The one who once was persecuting us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy. – Galatians 1:23

       In Kerygma, we encounter all sorts of conversion stories. One remarkable story that we featured in recent months was that of a Protestant pastor who converted to the Catholic faith.

          What’s striking about his story is how God talked to him while he was about to break a statue of Mama Mary. He heard a still, small voice that said, “What has My Mother done to you for you to destroy her image this way?” Yet he continued preaching, especially against the Catholic faith.

         But the experience nagged at him. It made him question what he was doing. So secretly, he began to study about Catholicism, attend Masses, and check its traditions. Finally, he realized that it was the only Church that Jesus Christ founded.

       Today, he heads a group of former Protestant pastors who got converted to the Catholic faith, preaching and giving their testimonies all over the country. They are like Paul in our First Reading today who persecuted Christians but later on became a zealous preacher of the faith.

           May their lives inspire us to stand up for our faith and preach Jesus to everyone we meet. This is our call. Tess V. Atienza

Reflection: How do you preach Jesus to the people around you?

Lord, embolden me to be like Paul and proclaim You to every person I meet today.

Paul prepares a simple version of his testimony to the Galatians. Let us be  ready with our own testimony in case we get an opportunity to share it with someone. Preparedness is one of the key traits of a disciple — always ready to be an instrument of God’s grace whenever He calls. Paul literally traveled the world to proclaim the Good News. Let us be prepared to do whatever God wants of us.

13 Brothers and sisters: You heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, 14 and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions. 15 But when he, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me; rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days. 19 But I did not see any other of the Apostles, only James the brother of the Lord. 20(As to what I am writing to you, behold, before God, I am not lying.) 21Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was unknown personally to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; 23 they only kept hearing that “the one who once was persecuting us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 So they glorified God because of me.

Psalm 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15

R: Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

1 O Lord, you have probed me and you know me; 2 you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. 3 My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar. (R) 13 Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. 14 I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works. (R) My soul also you knew full well; 15 nor was my frame unknown to you when I was made in secret, when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth. (R)

St. Francis of Assisi, known as the poverello (poor one), was always ready to go where the Lord sent him. He literally desired to rebuild the Church at the request of God. His spiritual legacy continues to inspire those who seek to live a simple life in response to the Gospel calling. Maybe not all of us will embrace poverty in the same way he did, but we do need to embrace the example of his simple life. This is a great way to witness to the primacy of the Gospel in our lives.

Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.

38 Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. 39 She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. 40 Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” 41 The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. 42 There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

think: Living a simple life is a great way to witness to the primacy of the Gospel.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Daniel 13-14 

BELIEVE, BEHAVE, BELONG

St. Paul was an honest man. Today, he talks about his former way of life in Judaism, and how he persecuted the Church beyond measure. More than being honest, he was also sincere in his search for the truth. When he found it, he capitulated and changed his behavior.

         One who actively works against a group or institution definitely does not belong. By his own admission, Saul, as he was known then, tried to destroy the group that he found no reason to believe in and belong to. Mental health, according to Scott Peck, is the constant, consistent and passionate commitment and dedication to the truth. That makes Paul’s acknowledgment and acceptance of the truth speak well of his capacity and openness to change-inducing truth.

       Martha and Mary were sisters who were friendly and familiar to the Lord. Both received the truth that their guest brought to their household, but in different ways. One sat down by the Lord and savored every word, every thought He uttered. The other was up and about, busy with hospitality matters. Mary savored the truth by listening intently. Martha savored the truth by taking good care of the Messenger.

       No matter what others say about Martha’s well-meaning complaint, I admire her as much as I admire her sister for two reasons: First, in the Church, pastors like us need a sympathetic audience to validate, affirm and encourage us. We priests are encouraged whenever we find a congregation that accords us with what public speakers refer to as audience sympathy.

     Secondly, everybody knows that we priests do need the likes of Martha who do all the background but equally necessary work to advance evangelization. We need both hearers and doers.

       In the end, the question is no longer a toss-up between Mary and Martha. Mary chose the better part, yes, but both chose to believe and behave each in her own way — and belong. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTION: With whom can you relate more — to Martha or to Mary?

Dearest God, help me to serve You according to how You have wired me as a human being. Amen.