We’ve all been through days when all we wanted to do was go home, lie down, curl up in bed, and sleep. But that restful conclusion doesn’t always happen. I close my eyes but my mind wanders to things left undone and an endless todo list for the next day. Plus the bouts of worry and fear over people and situations that I can’t change. Then I’d be frustrated because four hours have been wasted trying to sleep.

Today’s First Reading is a beautiful reminder to trust that  God’s power and our efforts work together. Even Moses grew tired of holding his arms up for the Israelites to win the war, but God didn’t leave him to do it alone. 

When you get too tired, God will also send His graces through reliable people who can help you. When you’ve done your part, be still and give God space to move. So yes, you have all the permission to be still and rest, because when we’re drained and exhausted, it’s easier to let fear guide our actions instead of trust. And just like the Israelites, you’ll see victory because God is holding you all along.

Ruby Albino (r_jean07@yahoo.com)

reflect

It’s another day to get moving, but it’s another opportunity to let God move with you. Before you go to bed tonight, acknowledge all your efforts and surrender all your worries in prayer.

Lord, the things I have to face are greater than my strength. Help me rest in You and place my cares in Your capable hands. Amen.

Saint Isaac Jogues and companions, pray for us.

First Reading | Exodus 17:8-13

Today’s reading teaches us about this saying: “United we stand; divided we fall.” The life of a disciple is a constant battle against sin, one that we should take seriously. The challenges we face in a world that is hostile to the Gospel will overcome us unless we work together and support one another in our faith. Jesus called disciples to help Him in His mission. So, let us also work with one another in our missions.

⁸ In those days, Amalek came and waged war against Israel. ⁹ Moses, therefore, said to Joshua, “Pick out certain men, and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle. I will be standing on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” ¹⁰ So Joshua did as Moses told him: he engaged Amalek in battle after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur. ¹¹ As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight. ¹² Moses’ hands, however, grew tired; so they put a rock in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset. ¹³ And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

R: Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

¹ I lift up my eyes toward the mountains; whence shall help come to me? ² My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (R) ³ May he not suffer your foot to slip; may he slumber not who guards you: ⁴ Indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps, the guardian of Israel. (R) ⁵ The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your shade; he is beside you at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. (R) ⁷ The Lord will guard you from all evil; he will guard your life. ⁸ The Lord will guard your coming and your going, both now and forever. (R)

Second Reading | 2 Timothy 3:14–4:2

Paul affirms the central role of the Scriptures in the life of the Church. However, let us remember that the Scriptures are the result of the tradition of the Church—the Holy Spirit working through the bishops to determine what writings are canonical and what are not. The Protestants’ claim of Sola Scriptura tends to overlook this fact and thus fails to recognize the true history of the Scriptures. It is only when the Scriptures work within the tradition of the Church that they become what they are meant to be for the people of God.

¹⁴ Beloved: Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, ¹⁵ and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. ^4:1  I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: ² proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.

Gospel | Luke 18:1-8

If perseverance can change the attitude of a human judge, how much more could it win over the heart of God who is all merciful and just? The story in today’s Gospel seems to have moral right on its side. God does not have to be convinced of the truth as He is the truth Himself. If what we ask is according to the truth, which is God’s will for us, then it will be forthcoming. Maybe His timing differs from ours, yet He will be faithful to His nature; He will always respond to the truth.

Gospel Acclamation

The word of God is living and effective, discerning reflections and thoughts of the heart.

¹ Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, ² “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. ³ And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ ⁴ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, ⁵ because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’” ⁶ The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. ⁷ Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? ⁸ I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Read the Bible in one year! Read HAGGAI 1 - 2 today.

Mirisi!

I have always found it amusing that there are words in Cebu that many consider as Visayan but, on closer look, are really corrupt Spanish words. Some are pretty obvious, like “guapa” and “limpio.” But others are not immediately obvious. One of them is “mir isi,” which, in contemporary social media lingo, would be translated as “dasurv!” A dynamic translation in my time’s lingo would be something like, “Beh, buti nga!” “You deserve it, so live with it!” “Merece!” “You heaped it on yourself!” “So, deal with it!”

This is the funny image that runs through my mind as I reflect on today’s Gospel. Picture a feisty old widow pushing a “kariton” around the metropolis who accosts and takes to task a judge, who pesters the poor servant of the law to come to her side and defend her against her adversaries.

The woman is not about to let go of her rights and what she thinks she deserves that easily. She pesters. She persists. She perseveres. And the judge, for sheer exasperation, relents just to avoid getting a black eye. The judge ends up deciding in her favor, on account of her persistence and hope. Mirisi! She deserves it. Let her have it! What a funny but convincing lesson on persistent prayer and hope. It works wonders! It brings results!

We do not deserve anything. Everything we think we deserve is ours—not to claim, but to receive. Everything is gift. But prayer is a good thing, not for the giver, but for the pray-er. That is you and me.

Persistent prayer is all about doing what God deserves, for the simple reason that without us earning it by our own merits, He has decided to give to us  freely. Will we be found faithful and persistent? 

Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

reflection questions

How persistent are you in praying for something that you think you deserve? How has God responded? 

Thank You, Lord, for everything that You have blessed me with. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________________