What’s more important is that our hearts are ready to listen to His voice and we obey Him.

Did I accept the service being asked of me? Yes. God spoke to me through my circumstances and Scripture.

Did I continue to entertain that suitor? Yes. God spoke to me through someone I know.

Which dress did I wear? I wore the red one; because God spoke plainly to me through a song.

Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag (teregmps@yahoo.com)

Reflection: Do you recognize God’s voice when He speaks to you?

St. George, martyr, patron of England, pray for us.

Barnabas is a key figure in the work of evangelization of the early Church. He precedes Paul in this ministry and it is through him that Paul is introduced to the Church authorities. After his conversion, Paul spent a significant amount of time (some scholars posit at least 10 years) in Tarsus reflecting upon his conversion and developing his approach in proclaiming the Gospel. We must be committed to our own formation in the Gospel if we want to be effective ministers of the Good News.

19 Those who had been scattered by the persecution that arose because of Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but Jews. 20 There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them,  however, who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. 21 The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The news about them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, 24 for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. And a large number of people was added to the Lord. 25 Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

1 His foundation upon the holy mountains 2 the Lord loves: The gates of Zion, more than any dwelling of Jacob. 3 Glorious things are said of you, O city of God! (R) 4 I tell of Egypt and Babylon among those who know the Lord; of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia: “This man was born there.” 5 And of Zion they shall say; “One and all were born in her; and he who has established her is the Most High Lord.” (R) 6 They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled: “This man was born there.” 7 And all shall sing, in their festive dance: “My home is within you.” (R)

Jesus is adamant that He has satisfied the demands of the Pharisees and justified His words and actions because He is simply being obedient to His Father’s will. It is critical that we be able to recognize the Father’s voice in the midst of the noise in the world so that we can be as sure as Jesus that we are on the right path — the path to eternal life. Let us do our best to hear Jesus’ and the Father’s voice in the midst of all the others.

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.

22 The feast of the Dedication was then taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. 23 And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”

think:  We must be committed to our own formation in the Gospel if we want to be effective ministers of the Good News.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Numbers 7-9 

AN EXCITING MOMENT IN CHURCH HISTORY

Today’s First Reading is, for me, one of the most exciting passages in the Acts of the Apostles. Why? These verses are exciting because they tell us that the persecution of the Church in Jerusalem was actually a blessing. Many Christians fled, and so, the Good News spread beyond the borders of Palestine. Then we read about Barnabas, “a good man,” who strengthened the young community in Antioch with his goodness and kindness. More than that, he went to Tarsus and got Paul out of his loneliness and brought him right into the center of missionary activity. Without Barnabas searching for him, we might not know anything about a certain Paul. And finally, we come to know that it was in Antioch that the followers of Christ were first called “Christians,” a name you and I still carry with pride. Do you realize why these verses are, for me, so exciting?

We feel in this passage the excitement of growth, the excitement of a dynamic, Spirit-filled community that could not be contained in the city of Antioch, but would soon drive Barnabas and Paul into the Hellenistic world to make Christ known to countless people throughout many countries.

How I wish our faithful here would be as dynamic as those in Antioch, as Barnabas and Paul were! Fortunately, there are many Charismatic groups and other lay communities where I feel the exciting spirit of the community in Antioch. But unfortunately, too, many faithful do not live out their faith in daily life. They don’t give the example Barnabas and Paul gave, through whom the Church grew dramatically. And so the Church here does not have the influence on the society She should and could have. The result? Graft and corruption, immorality and criminality flourish here more than in some neighboring Buddhist countries. How sad! Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

REFLECTION QUESTION: How many people have you brought to Christ through your example and living faith?

Lord, what has happened to me and my fellow Christians here? There is not much excitement in living out my faith. Send Your powerful Spirit and make me more receptive to His inspiration.