... the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage...” – Acts 23:11

       Melissa used to live a very comfortable life. She was young, had a high-paying job, owned the latest gadgets, and had more than P100,000 in her savings account. She served every Sunday in her community. She was well liked by her co-servants and she tithed regularly. She had a great relationship with the Lord.

       But one day, God called her to serve in a greater capacity. After praying hard, she decided to let go of everything and follow the Lord. Her friends thought she was crazy! When they asked her why she gave her money away, she just smiled and said, “God told me to surrender everything to Him. He told me to trust in Him.”

       What many considered was a stupid act was actually an act of bravery. How many of us could do what she had done? She knew that these worldly things would hinder her from truly serving the Lord, so she let go of them, not knowing what the future would bring.

       For many people, “surrender” might mean weakness and cowardice, especially since it means “giving up.” But surrendering to God is probably the bravest thing we could do because it means stepping out of our comfort zones and stepping into “God’s zone.” Karren Renz Seña (karren.s@shepherdsvoice.com.ph)

Reflection: When God calls you, He will equip you. Don’t hesitate to let go and let God. Take courage and just follow His leading.

Holy Spirit, grant us the gift of courage, so that we may continue to trust God wholeheartedly as we continue to follow His will.

Blessed Eugene de Mazenod, bishop, pray for us.

Paul set the Pharisees and Sadducees against one another by raising the issue of the resurrection. This diverted their attention from his case. We should do whatever is necessary to further the work of the Kingdom of God, even to the extent of creating confusion in the ranks of those who oppose us.

30 Wishing to determine the truth about why Paul was being accused by the Jews, the commander freed him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene. Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them. 23:6 Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.” 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three. 9 A great uproar occurred, and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party stood up and sharply argued, “We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 The dispute was so serious that the commander, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst and take him into the compound. 11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”

Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11

R: Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

1 Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; 2 I say to the Lord, “My Lord are you.” 5 O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. (R) 7 I bless the Lord who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. 8 I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. (R) 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; 10 Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. (R) 11 You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. (R)

Jesus prays for His disciples and us — His followers — in the millennia to come. It is comforting to know that Jesus has been praying for us long before we were even born. For me, this shows God’s commitment to the work of the Gospel and our salvation. It also shows that being a disciple of Jesus is not easy. Let us draw strength from Jesus who prays that we may persevere in our faith.

May they all be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you that the world may believe that you sent me, says the Lord.

20 Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. 26 I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”

think: Let us draw strength from Jesus who prays that we may persevere in our faith.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Samuel 13-16

MAY THEY ALL BE ONE

A conference I attended in Australia remains etched in my mind to this day. Christians from interdenominational communities gathered there. At the closing Mass, the Catholics were in the auditorium for the final blessing. The Protestants were having their own service in the Catholic chapel. As the bishop was about to do the final blessing, the Protestants came to the venue. The bishop invited the pastors and leaders to join him in the closing prayer. Immediately a great wave of joy erupted as we realized the prayer of Jesus was being made fruitful: “May they all be one.” In his encyclical Ut Unum Sint (May 1995), St. John Paul II called for a renewal of all Christians to the prayer of unity in Jesus. The call for unity is manifested through ecumenical efforts at interfaith and interdenominational dialogue.

         Jesus’ disciples have the enormous task of sharing the Good News. Jesus knows too well what lies ahead with all its persecution and misunderstandings — but He is with us. He is like a parent who is aware of the dangers, limitations and difficult circumstances his child will encounter, but the parent must let go and allow the child to live. Jesus is doing the same in the prayer He addresses to the Father in the Upper Room.

         In these days of prayer we, too, wait for the Holy Spirit who will lead us and guide us in our life’s journey. He is our strength, encouragement and wisdom. The task ahead of us — making Jesus known — can only be accomplished by seeking the Spirit who transforms and motivates us. As we open ourselves to the Father’s love, through the presence of Jesus, we are assured that we are one with Jesus and the Father in bringing a transforming love to this world in which we live. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you living out your calling as a Christian in unity and love?

Father, may the love with which You loved Jesus be in me. Amen.