BE A GOD CARRIER

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others. — 1 Peter 4:10

Mary was an ordinary 14-year-old girl — uneducated, poor, provinciana (a girl from the province) — who saw an angel in front of her. A Born-again Bible teacher said that it’s amazing how Mary got shocked, not by the fact that she saw an angel (perhaps because she saw angels before?), but by the fact that the angel said that she would carry God in her womb.

In Catholic theology, we call Mary the “first disciple” because she was the first one to say yes to Jesus.

My point? Mary was given the precious and rare gift of carrying Jesus in her womb and to birth Him into the world. We’re called to do the exact same thing. The difference is that Mary carried Him in her physical womb and we are to carry Him in our spiritual wombs. But the call is the same.

We are called to carry God wherever we go — into our homes, into our schools, into our workplaces, into our friendships — and birth Jesus there, using the gifts He has blessed us with.

As God carrier, Mary didn’t delay in carrying His love to her elderly cousin Elizabeth. Neither should we. Bo Sanchez (bosanchez@ kerygmafamily.com)

Reflect: To whom are you being sent today as a God carrier?

Lord, may I be Your faithful God carrier, ever ready to bring Your love and light wherever You send me. Amen.

St. Justin, martyr, pray for us.

Peter reminds us that it is a privilege to suffer for the sake of the Gospel. Jesus gave His life for us — suffering for His sake is the duty of a Christian. Today, we celebrate St. Justin, an early martyr of the Church. During the time of the early Church, martyrdom was the perfect way to imitate Christ. Though we may not become martyrs, let us be willing to suffer for the Gospel.

1 Peter 4:7-13

7 Beloved: The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be serious and sober-minded so that you will be able to pray. 8 Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. 11 Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 12 Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by  fire is occurring among you, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly.

P S A L M 

Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13

R: The Lord comes to judge the earth.

10 Say among the nations: The Lord is king. He has made the world  firm, not to be moved; he governs the peoples with equity. (R) 11 Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills it resound; 12 let the plains be joyful and all that is in them! Then shall all the trees of the forest exult (R) 13 before the Lord, for he comes; for he comes to rule the earth. He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with his constancy. (R)

GOSPEL 

Jesus condemned the fig tree because it failed to bear fruit. Are we like the fig tree? Or do we serve God’s Kingdom and bear fruit? Fruitfulness is the best measure of growth in our faith.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord. 

Mark 11:11-26

ACCEPTANCE IS KEY

In one of my rest days, I went back to Tagaytay City where I spent four years of my seminary formation. I wanted to be alone and reflect on many things that were going on in my mind then. I was going through difficult times — I felt misunderstood by many people. ings were rough for me and I had to silence myself. In those short moments, I was able to go through a painful acceptance of my weaknesses and shortcomings, but at the same time realize that it was the challenge to go beyond my sinfulness that would be the redeeming factor in my life. I ended the day so much consoled. I thanked God for making me realize that I could always go beyond my weaknesses and start again — to still be faithful in spite of everything.

The Gospel today seems to be marked by anger coming from Jesus. He cursed the fig tree for not producing any fruits. He was disturbed and angered by people for doing unworthy acts in places dedicated for worship. He could not understand why people and things in this world could not produce the right things they were meant to be.

Although we have our own share of faults and weaknesses that could sometimes overwhelm us, it does not mean that we are to live shameful lives. God continues to give us the grace to acknowledge and accept who and what we are. At the same time, He gives us the grace to go beyond our failures and start again.

Unfortunately, cursed will we be if we become like the fig tree that does not produce what it is meant to give, if we do not put into proper perspective the life that God gave us. We will constantly fail and be confronted by our weaknesses and sins, but what will be asked of us is how pointed our mindset is towards renewing ourselves to become better Christians — to realize what we are really meant to be, and become more faithful to that life. Fr. Joel Francis Victorino

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

How faithful are we to God’s calling to us despite our weaknesses and failures?

Dearest Lord, help me acknowledge and accept my weaknesses and sins, and then with Your grace, help me to move on. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________