“To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” – Luke 4:43

       Years ago, Bo Sanchez gathered all servants and told us of his plan of multiplying the Victory Celebration by holding it in different cities in the country and abroad. Then, the Victory Celebration was held at the AFP Theater in Quezon City once a month. He said, “The gathering will be called The Feast.” I had the courage to speak out, “But, Bo, are we sure  people will come to The Feast if you are not the one leading the gathering?” He had strong faith and believed that it was the movement of the Holy Spirit.

       Today, Feasts are being conducted all over the world. It’s a venue where people experience healing, find hope, and encounter Jesus. God corrected my wrong notion that it was Bo Sanchez that people would seek.

         Now, as part of the intercessory ministry, I pray that God will invade people’s lives through The Feast in the places that I go. I may not be able to speak to others eloquently about God’s love, but in prayer I ask God to raise up servants to start a Feast in that place so that people can receive salvation. Banjoy Santillan (santillanbanjoy@yahoo.com)

Reflection: How do you take part in Jesus’ work of salvation?

Anoint me to be Your missionary, Lord, using the gifts You have given me.

Sts. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, pray for us.

There comes a time when we have to grow up. There is a time for formation and strengthening. That will eventually come to an end and we have to be ready to serve the Gospel. Sometimes we just want to be “spoon-fed” and leave the responsibility to others. Once we have received the Good News, we are empowered to proclaim it.

1 Corinthians 3:1-9

1 Brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as spiritual people, but as fleshly people, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you milk, not solid food, because you were unable to take it. Indeed, you are still not able, even now, 3 for you are still of the flesh. While there is jealousy and rivalry among you, are you not of the flesh, and walking according to the manner of man? 4 Whenever someone says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely men? 5 What is Apollos, after all, and what is Paul? Ministers through whom you became believers, just as the Lord assigned each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth. 7 Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor. 9 For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Psalm 33:12-13, 14-15, 20-21

R: Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

12 Blessed the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he has chosen for his own inheritance. 13 From heaven the Lord looks down; he sees all mankind. (R) 14 From his fixed throne he beholds all who dwell on the earth, 15 He who fashioned the heart of each, he who knows all their works. (R) 20 Our soul waits for the Lord, who is our help and our shield, 21 for in him our hearts rejoice; in his holy name we trust. (R)

Jesus affirms that His purpose, the reason His Father has sent Him, is to preach the Good News of the coming of the Kingdom of God. Jesus will not be distracted from this mission, neither by fame and glory nor persecution and trials. Jesus’ single-mindedness is truly inspiring. Let us draw strength from Him so that we can imitate them in our own ministries.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.

Luke 4:38-44

38 After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. 39 He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them. 40 At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. 41 And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ. 42 At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. 43 But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

think: Jesus’ single-mindedness is truly inspiring.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR  Isaiah 62-66

THANKSGIVING THROUGH SERVICE

Today’s Gospel mentions that the Apostle Peter had a mother-in-law, which means that “the first pope” was a married man, not elected by cardinals but personally chosen by Christ Himself. In fact, for at least the first 200 years of Christianity, married priests and bishops were the rule. St. Paul wrote to Timothy that a bishop should be married only once. Only slowly were married clerics, for various reasons, replaced by a celibate clergy.

       Let us not discuss now whether priests should get married or not but let’s have a look at the first part of the Gospel that deals with Peter’s motherin-law. There are three important lessons in this short incident.

       We know only too well that Jesus was always ready to help. He had just left the synagogue. Every preacher knows what it is like after a service — he longs for rest. But no sooner had Jesus left the synagogue and entered Peter’s house than the cry of need reached Him. But He did not say that He was tired and must rest; He answered it without complaint. Jesus is always ready to help.

       He did not need a crowd to work miracles. Many people will be at their best in public and at their worst at home. All too commonly, we are kind to strangers and then the very opposite when there is no one but our own folk to see. But Jesus was prepared to perform a miracle in a village cottage in Capernaum when the crowds were gone.

     When Peter’s mother-in-law was cured, she immediately began to serve them. She realized that she had been given back her health to spend it in the service of others. She wanted to get on with cooking and serving her own family and Jesus. Mothers are always like that.

       And I think here is a message for us. We would do well to remember that if God gave us the priceless gift of health and strength, He gave it that we might use it always in the service of others. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

REFLECTION QUESTION: Have you learned from Jesus to respond to somebody’s need even when you are tired?

Lord, help me to never forget that the best way to thank You for my life is through humble service offered to a needy person. Amen.