ONE BIT OF INFORMATION

            Her daughter wasn’t doing well in school. She felt heartbroken. The teachers said her child was a bit slow.
          He was anxious that he was not being a good servant head. His temper had gotten the better of him in dealing with one of his members.

           These were burdens that worried my friends to no end. A line from one of the talks in the “Woman of Worth” retreat I attended brought clarity: “It’s just one bit of information out of the 250 million things that happen every second.”

             Our current problem is just a tiny part of the universe. That was a paradigm shift for me. I saw the trials we thought were so huge in a different perspective—a view from the eye of the universe. It’s not to say we should ignore our problems. But when we trust that the One who holds the universe in His hands has His eyes upon us, we believe that things will work out for good in the end. Jesus did assure us we have no need to be afraid. Lella M. Santiago (lellams88@gmail.com)

Refect: What worries you today may just be a tiny bit of information that will not even merit a line when your life story is written.

Dear God, help me to see that You are bigger than my biggest problem.

St. Francis of Paola, hermit, pray for us.

In today’s reading, Peter teaches that the foundation of Christian belief is the Jewish faith. He gives every reason that supports this teaching to convince the Jewish people. For Peter, one should have faith and trust in the Gospel. Let us heed his message to us: Believe in the Gospel and receive the gift of eternal life.

Acts 2:14, 22-33

14 On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 22 You who are children of Israel, hear these words. Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. 23 This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him. 24 But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says of him: I saw the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. 26 Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted; my flesh, too, will dwell in hope, 27 because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence. 29 My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. 30 But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. 33 Exalted at the right hand of God, he poured forth the promise of the Holy Spirit that he received from the Father as you both see and hear.”

PSALM

Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11

R: Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

1 Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; 2 I say to the Lord, “My Lord are you.” 5 O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, it is you who hold fast my lot. (R) 7 I bless the Lord who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. 8 I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. (R) 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body too abides in confidence10 because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. (R) 11 You will show me the path to life, fullness of joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. (R)

FIND YOUR GALILEE

I entered San Carlos Seminary in Guadalupe, Makati at age 17, fresh from high school. I spent 10 straight years of study and formation. After three years in pastoral ministry here and a couple of years of further studies abroad, I was back in San Carlos as a professor, spiritual director, and dean of studies for a total of 14 years until I was given another parish to minister to last 2015.

         I practically spent more than half of my life (as of this writing) in San Carlos Seminary. And so, when I feel tired and want to be recharged, I sometimes visit the place and walk around. When my personal prayer life is getting shallow, I spend some moments of silence in the chapel there. Going back to San Carlos Seminary has been, for me, a virtual oasis providing refreshment, rejuvenation, and inspiration.

      In today’s Gospel, the Risen Jesus gave the women who visited the tomb this instruction: “Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” Why Galilee? Why not Jerusalem?

       The significance of Galilee should not escape us. Galilee was where Jesus first encountered His Apostles. It was in Galilee where Jesus first saw Andrew and Simon (later to be called Peter) mending their boats and told them they will become fishers of men. It was there where the initial bonds of friendship, trust, and mission were formed between Jesus and the Apostles. The instruction to meet in Galilee, therefore, was an assurance of their friendship. The Risen Jesus held no grudge against the friends who abandoned Him.

         The instruction to meet in Galilee was also an act of restoration.  The Apostles may have failed initially, but God is a God of second chances. The Apostles went back to fishing after Jesus died, but the Risen Jesus will restore them to the calling He initially gave them: to become fishers of men.

          Lastly, the instruction to meet in Galilee is a recommissioning.  The Apostles were to proclaim the Jesus event beyond the shores of Galilee. They were to proclaim it to the ends of the earth. Fr. Joel O. Jason

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

What or where is your Galilee? If you do not have one, make one.You will need it, sooner or later.

Like a deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul yearns for You, my God. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ________________________________