Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. – Ephesians 4:2

Let me tell you a story of two people I know. We’ll call the first one Xerxes and the other one Leo.

       Both of them serve the Lord. But Xerxes has this tendency to think that his service will only be maximized depending on what leadership position he has in the ministry. It saddens me every time I hear Xerxes angry or frustrated with someone because he has relationship problems in ministry.

       On the contrary, Leo is just astounding. He’s a person who I believe is more talented than me but doesn’t throw his weight around. He gives his 100 percent in everything that is assigned to him. He focuses on enjoying his service and loving the people around him. I’m excited for him because people love him and he just reflects the true meaning of the word “disciple.”

Reflection: What kind of Christian are you?

Jesus, teach me to have a heart like Yours so that I can be a great disciple. Amen.

St. Anthony Mary Claret, bishop, pray for us.

We may not live perfect lives but we can certainly strive enough to ensure that we are making a worthy effort. God calls us to perfection but does not demand that we reach it in order to be saved. This is a good thing as no one is capable of perfection on one’s own strength. We need God’s grace to be saved from our sins.

1 Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, 3 striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: 4 one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

R: Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

1 The Lord’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. 2 For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. (R) 3 Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who may stand in his holy place? 4 He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain. (R) 5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God his savior. 6 Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob. (R)

Human knowledge has accomplished great things and it continues to expand in all areas of science. What is most important, however, is that we realize that no matter how smart or knowledgeable we may be, we cannot achieve the gift of eternal life through our own efforts. We need God to receive the fullness of life as only He can give us such a gift.

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

54 Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain — and so it does; 55 and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot — and so it is. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? 57 Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58 If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. 59 I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

think:  No matter how smart or knowledgeable we may be, we cannot achieve the gift of eternal life through our own efforts.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 5-8

INTERPRETING THE TIMES

Farmers who are close to the soil and to nature can teach us so many lessons. They look at the patterns in the world of nature and adjust their sowing and planting accordingly.

       They are experts at interpreting the times.

       But life being what it is, a complex but supposedly an integrated whole, we need to grow in our capacity for attunement to everything that goes on — be it on the natural and the supernatural planes. Farmers and fisher folk ought to be attuned to weather patterns. Not to do so could prove disastrous and can cause not just the loss of a livelihood, but also precious human life. I remember hiking up a mountain together with some seminarians from Papua New Guinea many years ago. Coming as they did from a mostly undeveloped place, they were very much at home in the forest. They knew how to read “signs” in things that I didn’t even notice before. It was not a problem for them to find their way through thick thickets and unbeaten tracks, like it was second nature to them.

       They were experts at interpreting the signs and the times. Many of us now are co-opted by so many conflicting ideologies. In our times marked by complexity and pluralism, whatever is the latest, whatever is mouthed by the most popular showbiz personality is taken hook, line and sinker by the unsuspecting masses, possibly including those who are highly educated. Mainstream media, owned and managed by the same ruling elite, are the contemporary times’ tool for mass manipulation.

       The times call for more than just shallow attunement. They call, too, more importantly, for attachment — to objective truth, first and foremost. Said truth may not necessarily be what is conveyed by the mainstream and popular media. But we need to be wise and prudent, and work for both attunement and attachment to Him who is Lord of all times and seasons. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTION: How attuned are you to the Lord?

Grant me the grace to be faithful in listening to Your will for me every day, Lord.