… undisturbed in time of adversity. – Sirach 2:2

       January 6, 2016. It was the last day of a company activity in Baguio City. With some officemates, I opted to stay for one more day before returning to Manila so we could rest.

      Then the messages from my sisters in Manila came one after the other. They found my father sitting on his bathtub, and they thought he had slipped while taking a bath. They rushed him to a hospital.

       “Should I take the earliest trip tonight?” I asked my sisters. Some said no because it’d be dangerous for me to travel alone at night. But when the ultrasound confirmed that my father’s abdominal aortic aneurysm ruptured, I knew I had to take the midnight trip. I knew we would lose him soon.

       Throughout the bus ride, I held on to my rosary and prayed nonstop. Emotions we had when we lost our mother 13 years ago resurfaced. I didn’t want to go through all that pain again. But in my heart, God told me not to worry. We will overcome and He is with us in our grief, our pain, our loss, and until the day when we finally make sense of his death.

       I thank God and Mama Mary for giving me a calm spirit to face our loss the next day. Tess V. Atienza (theresa.a@shepherdsvoice.com.ph)

Thank You, Jesus and Mama Mary, for accompanying me during my darkest moments.

St. Peter Damian, bishop and Doctor of the Church, pray for us.

We are called to listen intently to the Word of God. It is always a challenge to distinguish God’s voice from all of the other voices in the world. We must listen well and find the path to true fulfillment.

1 My son, when you come to serve the Lord, stand in justice and fear, prepare yourself for trials. 2 Be sincere of heart and steadfast, incline your ear and receive the word of understanding, undisturbed in time of adversity. 3 Wait on God, with patience, cling to him, forsake him not; thus will you be wise in all your ways. 4 Accept whatever befalls you, when sorrowful, be steadfast, and in crushing misfortune be patient; 5 for in fire gold and silver are tested, and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation. 6 Trust God and God will help you; trust in him, and he will direct your way; keep his fear and grow old therein. 7 You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy, turn not away lest you fall. 8 You who fear the Lord, trust him, and your reward will not be lost. 9 You who fear the Lord, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy. You who fear the Lord, love him and your hearts will be enlightened. 10 Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the Lord and been disappointed? Has anyone persevered in his commandments and been forsaken? Has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed? 11 Compassionate and merciful is the Lord; he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble and he is a protector to all who seek him in truth.

R: Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good, that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will grant you your heart’s requests. (R) 18 The Lord watches over the lives of the wholehearted; their inheritance lasts forever. 19 They are not put to shame in an evil time; in days of famine they have plenty. (R) 27 Turn from evil and do good, that you may abide forever; 28 for the Lord loves what is right, and forsakes not his faithful ones. (R) 39 The salvation of the just is from the Lord; he is their refuge in time of distress. 40 And the Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. (R) 

Greatness comes from obeying God. Through obedience we will have the opportunity to change the world and make a difference. Let us open our mind and heart to the will of God so that we can transform our life and our society.

May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.

30 Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. 31 He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. 33 They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they remained silent. For they had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. 35 Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” 36 Taking a child, he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”

think: How does Jesus’ idea of greatness differ from that portrayed by the media and the world?

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Read the Bible in one year  Colossians 1-4

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

Not all questions need to be asked aloud; not all answers need to be articulated. The disciples kept their many questions about Jesus’ prediction of the Passion to themselves. They did not answer Jesus, when He asked them what they were arguing about on the road. And Jesus let them be. On these matters, Jesus left His disciples to themselves.

       There are processes in life that we will be allowed to go through. A good number of these processes are better left for the person to struggle with, and to figure out for himself or herself. These are sacred moments of intimacy with the self, of going through one’s own heart of hearts. A song goes: In these moments, “The question I shall ask only I can answer: Was I brave? And strong? And true?”

      Our time has three miseries: First, we are afraid to be left alone with ourselves and our own questions. We try to distract the silence with music, with “put-on” laughters and noises. Second, we do not know how to respect others’ need for silence and time with themselves. We force them “to share and to open up.” Third, many do not know how to deal with their own questions. We go on consulting many, and we end up more confused with various “wise pieces of advice.” The art of introspection and silence needs to be relearned.

       The essence of personhood is self-mastery, self-determination, a healthy self-hood and self-knowledge. For this, there is a need for time and space with one’s own self. The encounter with the “I” is indispensable before meeting the “Thou” and the “We.” Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

----------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS ----------

What very important existential questions about you have you been afraid to face? What is Jesus telling you today in the Gospel passage? Arrange for a much needed date with God, and with you alone.

You alone, O God, know the answers to my questions. In silence, I fully trust in Your plans. Amen.