When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. – John 6:24

       When a well-meaning chap asks, “Are you saved? Receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior in your heart, then you will go to heaven,” he’s saying a good thing. But it’s not complete and biblical.

       A Christian public school teacher, who sacrificially serves poor children, brings salvation from ignorance to illiterate kids. George, who runs a soup kitchen, is bringing salvation from hunger to the “scums of the street.” The fresh medical graduate, who sets aside two years to be a missionary doctor, is giving tribal people salvation from pain and sickness. The mother who embraces her five-year-old boy to shield him from the beating of his alcoholic father brings her son salvation from abuse. The lawyer who defends in court an honest government worker from the false accusations of corrupt politicians brings to his friend salvation from injustice.

       But isn’t spiritual salvation more important than all the other forms of salvation? Friend, I have news for you: For God, all are important. Because all these areas involve you!

       People are looking for Jesus. May they find Him when they find you bringing authentic “salvation.” Jon Escoto (faithatworkjon@gmail.com)

Reflection: Who are you called to bring salvation to today?

Father, show me whom You would want me to bring salvation to today.

St. Beuno, abbot, pray for us.

11^ST READING

Inhumanity towards our fellowmen is a terrible thing. What reason did the people have for stoning Stephen? For saying things that they did not like to hear? They even found men to bear false witness against him. But Stephen continued to proclaim the Gospel and no longer refuted the lies against him.

8 Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, 10 but they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. 11 Then they instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, accosted him, seized him, and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They presented false witnesses who testified, “This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law. 14 For we have heard him claim that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” 15 All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30

R: Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

23 Though princes meet and talk against me, your servant meditates on your statutes. 24 Yes, your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors. (R) 26 I declared my ways, and you answered me; teach me your statutes. 27 Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds. (R) 29 Remove from me the way of falsehood, and favor me with your law. 30 The way of truth I have chosen; I have set your ordinances before me. (R)

Jesus exhorts us to work for food that endures to eternal life. We tend to direct our time and energy towards things that are transitory. It is better to teach someone how to fish than give him fish. There are times when direct help is necessary. However, charity by helping others help themselves is more effective.

One does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

22 [After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.] The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. 23 Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. 24 When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 25 And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” 28 So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Numbers 16-18

LIKE THE FACE OF AN ANGEL

I haven’t seen an angel. I wouldn’t know how to describe the face of one. But I have seen angelic individuals whose faces radiated something heavenly. You know you are looking at one when you see one. You just know you are in the presence of someone whose eyes are not so much focused on the here and the now, as on the beyond and on God.

       I saw this more than two years ago in the person of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. I was in awe (and in tears!) as I watched the live TV coverage of his departure from the papal apartments as he boarded the helicopter that brought him to Castel Gandolfo before he officially ended his Petrine ministry. I was touched by his serenity, his marked air of detachment and spirit of humility. He was, to use the words of Luke in reference to Stephen, “filled with grace and power,” as he freely took leave of his august office for the good of the Church. His eloquent example and powerful lesson on detachment and humility inspired us.

       I saw a similar scene 12 years ago when my older sister was in the final stages of an aggressive cancer — a disease she swore to fight earlier on but which, in the end, she accepted with serenity, resignation and faith. While we gathered around her hospital bed, she awoke from coma, gave us a momentary glance of love and acceptance, waved her good hand towards heaven, and breathed her last peacefully. At that point, she seemed to be “filled with grace and power” from above.

       In my more than 30 years as a priest, there were many instances when God gifted me with the overwhelming presence of angelic figures. Full of life and enthusiasm while healthy and strong on earth, they, too, were “filled with grace and power” as they went home to the Father, like Stephen was. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTION: Recall people you’ve met who demonstrated to you true humility and detachment from power. How have they inspired you today?

Teach me true detachment, Lord, from the things of this world, especially power and riches.