… encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. – 2 Corinthians 1:4

       I met her during a personal retreat. She reminded me of myself 10 years ago. God prompted my spirit to give my book to her. While I was in bed, I told myself, OK, I’ll give it tomorrow. But God encouraged me, “No, give it now.” So I knocked on her door that night and gave it to her.

       She was leaving when I saw her again. This time she was with her retreat director. He shared that during his prayer time, God told him to tell his retreatant that she must learn to love herself. But before he could tell her this, she told him about the book that I gave her the night before. When he saw the title of the book, Love Yourself as God Loves You, he was amazed. I had goosebumps while he was recounting the story. It is amazing how God works and affirms His message for us.

       Ten years ago, I was sad because I didn’t love myself. I made a lot of wrong choices because of my unhealed wounds. Through the years, God restored me to wholeness. He inspired me to write that book to share what I had learned. Today, the book continues to encourage those who need to love themselves as God loves them. He heals us so that through our healing, others may also be set free. Marjorie Ann Duterte (marjorie.travels@gmail.com)

Reflection:Your wounds will one day be a source of healing for others.

Thank You, Lord, for healing us and using our stories to heal others.

Blessed Jolenta (Yolanda) of Poland, pray for us.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian community to encourage them in their faith. These greetings set the tone for his letter that reminds leaders to encourage their flock to grow in faith and obedience to Christ. Leadership is not about sitting in places of honor, but about laying down one’s life in service to the people that God has given to our care. Let us pray for our leaders that they may seek to serve and not to be served.

1 Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the Church of God that is at Corinth, with all the holy ones throughout Achaia: 2 grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all encouragement, 4 who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. 5 For as Christ’s sufferings over flow to us, so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your encouragement and salvation; if we are encouraged, it is for your encouragement, which enables you to endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is firm, for we know that as you share in the sufferings, you also share in the encouragement.

R: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

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)

The Fathers of the Church refer to the Beatitudes as the New Law. The Beatitudes add what is lacking in the Mosaic Law. Obedience to Christ is about the development of a character of love, mercy and humility. We don’t just obey a set of commandments – what matters is how we obey  Christ’s call. Our motivations are important.

Rejoice and be glad; for your reward will be great in heaven.

1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 He began to teach them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. 6 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Read the Bible in one year 1 Kings 15-17

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

THE CONSUMMATE EVANGELIST

It’s a fascinating exercise to get into the mind of St. Paul. What motivated him to be commit to the task of proclaiming the Gospel to the ends of the earth? He did not spend time with Jesus at all but seemed to have more drive to proclaim the Gospel than any of the other Apostles who spent three years working with Jesus.

       We know that Paul was not satisfied with simply presenting the Gospel and leaving the local community to work everything else out. We know that he spent months and sometimes longer in establishing the faith community and doing his best so that the leaders were properly formed in guiding the groups in their newfound faith. And then, even after he had left, he wrote lengthy epistles to them, encouraging and correcting them in their practice of the faith. It is hard not to draw inspiration from the tireless nature of Paul’s ministry.

       I wonder if I am anywhere nearly committed as Paul? I wonder what my response would be if I suffered persecution when exercising my faith and ministering to others? I wonder if I will be as committed in 10 years’ time as I am today. With Paul, we know the answers to all of these questions as they are contained in the body of work that belongs to him in the Scriptures.

       Paul’s letters are an invaluable source of inspiration for us. They contain the story of the early attempts at evangelization — successful ones at that. They are also a great guide in identifying the salient points of the Gospel on which we should focus in our ministries. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

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

What is it in Paul’s letters that inspires you the most? Have you spent enough time reflecting on them in order to deepen your faith in the Gospel?

Jesus, You appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus and won a disciple who worked tirelessly in the vineyard of Your Kingdom. Help me to follow his example more closely. Amen.