My husband and I attended a couples retreat where we met Obet Cabrillas. He invited us to attend The Feast at the Valle Verde Country Club. We didn’t know what it was or what happens there, but since we enjoyed the retreat, we decided to give it a try.

We were overwhelmed with the experience! There was Holy Mass, spirit-filled praise and worship, and inspirational talks. The people were so warm and loving. I don’t know where my husband and I would be today if we didn’t say yes to that invitation. I wish we had done it sooner!

I realized that there’s a lot more we can experience if we only give things a try.

Are there people in your family, at your work, or in your neighborhood who you think need to know the Lord? There is no better person to invite them than you and me. Let’s show them what it means to experience God’s love. Most importantly, let them experience God’s love through us first. For sure, they will come and see! Mia Bueno (buenos@yahoo.com)

Reflect:

 Invite someone to go with you to Holy Mass or to a community gathering. You just might be their biggest blessing today.

Father God, thank You for never giving up on us. Thank You for sending us people and circumstances that lead us to You. Help us to do the same for others too. Amen.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious, pray for us.

Sin is deceptive. It is a lie! Let us always remember this so we can recognize temptation and avoid it. If sin is a lie and temptation is something that tries to convince us of that lie, then we should always reject both temptation and sin.

 ⁷ Children, let no one deceive you. The person who acts in righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. ⁸ Whoever sins belongs to the devil, because the devil has sinned from the beginning. Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil. ⁹ No one who is begotten by God commits sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot sin because he is begotten by God. ¹⁰ In this way, the children of God and the children of the devil are made plain; no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone who does not love his brother.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 98:1, 7-8, 9

R: All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

¹ Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) ⁷ Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and those who dwell in it. ⁸ Let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout with them for joy before the Lord. (R) ⁹ The Lord comes; he comes to rule the earth; He will rule the world with justice and the peoples with equity. (R)

Gospel | John 1:35-42

If our hearts seek the right things, then Jesus’ response to John’s disciples is also true for us: “Come and see!” Jesus is the key to all our questions about the spiritual life. Let us focus on our Savior and follow Him as He leads us to the path of true fulfillment.

Gospel Acclamation

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets: in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.

³⁵ John was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶ and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” ³⁷ The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. ³⁸ Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” ³⁹ He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. ⁴⁰ Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. ⁴¹ He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah,” which is translated Christ. ⁴² Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas,” which is translated Peter.

Read the Bible in one year! Read LUKE 13 - 16 today.

In our seminary, one of the true marks of being embraced by the community is when you get your own nickname. This rite of passage often focuses on a special trait or a memorable moment associated with you. While a few of these names become meaningful over time, most will simply be outgrown or fade into obscurity.

Names and titles in the Bible, however, are a different story. They hold profound meaning, can be deeply prophetic, or mark milestones. Let us explore three such titles in today’s Gospel passage:

Lamb of God: When John the Baptist sees Jesus and exclaims, “Behold, the Lamb of God,” he’s pointing out that Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:36). This title links Jesus to the sacrificial lambs of the Old Testament, symbolizing His role in our salvation. This shows that the Son of God was always meant to save us through a complete, loving self-sacrifice.

Rabbi: When Jesus begins to gather His disciples, they call Him “Rabbi,” which means “Teacher” (John 1:38). This means that to follow Jesus is to be a disciple who learns through a constant, intimate relationship with the Master. It means Jesus is inviting His followers to walk with Him and learn along the way.

Cephas: From their first meeting, Jesus already gave Simon a new name. Cephas, or Peter, means “rock.” It shows that Jesus knew exactly who He was calling and for what purpose. The name change signifies Peter’s future role as a foundational leader in the Church, highlighting his strength and reliability.

The three titles give us meaningful advice on how to walk our unique vocation and calling: always as faithful and humble disciples of the One True Teacher, deeply trusting that God prepares and empowers everyone He calls, and embracing that the key to fulfilling any vocation is dying to oneself. Fr. Albert Garong, SSP

reflection question

How can you better understand and embrace your vocation as a child of God?

Lord, help me to embrace my identity as Your child and to live out the calling You have given me. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ____________________________________