Back in grade school, we were told to write a speech to recite in class at the school auditorium. When the day finally came, everyone sat on the cold floor in front of a stage where a podium stood. We were instructed to stand there as we recited our speech. The whole thing was blurry—all I remember was I talked about Percy Jackson and my classmates told me, “We could barely hear you.” 

Right there and then, I knew I don’t have a knack for public speaking, preaching on stage, or approaching strangers on the streets with a Bible in hand. 

To us, evangelism is using our voice. But we’re also called to use our other gifts—to write, draw, sing, dance, cook, and so much more! 

So, the next time you’re told to share the Good News, God may not expect you to speak. He wants you to use the skills, talents, and gifts He has given you. Gemma Casimsiman (gemmacasimsiman@gmail.com)

Reflect:

How has God called you to share the Good News?

Father, You have blessed me with abilities I didn’t know were possible. Thank You for trusting me to bless other people through these gifts. I pray to use them to love and share the Good News to others. Amen. 

Saint Cecilia, pray for us.

Sin entices us with its sweet taste, but it shocks us afterwards because of the bad aftertaste it leaves in our lives. Sin can be tempting to look at from the outside. However, its lasting effect is death and separation from God. We should avoid tasting even the smallest part of this temptation to sin because it would lead us to devour a larger portion and endanger our salvation.

⁸ I, John, heard a voice from heaven speak to me. Then the voice spoke to me and said: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” ⁹ So I went up to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. He said to me, “Take and swallow it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.” ¹⁰ I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and swallowed it. In my mouth it was like sweet honey, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. ¹¹ Then someone said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131

R: How sweet to my taste is your promise!

¹⁴ In the way of your decrees I rejoice, as much as in all riches. (R) ²⁴ Yes, your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors. (R) ⁷² The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces. (R) ¹⁰³ How sweet to my palate are your promises, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (R) ¹¹¹ Your decrees are my inheritance forever; the joy of my heart they are. (R) ¹³¹ I gasp with open mouth in my yearning for your commands. (R)

Gospel | Luke 19:45-48

Let us always respect the holy things of God. Let us avoid using holy things in profane activities. One way we sin in this area is with our jokes. It is easy to make fun of holy people or holy actions. Let us respect and honor them instead of making jokes about them and ridiculing them.

Gospel Acclamation

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

⁴⁵ Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, 46 saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” ⁴⁷ And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, 48 but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

Read the Bible in one year! Read ROMANS 5 - 8 today.

Jesus was angered by what He saw in the temple area. Sin was obviously happening right where prayer and holiness were expected to abound. As a result, Jesus drove them away and reminded everyone that the temple, a holy place, should be respected.

We believe in God’s omnipresence and we can communicate with Him wherever we are, but designated places for worship must be respected and treated as such. In the temple was the Holy of Holies, the equivalent of the tabernacle today. It is believed to be the place where God is present, reveals Himself, and communicates His message to His people. In the same way, we have the consecrated host—the Body of Christ—in the tabernacle. Once we are inside the church, we adopt a reverent position and attitude before Jesus’ presence in the tabernacle. We make the Sign of the Cross and genuflect or bow. In prayer, we kneel or sit in silence, at times, with our head bowed. We are in God’s dwelling place. He is present. We give respect and behave accordingly.

Admittedly, a lot of our churches today have lost their solemnity, reverence, and sacred atmosphere. Commercial activities around them are prevalent. Decorum inside the church is found wanting. Is it because of ignorance? Or is it due to familiarity? Maybe too much secularity? Nevertheless, the ignorant must be educated, the familiar should be reminded, and the secular be sanctified. God may not mind it, but we need to exhibit reverence for our own sake. It is always best to be humble before God, more so in places of worship like churches.

Each church was once dedicated to God for the worship of the community. As much as possible, activities other than worship must be held somewhere. There has been a lot of disrespect committed in the guise of “pastoral” reasons. Balance is not what we look for here. The church is a house of prayer. It must always be available for anyone who wants to pray. It should always provide the proper ambiance, look, and serenity apt for communing with God. Fr. Benny Tuazon

Reflection Question:

How do you behave when you are in church? What can you suggest to maintain reverence in churches today?

I am sorry, Lord, if I have unknowingly disrespected Your dwelling place through my actions. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _________________________________