It took me a while to follow God’s voice. I was once a coward who couldn’t spare time and effort for those in need—until I heard Him call. At the time, I felt incomplete—as if something was missing in my life. So, I always asked Him, “Father, what do You want me to do?” I prayed every day, asking Him to use me as His instrument of love. I discerned His plan for me, and He answered in an unbelievable way.

I couldn’t turn a blind eye when I learned that more than 60 dogs would be killed at a Bacolod pound. God sent me to act and help those innocent creatures. I realized it was only the start. I am now a volunteer and advocate of animal rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption. Stray animals are often neglected and overlooked, but let’s not forget that they are God’s creation, too. Because of this, it has become easier for me to help other people even if I have to give up some things.

I thought this mission would change the lives of the strays; instead it changed mine. Elle Silvestre (marialouise.s@shepherdsvoice.com.ph)

reflect

“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” (Maya Angelou)

Lord, may I be a good steward of Your creation. May there be a kinder environment for all the creatures You love. Amen.

St. Jerome, priest and Doctor of the Church, pray for us.

First Reading | Nehemiah 8:1-4, 5-6, 7-12

As we read from Nehemiah today, let us recognize the awe and respect the Jewish people had for the Word of God. Do we have the same respect for God’s Word? Do we have a Bible in our homes? Do we read the Scriptures daily? Let us allow the Word of God to form our minds and hearts, instead of the information we watch, hear, and read on different media platforms.

¹ The whole people gathered as one in the open space before the Water Gate, and they called upon Ezra the scribe to bring forth the book of the law of Moses which the Lord prescribed for Israel. ² On the first day of the seventh month, therefore, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, which consisted of men, women, and those children old enough to understand. ³ Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate, he read out of the book from daybreak till midday, in the presence of the men, the women, and those children old enough to understand; and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law. ⁴ Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the occasion. ⁵ He opened the scroll so that all the people might see it (for he was standing higher up than any of the people); and, as he opened it, all the people rose. ⁶ Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people, their hands raised high, answered, “Amen, amen!” Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the Lord, their faces to the ground. ⁷ As the people remained in their places, ⁸ Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God, interpreting it so that all could understand what was read. ⁹ Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribe and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all the people: “Today is holy to the Lord your God. Do not be sad, and do not weep,” for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. ¹⁰ He said further: “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks, and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared; for today is holy to our Lord. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!” ¹¹ And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Hush, for today is holy, and you must not be saddened.” ¹² Then all the people went to eat and drink, to distribute portions, and to celebrate with great joy, for they understood the words that had been expounded to them.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R: The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

⁸ The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. (R) 9 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye. (R) ¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just. (R) ¹¹ They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb. (R)

Gospel | Luke 10:1-12

We celebrate today the feast of our beloved St. Therese of Lisieux. Her popularity stems from her simple life and understanding of what God asked of her. The question is: Why do we complicate our lives and exhaust ourselves that make it impossible for us to enjoy life? Saint Therese challenges us to simplify our lives and identify and focus on things that really matter.

Gospel Acclamation

The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.

¹ Jesus appointed seventy-two others disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. ² He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. ³ Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. ⁴ Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. ⁵ Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ ⁶ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. ⁸ Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, ⁹ cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ ¹⁰ Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, ¹¹ ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’ Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand. ¹² I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read EZEKIEL 41 - 44 today.

Lambs Among Wolves

The Samaritans found it hard to accept Jesus on His way to Jerusalem. It is not hard to imagine how difficult it was to traverse that part of hostile territory. He was literally journeying like a lamb in the midst of wolves. Today’s Gospel passage is another section in the chapter that can be called “Acceptance and Rejection.”

A Christian need not be like the character of Pollyanna, who saw everything as nice and rosy and who looked at the world as only full of “sugar and spice and everything nice.” The Gospel passage today is one big reality check. And the reality couldn’t be clearer. No mincing words about it: “Look, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.”

I remember my first religion classes as an eighteen-year-old seminarian. They were in remote barrio high schools then. The two schools were just a stone’s throw away from present-day Tagaytay Highlands, but the barrios were part of Calamba, Laguna. I remember being so afraid on the first day. Some students were older than me. They didn’t know me from Adam and there I was, dressed in my immaculate white soutane, about to meet my students for the very first time.

Though I felt like I was thrown in with the lions, it did not take long for me to realize that the story was not one of rejection but of warm acceptance. To this day, I still remember some of the innocent faces of my students and feel the cool refreshing breeze of what used to be known as Mount Sungay, now obviously an enclave of the rich and the famous of the country.

The same cannot be said about all the places I have been to, though. At least two barrios we were going to didn’t accept us. They didn’t just use the “hermeneutics of suspicion.” They suspected us, plain and simple, of robbing their children from their cult. They did not make a secret of how they despised us.

The times now are even worse for evangelizers like we should be. Social media has made our task more difficult. Are you up to it? Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

reflection question

How do you handle rejection as you do your mission?

Make me strong to handle suspicions and rejections, Lord, as I try to do what You want me to do. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _____________________________