And your ears shall hear a word behind you: “This is the way; walk in it.” — Isaiah 30:21

         On many occasions, I’ve witnessed how our gracious God has rescued me through His life-giving Word.

         There were times in my life when I was down and weary, and I couldn’t get consolation from anything or anyone. It only took a moment of stillness to listen to God’s comforting words and I was made whole again.

         At another time, I had a friend who was in an illicit relationship with someone. Her children, unknown to her, were very much affected. I wanted to write to her about the situation but I had been setting it aside, afraid it would ruin our friendship. But my resolve to write to her was strengthened by a message I got from God’s Word.

         Often, Scripture is an unfailing source of hope and love. It’s like coming home. God, who knows you more than anyone will ever know you, whispers to your soul through His Word.

         Are you confused, discouraged, hopeless or simply in need of refreshment? Look to God’s Word. He is all you need. Lallaine Gogna (lallygogna@yahoo.com)

Reflection: “We who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to hold fast to the hope that lies before us. This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm....” (Hebrews 6:18-19).

Lord, may I allow myself to be richly blessed with the power of Your Word.

St. Nicholas, bishop, pray for us.

No doubt there is a lot of suffering in the world. Suffering will come to all who live, some to a greater extent than others. There is much mystery associated with suffering — why it happens, to whom and so on. What we know is that suffering can be redemptive if we view the experience with faith. Jesus is the prime example of this — His suffering and death is the basis of our salvation. Let us never forget that we always have the choice to treat our suffering as an opportunity to join Jesus in His passion and death.

19 Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, no more will you weep; He will be gracious to you when you cry out, as soon as he hears he will answer you. 20 The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst. No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher, 21 while from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: “This is the way; walk in it,” when you would turn to the right or to the left. 23 He will give rain for the seed that you sow in the ground, and the wheat that the soil produces will be rich and abundant. On that day your cattle will graze in spacious meadows; 24 the oxen and the asses that till the ground will eat silage tossed to them with shovel and pitchfork. 25 Upon every high mountain and lofty hill there will be streams of running water. On the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall, 26 the light of the moon will be like that of the sun and the light of the sun will be seven times greater like the light of seven days. On the day the Lord binds up the wounds of his people, he will heal the bruises left by his blows.   

R: Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.

1 Praise the Lord, for he is good; sing praise to our God, for he is gracious; it is fitting to praise him. 2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; the dispersed of Israel he gathers. (R) 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 4 He tells the number of the stars; he calls each by name. (R) 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power: to his wisdom there is no limit. 6 The Lord sustains the lowly; the wicked he casts to the ground. (R)

Today, as in any other time in the history of the Church, there is a need for more men and women to take up the call to become laborers in the vineyard of the Gospel. Yes, there is a need for more priestly and religious vocations, but there is also a need for more of the laity to take up their baptismal calling to minister the Gospel in their homes, places of work, and just generally in the secular sphere of life. The work of the Kingdom of God is the responsibility of all the baptized, not just a few ordained clerics. Let us act upon our baptismal calling today.

The Lord is our Judge, our Lawgiver, our King; he it is who will save us.

35 Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. 36 At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; 38 so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” 10: 1 Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. 5 Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

think:  Suffering can be redemptive if we view the experience with faith.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Ezekiel 41-44

EVERYDAY SPIRITUALITY

The men whom Jesus chose to be His Apostles were ordinary people. Jesus invited them, “Come, follow Me,” and they left everything and followed Him. Jesus chose these men not for what they were but for what they could become under His influence and power. Jesus does not call extraordinary people but ordinary mortals willing to do ordinary things with extraordinary love. He does not ask for their ability but their availability.

       The Twelve Apostles went forth to bring with them the Word and the works of Christ. We are called to bring the message of Christ’s love and we cannot bring that message unless we first receive it in His presence.

       Martin Buber tells the story about a rabbi’s disciple who begged his master to teach him how to prepare his soul for the service of God. The rabbi told him to go to Rabbi Abraham, who at that time was still an innkeeper. The disciple did as instructed and lived in the inn for several weeks without observing any vestige of holiness in the innkeeper, who, from morning prayer till night, devoted himself to the affairs of his business. The disciple finally asked the innkeeper what he did all day. The latter said, “My most important occupation is to clean the dishes properly so that not the slightest trace of food is left, and to clean and dry the pots and pans so that they do not rust.” When the disciple returned home and reported to the rabbi what he had seen and heard, the rabbi said to him, “Now you know the answer about how to prepare your soul for the service of God.”

       The way to reach God is by doing everything wholeheartedly and genuinely. Everything and every act is full of God’s holiness, so treat it with respect and dignity. We don’t need to be great to become servants of the Lord; we just need to be available to Him. We have to live in His presence and allow Him to transform us. When we become aware that everything is full of God’s holiness, we can bring love wherever we are and do everything wholeheartedly and genuinely. To become someone sent by the Lord means to give witness to His love, Word and works. Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTION: Meditate on these words of Blessed Mother Teresa: “Just do with love what is natural; God will surely supply the supernatural.”

Help me to see and do everything with great love for You, Lord.