When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. – Acts 5:21

     Didache editor Rissa Kawpeng shared with us writers about a conference she attended where she met other Christian writers and publishers. What struck her most, she said, was those who shared the Good News in countries where there was heightened religious persecution. In spite of their circumstance, or maybe because of it, they boldly proclaimed Jesus to others.

       This reminded me of God’s Smuggler, a book narrating the many adventures of Brother Andrew in spreading God’s Word in communist Russia in the 1960’s. Imprisonment awaited him had he been caught, but the Lord protected him and he survived his mission unscathed.

       We don’t need to be missionaries and go to an unfamiliar territory to share Jesus’ love to others. Right where we are, we can evangelize others. We only need to act on the promptings in our heart. It could be an act of kindness, or saying a prayer or sharing a Bible verse, or inviting someone to a prayer meeting or retreat. Try it. It could be a life-changing moment for the other person, and you as well. Erwin Roceles (erwin_roceles@yahoo.com)

Reflection: Get hold of a copy of God’s Smuggler and be inspired to go out and evangelize!

St. Pedro de San Jose Betancur, pray for us.

The Apostles were imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. God sent an angel to miraculously release them from jail and they stayed in the temple area as God instructed them. The Jewish leaders would have felt mocked at for not being able to keep the Apostles in jail. They had the Apostles arrested once again, but they were careful to avoid violence because the Apostles were becoming popular with the people.

17 The high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy, 18 laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, 20 “Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.” 21 When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. When the high priest and his companions arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the jail to have them brought in. 22 But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were at a loss about them, as to what this would come to. 25 Then someone came in and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them, but without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

R: The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

1 [2] I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 3 [4] Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. 4 [5] I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) 7 [8] The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 [9] Taste and see how good the Lord is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him. (R)

Jesus always proclaimed the Gospel in a positive way. He preached in the context of God’s loving mercy, the Father who forgave and forgot our sins. Let us also share the Gospel with others from a positive perspective, so that people will be drawn to God’s love and mercy.

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

16 God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. 21 But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

think: When did you begin to see Jesus as your Savior instead of your condemner?

Read the Bible in one year Numbers 16-18

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

PREFERRING DARKNESS TO LIGHT

The readings today are apropos to what we reflected on yesterday — the so-called ordinary works of the devil that gain subtle entry into all nooks and crannies of the human enterprise.

         The First Reading tells us that, “filled with jealousy,” the Sadducees laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in jail. When the engine of jealousy begins to run, even innocent people are caught up in the rumble. There is always somebody who gets crushed when caught in a cog in the wheel of jealousy that keeps on churning.

         The opposition to the works of the Apostles takes on a more direct and more vicious form. They are hauled into prison. They use brute force and naked power to neutralize the good they did and the truth they preached. They must have been very effective at it because they took violent and swift action. The high priest even went so far as to convene the Sanhedrin to have the miscreants face them in plenary session.

          But the power from below can only do so much. An angel came “during the night” and opened the prison doors for them who were told to “go to the temple area.” It was the rough equivalent of being placed in the lions’ den — the very locus of power and authority of those who sought their imprisonment.

       We could also be imprisoned in our biases, false belief systems, and so-called cognitive distortions. We could be pining for the light but still choose to dwell in the dark. Even individuals who endlessly complain about being in impossible situations, when told to bolt out, end up choosing to remain in a familiar dysfunctionality.

       Christian faith caters to both the heart and the mind. Both human powers need to work in tandem and function harmoniously. While there is a heart component to our faith, it is also a faith that seeks understanding — where the mind complements what the heart has willingly accepted.

       I have always found the passage from John very touching. Christ came to His creation but His own did not receive Him. Men love darkness rather than light. That includes me, by the way. “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

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

What “darkness” within you is Jesus asking You to surrender to Him? 

Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner. (The Jesus Prayer)