“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” – Matthew 6:13

When I was a kid, I’d run through a bending trail in the field on my way home. I wondered why I would always follow that trail when I could just run straight home. I tried several times to run straight through but it was automatic: I’d always follow how the trail would bend.

       One day, I tried something challenging (more like foolish and stupid). I closed my eyes and ran straight home. Boom! I hit a hard wall. I went home with my first-ever black eye. Worse, I got scolded and spanked by my father. Waaah!

       Friends, our instincts know limits. These are called boundaries. They are also known by our internal instinct called the conscience. But some people never learn. They keep on running with eyes closed for the thrill of the sinful experience — where they’re sure to crash into a wall at the end. Sin is enticing, yet in the end, it’ll hurt you and others.

       Let’s learn to respect this gift from God. Give yourself the gift of limits. Your internal instincts (good conscience) will always lead you to Him.

  Run the good race with Him! Obet Cabrillas (kpreacherobet@gmail.com)

Reflection: There are two ways to approach life: Enjoy first and endure later, or endure first and enjoy later. Choose the second. It’s the way of the saints.

From all the evil that surrounds me, defend me; and when the call of death arrives, bid me come to Thee that I may praise Thee with Thy saints, forever. (Anima Christi)

St. John Ogilvie, pray for us.

Jesus is the Word sent by the Father to accomplish the work of salvation. Let us remember what Isaiah tells us about the effectiveness of God’s Word, namely, that through Christ’s obedience everything necessary for our salvation has been put in place. All that is lacking is our acceptance of and obedience to that gift. Obedience is a crucial aspect of acceptance in faith. How can we have faith if it does not make an impact on our lives?

10 Thus says the Lord: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, 11 so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.

3 [4] Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. 4 [5] I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) 15 [16] The Lord has eyes for the just, and ears for their cry. 16 [17] The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. (R) 17 [18] When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. 18 [19] The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. (R)

Jesus teaches that we must forgive those who sin against us. This is integral to our acceptance of the gift of salvation. If we are not willing to forgive those who have sinned against us, then we cannot expect God to forgive our sins — this would be blatant hypocrisy. Everyone today seems to be looking for “something for nothing.” The Gospel is not like this. It makes demands in the way we live with and treat one another.

One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

7 Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread; 12 and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; 13 and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 14 If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

think: If we are not willing to forgive those who have sinned against us, then we cannot expect God to forgive our sins — this would be blatant hypocrisy.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Revelation 15-18

I was in Pennsylvania attending a weeklong seminar. One evening, a penitential service was held. I heard the confession of a burly white American. His size intimidated me. My intimidation grew stronger when he started speaking of his deep hatred and anger towards his father and how, after 15 years, he was still bound by such rage and hatred. I just listened and allowed him to unload. I didn’t know what to tell him. By stroke of inspiration, I found myself proposing to him, “Why don’t we just be silent right now and offer everything to our Father in Heaven? Let us allow God to father us at this moment.” With a cracking voice, he said, “Father, that rang a bell within me. To allow God to be Father to me.” He suddenly wept. After some time, he said, “Don’t be fooled by my strong exterior, Father. I hate my father. But deep inside, I’m still a child longing for his father.”

       Today in the Gospel, the disciples asked Jesus how to pray. Jesus said, “When you pray say, ‘Our Father, hallowed be thy name….’” Many find this prayer difficult to say. Betrayed and wounded by their earthly fathers, I’m sure they would tell Jesus if they could, “Are You serious? I couldn’t even call my dad ‘father.’ How do You expect me to call God ‘Father’?”

       In the ‘80s there was a song that goes, “It’s the lover, not the love, who broke your heart last night. It’s the lover, not the dream, that didn’t work out right....”

       I am pained and feel sorry for the many ways the priesthood has failed to mirror the Fatherhood of God. But in the midst of the discouragement and disappointment, and the collective efforts to amend the wrongs committed, I propose that we remember this prayerfully: It is a priest that has gone wrong, not the priesthood. It is a churchman that has gone wrong, not the Church of Christ. Christ remains the measure of the Church and the priesthood. Let us keep our gaze fixed on Him. The Church has done so for over 2,000 years. It will do us well to keep doing the same. Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTION: Have you been hurt by your earthly father? Look up to God and let Him “father” you.

God our Father, help me to cling to You as my true Father.