Do you know that sailboats can sail against the wind? If the wind pushes the sailboat toward the direction it wants to go to, that’s great. But what if the wind goes the opposite way? With a maneuver called tacking, a sailboat can adjust its sails and move in a zigzag fashion, moving toward the wind.

You are a sailboat. The circumstances happening around you are the wind. Your words are your sails. You can’t control the wind. You can’t control your circumstances—the economy, your boss, your husband, the president of the country, your mother-in-law. But you can control your words. And just like adjusting the sails of a sailboat, by the power of your words, you can still move against the wind.

You may be facing a storm today, but instead of speaking about how terrible it is, speak about how God can deliver you through it. And He will.

Speak blessings. Speak healing. Speak about God’s Word of abundance and grace. Hold on to His promise. He will calm your every storm.  

Bo Sanchez (bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com

reflect

What words will you be saying today? Choose to speak beautiful words every day, and see how it will change your life.

Jesus, remind me that Your Word has power over my circumstances. 

Saint Joseph the Worker, pray for us.

First Reading | Acts 5:27-33 (or Genesis 1:26–2:3 or Colossians 3:14-15, 17, 23-24)

Let us remember the dignity that work gives to the human person. Through work, we share in the creative work of God, contributing our own genius and sweat to the heritage we leave behind for future generations. Let us pray for our government to take responsibility in providing work for all citizens.

²⁷ When the court officers had brought the Apostles in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, ²⁸ “We gave you strict orders did we not to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.” ²⁹ But Peter and the Apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. ³¹ God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. ³² We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” ³³ When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 34:2, 9, 17-18, 19-20 (or Psalm 90:2, 3-4, 12-13, 14, 16)

R: The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

² I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. ⁹ Taste and see how good the Lord is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him. (R) ¹⁷ The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. ¹⁸ When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. (R) ¹⁹ The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. ²⁰ Many are the troubles of the just man, but out of them all the Lord delivers him. (R) 

Gospel | John 3:31-36 (or Matthew 13:54-58)

Certain choices in life are binary in nature: Will we choose the way of the Holy Spirit or the way of the flesh? Living under the grace of the Holy Spirit means a disciplined way of life: to reject the attractions and lies of the world in favor of the promises and graces of the Holy Spirit. It is not easy to remain disciplined in the face of temptation day in and day out. Developing good habits is more difficult and time-consuming than falling into bad habits.

Gospel Acclamation

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe!

³¹ The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. ³² He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. ³³ Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. ³⁴ For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. ³⁵ The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. ³⁶ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.

Reflect:

What about the nature of God remains a mystery to you? 

What more do you wish to know about Him?

Read the Bible in one year! Read DEUTERONOMY 4 - 7 today.

Daily Witnessing 

To defy human rulers and to obey our divine ruler instead is the central teaching of today’s reading from Acts. In the passage, we see the disciples’ faith in Jesus when they were confronted and ordered by the Sanhedrin to stop preaching about Him. The Apostles stood their ground and explained that they must obey God rather than men. Peter and the Apostles believed that in defying unjust human laws, they were obeying God’s higher law. Hence, the disciples continued to bring the message of the Lord’s life, death, and resurrection to the people of Jerusalem and elsewhere.

“We must obey God rather than men.” These words of Peter and the Apostles remind me of Thomas More in England who refused to recognize King Henry VIII as head of the Church in England. “The king’s good servant but God’s 

first,” he said. For refusing to compromise his faith and integrity, he lost his life. For Thomas, there was no other choice but obedience to God rather than men. He is admired for his steadfast courage in putting his conscience above the demands of a secular authority. 

Down the ages, there have been many others like him who were martyred for their faith. Many Christians today languish in jails and camps for no other reason than being true to their faith convictions. We have to keep in mind that being a Christian entails a willingness to witness to one’s faith even when that means paying a price. 

Fr. Ricky Montañez, AA

reflection question

Are you a living, credible, and faithful witness of Jesus in our world?

Lord, help me to always strive to be an authentic witness of the Christian faith in my day-to-day living. Amen.

 Today, I pray for. ________________________________