Most people work hard for money, power, or fame. These aren’t intrinsically bad, but people think these things will give them lasting happiness. Time and again, all these experiences of worldly pleasures lead us to a dead end—of not getting real peace, inner joy, and lasting happiness simply because they won’t last.

I also tried to gain some level of worldly success, and yes, even fell into some vices. And they just proved to me the truth most of us already know but realize the hard way.

I believe God wants us to enjoy these worldly things. After all, He put us in this world—although we don’t belong here. But they should lead us to an innermost yearning of what truly lasts.

Sooner or later, we will discover that only in Jesus will we find lasting peace, joy, and happiness that we all desire.

No Jesus: No peace. No joy. No everlasting happiness.

Know Jesus: Know peace. Know joy. Know everlasting life! Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com)

reflect

What are you pursuing right now? Does it give you lasting happiness? Does it ultimately lead you to seek and receive Jesus, leading you to eternal life?

Dear Lord, as I pursue my dreams here on earth, may all these lead me to You, my eternal life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

St. Rose Venerini, pray for us.

The ministry of the Apostles replicates Jesus in many ways—with healings, exorcisms, and other works. Luke presents the ministry of the Apostles to show they are simply “doing what Jesus did” in response to their commission before Jesus ascended into heaven. Discipleship is about learning how to do what Jesus did in our own way. This will always be the mission of the Church.

³¹ The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. She was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit she grew in numbers. ³² As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda. ³³ There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. ³⁴ Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” He got up at once. ³⁵ And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. ³⁶ Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated is Dorcas). She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving. ³⁷ Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid her out in a room upstairs. ³⁸ Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” ³⁹ So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them. ⁴⁰ Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to her body and said, “Tabitha, rise up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. ⁴¹ He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. ⁴² This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 116:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

R: How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?

¹² How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me? ¹³ The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. (R) ¹⁴ My vows to the Lord I will pay in the presence of all his people. ¹⁵ Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. (R) ¹⁶ O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds. ¹⁷ To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. (R)

Gospel | John 6:60-69

It is difficult to be a disciple of Jesus. It means giving our lives in the service of the Gospel—something the world fails to fully understand. No matter how much the world opposes us, let us persevere in the way of the Gospel. It is our duty and responsibility to make known to everyone the truths of the Gospel.

Gospel Acclamation

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.

⁶⁰ Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” 61 Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? ⁶² What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? ⁶³ It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. ⁶⁵ And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” ⁶⁶ As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him. ⁶⁷ Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” ⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read 1 CHRONICLES 4 - 6 today.

There was the equivalent of a post that was trending. First, it was the “Jews” who murmured. Not before long, even his disciples caught the online fever. They found the teaching hard to take. It was actually harsh, even offensive.

Back in our seminary days, we had a lot of study, prayer, work, and recreation. On certain days, the order was jumbled. There were days “manualia” (hard work) took center stage, when recreation also seemed like a chore. I remember our three-hour long physical education sessions every Saturday. We did everything—monkey bars, calisthenics, push-ups, and a lot of running. Our muscles went sore; our hands burst with blisters. I don’t remember crying over my fair share of blisters, but I do remember some of us falling out of formation, out of sheer exhaustion, and yes—pain.

The training on those first few Saturdays were nothing short of harsh. I wanted to cop out. I was tempted to give in to more than just murmurings, even as I nursed the raw open blisters. Some of us did give up and went home. Most of us stayed, kept a stiff upper lip, and took everything in stride. We made it.

Being in leadership for many years (even by just being a priest without holding office) has given me a front-seat view to human nature—at its best and at its worst. There are seminarians and seminarians, catholics and Catholics, and yes, there are disciples true and disciples fake, even as there is authentic news and fake news (which is most of what we see and hear now in cyberspace). The many decades of my being a formator and professor have shown me that there are seminarians who are truly discerning, and those who are simply waiting for their diploma, certification, and graduation.

The teaching of the Lord is harsh. The life of a disciple is hard. But I hold on to Peter’s words: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life.” Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

reflection question

What helps you in persevering in your spiritual journey?

Lord, following You is hard but the thought of spending eternal life with you makes everything worthwhile. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ______________________________________