EVERY LITTLE 

THING COUNTS

Then... everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. – Ezra 1:5

I was a five-year-old boy when our family home was built in Baguio. During our visits to the construction site, my siblings and I would pick up used nails and return them to the carpenters’ toolbox to reuse. This small act was my contribution to building our home.

Through the years, our home continued to be filled with God’s presence. We’ve held our regular family meals there, celebrations, countless reunions with relatives and friends, prayer meetings, and even a safe haven to share our trials. I can proudly claim that a five-year-old helped build our home because every little thing counts.

Today’s reading echoes this: “Everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord.” We all have something to contribute in building God’s Kingdom on earth. Maybe you’re called to serve in your local parish. Or maybe you can pray for others. Or how about being a friend to someone in need or to be Jesus to someone who has lost hope?

In God’s Kingdom, no contribution is too small. EdwinS.Soriano (edwin@winningcoaching.net)

Reflect: Who is that one person around you who needs to feel God’s love? How can you be Jesus to this person?

Lord, move my heart, that I may heed Your call today to help build Your Kingdom.

St. Padre Pio de Pietrelcina, pray for us.

Cyrus, the king of Persia, allowed the exiled Israelites to return home. He also allowed them to take their belongings, including the things his armies took from them a couple of generations earlier. Cyrus is a merciful, generous, and good king despite being a pagan.

Ezra 1:1-6

1 In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord inspired King Cyrus of Persia to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom, both by word of mouth and in writing: 2 “Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia: ‘All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord, the God of heaven, has given to me, and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Therefore, whoever among you belongs to any part of his people, let him go up, and may his God be with him! 4 Let everyone who has survived, in whatever place he may have dwelt, be assisted by the people of that place with silver, gold, goods, and cattle, together with free-will offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.’” 5 Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and Levites—everyone, that is, whom God had inspired to do so—prepared to go up to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. 6 All their neighbors gave them help in every way, with silver, gold, goods, and cattle, and with many precious gifts besides all their free-will offerings.

Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6

R: The Lord has done marvels for us.

1 When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. (R) Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad indeed. (R) 4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the torrents in the southern desert. 5 Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. (R) 6 Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, they shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves. (R)

Light dispels the darkness and makes it easy for people to see. Like light, the Gospel is meant to be shared and encourages people to receive the gift of salvation. Let us be like a light shining on the mountaintop, manifesting the Good News of salvation to the world by the way we live. Let us do good and set an example of upright and just living to show people that Christians are serious about growing in virtue.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

Luke 8:16-18

16 Jesus said to the crowd: “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light. 18 Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.”

think: “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)

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TRAINING IN VIRTUES

If there is one thing that schools have to reorganize in the curriculum today, it is value education. The coming of new generations year after year drifts us away from the basic traditional practices of virtues. I propose in this Gospel reflection the subject of “virtue.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines virtue as “a habitual and firm disposition to do the good.” The root word vir, which means a man makes it more naturally the goal, something that we should live for because it is what and who we are. The more virtuous we are, the more human we become.

However, the Gospel today says that “a lamp should not be hidden under the bed but to put it on a stand to be seen.”

Is this promoting a display of pomposity? Does it mean that people should always see us whenever we do a virtuous act?

When this happens, whatever virtue is present is weakened. We do not advertise virtues; neither do we hide it to be suppressed. It cannot be contained. When it is good, it naturally overflows its fragrance to attract others.

But before it naturally develops to become a disposition, one has to will it, practice it every day with conviction, and develop it into a habit.

A virtue must be cultivated for it to become a habitual way of living in the world around us. Aristotle, in his Nicomachean Ethics, says, “We are what we repeatedly do. Any virtue, then, is not an act, but a habit.” It is a good habit that has to be constantly repeated. As they say, practice makes perfect.

Train children to practice virtues. Live each day with a virtue in mind. It is the sure path to holiness. In fact, God’s grace penetrates souls that are soaked in virtues. Fr. Haluendo Amit, OCD

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

What virtue do you want to develop? Make a conscious effort to practice it today.

May Your grace, Lord, penetrate my soul that I may grow in virtue. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _____________________________