“And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” – Matthew 6:18

       I am a silent worker in our office. Even after two years in my current job, I’m still not used to our office culture of everyday meetings and detailing the things I do and have worked on. For me, as long as my supervisor knows what I am doing, I’m OK with it.

    I also happened to meet someone who is planning to enter the seminary. During a search-in session which I attended, he shared that he always brings a piece of bread or biscuit in his bag. Not for him, but to give to a beggar who enters the jeepney or bus he is riding in. And even if I had not seen him since then, I fondly remember him for such a kind act. I knew there and then that he would be a good fit for priesthood.

      I also greatly admire those who donate church pews without revealing their names. They’re the ones who believe that their reward is not in this earth, but in heaven. Indeed, blessed are those who are humble and do not boast for they will receive God’s greatest blessing. Gracious B. Romero (graciousromero@gmail.com)

Reflection:“Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6)

Lord, help us to be cheerful givers. Amen.

St. Aloysius Gonzaga, martyr, pray for us.

Paul teaches in today’s reading that the more generous we are with the Lord, the more generous He will be with us. If we provide the Lord with a bucket to fill with His love, mercy and blessings, He will fill it. If we provide a barrel, He will also fill it. Whatever vessel we allow our life to be for Christ, He will fill us. The only blessings that matter are those we receive in heaven. The prosperity gospel that focuses only on receiving wealth and blessings is not the true Gospel. Our blessings mean nothing unless we use them for the Kingdom of God.

6 Brothers and sisters: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. 10 The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You are being enriched in every way for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God.

R: Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

1 Blessed the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commands. 2 His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. (R) 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house; his generosity shall endure forever. 4 Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just. (R) 9 Lavishly he gives to the poor; his generosity shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory. (R)

The Father will repay us for our good works not here on earth but in eternal life in heaven. This is what truly matters. Let us avoid the lure of wealth and possessions that pass away. Let us pray for the grace to invest our time and energy in working for God’s Kingdom and for relationships that endure. May the promise of eternity capture our mind and heart.

Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.

1 Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. 2 When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, 4 so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 5 “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. 16 “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

Read the Bible in one year 2 Kings 19-22

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

A TEAM EXERCISE

The work of evangelization is a team exercise as it is impossible to achieve lasting results on your own. Jesus gathered 12 close disciples to train them in the work of evangelization; Paul always worked together with other people; and most, if not all, of the saints had many others who helped them in their ministries. The best thing about working together as a team is that someone else can back us up when we cannot do something or we are not so good at it.

       Working together as a team means knowing one’s gifts and recognizing that we need the help of others to accomplish something worthwhile. While we may be able to manage many things on our own, there will always be something we are not so competent at. This is why understanding the nature of the Church as the Body of Christ is so important. Feet without hands might be able to move the body from point A to point B, but without the hands to carry things, nothing can be brought with the feet in their travels. Conversely, our hands are not able to move between two points without our feet. We need to learn to work together in the mission of the Church if we are to successfully accomplish the command of Jesus to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

       Let us do our best to discern the gifts of the Spirit that we have been given and then humbly offer them for the work of the Church and the communities to which we belong. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

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

What are your gifts? What can you contribute to the work of the Gospel? How well are

fulfilling the promise you have made through the gifts that God has given you? Are you

exercising them at all?

Holy Spirit, show me the gifts that You have given me so that I may exercise them for the sake of the Gospel and the work of evangelization. Amen.