Jesus went up on the mountainside and called those he wanted and they came to him. – Mark 3:13

       When Catholic preacher Bo Sanchez asked me to be one of The Feast builders of the Light of Jesus Family, I initially thought that I was a bad choice. For me, a Feast builder, who is in charge of growing and pastoring a prayer community, should be a leader with the highest standards of love and integrity. I was far from that.

          I began to tell Bo of my sins that disqualified me from being a Feast builder: I cuss, I have a terrible temper, and I look at porn and entertain malicious thoughts.

       After I said these, he just looked at me and said, “You’re halfway there.” He added that healing has already begun because I admitted my flaws. This new mission was part of the journey to improve myself.

         It’s been five years since I became a Feast builder in Makati. Over a thousand people attend our gatherings each week and are blessed by the works of the Lord through the calling He has given me.

       Friend, God loves you just the way you are. But He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be like Jesus. Jan Carlo Silan (jcsilan@gmail.com)

Reflect: Do you believe that God can use you? Do you believe He is with you every step of the way?

Lord, thank You for Your divine direction. May we learn to follow Your ways. Amen.

St. Fillan, pray for us.

Saul is determined to kill David. On the other hand, David respects Saul as God’s anointed king. He passes up the opportunity to kill Saul and take the throne for himself. David is a principled man and killing his king is unthinkable, even if Saul is bent on destroying him.

3 Saul took three thousand picked men from all Israel and went in search of David and his men in the direction of the wild goat crags. 4 When he came to the sheepfolds along the way, he found a cave, which he entered to relieve himself. David and his men were occupying the inmost recesses of the cave. 5 David’s servants said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘I will deliver your enemy into your grasp; do with him as you see fit.’” So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul’s mantle. 6 Afterward, however, David regretted that he had cut off an end of Saul’s mantle. 7 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, as to lay a hand on him, for he is the Lord’s anointed.” 8 With these words David restrained his men and would not permit them to attack Saul. Saul then left the cave and went on his way. 9 David also stepped out of the cave, calling to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked back, David bowed to the ground in homage 10 and asked Saul: “Why do you listen to those who say, ‘David is trying to harm you’? 11 You see for yourself today that the Lord just now delivered you into my grasp in the cave. I had some thought of killing you, but I took pity on you instead. I decided, ‘I will not raise a hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed and a father to me.’ 12 Look here at this end of your mantle which I hold. Since I cut off an end of your mantle and did not kill you, see and be convinced that I plan no harm and no rebellion. I have done you no wrong, though you are hunting me down to take my life. 13 The Lord will judge between me and you, and the Lord will exact justice from you in my case. I shall not touch you. 14 The old proverb says, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness.’ So I will take no action against you. 15 Against whom are you on campaign, O king of Israel? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, or a single flea! 16 The Lord will be the judge; he will decide between me and you. May he see this, and take my part, and grant me justice beyond your reach!” 17 When David finished saying these things to Saul, Saul answered, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And he wept aloud. 18 Saul then said to David: “You are in the right rather than I; you have treated me generously, while I have done you harm. 19 Great is the generosity you showed me today, when the Lord delivered me into your grasp and you did not kill me. 20 For if a man meets his enemy, does he send him away unharmed? May the Lord reward you generously for what you have done this day. 21 And now, I know that you shall surely be king and that sovereignty over Israel shall come into your possession.”

R: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

1 [2] Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. In the shadow of your wings I take refuge, till harm pass by. (R) 2 [3] I call to God the Most High, to God, my benefactor. 3 [4] May he send from heaven and save me; may he make those a reproach who trample upon me; may God send his mercy and his faithfulness. (R) 5 [6] Be exalted above the heavens, O God; above all the earth be your glory! 10 [11] For your mercy towers to the heavens, and your faithfulness to the skies. (R)

Jesus chooses 12 men to be His Apostles. He knows He needs the help of these men in bringing the Gospel to the world. Jesus entrusts to the Apostles the ministry of the Gospel when He returns to the Father.

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

13 Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. 14 He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons: 16 He appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; 17 James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, 19 and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

Read the Bible in one year Matthew 10-12

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________

THE ‘JESUS CHRIST FACTOR’

We hear about the X factor in beauty pageants, show business, and even politics. X in algebra stands for the unknown variable that in turn gives explanation for the unexplainable. Simply put, in the Filipino context, X factor is called “suwerte,” wherein the universe suddenly conspires in your favor. But for us Christians, what we really have is the “Jesus Christ factor” that explains not only the unexplainable but even the foolish ones.

       In today’s Gospel, Jesus appoints the Twelve Apostles. They are a mix of different and even extreme personalities like Simon who was very impulsive unlike his brother Andrew who was more calculating. Or the brothers James and John called “sons of thunder” for their temperament. Then there’s Judas Iscariot, the Lord’s betrayer. Against today’s standards for employment, the 12 would not fit well as a team, yet Jesus called them to be His Apostles.

        Here we find the truth that God does not call the qualified but qualifies those whom He calls. He believes in us so much that He entrusts us with great responsibilities, unifying us all in His Son Jesus Christ. Hence, the “Jesus Christ factor.” The 12 were able to work together with the Lord because of Himself. After the Resurrection, the Apostles were inspired to spread the Good News of salvation to the farthest ends of the earth simply because of the Jesus Christ factor. The Church continues its mission today through the hierarchy and clergy along with the laity with all their shortcomings and misgivings. Thanks to the Jesus Christ factor, that despite our long history of disagreements and scandals, we continue to forge on because of the Lord. Life becomes easier and more peaceful in our family, community, parish, or workplace when we always consider the Jesus Christ factor — when we do everything in the name of Jesus Christ. Fr. Nick Lalog

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

Have you been in a situation in life wherein you let go of any chance to revenge or quarrel with someone because of the Jesus Christ factor?

Lord Jesus Christ, we often forget that we are Your Apostles, called to proclaim Your Gospel, called to enter into an intimate relationship with You. Help us at those times when we disregard You in doing and telling things to others that destroy our unity as Your Apostles. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ________________________________________________