I was enjoying my cup of coffee when I noticed the tagline printed on the cup. It said, “Nothing like (store brand name).” In Filipino, that translates to, “Wala kang katulad.” I believe that’s also what God says to you: “Nothing like you <insert your name here>!”

You may not believe it. But maybe that’s also how the Apostles felt until that day they first encountered Jesus. They were fishermen, tax collectors, or otherwise simple men. They weren’t learned, wealthy, or popular. Yet on that day, Luke 6:13 said that Jesus personally called and chose them.

You may be shocked by this truth. But in God’s eyes, you’re special too. He also calls you too. He chooses you!

So if you feel worthless or you think that you’re a failure, then look to God. Jesus looks back at you and tells you that there’s no one like you! 

Alvin Fabella (alvinfabella@yahoo.com)

reflect

You’re God’s child. Always remember that. You’re unique.

Lord, “You formed my inward parts, You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You for I am wondrously made. Wonderful are Your works! You know me right well” (Psalm 139:13-14).

St. Peter Claver, priest, pray for us.

In today’s reading, Saint Paul explains what Christ has accomplished for us through His death on the cross. Through the cross, we have been freed of our sins, circumcised in our hearts, and raised to new life. Satan’s power over us has also been broken. Hence, we live a new life by the power of the Holy Spirit and are not dominated by our sinful desires. Today, let us claim the power of the cross in our minds and hearts.

⁶ Brothers and sisters: As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, ⁷ rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. ⁸ See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily, ¹⁰ and you share in this fullness in him, who is the head of every principality and power. ¹¹ In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not administered by hand, by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ. ¹² You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. ¹³ And even when you were dead in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions; ¹⁴ obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims, which was opposed to us, he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross; ¹⁵ despoiling the principalities and the powers, he made a public spectacle of them, leading them away in triumph by it.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11

R: The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.

¹ I will extol you, O my God and King, and I will bless your name forever and ever. ² Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. (R) ⁸ The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. ⁹ The Lord is good to all and compassionate toward all his works. (R) ¹⁰ Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you. ¹¹ Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might. (R)

Gospel | Luke 6:12-19

Even though Jesus was God, He still lived a life with the limitations of human reality. Like us, He needed to spend time in prayer to seek the Father’s blessing and direction for His life. Here, we see Jesus doing an all-night vigil before He chooses the twelve Apostles. Like Him, we need to pray fervently before making any major life decisions and ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to make the right choice.

Gospel Acclamation

I chose you from the world, that you may go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.

¹² Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. ¹³ When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: ¹⁴ Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, ¹⁵ Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, ¹⁶ and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. ¹⁷ And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon ¹⁸ came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. ¹⁹ Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.

Reflect:

What major decision do you need to make at this stage in your life? 

Have you sought the Lord’s help about it?

Read the Bible in one year! Read JEREMIAH 31 - 34 today.

I find it amazing that even in this modern age of great technological advances, many people still thirst for God, yearn for Him, and search for Him. Many find themselves in moral dilemma amid the many issues of today, which is a good sign that they still have moral fiber. It shows that many people are still rooted in Jesus Christ.

How beautiful that, until now, Jesus continues to call us to be rooted in Him, to be one in Him. This is important, especially these days when new ideas and lifestyles are sprouting like mushrooms, made more appealing and seemingly true by social media. What is sinister is the way these new thoughts and lifestyles are presented as some kind of spirituality that could help us attain perfection and fulfillment.

As Saint Paul warned in our First Reading, “See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ.” This is the time for us to deepen our rootedness in Christ through prayer. We cannot do this on our own; we need others. We need a community of disciples to keep us strong and to prevent us from being uprooted in life and its realities. The Jesuit St. Peter Claver, whose memorial we celebrate today, showed this in his life as a missionary to the slaves in Africa, by championing the Gospel values of Christ about the dignity of every person. 

Fr. Nick Lalog

reflection questions

Have you entertained or tried any of these new ideas and philosophies that promise spiritual awakenings to enhance your person? Why? 

Help me, Lord Jesus, to remain rooted in You. You alone are the One who never goes out of style—always “in” in every situation and time because You dwell in each of us. You are truly “hip” because You are forever true. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________________