Both my parents were street vendors in Quezon City. We sold banana cue and sliced green mangoes on carts. We lived in an apartment in front of the highway, surrounded by air and noise pollution. It also had a sari-sari store that was open 24/7.

As a teenager with many insecurities, I was ashamed of my home. But during those times, Mama and Papa frequently visited Bulacan. They would bring construction materials to build our future home in an acquired property.

Mama envisioned a compound where we—their six children—would live close to each other as we grew older. Though impatient, I relied on Mama’s vision.

Two decades later, we finally moved to Bulacan. That home has been the venue for our weekend gatherings and holiday reunions. It’s also my safe haven, a quiet place of retreat from the work and ministry demands here in Cagayan De Oro.

What dreams have you been praying for? If my visionary mom had a great dream for us, all the more the Lord who has a great vision for your life. Just be patient and trust in His ways. Aben Garlan (mail@abengarlan.com)

reflect

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

When everything fails, I trust in Your ways, O Lord. Amen.

Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, archangels, pray for us.

First Reading | Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 (or Revelation 12:7-12)

The angels are messengers that God sends on errands for His Kingdom. We can also look at ourselves in this light. We are vessels for the proclamation of the Gospel. We are living witnesses of the Gospel’s power to change lives and draw people to Christ. Today, we celebrate three of the archangels and their obedience to God’s call.

⁹ As I watched, thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was bright as snow, and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. ¹⁰ A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. ¹³ As the visions during the night continued, I saw one like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven. When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, ¹⁴ he received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5

R: In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

¹ I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; ² I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name. (R) Because of your kindness and your truth; for you have made great above all things your name and your promise. ³ When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. (R) ⁴ All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O Lord, when they hear the words of your mouth; ⁵ and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord: “Great is the glory of the Lord.” (R)

Gospel | John 1:47-51

Angels are a mystery and have certain aura about them in the Tradition of the Church. Their role always has an element of otherworldliness. Yet angels are attested to in the Scriptures. Let us thank God for angels—their service throughout salvation history and their help in bringing about the fullness of God’s reign in our lives.

Gospel Acclamation

Bless the Lord, all you angels, you ministers, who do his will.

⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” ⁴⁸ Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” ⁴⁹ Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” ⁵⁰ Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” ⁵¹ And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read EZEKIEL 37 - 40 today.

From Suspicion to Faith

We should give it to Nathanael. He was, in modern parlance, an objective thinker. Not one to jump to conclusions, he nevertheless was attentive to details. And he knew his Scripture. He was sufficiently well-read to know that no prophet ever mentioned the name of the town Nazareth. Nazareth was not in the radar of those who were familiar with the Law, the Writings, and the Prophets—all three parts of the Jewish holy books.

Pardon the excitement of Philip though. He has a flair for discovering new and hidden things. Remember the five loaves that a young man kept well-hidden? It was Philip who got to know who had what the Lord needed. Now he had another exciting discovery: “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”

Nathanael was not impressed. Mere mention of the name of the nondescript town sent the computer screen of his well-read mind flashing. “Nazareth what? What good can come from Nazareth?” The studious Nathanael immediately kicked in as against the impressionable Nathanael. News, no matter if delivered by an excitable and enthusiastic reporter and finder of hidden things like Philip, was not going to make the prim and proper Nathanael flinch, not even an inch.

The Lord was not given in to histrionics either. But He sure knew how to read hearts and minds. As unimpressed as Nathanael was, Jesus was remarkably impressed by him: “There, truly, is an Israelite in whom there is no deception.”

He was honest, and mind you, brutally frank. He would deceive no one and was not one to be easily carried away by fake news either. He operated from the vantage point of a “hermeneutics of suspicion.” But there is something about honesty that won the day for him—and what made him deserve the equally honest accolade from the Lord. He accepted truth when he saw it. He did not feel the need to either ignore or refute what he saw as unbending and unchanging truth.

Jesus, Son of God, help my unbelief! Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

reflection question

Have there been times when you gave in to suspicion instead of faith when you felt the Lord calling you to do something?

Jesus, Son of God, increase my faith! Amen.

Today, I pray for: ______________________________