I have a heart condition. It’s not the usual stuff that bitter songwriters put in their lyrics. Mine is a coronary stent in an artery to keep blood flowing to the heart where there used to be a partial blockage. Seven years have passed since then. Occasionally, I still experience episodes of skipping heartbeats and thumping palpitations.

The key verse resonates deeply with me as I live with this condition. Yet, I refuse to surrender to despair. I proclaim boldly that my God is bigger than any illness. Instead of dwelling on my suffering, I fix my gaze on His boundless power and promise of healing.

Each skipped heartbeat and each palpitation becomes a poignant reminder of God’s grace and love. In faith, I affirm His Word that brings complete healing. This shift in mindset transforms fear into hope, infusing me with courage and resilience. I cling to the comforting truth that God’s grace is more than sufficient for me. 

So I carry on with  faith, trusting that with every heartbeat, God restores me. 

Rene Espinosa (coffeewriter@coffeecupreflections.com)

reflect

Every beat of the heart is a constant reminder of God’s presence.

Lord, help me to never be blinded by the pain and suffering of this world that I lose sight of Your abundant grace and healing touch.

St. John Francis Regis, pray for us.

Do not neglect the grace of God that you have received. It is important for us to heed this advice as disciples of Jesus. Isn’t it frustrating to watch someone waste a gift that was given to them, especially if you are the giver? If this is how we feel about wasting gifts and talents, then how much more will God be disappointed?

¹ Brothers and sisters: As your fellow workers, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ² For he says: In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. ³ We cause no one to stumble in anything, in order that no fault may be found with our ministry; ⁴ on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God, through much endurance, in afflictions, hardships, constraints, ⁵ beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, vigils, fasts; ⁶ by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, in a Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, ⁷ in truthful speech, in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left;  ⁸ through glory and dishonor, insult and praise. We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful; ⁹ as unrecognized and yet acknowledged; as dying and behold we live; as chastised and yet not put to death; ¹⁰ as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things.  

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 98:1, 2, 3, 3-4

R: The Lord has made known his salvation.

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) ² In the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. ³ He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. (R) All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. ⁴ Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. (R)

Gospel | Matthew 5:38-42

Jesus teaches in today’s Gospel that revenge is never an option for Christians. When someone sins against us, we are obliged to forgive them and put aside any thoughts of getting even. However, this does not mean that we allow them to trample over us again and again. We will lose trust in a person who sins against us, but forgiving that person also means we try to rehabilitate the relationship. 

Gospel Acclamation

A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path.

³⁸ Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. ³⁹ But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. ⁴⁰ If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. ⁴¹ Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.” 

Read the Bible in one year! Read 2 KINGS 10 - 12 today.

When I was in the midst of fundraising for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (internationally known as Haiyan), I also went to Bohol to do relief work for the victims of the earthquake that occurred a month or so before the typhoon. I was incredibly moved to see how the victims of the earthquake were gathering—from among their remaining meager possessions—an offering for Yolanda victims. If there was a better example of the widow’s mite than what they showed, then I have not come across it.

There is never an excuse not to be generous when it comes to our faith and our love of God and other people. It is a truism to say that there is always someone else who is worse off than you are, but it is true indeed. It all depends on our point of view. If we realize how generous God has been with us, then we will never tire of giving to others. Let us stretch our capacity in giving so that we can witness the greater provision the Lord has for our lives. This might seem to be splitting hairs, but our attitude matters when we give. If we give with joy, as advocated by Paul in his Letter to the Corinthians, it is far better, infinitely better, than giving begrudgingly.

Saint Paul’s exhortation is expressing the truest response of gratitude to all that we have freely received from God. Let us be faithful to his words. 

Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

reflection questions

Are you a cheerful giver, or do you give while being full of regret? Are you willing to change your attitude so that you might better reflect true gratitude to the Lord for His goodness to you?

Jesus, You have given Your life for me! May I always be willing to express my gratitude for Your love, mercy, and blessings by freely giving myself and all that I have in the service of the Gospel.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________