Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

    Do you ever wonder why God allows evil to happen? Corrupt government officials who’ve been robbing the country’s money for so many years remain in power. Tyrants in some countries continue to reign, killing many to protect their interest or ambition. Other criminals, rapists and terrorists succeed in their crime and live luxurious lives.

       Victims ask, why does God allow it? The truth is, God wants them saved, too. When St. Faustina asked the Lord why He tolerates so many sins and crimes instead of punishing them, the Lord replied, “I have eternity for punishing… and so I am prolonging the time of mercy for the sake of (sinners)” (Diary of St. Faustina Kowalska, #1160).

        How I pray that all of us repent and return to the Lord now, while it is still His time of mercy. Cristy Galang (cristy_cc@yahoo.com)

Reflection: What can you commit to the Lord for the conversion of sinners? Daily Mass? Daily rosary? Daily chaplet? Novenas? Works of mercy?

Lord, I know the loss of souls will cause You sorrow because You want all of us saved. Today, I offer all my sufferings, my sacrifices, my trials and tribulations for the salvation of souls.

There are times when we hurt one another unintentionally. There are times when people set out to hurt another person. The second is worse than the first. As Christians, we must avoid hurting people. But discipline is sometimes needed to teach people certain lessons. Micah reminds us today that we must avoid sin for us to grow in holiness.

Micah 2:1-5

1 Woe to those who plan iniquity, and work out evil on their couches; in the morning light they accomplish it when it lies within their power. 2 They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and they take them; they cheat an owner of his house, a man of his inheritance. 3 Therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, I am planning against this race an evil from which you shall not withdraw your necks; nor shall you walk with head high, for it will be a time of evil. 4 On that day a satire shall be sung over you, and there shall be a plaintive chant: “Our ruin is complete, our fields are portioned out among our captors, the fields of my people are measured out, and no one can get them back!” 5 Thus you shall have no one to mark out boundaries by lot in the assembly of the Lord.

Psalm 10:1-2, 3-4, 7-8, 14

R: Do not forget the poor, O Lord!

1 Why, O Lord, do you stand aloof? Why hide in times of distress? 2 Proudly the wicked harass the afflicted, who are caught in the devices the wicked have contrived. (R) 3 For the wicked man glories in his greed, and the covetous blasphemes, sets the Lord at nought. 4 The wicked man boasts, “He will not avenge it”; “There is no God,” sums up his thoughts. (R) 7 His mouth is full of cursing, guile and deceit; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. 8 He lurks in ambush near the villages; in hiding he murders the innocent; his eyes spy upon the unfortunate. (R) 14 You do see, for you behold misery and sorrow, taking them in your hands. On you the unfortunate man depends; of the fatherless you are the helper. (R)

Today’s Gospel tells us to be gentle in the way we treat each other. We need to carefully evaluate how to approach other people to avoid hurting them. We must build people up rather than tear them down. This is what love demands of us.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Matthew 12:14-21

14 The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 15 When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many people followed him, and he cured them all, 16 but he warned them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: 18 Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. 21 And in his name the Gentiles will hope.

think: We need to be gentle in the way we treat each other.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Ezra 1-5

THE BRUISED REED AND SMOLDERING WICK

The evangelist inserts in today’s Gospel passage a quotation from the prophet Isaiah, which seems to be fulfilled in the healing ministry of Jesus.

    What does this mean: “The bruised reed He will not break, the smoldering wick He will not quench”?

       A reed was a tall hollow blade of grass which grows by the river bank. It was a familiar sight along the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee. But sometimes, a strong wind would blow or fishermen would trample them down and they would become bent over. Bruised reed here stands for the battered lives of people who flock to Jesus for help. He would never send them away but reach out to them and bring them back to their original state.

     There are a lot of bruised reeds among us. People who once stood strong and confident can become battered and bruised by many things. Someone speaks a harsh word against them. A friend stabs them in the back. A spouse leaves them. An illness strikes. A close friend or family member tragically dies. Lots of things can come along and leave us bruised and beaten up.

     In those situations, remember Jesus who will be the only one who helps us stand up and move on.

       As to the smoldering wick, think of a birthday cake. The celebrant has blown out the candles. What is left is the faintly glowing wick and a lot of smoke. What was beautifully alive and on fire a moment ago has become a nuisance which we remove as soon as possible. Smoldering wicks are useless. They just need to be put out of their misery and discarded.

     Sometimes we can become like those smoldering wicks. Our faith once burned brightly, we were alive and full of joy. But, for some reason, our faith, our hope and formerly fervent prayer life are almost gone and the wick is just smoldering.

       Are we useless like the blown candles on the cake? No. Christ is there to rekindle our faith, if we let Him. For Christ, we are never useless. He is the Divine Physician who wants us be healed. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you sometimes lose hope because your life seems battered and your former enthusiasm has gone?

Lord, how often do I feel like a bruised reed and a smoldering wick. Today, You give me new hope and encouragement. You are always there to help me stand up and move on. Amen.