A lot of doomsday and end-of-the-world predictions have come and gone, but the world is still here. The truth is the world may end at any time for us because we can die anytime even before the world ends.

A better understanding of Scripture about the world ending is how we should live our lives from day to day. Life is short. Everything is temporary and fleeting. When you’re worried about something, ask if it would still matter 10, five, or even a year from now. Sometimes, the things we worry about are gone with overnight sleep. Because the world in its present form is passing away—including our hurts and pains, troubles and problems, worries and burdens. Instead of wasting our life on them, let’s live in the now with love and forgiveness, tolerance and understanding, joy and peace—and if possible, with much laughter.

The more we live fully in the present, the more we live longer. The more we worry about tomorrow, the more we miss out on today. Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com)

reflect

Check if you’re living in your now. Where are you, what are you doing, what are you thinking, and what are you feeling now? Make the best of your now for a better tomorrow and a better life.

Dear God, thank You for my present moment. This is what I only truly have. May I make the best out of it by seeing You ever present with me. Amen.

Saint Regina, pray for us.

In today’s reading, Paul believes that the Second Coming of Jesus is imminent. His advice to remain single and not marry may sound prudent, but it makes sense given Paul’s stand on the matter. For him, it is imperative that we do all we can to spread the Gospel while we have the chance to do so.

²⁵ Brothers and sisters: In regard to virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. ²⁶ So this is what I think best because of the present distress: that it is a good thing for a person to remain as he is. ²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek a separation. Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife. ²⁸ If you marry, however, you do not sin, nor does an unmarried woman sin if she marries; but such people will experience affliction in their earthly life, and I would like to spare you that. ²⁹ I tell you, brothers, the time is running out. From now on, let those having wives act as not having them, ³⁰ those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning, ³¹ those using the world as not using it fully. For the world in its present form is passing away.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 45:11-12, 14-15, 16-17

R: Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.

¹¹ Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father’s house. ¹² So shall the king desire your beauty; for he is your lord, and you must worship him. (R) ¹⁴ All glorious is the king’s daughter as she enters; her raiment is threaded with spun gold. ¹⁵ In embroidered apparel she is borne in to the king; behind her the virgins of her train are brought to you. (R) ¹⁶ They are borne in with gladness and joy; they enter the palace of the king. ¹⁷ The place of your fathers your sons shall have; you shall make them princes through all the land. (R)

Gospel | Luke 6:20-26

Luke does not sugarcoat the message of Jesus like Matthew does. Matthew inserts “of spirit” after the word “poor” in order to lessen the impact upon the economically rich. Why? Maybe Matthew is writing for a community with many wealthy members. But the meaning and message of the beatitude remains the same in either version. Jesus affirms God’s blessing on those who rely on Him for salvation.

Gospel Acclamation

Rejoice and leap for joy! Your reward will be great in heaven.

²⁰ Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. ²¹ Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. ²² Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. ²³ Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. ²⁴ But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. ²⁵ But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. ²⁶ Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read JEREMIAH 1 - 3 today.

One of the most touching moments in the January 2015 visit of Pope Francis is the Holy Father’s encounter with the young people at the University of Sto. Tomas. In that gathering, children from different sectors of society gave their testimonies. One of the most moving came from a young girl named Glyzelle Palomar. From what I remember, she was an abandoned street child who was eventually sold into prostitution. After enumerating the series of difficulties life has thrown at her, she asked the Holy Father the question (in Tagalog), “Why does God allow these things to happen to some people?” At that point, Glyzelle broke down, unable to continue reading from her prepared text.

Pope Francis did not really understand what was going on as it was in Tagalog. After asking Cardinal Tagle, Pope Francis approached Glyzelle and without saying a word, enveloped the girl in a compassionate embrace. There was total silence in the venue. Later on, in his homily, Pope Francis said, “Certain realities in life we only see through eyes that are cleansed with tears.” As a parting message, the Pope encouraged everyone to ask God for the gift of tears.

Today’s Gospel is the Beatitudes. One of the beatitudes read: “Blessed are you who are weeping; you shall laugh” (Luke 6:21). This is not a commendation of masochism. The ability to weep is actually the ability to be compassionate, to be moved by the other’s pain. The ability to shed tears is a sensitivity to the Gospel call to console the sorrowful.

The next morning’s headlines showed the Pope in a tender embrace with Glyzelle. The caption read: The Pope consoles Glyzelle Palomar after she delivers a tearful testimony at the Papal encounter with the youth.

The world “console” comes from the Latin con (with) and solus (one who is alone and isolated). To console, therefore, means to be with one who is alone. Those who weep are those who have the power to be with one who is alone. Those who weep are those willing to be with one who is isolated. That is what the Gospel praises as blessed. Possess that power, then you are truly blessed! Fr. Joel O. Jason

reflection questions

How is your heart? Is it moved by the pain of the other? Do you move to console the isolated?

Soften my heart, O Lord. Cleanse my dry eyes with the gift of compassionate tears. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________________________