But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. – 1 John 2:5

       These past weeks have been extremely difficult because I’ve been upset with my daughter’s nanny. I’ve been boiling mad inside. Impatience has become my second name. I notice her every misgiving. Every mistake is magnified. And because of this, I am turning into one unhappy person.

       It’s ironic, because in this situation, I am in a position of power. I am the employer who can demand and scold and correct in any way and at any time. So why am I the unhappy one?

       I realize it’s because I am also the employer who is in the powerful position to love. I am the employer who can choose to understand, to speak gently, and to take time to teach. I am the employer who should be patient, kind and forgiving. And I am the employer who has forgotten all that.

       Right now, in the eyes of God, it does not matter that I have been in the Renewal since my teenage years, committed my life to Him when I was 14, and have been serving Him in many different ways ever since. What matters now is how I respond to this difficult situation and to this person He has entrusted under my stewardship. With His grace, I will respond in love. Geraldine G. Catral (catral@beaconschool.ph)

Reflection: Does your life truly reflect your knowledge and love of God? Think about it today.

Dearest Lord, let Your love be made complete in me today. Help me to love others completely, too.

Blessed Luchesio and Buonadonna, pray for us.

Repentance is an essential aspect of conversion. We need to let go of our sinfulness and pride in order to believe in God. Repentance cleanses us of our sin in order to receive the grace of salvation. However, the work does not end with one moment of repentance. This process will be repeated as we deepen in our faith and service of God’s Kingdom.

13 Peter said to the people: “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our father, has glorified his  servant Jesus whom you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence, when he had decided to release him. 14 You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses. 17 Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did; 18 but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.”

R: Lord, let your face shine on us.

1 [2] When I call, answer me, O my just God, you who relieve me when I am in distress; have pity on me, and hear my prayer! (R) 3 [4] Know that the Lord does wonders for his faithful one; the Lord will hear me when I call upon him. (R) 6 [7] O Lord, let the light of your countenance shine upon us! 7 [8] You put gladness into my heart. (R) 8 [9] As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep, for you alone, O Lord, bring security to my dwelling. (R)

The Commandments help us discern and learn God’s will. We should never act against them. Though the commandments do not cover every aspect of the moral life, still they provide some very general principles that we can apply across life’s experiences. Let us follow the wisdom of the Church and examine Her teachings. Only then will we know what is the morally correct course of action in a given situation.

1 My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. 2 He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world. 3 The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. 4 Those who say, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments are liars, and the truth is not in them. 5 But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him.

Let us pray for the grace to understand the Scriptures just as the disciples of Jesus did. Understanding the Scriptures must have been a big help to their spiritual lives. God desires to give this grace to us. However, we need to assure Him that we will use it for His Kingdom. This is to ensure that all the gifts that God gives us will grow.

Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us; make our hearts burn while you speak to us.

35 The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. 36 While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” 40 And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of baked fish; 43 he took it and ate it in front of them. 44 He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.”

think: Let us pray for the grace to understand the Scripture just as the disciples did.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Numbers 13-15

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MADE KNOWN IN THE BREAKING OF BREAD

There was a time when footprints only had to do with real feet. As kids, we traced our foot in mud, on sand, or on the newly waxed wooden floor smudged by one’s dusty bare feet. After doing what every kid in the boonies used to do on Saturday mornings — that is, wax and polish the floor — we knew whose feet were the first to spoil our Saturday morning masterpiece. Footprints pointed to the careless and insensitive culprit in the household.

       Today, we talk of carbon footprints, collective signs of humanity’s careless use and abuse of nature. As a certified  “provinciano” (from the province), I have seen the footprints that point to the progressive degradation of the environment in the name of ubiquitous development.

       We also talk now of digital footprints. Our identities are embedded in cyberspace visible to digital sleuths. Our digital footprints are not only our trademarks. They are also the benchmark of who we are in cyberspace, and our impact on the digital natives. Our digital imprints are unique.

       Footprints, whether real or virtual, show who we are and manifest our unique selves. Those in the know, those closest to us, those who belong to the right crowd, can tell easily if it is us or someone else masquerading as us, just by looking at our footprints.

       The two disciples on the way to Emmaus suffered from a memory lapse. Grief, sorrow and disappointment may have blinded them for a while. The Lord did His trademark preaching and explaining, using texts from Scripture. But it was when He did His benchmark act of memorial that everything made sense to the grieving disciples. “Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” This was the Risen Lord at His trademark and benchmark best! This was the Savior in His unique spiritual, Eucharistic and unmistakable imprint. “It is the Lord!” Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Whose footprints are you following in your life? Is it safe for others to follow the footsteps you leave behind?

Lord, how good it is that You have left us Your footprints — the Eucharist — to forever nourish us and guide us in our journey.