Allow me to do two things to you: First, let me pinch you with the painful truth. Life is tough.

And the Christian life is even tougher.

In this journey called life, we will face blessings and battles, pain and peace, victories and valleys.

Jesus, instead of promising to remove troubles from our lives, promises to give peace and comfort in the midst of trials.

Now, let me warm your heart with hope. Every problem has an expiry date.

Though your problems are lasting, they are not everlasting.

Believe that your condition is not your conclusion.

We are called to take heart, not in our own abilities, or in the situation we are in, but in the finished work of Jesus.

Jesus has already won.

And so will you.

So take heart. Arun Gogna (gognuts@yahoo.com)

reflect

A Christ follower who never experienced affliction is like a soldier on parade.

Thank You, Lord, for offering me peace in the midst of trials. Amen.

Saints Marcellinus and Peter, martyrs, pray for us.

As a church, we sometimes forget about the Holy Spirit. We create programs and set up structures according to human wisdom, hindering the Holy Spirit from being the power behind the Gospel message. There are many things we can learn about the dynamics within groups or communities. But nothing beats seeing the power of the Holy Spirit come upon a group and do His stuff. It is addictive to see and experience the Spirit of God at work.

¹ While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior of the country and down to Ephesus where he found some disciples. ² He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They answered him, “We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” ³ He said, “How were you baptized?” They replied, “With the baptism of John.” ⁴ Paul then said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” ⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. ⁷ Altogether there were about twelve men. ⁸ He entered the synagogue, and for three months debated boldly with persuasive arguments about the Kingdom of God.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 68:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R: Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

² God arises; his enemies are scattered, and those who hate him flee before him. ³ As smoke is driven away, so are they driven; as wax melts before the fire. (R) ⁴ But the just rejoice and exult before God; they are glad and rejoice. 5 Sing to God, chant praise to his name, whose name is the Lord. (R) ⁶ The father of orphans and the defender of widows is God in his holy dwelling. ⁷ God gives a home to the forsaken; he leads forth prisoners to prosperity. (R)

Gospel | John 16:29-33

All the good intentions in the world cannot change anything. We will only know how effective our ministry is when we run up against difficulties and sufferings. Through this, we will discover whether or not we surrendered completely to God’s will to see us through trials. Veteran soldiers talk about the baptism of fire they undergo in their first battle. Many of them fail and become instant fodder for enemy guns because they cannot handle the stress.

Gospel Acclamation

If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

²⁹ The disciples said to Jesus, “Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. ³⁰ Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.” ³¹ Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? ³² Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. ³³ I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read 2 SAMUEL 17 - 20 today.

Being alone and feeling alone have always been seen as negative. Being surrounded by others who care, on the other hand, is considered positive. This may well be the reason we Filipinos value the family so much. Family-centeredness has been credited as among the highest-ranked values for the Filipino society.

The family has even been seen as the lifeline and lifesaver from many overseas Filipino workers all over the world.

Truth to tell, many Filipinos live “alone” where they work in more than 130 countries. But on account of the Filipinos’ propensity to gather together regularly during days off, or to live together in cramped apartment houses everywhere, one can always say that Filipinos, at any given time, are never alone.

Through the use of Zoom, Facetime, or Facebook, we can say that despite the distance, the knowledge that one’s family is just a text or a video chat away is enough to lift up one’s sagging spirits or encourage someone who may be feeling down.

Distance, for many of us, did not mean the demise of a warm and intimate relationship.

Today’s Gospel passage sounds very familiar to many of us, if not for all.

The Ascension of the Lord took Him away from our physical sight. But like many of us who were separated from kith and kin in order to work abroad, we kind of “left Him alone,” too, to live in cultures that are very far from being Christian. We felt alone, too, in many ways. Many of us even felt troubled by the distance and the strangeness of the cultures that welcomed us. A great many even had to face real stories of broken relationships.

I know I am not alone in finding solace and comfort in the Lord’s words today. “In the world, you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

reflection questions

Where do you find your comfort?

Strengthen me, O Lord, and encourage me, in times when I feel most alone. Remind me that You are always with me. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _____________________________________