When I was about seven years old, a burglar broke into the house of Lola Nelly, Dad’s mom. A helper alerted Dad, so he hurried over with the police to rescue them. The burglar held Lola, the house help, and the cook hostage. While Dad worked with the police, Mom gathered us at home to pray for a miracle.

Twenty minutes after our prayer, Dad called Mom. She relayed the news to us, “Alleluia!” The robber had surrendered! Lola was safe! And the cook only had a small cut.

So miracles really happen today. Do you want your family and friends to grow closer to God? Let Him do the impossible through you! How? Let Him—not you—do the miracles.

First, ask Him: What do You want to do in this situation, Jesus? Next, do what He tells you. What if nothing happens? That’s His problem, not yours!

Pray for others’ needs. Heal the sick. Multiply bread. And “greater ones than these” shall you perform! Marc V. Lopez (marcvlopez88@gmail.com)

reflect

What miracle does Jesus want to perform through you today? Ask Him. Do what He tells you.

I command/claim _____, in the most powerful Name of Jesus. Amen.

Saints Philip and James, Apostles, pray for us.

First Reading | 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

Like the Apostles and the bishops of the Church over the last 2,000 years, Philip and James were tasked to conserve the truth for future generations. It is not for them nor for us to improvise and alter the truths of the Gospel to make them more understandable for those who hear it. We pass on to others what has been handed on to us. The Gospel tradition is about proclaiming the truth as we have received it so God can work His grace of salvation in the lives of those who hear it.

¹ I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. ² Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. ³ For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; ⁴ that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; ⁵ that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. ⁶ After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ After that he appeared to James, then to all the Apostles. ⁸ Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5

R: Their message goes out through all the earth.

² The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. ³ Day pours out the word to day, and night to night imparts knowledge. (R) ⁴ Not a word nor a discourse whose voice is not heard; ⁵ through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message. (R)

Gospel | John 14:6-14

Some Greek speakers seek Philip’s help to approach Jesus about something. It is impossible for one person to encapsulate the Gospel and be an effective means of sharing it to everyone. We need to draw from each other’s gifts and harness them for the work of the Gospel. We need to work together to accomplish the task of evangelization that Jesus has entrusted to the Church.

Gospel Acclamation

I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord; Philip, whoever has seen me has seen the Father.

⁶ Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” ⁸ Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. ¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. ¹² Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read 2 KINGS 16 - 18 today.

He Is

Forty years ago, when I first heard of “identity theft,” I could not understand what it was and how it worked. I could not wrap my mind around the concept that was totally foreign to my experience. But identity theft has exploded in the world scene everywhere over the recent decades, including the Philippines.

Identity though, before being stolen, has suffered a gradual but sure erosion over the same period of time. Many people now have various accounts in social media, with different “identities.” I don’t want to go deeper into matters related to the dark web, but there also has been a proliferation of what is known as “alternate” identities.

Elections have been won or lost on account of such free-floating multiple cyber-identities known as trolls and bots. And sadly, even real-flesh personalities, especially politicians, can change, reverse, or twist truth, depending on the situation or current selfish end in mind.

In this welter of confused, diffused, and eroded identities, we hear welcome good news from One who never for once hid, denied, or changed His identity. In fact, today, He does more of what Scriptural tradition passes on for posterity: the “I Am” solemn statements from God. “I am the God of Abraham . . . I am who am . . . I and the Father are one . . .”

The fruits of broken and erratic identities are motley, their close cousin being fake news. Fake identities make for fake statements and fake claims. And it all boils down to loss of credibility and utter loss of a sense of stability in our personal and societal lives. We often do not know anymore who or what to believe.

Not all is lost. We still have hope to bring back decency and banish massive deception. We hold on to Him who said: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Christ is the Way precisely because He is the Truth. Truth is our birthright. And Christ is the Truth precisely because only He can show us the Way to Life in its fullness. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

reflection question

How easy is it for you to believe and pass on unverified news on social media?

Lord, that I might know myself, that I might know You.

Today, I pray for: ______________________________________