Do not worry about how or what your defense will be... The Holy Spirit will teach you … what you should say. – Luke 12:11-12

       “Holy Spirit, give me the right words to say, words of truth, that would convince them to keep me,” I prayed as I opened the door to a small room where three managers waited. In a few minutes, I could lose my job — the one I lacked sleep, spent long hours, and missed family gatherings for. A part of me asked, “Is this what I get after all my sacrifices?” The other part of me retaliated, “You deserve this for your negligence.”

       Months before, I had unintentionally broken an important office policy, and the handbook prescribed termination on the first offense. The verdict can be lowered upon management decision but only after an administrative hearing that required me to explain my side.

       Later on, I was presented the verdict — a written warning with a three-month prescriptive period. Tears flowed. The Holy Spirit had come to my defense, and by grace, I was saved.

       Sometimes I think that if God had only been fair, I would have lost my job. But God is loving, looking beyond our weaknesses, forgiving our sins and giving us a new chance at life. For that, I am most grateful. Osy Erica (osy.erica@gmail.com)

Lord, when persecuted, come to my defense, and if You would will it, save me from the consequences of my past mistakes and wrong decisions.

Paul exults in the wonders that God has done in creating and redeeming us. It is good to take stock of the blessings we receive, and to praise and thank God and our benefactors. Gratitude opens the dam of God’s mercy and blessing for us. Let us spend a few moments to praise God for the many good things in our lives.

15 Brothers and sisters: Hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones, 16 I do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. 18 May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, 20 which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, 21 far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the Church, 23 which is his Body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

R: You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

1 [2] O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth! You have exalted your majesty above the heavens. 2 [3] Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings you have fashioned praise because of your foes. (R) 3 [4] When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you set in place — 4 [5] what is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? (R) 5 [6] You have made him little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 [7] You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet. (R)

Teresa of Avila had a great friendship with Jesus despite the hardships she faced in reforming the Carmelites. Along with St. John of the Cross, she fought with the Carmelite leaders, determined to return to the simplicity and starkness of the Carmelite way of life. She never gave up, though at times she did wonder why God allowed her life to be very difficult.

The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord, and you also will testify.

8 Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. 9 But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. 10 Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”

think: Gratitude opens the dam of God’s mercy and blessing for us.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Nahum 1-3

THE HOPE THAT BELONGS TO HIS CALL

Back in the day when telephones had “party lines,” when the most precious spot in a strange city was a telephone booth, and your most treasured possession was a little notebook with all your contacts — a telephone call was the most awaited event of the day.

       That call could mean the whole world for someone. It meant you mattered to someone else. It could also mean you were accepted for a job or passed a recent interview. It meant one was connected, validated and valued as a person.

       The call was either a harbinger of good news or its opposite. But good or bad, a call meant you counted in someone else’s life. You were someone known, treated as unique, and valued for who and what you are. It is no accident that calls then always started with a polite request: “Hello. Can I please talk to...” and then would mention the name clearly, even lovingly. It was as personal as one could get. Nowadays, with caller IDs, one could either ignore, drop or reject calls, particularly if the caller does not belong to your contacts list.

       We learn from today’s readings that God relates to everyone on a personal basis. These past few days, we saw how He chose us. We saw, too, how we are destined in love, recipients of His love that is beyond human explanation.

       Today, we are assured that God’s call engenders hope. That call seals our inheritance from the riches of glory and the surpassing greatness of His power. But it needs to be reciprocated. We need to believe. We need to acknowledge Him before others, so that the Son of Man could acknowledge us before His Father.

         That call is obviously not a marketing call, and definitely not a prank call, both of which are too common features in our lives today.

    Chosen. Called. Destined. For greatness and nobility. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTION: When God created you, He called you for a particular purpose. Have you found your purpose?

Dearest God, give me Your grace that I may live more fully Your destined purpose for me. Amen.