But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” – Acts 10:26

       In 2011, Warren Buffett, the fourth richest man in the world, wrote an article for the New York Times titled, “Stop Coddling the Super-Rich.” It was an insightful piece on how legislation in the United States provided preferential income tax treatment for the extremely wealthy and powerful but at the expense of the working class and underprivileged.

       He wrote, “Our leaders have asked for shared sacrifice. But when they did the asking, they spared me. I checked with my mega-rich friends and they, too, were left untouched. While the poor and middle class fight for us in Afghanistan, and while most Americans struggle to make ends meet, we continue to get our extraordinary tax breaks.”

       It was not the sense of the article that struck me, but the fact that the words came from an individual who thoroughly earned and deserved his incredible success but was willing to sacrifice more of his wealth for the sake of the less fortunate. It is a shining example of how humility and the lack of entitlement can serve as an inspiration for everyone, not merely the superrich, to serve and protect our fellowman. Eleanore Teo (elyo.lee@gmail.com)

Reflection: “In a world where there is so much wealth... it is unfathomable that there are... so many poor persons.” (Pope Francis)

Father, grant me the self-awareness to understand that it is my honor to stand equal among my brothers and sisters in Your presence.

St. Damien of Molokai, pray for us.

Peter told Cornelius to stand and stop paying him homage. This reminds us of our need to grow in humility. Peter knew that Jesus alone can save and that it was God who performed the miracles he saw. Peter knew that if we took credit for these things, we become proud and may lose our faith. We must remember that we do not have the power to perform miracles.

Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48

25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage. 26 Peter, however, raised him up, saying, “Get up. I myself am also a human being.” 34 Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. 35 Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word. 45 The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, 46 for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter responded, 47 “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?” 48 He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

R: The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

1 Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) 2 The Lord has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. 3 He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. (R) All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. 4 Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. (R)

Let us never allow a day to go by without expressing our love for someone. John tells us that love is at the heart of all that we do with and for God. Without love, we are nothing and can do nothing good. As we reflect on the call to love one another, let us open our hearts to receive the fullness of God’s love for us. Only then will we be able to truly love others.

7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. 8 Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this way the love of God wasrevealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. 10 In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

We are all called to be martyrs and to lay down our lives for others. This means dying daily to our selves – to our wants and desires – and to respond to the needs of others. No one is exempt from this martyrdom. The more a person has, the greater the martyrdom to which he or she is called. Unfortunately, only a few heed this call; some hear it but do not respond.

Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.

9 Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete. 12 This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. 16 It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. 17 This I command you: love one another.”

think: We are all called to be martyrs and to lay down our lives for others.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Joshua 17-20

THE JOY OF THE LORD

Joy is one of the fruits of the meditation on the resurrection of Jesus. We are now closer to the joy of Pentecost. Next week’s liturgy focuses on the ascension of the Lord. The context of this Gospel reading is that of the Upper Room. The disciples are saddened that the Master is about to depart, to be taken away from them, yet Jesus invites them to rejoice. Loving Jesus is pure joy. How many times have you seen people bursting with joy because of their relationship with Jesus? These people are contagious; they spread Christ’s joy to all. Often these people have been through great trials, pain and suffering. They have experienced redemption and salvation firsthand by having met the Lord of their joy in pain and isolation. Jesus wants us to be joyful. St. Paul states the same message: Rejoice in the Lord always.

         Joy does not come easily; it is usually born of suffering and great pain. It didn’t come easy with Jesus. It came at a cost — the cost of His life on the cross. The fruit of the Spirit is joy. Living a life of love in the Lord will produce this fruit. One of the fruits of those who encountered the Risen Jesus is joy. Look at Peter, Mary Magdalene, the Beloved Disciple, and Mary the mother of Jesus.

         Let us be people of joy. We need to pray for that grace. Gandhi, the well-known Indian political and spiritual leader, was interested in Christianity if it weren’t for the Christians: “I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

         We should be a witness of love and joy to the world, in imitation of the Master. But often people only see violence, criticism and hypocrisy in the lives of Christians. Jesus wants our lives to be filled with selfless interest and openness to service of others, especially the poorest of the poor. That is where we will find joy. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

REFLECTION QUESTION: How can you be a joyful person?

Father, fill me with the joy of the Risen Christ and my life will be complete. Amen