“My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.” – Acts 13:15

         A few years ago, I joined a contemplative prayer group. Here, I learned to seek the Lord’s guidance and to intercede for others. I was the youngest and only single member of this group. I was blessed by these prayerful, mature and wise people who became my spiritual parents.

         Once, our leader, Tita Ana, and a fellow member, Tita Glo, prayed over me. Tita Ana shared this with me: She saw in a vision my late father and me, and I held out to him a pair of slippers saying, “Dad, sige na, lakad ka na (Go on and walk, Dad).” In another vision, Tita Ana saw Mom and me in our living room, holding hands as we picked up broken pieces of pottery together. These images speak of God healing our unforgiveness with the gift of gratitude, she said. I cried tears of thanksgiving and joy that day for God had spoken to me His message of healing, hope, love and of letting go through these women.

         Do you sense that the Lord wants to speak through you? Be His messenger. No need to fear or worry — He Himself will give you the words to say. Dina Pecaña (dina.p@shepherdsvoice.com.ph)

Reflection:“On the other hand, one who prophesies does speak to human beings, for their building up, encouragement, and solace.” (1 Corinthians 14:3)

Holy Spirit, may my words be acceptable and pleasing to You as You hear their sound and know the intent behind them. Amen. (An excerpt from a prayer by Roy Lessin)

St. Ignatius of Laconi, pray for us.

Paul started with the Jewish diaspora and when they refused to accept the Gospel, he took God’s Word to the Gentiles and preached in the market square. This was the pattern of his ministry in the places he visited. He desired to see the Jews converted just as he, a former Jew, experienced. He persevered and preached the message of Christ, especially to those with hardened hearts.

13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and returned to Jerusalem. 14 They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they entered into the synagogue and took their seats. 15 After the reading of the law and the prophets, the synagogue officials sent word to them, “My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.” 16 So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Fellow children of Israel and you others who are God-fearing, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. With uplifted arm he led them out, 18 and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert. 19 When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance 20 at the end of about four hundred and fifty years. After these things he provided judges up to Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king. God gave them Saul, son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 Then he removed him and raised up David as their king; of him he testified, I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish. 23 From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. 24 John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; 25 and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’ ”

R: Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

1 [2] The favors of the Lord I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness. 2 [3] For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”; in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness. (R) 20 [21] “I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him, 21 [22] that my hand may be always with him, and that my arm may make him strong.” (R) 24 [25] “My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him, and through my name shall his horn be exalted. 26 [27] He shall say of me, ‘You are my father, my God, the Rock, my savior.’” (R)

People turn away from the Gospel because of sin. God gives us His grace to enable us to live as His disciples. Let us pray that we will take hold of the grace that God offers us and not waste or reject it. To watch a person walk away from his faith is a sad thing. Let us pray that more and more people will hear the Gospel and heed God’s call.

Jesus Christ, you are the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, you have loved us and freed us from our sins by your Blood.

16 When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. 18 I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me. 19 From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. 20 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

think: Who have showed you what “washing of the feet” means? What did they do?

Read the Bible in one year Deuteronomy 31-34

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

CHOSEN BY GOD FOR A MISSION

We are at the exact midpoint of the Easter Season today. Fittingly, in our First Reading, we read about Paul’s first missionary journey. The great Apostle of the Gentiles undertook a decisive mission. It is as though the natural consequence of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead: it is so “explosive” that it can’t be bottled up. It has a contagious character, such that we, like Paul, are now also called to spread such a message.

       God has chosen us for this mission. And as Jesus declared in today’s Gospel passage, “I know those whom I have chosen.” (In another translation, it says, “I know the kind of men I chose.”) He was originally referring to His choice of His closest friends and collaborators, the Twelve Apostles. And yet we know that one of them was Judas Iscariot. Not that He committed a mistake in choosing Judas. Again Jesus Himself explains by appending the clause, “so that Scripture might be fulfilled.”

       The mystery of God’s will and man’s collaboration are at play here. It is God who takes the initiative, and we can make no pretentious claims above Him. And yet there is a sort of bonus on the part of God, available to us, if we but cooperate: “Whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the one who sent Me.”

       If ever we are still stuck in our weaknesses and miseries, then perhaps we  have not yet levelled up or risen to the higher standards which our Lord Jesus gladly offers us. He has indeed chosen us, and He knows us whom He has chosen.

       In other words, we are not mere random picks. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

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

How have you measured up to your being chosen by God for a mission?

Lord, thank You for choosing me to collaborate in Your mission. Make me pick up the challenge and rise to the occasion, so that Your Kingdom may flourish even more here on earth. Amen.