But privately to those of repute — so that I might not be running, or have run, in vain. – Galatians 2:2

After my mother fell and broke her hip, she was in constant pain. We, her children, were torn. Should she undergo hip bone replacement? But if she didn’t, she would be in pain forever!

       After many prayers and consultations with the surgeon, we reluctantly agreed to the operation. After the surgery, there

was no more pain, but Mom still looked sick. Her insides were not healing and she needed to be fed through a tube. I looked at her and I was afraid.

       On the third night after the operation, she kept asking for Bo, her son. She was awake up to the wee hours of the morning, saying the same thing: “I want to see Bo.” Bo cut his trip short to be there with her. He held her hand and talked to her for a long time. She remained asleep. In the afternoon, she breathed her last. And my fear turned to sorrow. I ran the race in vain.

       Why did I close my ears? Why did I not listen to the foreboding fear? Now I know that it was God’s way of telling me that He was taking her so that she may be whole again.

       We wept. In the end, we could only utter the words, “Praise You, God! Thank You for Mom.” Chelle Crisanto (ellehcmaria@gmail.com)

Reflection: God speaks to us through ways we do not expect. Sometimes through a vision, spoken word, situations, dreams and many more. This is His way of showing us His love.

Help me to be habitually trustful and open to You, Lord, that I may not be afraid. Your love for me will give me the strength.

Paul tells the Galatians that he respects the authority of the Church and its leaders in Jerusalem. He realizes that the unity of the Church is a priority, and even if he thinks he can do a better job than Peter and the others, it is not his role. God has called him to be an Apostle to the Gentiles. He performs this task even if he has to work through some disagreements with the leaders in Jerusalem.

1 Brothers and sisters: After fourteen years I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2 I went up in accord with a revelation, and I presented to them the Gospel that I preach to the Gentiles — but privately to those of repute — so that I might not be running, or have run, in vain. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter to the circumcised, 8 for the one who worked in Peter for an apostolate to the circumcised worked also in me for the Gentiles, 9 and when they recognized the grace bestowed upon me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas their right hands in partnership, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, we were to be mindful of the poor, which is the very thing I was eager to do. 11 And when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he clearly was wrong. 12 For, until some people came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to draw back and separated himself, because he was afraid of the circumcised. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not on the right road in line with the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas in front of all, “If you, though a Jew, are living like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

R: Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.

1 Praise the Lord, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples! (R) 2 For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the Lord endures forever. (R)

The “Our Father” is the most fundamental of all Christian prayers universally claimed and used by all Christian denominations. Its simplicity is endearing and it covers most aspects of prayer — worship, adoration, intercession and reconciliation — in a concise and precise form. Let us pray this prayer daily, remember its essence, and live it in our lives.

You have received a spirit of adoption as sons through which we cry: Abba! Father!

1 Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread 4 and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”

think: Let us pray the “Our Father” daily, remember its essence, and live it in our lives.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Hosea 1-5

ON THE RIGHT ROAD

Paul was a straightforward man. He did not hesitate to speak his mind, especially when he knew he was right. He even remonstrated with Peter, when the latter clearly was wrong. Paul was not bothered by the compulsion to be politically correct.

    More than a year ago, the US Supreme Court came up with a controversial decision that redefined marriage for the entire country – and by influence, the world. The so-called civilized world, for the most part, was silent. Many were even supportive, as evidenced by the millions who changed their profile pictures in Facebook just hours after the world learned of the decision.

        Only the Catholic Church stood pat on Her teaching on the sanctity of marriage as it has always been defined and understood, both by Scripture and Tradition. The pressure continues to rise against those who stand for the truth. Mainstream media is obviously on the side of the majority, thus lending credence to the false belief that numbers dictate what is considered right.

       The Gospel passage teaches us how to pray and what to pray for. I suggest we take to heart what we ask for based on today’s passage from Luke: “Do not subject us to the final test. Deliver us from evil, Lord.” And one of those evils or tests revolve around the tendency to join the popular bandwagon.

       We are called to be and act like Paul. He veered off the wide and oft-beaten track and pursued the narrow, thorn-ridden path. He struggled to lead everyone on to the right road, in line with the truth of the Gospel.

       Oh, did I tell you that Paul, together with Peter himself and thousands of other martyrs, paid a high price for standing up for what is right? That is what it could mean, too, for staying on the right road. Others may fall away in droves. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you stand up for what’s right and true when your faith is attacked? Do you defend the Church’s teachings on moral issues, especially the current ones like same-sex marriage, reproductive health law, etc.?

Dearest Jesus, grant me the grace to be more vocal in defending my faith. Amen.