“If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed...” – Acts 4:9

       A mother and her son were shopping in the grocery. While the mother was browsing, her son watched a little toddler in his stroller gazing up at a stack of cans on a shelf. Instinctively, the toddler reached to pick one out and, like a house of cards, the heavy cans tumbled down towards the tot. The boy attempted to grab the cans before they hit the child but he couldn’t catch everything. One of the cans still managed to bump the toddler on the forehead causing the child to wail in distress.

       The two mothers ran at the sound of the commotion and the boy’s mother grabbed him angrily, “What did you do? Why did you hit that baby?!” The toddler’s mother gently defended the boy, “It’s OK, maybe he was just trying to help.”

       The boy’s mom shook her head, “He’s been a troublemaker since he was little. I’m sure he was up to no good.”

       It was heartbreaking. I learned that day to stop assuming the worst in people and to see acts of kindness as what they are — a nature of goodwill and nothing less. That faith, void of skepticism, has helped me to give people the benefit of the doubt. Eleanore Teo (elyo.lee@gmail.com)

Reflection: Do you accept good deeds upfront or do you find yourself questioning kindness?

Lord, please restore my faith in humanity and protect me from the shadow of doubt so that I may see Your glorious light.

St. Magdalene of Canossa, pray for us.

11^ST READING

Their numbers have grown to 5,000 and the authorities were worried. However, Peter was not daunted. He continued to proclaim the Good News to the leaders and the people. He told them that they, too, can follow Jesus as their Savior and Lord. This was the last thing they wanted. They wanted to shut down this new sect because it was a threat to the true faith. The Acts of the Apostles will be an account of their failure.

1 After the crippled man had been cured, while Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them, 2 disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They laid hands on Peter and John and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. 4 But many of those who heard the word came to believe and the number of men grew to about five thousand. 5 On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly class. 7 They brought them into their presence and questioned them, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them, “Leaders of the people and elders: 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, 10 then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. 11 He is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”

Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-24, 25-27

R: The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 2 Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the Lord say, “His mercy endures forever.” (R) 22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. 24 This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. (R) 25 O Lord, grant salvation! O Lord, grant prosperity! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord. 27 The Lord is God, and he has given us light. (R)

This is a beautiful story and is reminiscent of some of the earlier encounters that the disciples had with Jesus around Lake Galilee. They were fishing without success and Jesus directs them to a huge catch. John recognized that it is Jesus. Peter cannot even wait for the boat to come to the shore so he wades on ahead. Jesus remains calm and asks them for some fish to cook, eats with them, and renews His fellowship with them.

This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.

1 Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. 2 Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” 6 So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. 7 So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. 9 When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.14 This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.

think: You can follow Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Leviticus 13-15

IT IS THE LORD!

Years ago, when my nephew was still a toddler, we were on a long drive from the US Midwest all the way to the Big Apple. We were trying to wean him away from his growing “addiction” to Coke. It was a challenge to keep him from noticing the Golden Arches throughout the journey. We adults were on the lookout for what we then referred to, in code, as Mickey D. We had to entertain him and distract him to prevent him from seeing the arches.

       It was exactly like the commercial ad that portrayed a little girl who morphed from sad to excited as she bobbed up and down the swing: sad to see nothing but the grey earth on the downswing, and happy to see the golden arches on the upswing. “It’s Mickey D!”

       Perhaps in the Philippine setting, the children look forward to seeing the obese and overweight bumble bee instead of the Golden Arches. One recognizes what one loves. One readily sees whom one values.

         There were seven disciples who went fishing that night. Five of them were named and two were not. They went together, the Gospel specifically says. Three is a crowd but five would be more than just a crowd. Crowds do not think, as social psychologists say.

       One of the two unnamed disciples was not impressed by the big catch they got. He recognized the One who gave them an impromptu fishing lesson, and an unexpected filet-o-fish breakfast by the shore.

       Children and adults alike in the Philippines light up when they see the fat bee or the arches. They love what they have learned to like.

         The crowd of five saw the man with a ready fishing tip. But only one knew who the Man really was. He did not just see. He recognized Jesus and declared: “It is the Lord!” Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTION: When faced with difficulties, is it hard for you to recognize Jesus’ presence in your pain?

Grant me the grace to see Your hand in every blessing and trial in my life, Lord.