“Start Your Impossible” goes the latest ad campaign of a worldrenowned car company. And start the impossible I did when I became a specialist in the Government Affairs Division of our company. I had zero knowledge when I took on the job and was unsure if I could pull it off. I was blessed to have not only a boss but a mentor. “I’ll teach you all you need to know,” he said.

Like a mentor, Jesus teaches me all that I need to know to do His will. Sifting through my mind, heart, and spirit, He prunes my overthinking, purifies my unruly desires, and equips me with the good I need to serve Him and others. Unknown to me, I am being changed by His Spirit working within me.

What I thought was my impossible—conversion—Jesus has started. And what He has begun in me, He will bring to completion (Philippians 1:6). He will never quit on me until I become more like Him. 

Dina Pecaña (dina.p@shepherdsvoice.com.ph)

reflect

Who is your mentor? How has your mentor helped you change for the better?

Holy Spirit, my mentor and guide, teach me through Scripture what I need to do to be more like Jesus, my Lord. Amen.

Saint Ailbhe, pray for us.

First Reading | 1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-14 

Paul often begins his letters with an introduction of himself as an Apostle and servant of the Lord. We, too, should be confident of our identity as sons and daughters of God. This is our great dignity and privilege. According to St. John the Beloved, this demonstrates God’s great love for us—that we are called His children. Let us walk tall and live in the wonder and joy of this great gift.

¹ Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, ² to Timothy, my true child in faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. ¹³ I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief. 14 Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 11

R: You are my inheritance, O Lord. 

¹ Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; ² I say to the Lord, “My Lord are you.” ⁵ O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. (R) ⁷ I bless the Lord who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. ⁸ I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. (R) ¹¹ You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. (R)

Gospel | Luke 6:39-42

In this parable and teaching, Jesus points out a common human defense mechanism: finding fault in others to cover up our own faults. It is easy to criticize others, especially those in authority over us. But let us support, pray for, and encourage them instead so they can do a better job. In that way, we will all benefit and progress in our faith journey and discipleship. 

Gospel Acclamation

Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth.

³⁹ Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? ⁴⁰ No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. ⁴¹ Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? ⁴² How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

Reflect:

How do you treat those in authority over you? 

Do you respect and encourage them?

Read the Bible in one year! Read JEREMIAH 43 - 46 today.

Holy POV

Our readings today, plus the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, invite us to have a divine POV (point of view) that will motivate us in life. Jesus asks us today to take off the wooden beam in our eyes instead of seeing the splinters in another person’s eyes. He assures us of His infinite grace that we simply have to grab and put into effect by admitting our sinfulness. When we confess our sins, the splinters and beams are removed from our eyes and we are able to see everything clearly and realize how lovely it is to be alive despite the many difficulties that come our way. This is because of Christ’s dying on the cross for our sins.

Now, imagine that His cross was also a wooden beam, only larger and heavier because it was the sum of all of our wooden beams blinding us with sin. It was through Christ’s cross that the splinters and beams in our eyes were removed as attested by Saint Paul to Timothy (see 1 Timothy 1:13-14).

The very first to have this divine POV of Jesus was Mary, His Mother, whose feast we celebrate today. It is an old Marian feast dating back to 1684 but removed from our liturgical calendar by Vatican II in 1967. St. John Paul II restored it in 2002 so we may develop a devotion to Mary by invoking the graces God bestowed upon her in being the Mother of Jesus. She was chosen as such not because of her special qualities but primarily due to the goodness of God. The same is true with us, that despite our sinfulness and weaknesses, God loves us so much and calls us to be like Mary in bringing Jesus to the world. 

Fr. Nick Lalog

reflection question

What beams cover your eyes that prevent you from seeing your blessedness?

Mother Mary, open my eyes and heart in order to admit my weaknesses and sins so that I may see Jesus better and so follow Him closely each day. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ________________________________