A friend who recently accepted God as her Lord and Savior asked, “Reng, how do you know if it’s God talking to you? Do you hear a loud, booming voice, or is His voice sweet and gentle?” I asked her, “If I call you and you answer without looking at the caller ID on your phone, would you know it’s me?” She said, “Of course, I will. We’ve been friends for so long that the moment you say hello, I’d know it’s you.” So I told her, “Make God your friend. Talk to Him daily in prayer. Read His Word. Learn to listen to Him in your heart, and you, too, will recognize His voice and follow Him.”

We need to spend time with our friend, Jesus, every day to get to know Him better. This way we learn to recognize His voice and follow Him. His Word is a tangible source of His will. We only need to open the Bible and read it to know His message for us. As we live out His Word, the more we get attuned to His Spirit and grow in discerning His thoughts and directions for our lives. Reng D. Morelos (norinamorelos@gmail.com)

reflect

What unnecessary things do you need to give up to know Jesus more? Are you willing to invest more of your time to grow in your knowledge of the Lord?

Jesus, having family and friends to talk to is a blessing, but let me spend more time with You. I want to become Your friend and be a close part of Your family.

St. John of Avila, pray for us.

The persecution of the Early Church seems to have promoted evangelization. In fleeing from their persecutors, the early Christians took the Gospel message further and further afield. They probably fled to their Jewish friends and communities in places away from Jerusalem; thus, they were less prone to persecution for their new beliefs. They shared their beliefs with the Jews and Gentiles, and so Christianity was established in more places.

¹⁹ Those who had been scattered by the persecution that arose because of Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but Jews. ²⁰ There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however, who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. ²¹ The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. ²² The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. ²³ When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, ²⁴ for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. And a large number of people was added to the Lord. ²⁵ Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul, ²⁶ and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the Church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 87:1-3, 4-5, 6-7

R: All you nations, praise the Lord.

¹ His foundation upon the holy mountains ² the Lord loves: The gates of Zion, more than any dwelling of Jacob. ³ Glorious things are said of you, O city of God! (R) ⁴ I tell of Egypt and Babylon among those that know the Lord; of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia: “This man was born there.” ⁵ And of Zion they shall say: “One and all were born in her; and he who has established her is the Most High Lord.” (R) ⁶ They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled: “This man was born there.” ⁷ And all shall sing, in their festive dance: “My home is within you.” (R)

Gospel | John 10:22-30

Jesus affirms that His works and His life speak for themselves. If what He says are not enough to convince a person that He is the Messiah, then His works ought to be enough. However, people have judged Jesus to be a troublemaker and false prophet. They are no longer open to discovering His true identity. With closed hearts and minds, people will never recognize who Jesus really is.

Gospel Acclamation

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.

²² The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. ²³ And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. ²⁴ So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” ²⁵ Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. ²⁶ But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. ²⁷ My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰ The Father and I are one.”

About a generation ago, when PBA games were avidly awaited by both young and old in the Philippines, and when gadgets have not invaded the school scenes all over, playing in the basketball and football courts was a sight to behold during breaks.

I was principal then of a big school. The boys would rush to eat their snacks or lunch, or defer eating until the last few minutes of the break, and would all rush to the courts. Within minutes, there would be about six or even more opposing teams playing at the same time in each of the available courts. The team mates would know one another. Each team would have its own mode of calling the attention of fellow team players and several simultaneous games would be held in the cramped courts all over the campus. It still is a wonder to me after all these decades how the young did it, with hardly any accidental bumps and falls.

What was crucial to the teams playing at the same time were the call signs or symbols each team used—a word, a type of whistle, a wave of the hand, a handkerchief or neckerchief worn, T-shirts tucked in, etc. It was like each team followed an unseen team captain or coach. Each one knew to what team he belonged, and what voice or call sign to follow.

We Christians are called to do something similar. Nowadays, we are barraged by so many choices of what and whom to listen to: Spotify, iMusic, YouTube, etc. The onset of the pandemic two years ago also showed the divergent voices and strident but opposing opinions even of scientists and doctors. We did not know who and what to believe.

I take comfort today on account of one sure thing. In the midst of so much confusion, and besieged though we are by an avalanche of fake news, the thought that we belong to God’s sheepfold is more than just a shallow consolation. We have before us a choice—to believe and be counted among His sheep. No one can snatch us from His hand. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

reflection question

How do you keep yourself from being snatched away from God’s hand?

Keep me close to You, Lord, that I may not stray. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _____________________________________________