“But when you grow old... someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” – John 21:18

       Nanay Remy was my foster mother when I spent two weeks in the mountains of Batangas on an immersion camp in college. She was a spirited elderly woman, with hair grayed by age, legs toughened by walking, hands calloused by labor, and face wrinkled by smiles. Each day, I accompanied her as she went around to do chores. Among many tasks, I would carry the buckets of water, collect the wood for cooking, and occasionally pound some corn for chicken feed. She was a busy woman, wrapped in the poverty of life.

       I couldn’t forget how she spoke with much dignity and wisdom. “I’m a native of Pampanga,” she said. “I grew up in a well-off family, and I had a future ahead of me. But then I met Banoy, who was a farmer here in Batangas. We fell in love. He uprooted me from that life and brought me here. Many times, I regretted that decision. I wasn’t ready for this poor life. I would complain, but I still held on. Now I have no regrets. My family is here, and so my heart is here.”

       That’s martyrdom. It’s dying to yourself every day because you know what is really important. Migs Ramirez (migsramirez.seminars@gmail.com)

Reflection:Are you comfortable jumping into the unknown, with only God’s love to catch you? It’s easier said than done.

Mama Mary, saying yes to God wasn’t easy but you did it. Teach me to say yes and follow Jesus closer even during my trials.

Sts. Marcellinus and Peter, martyrs, pray for us.

Paul was sent to Rome and was held in custody pending judgment by Caesar. Paul knew that his time was limited. He used every opportunity to write letters to the communities he founded and to speak to whoever will listen to him. The example Paul set for us is hard to follow. His conversion experience made him into the radical evangelist and preacher to the Gentiles.

13 King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea on a visit to Festus. 14 Since they spent several days there, Festus referred Paul’s case to the king, saying, “There is a man here left in custody by Felix. 15 When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation. 16 I answered them that it was not Roman practice to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge. 17 So when they came together here, I made no delay; the next day I took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 His accusers stood around him, but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected. 19 Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul claimed was alive. 20 Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these charges. 21 And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”

R: The Lord has established his throne in heaven.

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (R) 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far  has he put our transgressions from us. (R) 19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. 20 Bless the Lord, all you his angels, you mighty in strength, who do his bidding. (R)

We read in today’s Gospel about how Jesus tested Peter. Peter affirmed his commitment to the faith and said that he will follow Jesus wherever He leads. Jesus told Peter that he will go to places not of his choosing. Are we willing to go wherever God leads us?

The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all I told you.

15 After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

think: How would you feel if Jesus asked you three times if you loved Him?

Read the Bible in one year 2 Samuel 5-8

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

GOOD HABITS

Some Pentecostals accuse Catholics of being vain and repetitious in their prayers when they critique the rosary. I wonder how they feel about the virtuous life. The only way I know to grow in virtue and create good habits is to repeat good choices and actions over and over again. Neurologists will tell us that repeated actions are necessary in the creation of solid neural pathways that will lead to good habits. If we want to be good moral people, there is no other way apart from the repetition of good choices.

       The Fathers of the Church — Aquinas and many other great theologians and moralists — tell us that the only way to grow in virtue is the repeated application of good choices in our lives. In other words, sheer hard work. Yes, it is only by grace that we are able to do anything good. But this does not mean that we do not need to apply ourselves to the situation at hand. A virtue without the persons who choose to avail themselves of such graces is grace that will never be activated or used. To live healthily, we should exercise often and eat good food. There are very few people who find choosing well consistently along those lines an easy task.

       Growing in virtue operates under the same dynamic of becoming consistent in our choice of the good and right. We have to work at this choice every time it comes as it rarely, if ever, arrives in our lives without a whole set of other choices (we call them temptations) to do otherwise, to the detriment of our goal of the virtuous life. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

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

Do you take seriously the call to choose well and to honor what is good and right in all of your choices?

Jesus, help me to see in Your own choices an example for my own moral life. Help me to choose well and not be seduced by convenience and the easy way out. Amen.