Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

“For although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike.” – Luke 10:21

       After a big prayer rally, a man stayed to savor the wonderful things that transpired. Just then, the guest evangelist passed by. The man was star-struck. “Brother, what a powerful talk you gave! I’m a baby Christian for only a month now.”

       The evangelist replied, “Oh, it’s not really me but God at work, thanks to all the formation and training in ministry, worship, spiritual warfare, and many more. What about you, what’s happening in your spiritual life?

       The man felt a bit ashamed for his lack of experience and training in the spiritual life. “Oh, I used to be an alcoholic, a heavy smoker and an unfaithful husband. But now I’m clean and striving hard to love and serve my family. I’m young in the faith and every moment, I have to repent of my sin and would burst into tears of joy out of gratitude for God’s faithful love! End of story.

       Never mistake religiosity for spirituality, childlikeness for childishness. God intended to “have hidden these things from the wise and the learned and revealed them to the childlike.” Obet Cabrillas (obetcab@yahoo.com)

Reflection: In heaven there’s a big sign that says, “For children only; adults not  allowed!”

Baruch wants us to call out to God for His mercy. He knows that we are all sinners, yet he also knows that God is full of mercy and always ready to forgive. Today, being the Feast of the Holy Rosary, it is good to reflect on the mysteries of the rosary and how it can help us understand that God wants to be immersed in our lives. He is always working to bring the Gospel to us. Let us pray that Mary’s intercession will make it happen.

5 Fear not, my people! Remember, Israel, 6 You were sold to the nations not for your destruction; it was because you angered God that you were handed over to your foes. 7 For you provoked your Maker with sacrifices to demons, to no-gods; 8 you forsook the Eternal God who nourished you, and you grieved Jerusalem who fostered you. 9 She indeed saw coming upon you the anger of God; and she said: “Hear, you neighbors of Zion! God has brought great mourning upon me, 10 for I have seen the captivity that the Eternal God has brought upon my sons and daughters. 11 With joy I fostered them; but with mourning and lament I let them go. 12 Let no one gloat over me, a widow, bereft of many: For the sins of my children I am left desolate, because they turned from the law of God. 27 Fear not, my children; call out to God! He who brought this upon you will remember you. 28 As your hearts have been disposed to stray from God, turn now ten times the more to seek him; 29 for he who has brought disaster upon you will, in saving you, bring you back enduring joy.”

R: The Lord listens to the poor.

33 “See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive! 34 For the Lord hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not. 35 Let the heavens and the earth praise him, the seas and whatever moves in them!” (R) 36 For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. They shall dwell in the land and own it, 37 and the descendants of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall inhabit it. (R)

We can rejoice in our power to do things or we can rejoice in the fact that such power comes from God, and He calls us to share in His work of salvation. There is a huge difference here. We must remember that the grace of conversion — the grace to do anything good — comes from God and not just from us. This is the truth that will set us free to become saints, knowing that it is the grace of God at work that makes this calling possible.

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

17 The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” 18 Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. 19 Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” 21 At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” 23 Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

think: Recall your moment of conversion. Can you see God’s power in making it possible? Thank Him now.

Read the Bible in one year Song of Songs 5-8

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

BOW BEFORE MYSTERY

I once celebrated a solemn Mass in an air-conditioned chapel. There were hymns, candles, bells and of course, the incense. During the consecration, an overzealous altar server wanted to create too much smoke to surround the altar that he even blew the smoke in my direction. I almost choked as I inhaled some of it and my eyes grew a little teary that I had to get my hankie after the consecration.

       After the Mass, I called the altar server and told him that the goal of incense is not to make the altar look like there’s a barbecue party going on. The rising smoke is meant to signal the lifting up of our prayer as Psalm 141 proclaims: “Like burning incense, O Lord, let my prayer rise up to You.”

       But afterwards, my experience at the altar reminded me of something Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said about the mystery of God and liturgy. Besides symbolizing the lifting up of our prayers, smoke coming from the incense is literally and metaphorically meant to confound us, to block our vision, and to remind us that, ultimately, the mystery of God is something way, way beyond our limited to capacity to see and grasp. We cannot control God.

       In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks about things that are “hidden to the wise and the learned but revealed to the merest children” (see vv. 21-24). St. Augustine once wrote, “Si comprehendus, non est Deus,” which means, “If you understand, it is not God.” What is Augustine saying here? God is not just one thing in the world, nor is He the highest thing in the world. God is beyond our world and that is why we can only behold His mystery so much — like eyes blurred by the lifting up of incense.

       Today, Jesus calls us to humility — for we live now in a world that styles itself as equal, if not a rival, to God. We have forgotten that we are made in God’s image, not the other way around.

       Let us submit ourselves to the mystery of God — a mystery that is not incomprehensible but inexhaustible. The next time you go to Mass and there is incense, smell it and allow the smoke to get in your eyes. Fr. Joel Jason

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

Are you very rational in your approach to God, leaving no more room for faith in His

With You, O God, I am something. Without You, I am nothing. Amen.