Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have… – Hebrews 13:5

       “Don’t buy a luxury item unless you can afford 10 of them,” said Rose Fres Fausto during her talk at the Truly Rich Club Wealth Summit. It was a steep advice especially for a generation where materialism is a feel-good drug.

        I see it all around. A household helper who wants to buy a cell phone that costs more than twice her monthly salary. A kid who blows all his savings on a pricey toy. A social-climbing professional who buys a Rolex watch using borrowed money.

       Today, the Lord is reminding us to relearn the meaning of the word “enough.” He teaches us to acquire the elusive virtue of contentment. And it starts by being grateful for what we have instead of yearning for what we don’t have.

       Slay the insatiable monster of greed. Isolate your needs from your wants. Be grateful for what you have. And learn to say, “Enough!” Rissa Singson Kawpeng (justbreatherissa@gmail.com)

Reflection:“The worship of the ancient golden calf has returned in a new and ruthless guise in the idolatry of money and the dictatorship of an impersonal economy lacking a truly human purpose…. Man is reduced to one of his needs alone: consumption.” (Pope Francis)

St. Blasé, bishop and martyr, pray for us.

Hospitality expresses our openness to others as well as our care and love for them. As I write this, Pope Francis calls for a spirit of hospitality for the many refugees around the world. This is a good thing, but we must also know why there are so many refugees. No matter how difficult, love also calls us to address the root causes of the problems of the world.

1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels. 3 Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment, and of the ill-treated as of yourselves, for you also are in the body. 4 Let marriage be honored among all and the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge the immoral and adulterers. 5 Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never forsake you or abandon you. 6 Thus we may say with confidence: The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me? 7 Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

R: The Lord is my light and my salvation.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? (R) 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war be waged upon me, even then will I trust. (R) 5 For he will hide me in his abode in the day of trouble; He will conceal me in the shelter of his tent, he will set me high upon a rock. (R) 8 Your presence, O Lord, I seek. 9 Hide not your face from me; do not in anger repel your servant. You are my helper: cast me not off. (R)

Herod knew that John the Baptist spoke the truth but he was weak and did not stand by John. This happens to us – we are not willing to face the truth because speaking out will cause us problems. We must bring the truth to the light so that those who cannot see it will come to know it by our witness.

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart, and yield a harvest through perserverance.

14 King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” 15 Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.” 16 But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.” 17 Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. 18 John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. 20 Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. 21 Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. 22 His own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” 23 He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” 24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 26 The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. 27 So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. 28 He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

think: Have you been in a difficult situation because you spoke the truth? How did you handle it?

Read the Bible in one year Acts 21-24

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

THE POWER OF REVENGE

I find it horrible to imagine the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herod is known for his bloodthirsty acts. His wife, who happens to be his brother’s wife, is no different. We see in this story how far revenge and resentment can go if we allow them to take their stronghold on our lives.

       King Herod has heard raving reports about Jesus. He thinks John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. The evangelist goes back in time to narrate in detail the beheading of the Baptist — the forerunner of Jesus’ mission.

       Herodias, the wife of Philip and then of Herod, we are told, harbored a grudge against John the Baptist because he spoke the truth. John informed Herod that it was wrong to take another man’s wife, let alone his brother’s wife. And so Herodias was outraged by this and held on to the grudge. She wanted to kill him but was unable to fulfill her desire, until an opportunity came.

       Herod, on the other hand, liked John. He liked to listen to him, even though it perplexed him. One day, the daughter of Herod delights her father through dancing. The king offers her anything, even up to half his kingdom — generous king that he is. Reluctantly, he gave in to her daughter’s wish, which was in fact the wish of her mother, and presents her with the head of John. This is outrageous! Horrendous! Disturbing! All this time, the wife of Herod held on to this grudge and finally got her way. Sin is always crouching at our door, ready to enter if we give in to it.

       We must get rid of all revenge, resentment and all evil. It is like cancer that will eat us up and erode all sense of moral values if we give in to it. How many years did Herodias entertain this thought of revenge? She must have been restless for years before and after the beheading of John the Baptist. What a terrible way to live, waiting for revenge to raise its ugly head. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

---------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

Are you holding on to grudges in your life? What are these resentments?

Lord, I choose to let go of sin in my life. I ask You to forgive me for my resentments and revenge that I have held on to, often hidden in my heart. Help me to be more like You — compassionate, loving and forgiving. Amen.