We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. – 2 Corinthians 6:1

          There is not one English word translation for the Filipino word sayang. Loosely, it means “what a waste.”

          Here are samples of how you apply this word: When you are served with so much food on the table in an expensive restaurant, and you have more leftovers than what you ate, “Sayang!” When you have a happy family and then you fall into the temptation of an extramarital affair that breaks up your marriage, “Sayang!” When you are blessed to receive a huge amount of money, and then lose it all on gambling or a vice, “Sayang!”

            When God gives His all to you, sending His only begotten Son who dies on the cross to show you how much He loves you, and you reject this love, “Sayang!” Yes, God loves us all with no exceptions and conditions. His grace is for everyone. But this grace can be in vain if rejected, ignored and wasted.

          Today, God is pouring out His grace and mercy, blessings and miracles so you can live your life to the fullest. Don’t waste it. Don’t go back remembering this day only to say, “Sayang!” Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com)

Reflection: Today, resolve to do something that you will not regret tomorrow. Receive God’s grace now and avoid disgrace in the future.

Dear Lord, let me not receive Your grace in vain, but in deep gratitude and humility, give it full value by living my life for You and others.

St. Romuald, abbot, pray for us.

Nothing stopped Paul from preaching the Gospel. He was a man on a mission and like St. Paul to help us bring the Gospel to the world. Let us pray for men and women who devoted their lives to the proclamation of the Gospel. Through the intercession of St. Paul, may they be on fire to share the Good News of salvation.

1 Brothers and sisters: As your fellow workers, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says: In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We cause no one to stumble in anything, in order that no fault may be found with our ministry; 4 on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God, through much endurance, in afflictions, hardships, constraints, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, vigils, fasts; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, 7 in truthful speech, in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, insult and praise. We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful; 9 as unrecognized and yet acknowledged; as dying and behold we live; as chastised and yet not put to death; 10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

R: The Lord has made known his salvation.

1 Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) 2 In the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. 3 He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. (R) All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. 4 Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. (R)

In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us to forgive and let go of the hurt so that our love for others will not be tainted with thoughts of revenge. He encourages us to love even those who have wronged us. The Psalmist tells us that vengeance belongs to God. God always forgives and the cycle of violence ends with His forgiveness.

A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path.

38 Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 39 But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. 40 If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. 41 Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”

think: Was there a time when you “turned the other cheek”? How did you feel when you forgave the person who hurt you?

Read the Bible in one year 2 Kings 13-15

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME!

There are some cultures that are known for their tendency to procrastinate. When it comes to salvation, this must be avoided at all cost. The challenge in today’s world is not whether or not people need to hear the Gospel, but whether or not there are enough of us willing to proclaim it. The harvest is rich, and the laborers are few.

       We live in a world that is diving into secularism at a rapid pace, one that scares me when I think of the capacity of people to absorb the change that is being thrust upon them in such an unreflected manner. Social customs and laws are being changed according to public whim, not reason. It is not good enough to say that “doing X does not harm anyone.” We must first ascertain whether or not an action is constitutive of human flourishing before we give it approval.

       The simplest example to consider is that of suicide. Suicide does not hurt anyone else other than the perpetrator, so it becomes a legitimate course of action under the first criterion. Under the second measure of assessment, it will be unacceptable. What are we looking for in life — avoiding hurting others, or seeking to act always in ways that promote human flourishing?

       It is imperative that the Christian understanding of the dignity of the human person be made explicit in these times. If it is not, we will find ourselves living in a very inhuman society where the measure of right and wrong is minimal and where human dignity is a footnote in history. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

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

Are you willing to stand up for the values of the Gospel in the midst of a public debate? Or will you remain silent — the condition that allows the bad idea to prosper and flourish?

Holy Spirit, grant me the strength and will to carry the truth of the Gospel into the arguments of the market place and to stand by them no matter how difficult it becomes. Amen.