“The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” – John 6:63-64

Ten thousand pesos were missing from the petty cash fund. “How could this happen?” There were two other people in the room who saw her receive the money, count it, and keep it in the of office safe. But because she was in charge of the fund and people gossiped about her financial troubles, she became the suspect. No matter how much she recounted the events and explained what happened, no one believed her. She prayed, “Help me! You know what happened. But even if I did not steal that money, I am responsible. Please give me a way to pay what is missing.” Have people ever doubted you? Jesus experienced this when He revealed that He is the “bread of life,” that “whoever eats this bread will live forever.” The disciples found it hard to accept Jesus’ words. But Jesus stood firm about His true identity as the Son of God and in His mission as Savior of the world.

He trusted the Father to fulfill His divine plan.

So what about the lady in our story? She helped a friend sell a property, received over P100,000 in commission, and paid the missing money. In His time, God showed her who took it and gave her the grace to forgive. She trusted God to see her through. Dina Pecaña (dina.p@shepherdsvoice.com.ph)

Reflect: “Trust in the Lord with your whole heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

Jesus, King of mercy, I trust in You. Amen.

St. Anselm, bishop and doctor of the Church, pray for us. 

Acts 9:31-42

31 The Church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers. 32 As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” He got up at once. 35 And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. 36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving. 37 Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid her out in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to her body and said, “Tabitha, rise up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord.

P S A L M 

I was once listening to a parenting talk given by a mother of three children whose age range spans from child to teen to early adult. She was talking about some recent research results concerning parenting in the digital generation. One word from her presentation stuck with me. It was the word “affluenza.”

With all good intentions, many parents, according to her, shower their children with everything that they were deprived of when they were young. Wishing to shield their children from the pain of that experience of want that marked their own childhood, they tend never to say “no” to any request from their children. Unwittingly, they end up raising children with affluenza, an unhealthy sense of entitlement, a feeling that I deserve and can get anything I want because my parents love me.

Like children sick with a affluenza, the people in today’s Gospel complained to Jesus that His teaching regarding His Body and Blood as real food and drink is “hard to accept” (v. 60).  They were practically demanding that Jesus change and soften His teaching according to their liking. When Jesus did not, they began to leave one by one like children on a tantrum.

Jesus, like a good parent, demonstrates that “no” is also a word of love. The Apostles understood this.  They weren’t spoiled brats. Challenged by Jesus if they are going to leave too, Peter declared, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

Wasn’t Jesus also given a “no” by the Father in Gethsemane, when in utter agony and terror, He asked that the cup of suffering be taken away from Him? (See Luke 22:42.) But He trusted in the love of the Father despite the “no.” In the resurrection, the Father’s love was proven true. Fr. Joel O. Jason

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

A saying goes, “If you want your children to be well-grounded, don’t hesitate to put weight on their shoulders.” Are you ready to put that weight? Are you willing to take on that weight?

Help me to carry Your sweet yoke, and give me Your rest, Father. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _________________________________________