That you... may have strength to comprehend ...what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:18-19

       Her eldest sister, whom she looked up to as a mother, perished in a fire. Fifteen years later, her four-year-old granddaughter and daughter-in-law also died in a fire. And she was always the first one to receive the news of their tragic passing. Tita Connie said that she could have easily gone mad, having experienced these tragedies. During these difficult times, her only prayer was, “Lord, give me a heart like Mary’s.”

       The Lord answered her prayers and she received the grace of fortitude as was given to Our Lady of Sorrows. The same grace gave her the strength to encourage and comfort the rest of her family, as she helped them and herself face the reality of death. She held on to the Lord’s words, “Remember that I love you, that you are special to Me.”

       From Tita Connie I learned that no one is ever ready for the death of a loved one. But no matter how painful it is to lose someone, God is there with us. His love is far greater than any pain, any loss and any tragedy we could ever go through in this life. Dina Pecaña (dpecana@yahoo.com)

Reflection: “Through the clouds of midnight, this bright promise shone, I will never leave thee, never leave thee alone.” (Anonymous)

O God, You are Lord over sorrow and pain. May You surround me always with Your love and see me through the difficult moments in life.

St. John of Capistrano, priest, pray for us.

If we are disciples of Jesus, we should dream big. Nothing will stop the grace of God from accomplishing its purpose if we entrust our lives to it. Dreamers who accomplish their dreams realize that they have to pay a price in order to do so. This is why it is essential that we grasp the dream and vision for our lives so that we will embrace the cross and pay the price it demands of us.

14 Brothers and sisters: I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

R: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

1 Exult, you just, in the Lord; praise from the upright is fitting. 2 Give thanks to the Lord on the harp; with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises. (R) 4 For upright is the word of the Lord, and all his works are trustworthy. 5 He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full. (R) 11 But the plan of the Lord stands forever; the design of his heart, through all generations. 12 Blessed the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he has chosen for his own inheritance. (R) 18 But see, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, 19 to deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine. (R)

Jesus knows there is a greater plan for His life than mere human existence and He wants to pay the price to accomplish it. In fact, Jesus yearns to pay the price because He knows that nothing is won without the pain and discipline of discipleship. Where do we stand in this regard? Have we embraced the call of Jesus on our life yet? Are we willing to pay the price that it will exact from us?

I consider all things so much rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him.

49 Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! 50 There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53 a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

think:  Nothing will stop the grace of God from accomplishing its purpose if we entrust our lives to it.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 1-4

FIRE ON EARTH

Back in the day when environmental awareness was far from everyone’s mind, every camping trip would be incomplete without the obligatory campfire. I should know. I worked for Catholic Scouting as a young priest before I got hooked on formation work. Everyone knows how a bonfire could help warm you up on a cold windy night up in Mount Kanlaon, for example, or even at the foothills of Makiling in Laguna. A bonfire, however, does not just warm you up physically; it also warms up the heart and fuels the drive for greater fellowship and deeper camaraderie. But above all, it could set people on fire with a burning desire to go down to the plains and apply what one learned over a few days of fun-filled training.

       Fire, too, is powerful beyond belief. It can be destructive and constructive at the same time. It can raze even good things to the ground but can purify everything in its path. Used rightly and well, the devouring flames could obliterate or cancel out all things negative and undesirable.

       This is precisely the idea behind the process of purifying even precious metals. They can only be freed from dross and other impurities by subjecting them to fire and heat. And what comes out is pure, refined gold or silver.

       Our recent history has shown that “business as usual” cannot, and does not, work. Being laid back, being unconcerned about the burning issues of our days, being oblivious of the multiplicity of ideologies and forces that take contemporary culture of postmodernity by storm, do not make the Church’s presence in the world efficacious and fruitful. We need to do more. We need to intensify our evangelizing efforts. We cannot just sit by and watch how showbiz culture gradually, but surely, pulls the rug from under our feet and co-opt young people to its manipulative ways.

         We need to allow the Lord to not only warm our hearts with good intentions. We need to set fire on earth and do our part in the Church’s call to new evangelization. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Is your heart on fire with love for God?

Send Your Holy Spirit, Lord, and enkindle my heart with love for You and Your people.