Make justice your arm: redress the wound, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow. – Isaiah 1:17

       When Dad passed away in 2009, I felt lost. I was beset by fear and anxiety about our family’s future. Without our pillar of strength and our protector, what would become of our family? What will happen to me? Adding to my worries was this question: Do I need to step into my dad’s shoes? I just had to ask even if I knew I could never take his place in the family.

       To ease my worries, I prayed and read the Scripture. I was led to this verse: “Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation” (Psalm 68:5). That was the answer to my questions. I realized that we now have two fathers looking after us, and that our heavenly Dad has been there for us all along.

       It’s been six years without Dad and the Lord has been faithful to us. He has provided for all our needs, opened livelihood  opportunities for us, sent relatives, friends and even strangers to care for and watch over us. Most of all, God affirms to us every single day how favored we are, as are all orphans and widows, as are all His children. Dina Pecaña (dpecana@yahoo.com)

Reflection:“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:27)

Father, there are many orphans and widows in our midst. Grant us the grace to reach out to and care for them like You do.

God does not tolerate people who hang on to sin and postpone their repentance. What happens if there is no more chance to repent later on? Pray for the grace to hate sin and never waste a second to repent and remove it completely from our lives.

Isaiah 1:10-17

10 Hear the word of the Lord, princes of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, people of Gomorrah! 11 “What care I for the number of your sacrifices,” says the Lord. “I have had enough of whole-burnt rams and fat of fatlings; in the blood of calves, lambs and goats I find no pleasure. 12 When you come in to visit me, who asks these things of you? 13 Trample my courts no more! Bring no more worthless offerings. Your incense is loathsome to me. New moon and sabbath, calling of assemblies, octaves with wickedness these I cannot bear. 14 Your new moons and festivals I detest; they weigh me down, I tire of the load. 15 When you spread out your hands, I close my eyes to you; though you pray the more, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood! 16 Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; 17 learn to do good. Make justice your aim. Redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.

Psalm 50:8-9, 16-17, 21, 23

R: To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

8 “Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, for your burnt offerings are before me always. 9 I take from your house no bullock, no goats out of your fold.” (R) 16 “Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, 17 though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?” (R) 21 “When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it? Or do you think that I am like yourself? I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes. 23 He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.” (R)

We celebrate the Feast of St. Benedict of Nursia, a 5th century saint who influenced the way we live in the world today. Institutions such as hospitals and schools find their basis in the Benedictine traditions and spirituality. It is important to know our history and respect our origins so that we can see the spirit that should be imbued in our institutions today.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 10:34-11:1

34 Jesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and one’s enemies will be those of his household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40 Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple — amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” 11:1 When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.

think: Pray for the grace to hate sin and never waste a second to repent and remove it from our lives.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2 Chronicles 27-28 

JESUS CONFRONTS US WITH CHOICES

“Do not think that I came to send peace on earth: I did not come to send peace, but a sword.” These are strange words coming from the lips of Jesus whom we call the Prince of Peace and who spoke against hatred and quarrel and encouraged love, even love of the enemy.

       But Jesus is always absolutely honest with those He invites to follow Him. Strangely, He offers them conflict; and that conflict will often be that one’s enemies will be those of his own household.

       I have experienced this in my parish in Japan. A mother had been baptized but her husband rejected her because of this and did not allow his two children to follow their mother and be baptized also.

       To be confronted with Jesus is to make this choice: to accept or reject Him. It is rare that a person is confronted with this drastic choice. We may go through life and never face it, but the fact remains that it is possible for a person’s loved ones to become his enemies, if they keep him from doing what he knows God wants him to do.

       Jesus offers the Cross. As His followers, we may sometimes have to sacrifice personal ambitions, the comfort that we might have enjoyed, the career that we might have achieved. We may have to lay aside some of our dreams. We will certainly have to sacrifice our will, for no real Christian can do what he likes; he must do what Christ likes. In Christianity, there is always some cross, for it is the religion of the Cross.

       When we seek comfort and security and the fulfillment of personal ambitions, we may get all these things, but we will not be happy; for we are sent into this world to serve God and our fellowmen. The way to serve others, the way to fulfill God’s purpose for us, the way to true happiness is to spend life selflessly. Only then will we find life — here and hereafter. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you afraid of making choices that God demands from you? Do you seek compromise rather than a radical decision?

Lord, Your words disturb me. Thank You for being honest with me. I tend to choose compromise and comfort. Give me the courage and strength to choose the Cross, heavy as it may be. Amen.