I got an amazing scholarship in January 2020. From thousands of applicants in Southeast Asia, I was among those chosen to become a content creator in a program sponsored by NAS Academy and Grab for Good. We qualified for a six-month mentoring program to bring out the best in us in becoming a force for good.

During one of our masterclasses, our mentors challenged us to work in groups instead of individually. Even if there were challenges, our group finished the task by giving our best. Long story short, when they announced the best group work, our team won the prize. Truly, teamwork makes the dream work.

The Lord reminds us today to look out for each other, especially as we care for the least, the lost, and the last. This means that no one should be left behind as we experience and follow Him. JC Libiran (coachjclibiran@gmail.com)

reflect

Identify the people who are left out. How is God calling you to minister to them?

Thank You, Jesus, for bringing us together as one family here and beyond as we celebrate the Holy Mass that unite us to Your Love.

Saint Ailbhe, pray for us.

First Reading | 1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33

Factions and fighting within a community will lead to its demise. Gossip is one of the primary causes of division in a group. People often justify their participation in gossip by saying they are “keeping up with what is happening in the community.” There is a fine line that needs to be drawn here. If your knowledge of the situation is not going to bring a solution to the problem, then it is safe to assume that to talk about it over a period of time is gossip.

¹⁷ Brothers and sisters: In giving this instruction, I do not praise the fact that your meetings are doing more harm than good. ¹⁸ First of all, I hear that when you meet as a church there are divisions among you, and to a degree I believe it; ¹⁹ there have to be factions among you in order that also those who are approved among you may become known. ²⁰ When you meet in one place, then, it is not to eat the Lord’s supper, ²¹ for in eating, each one goes ahead with his own supper, and one goes hungry while another gets drunk. ²² Do you not have houses in which you can eat and drink? Or do you show contempt for the Church of God and make those who have nothing feel ashamed? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this matter I do not praise you. ²³ For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, ²⁴ and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my Body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my Blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. ³³ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 40:7-8, 8-9, 10, 17

R: Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.

⁷ Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not; ⁸ then said I, “Behold I come.” (R) “In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, 9 to do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!” (R) ¹⁰ I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O Lord, know. (R) ¹⁷ May all who seek you exalt and be glad in you, and may those who love your salvation say ever, “The Lord be glorified.” (R)

Gospel | Luke 7:1-10

The centurion’s humility probably lit the desire within Jesus’ heart to heal his servant. Humility is something that attracts God to us. Let us grow in humility, so we may experience His presence each day. This is difficult because society tells us that the humble are weak and exploited. Sadly, humility is not respected and valued in the way it should be.

Gospel Acclamation

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

¹ When Jesus had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. ² A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. ³ When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. ⁴ They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, ⁵ for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.” ⁶ And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. ⁷ Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. ⁸ For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” ⁹ When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” ¹⁰ When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

Everybody Is Somebody

I was a young priest then and had newly arrived in the parish. A lady who was busy talking on the phone asked, “How much is a special baptism?” I said, “We have no special baptism here, we do baptisms in common.” She dismissed my answer, “No, I don’t want that. Call the priest.” So I went inside my office, wore my cassock, and said, “As I said, Ma’m, we don’t have special baptisms here.” Red-faced, the lady said, “Sorry, why didn’t you tell me you’re the priest?”

In the Gospel today, a centurion, a good benefactor to the Jewish locals, sent some friends to Jesus to ask Him to heal his servant who was near death. We know the rest of the story. Along the way, the centurion sent friends to tell Jesus He need not even go to his house, for only a word from Him can already heal his servant. Jesus was amazed upon hearing this and when the messengers got back, they found the centurion’s servant fully restored to health.

We can understand the Roman centurion’s deference to Jesus’ authority. Jesus was a religious teacher who was gaining popularity for His wisdom and miraculous powers. People gathered around Him everywhere He went and they held on to His every teaching. The centurion’s statement, “I am also a man of authority myself,” indicated his esteem for the authority of Jesus. But for a servant?

Here we have a high-ranking Roman official caring for his servant. Slaves were still common during the time of Jesus. They could easily be bought for a price. When they underperform or did not meet the fancy of their masters, they could easily be dismissed or replaced and sold back to the market. The centurion could have just replaced the servant with another one and let him die. But no. The Gospel described the centurion as one who valued his servant highly.

The Roman centurion was clearly a man of sincere humility and had respect for others. He put no artificial value to ranks or positions. Whether in front of a religious rabbi or a servant slave, he valued persons as persons. His humility had no duplicity. In front of a “somebody” and a “nobody,” he showed the respect fitting for a person, unlike the lady in our opening story. Fr. Joel O. Jason

reflection question

Observe yourself in front of “nobodys” and “somebodys.” Are you the same person?

Today and every day, help me to honor You, O God, in every person that I meet. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________________________