“For I will make of him a great nation.” – Genesis 21:18

       A son was not doing well in school. His father didn’t know what to do anymore. Because his son was overstaying in college, some of his teachers were now younger than him. So the father proposed to his son, “Give me a college diploma and I’ll give you a brand new car. I’m not asking you to get high grades. All I ask you is that you graduate.” The father wasn’t a rich man, so this was an act of utter desperation.

       The son started to open his books for the first time in his life. The idea of driving his own brand new car was enough motivation for him. And one day, the impossible happened: He finally graduated.

       My point? Rewards are powerful. The father gave his son the keys to his 13-year-old car. As expected, the son was disappointed and asked, “But Dad, you told me you were going to give me a brand new car…”

       The father said, “When I bought it, it was brand new. But it took you 13 years to finish college.”

       I believe rewards are powerful. Focusing on the prize made this guy forget the pain of studying. But unlike his father, when God promises a reward, no doubt you’ll receive it. Bo Sanchez (bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com)

Reflection: Are you still waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promises to you? Just hold on. He is true to His promises.

Blessed Junipero Serra, pray for us.

Jealousy is insidious. It can destroy a community because of the attention and loyalty of the people turn inwards. This sounds like the death knell for a community, as its life only thrives when its members are focused on the needs of others. Jealousy will quickly exclude from our hearts and minds all concern for others and their needs.

5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 8 Isaac grew, and on the day of the child’s weaning,  Abraham held a great feast. 9 Sarah noticed the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham playing with her son Isaac; 10 so she demanded of Abraham: “Drive out that slave and her son! No son of that slave is going to share the inheritance with my son Isaac!” 11 Abraham was greatly distressed, especially on account of his son Ishmael. 12 But God said to Abraham: “Do not be distressed about the boy or about your slave woman. Heed the demands of Sarah, no matter what she is asking of you; for it is through Isaac that descendants shall bear your name. 13 As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a great nation of him also, since he too is your offspring.” 14 Early the next morning Abraham got some bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. Then, placing the child on her back, he sent her away. As she roamed aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba, 15 the water in the skin was used up. So she put the child down under a shrub, 16 and then went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away; for she said to herself, “Let me not watch the child die.” As she sat opposite him, he began to cry. 17 God heard the boy’s cry, and God’s messenger called to Hagar from heaven: “What is the matter, Hagar? Don’t be afraid; God has heard the boy’s cry in this plight of his. 18 Arise, lift up the boy and hold him by the hand; for I will make of him a great nation.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water, and then let the boy drink. 20 God was with the boy as he grew up.

Psalm 34:7-8, 10-11, 12-13

R: The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

6 [7] When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. 7 [8] The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. (R) 9 [10] Fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for nought is lacking to those who fear him. 10 [11] The great grow poor and hungry; but those who seek the Lord want for no good thing. (R) 11 [12] Come, children, hear me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 [13] Which of you desires life, and takes delight in prosperous days? (R)

Faith and trust in Jesus subdues all power. He can drive demons out of the people because He completely trusts in God’s love for Him and His abiding presence. He knows without a shadow of a doubt that God listens to His prayers. How do we grow in holiness and trust of God so that we have the same trust as Jesus? Let us look at our lives and remove any obstacle to our faith.

The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.

28 When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road. 29 They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” 30 Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. 31 The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.” 32 And he said to them, “Go then!” They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. 33 The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. 34 Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.

think: How do we grow in holiness and trust of God so that we have the same trust as Jesus?

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2 Chronicles 9-10

PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

The ultimate purpose of my life

GOALS FOR THE QUARTER

Priority areas God wants me to work on

OUR GOD REIGNS

This Gospel is both funny and serious. Funny because the evil spirit elected to be sent to a herd of swine that rushed down the steep bank and drowned at sea. It makes us wonder why the evil spirit would prefer that kind of defeat? Maybe they became very desperate in the presence of Jesus.

       Interesting too was the reaction of the people after being told by the swineherds of what they saw. If it happened here in the Philippines, Jesus would have found it difficult to elude throngs of people who would like to see, touch and follow Him. Instead, what happened was that the people begged Him to leave their district. The people feared losing their livelihood more than having an exorcist in their midst.

       The serious side of the Gospel involves some truths about evil spirits. First, they do exist. A lot of times I’ve been asked if there really are evil spirits. I refer them to the Gospels citing Jesus’ encounters with them.

    Second, they do damage to people — physically, morally and spiritually. In whatever way, no matter how small, they will inflict pain and troubles to people. They will seduce them to turn against God. They will lure people to be complacent and push them to sin.

      Third, they are afraid of God. At times we forget this truth. Many times in the Gospels, Jesus encounters the evil ones. In every encounter, the evil one is defeated and humiliated. In this Gospel, they even begged for the kind of annihilation they will have. God reigns. Evil is no match to God. If we see evil as victorious over God, it is actually evil being victorious over us. The usual battleground between God and evil is in the human person. It is us who choose who to side with. If we side with evil, it will prevail over us. If we side with God, He will reign in us.

       It boils down to our choice. Do we choose God or evil? Eternal life or eternal death? Good or bad? Salvation or damnation? The choice may be clear and easy, but we need to make and live that choice. Fr. Benny Tuazon

REFLECTION QUESTION: Have you made a firm commitment to choose God over evil all the time?

Strengthen my resolve, Lord, to choose You at all times. Protect me from the temptation to choose evil