A group of mountaineers climbed up Mount Everest. The winds and snow of an unexpected blizzard made them turn back to the base camp. On the way down, they saw an unidentified man, unconscious but still breathing.

They were in danger of not making it safely to the base camp so his teammates discouraged Jeremy from helping the man. “He will slow you down, and you won’t make it to back to the base camp. You’ll die too!” they warned him. But Jeremy still helped the fallen man, embraced him, and rubbed his extremities to generate heat until the man regained consciousness. They both hobbled their way and miraculously made it to the base camp.

Later, the camp doctor told Jeremy, “Your friends suffered minor frostbites. It’s a good thing you embraced your friend. Even better that you rubbed his extremities, because in so doing, you generated heat for him and for yourself.”

Rub someone today. The heat sparks life to a cold soul, including yours. Jon Escoto (faithatworkjon@gmail.com)

reflect

Who needs a “spiritual rubbing” of encouraging words, a pat on the back, or a kind deed from you today?

Father, lead me to someone whose spirit I need to touch and encourage today.

Saint Matthias, Apostle, pray for us.

First Reading | Acts 1:15-17, 20-26

Matthias is chosen by drawing lots to replace Judas as one of the Twelve. This reminds us that unless God is in charge (and this is the case when we draw straws), our labor is in vain. Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who builds.”

¹⁵ Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers and sisters (there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said, ¹⁶ “My brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷ Judas was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry. ²⁰ For it is written in the Book of Psalms: Let his encampment become desolate, and may no one dwell in it. And: May another take his office. ²¹ Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, ²² beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection.” ²³ So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. ²⁴ Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” ²⁶ Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

R: The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.

¹ Praise, you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. ² Blessed be the name of the Lord both now and forever. (R) ³ From the rising to the setting of the sun is the name of the Lord to be praised. ⁴ High above all nations is the Lord; above the heavens is his glory. (R) ⁵ Who is like the Lord, our God, who is enthroned on high ⁶ and looks upon the heavens and the earth below? (R) ⁷ He raises up the lowly from the dust; from the dunghill he lifts up the poor 8 to seat them with princes, with the princes of his own people. (R)

Gospel | John 15:9-17

Jesus reminds us that love is at the heart of His disciples’ lives. Let us embrace His call to love and serve one another. As an Apostle, Matthias will be martyred for his service, along with the others, except John. Like them, are we willing to lay down our lives in the service of the Gospel? We will have to die to the desires of the flesh and the temptations of the world.

Gospel Acclamation

I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.

9 Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. 12 This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. 16 It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. 17 This I command you: love one another.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read 1 CHRONICLES 25 - 27 today.

Core

Pinoys have a soft spot for everything that has to do with the “core.” We love “ubod” for one—the core, deliciously edible part of the coconut tree. We also enjoy fresh bamboo shoots, which qualify under the same category. And who is not familiar with the “puso ng saging” that we make into salads or finely chopped vegetable dishes with coconut milk and a generous dash of chili peppers?

It may interest you to note that a probable root word of “core” is precisely what “puso” means in Tagalog: cor, which means “heart” in Latin. The core is the most important, most representative, and most encompassing part that stands for the totality of something. The core, simply put, is the central node of everything.

Today, I would like to ask you to go to the core of the Lord’s moral teachings. Too often, all we get are nonessentials. Instead of nutritious food, for example, the current culture of fast food gives us only empty calories. They are food rich only in calories but have no real nutritional value.

Social media is full of attempts to form disparate groups into meaningful wholes. From Multiply, to My Space, to Friendster, to Facebook and TikTok, all refer to “friendship” and “unity” and other lovely concepts. But take note, the relative anonymity provided by social media has caused us to be racist, judgmental, angry, and more liberal with cursing and calling people names.

The core the Lord speaks of is love. Behind the obedience to the commandments is love. Behind the capacity for real joy is love. Behind the capability to offer one’s life for friends is love too. Yes, the only label the Lord associates with love is this: “I call you friends!” And it requires no “likes” or “reactions” or emoticons.

But it does not come as a one-way treat for which there is no asking oneself this question: “What return can I make?” Love one another. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

reflection question

What return can you make for God’s love for you?

You have nothing but love for us, Lord. Thank You and may I learn to love like You.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________________________