Driving to a prayer gathering, we encountered an elderly man slumped on the sidewalk. We were pressed for time so we initially drove past him. But a nagging conscience compelled us to return. He was hungry and needed medical attention. Despite our anxiety, we took him to his impoverished home.

This experience resonated deeply with the Gospel reading for today. Jesus challenged the Pharisees’ rigid observance of the Sabbath, prioritizing human need over religious rules. Similarly, our initial focus was on attending the gathering, a ritual of sorts. Yet responding to the man’s suffering proved a more profound act of worship.

Just as the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, our spiritual journey should be centered on compassion and service. This encounter reminded me that true spiritual renewal often arises from unexpected encounters and acts of selfless love. God’s presence is found in the faces of the most vulnerable among us. 

Hermie Morelos (hrm9224@gmail.com)

reflect

How often do you find yourself prioritizing your own schedules and plans over the needs of those around you? What steps can you take to be more attentive to the suffering of others?

Lord, may I see You in the faces of the poor and respond with compassion, knowing that in serving others, I serve You. Amen.

Saint Sebastian, martyr, pray for us.

Leadership must continue even when it is hard to let go of the current leader. The people need a leader who will lead them to the right path. God urges Samuel to leave Saul in the past and look to the future. Likewise, we need to learn from our past mistakes and successes, and apply that wisdom to the future. As we seek to bring the Gospel to our rapidly changing world, let us not be afraid to innovate and take calculated risks as we adapt to the ever-evolving culture of our society.

¹ The Lord said to Samuel: “How long will you grieve for Saul, whom I have rejected as king of Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.” ² But Samuel replied: “How can I go? Saul will hear of it and kill me.” To this the Lord answered: “Take a heifer along and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I myself will tell you what to do; you are to anoint for me the one I point out to you.” ⁴ Samuel did as the Lord had commanded him. When he entered Bethlehem, the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and inquired, “Is your visit peaceful, O seer?” ⁵ He replied: “Yes! I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. So cleanse yourselves and join me today for the banquet.” He also had Jesse and his sons cleanse themselves and invited them to the sacrifice. ⁶ As they came, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is here before him.” ⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel: “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because he sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.” ⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him before Samuel, who said, “The Lord has not chosen him.” ⁹ Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” ¹⁰ In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any one of these.” ¹¹ Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.” ¹² Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance. The Lord said, “There—anoint him, for this is he!” ¹³ Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David. When Samuel took his leave, he went to Ramah.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 89:20, 21-22, 27-28

R: I have found David, my servant.

²⁰ Once you spoke in a vision, and to your faithful ones you said: “On a champion I have placed a crown; over the people I have set a youth.” (R) ²¹ “I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him, ²² that my hand may be always with him, and that my arm may make him strong.” (R) ²⁷ “He shall say of me, ‘You are my father, my God, the rock, my savior.’ ²⁸ And I will make him the first-born, highest of the kings of the earth.” (R)

Gospel | Mark 2:23-28

The Law should be at the service of the people. It should be reasonable, or else it will be rightly rejected by those it is meant to govern. It is sensible for the priests to have their needs provided by the people, or else how can they survive? Hence, there are food offerings reserved for the priests. However, a hungry person also has a right to the food. If there is food available, what right does anyone have to prevent a hungry person from eating it?

Gospel Acclamation

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call.

²³ As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. ²⁴ At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” ²⁵ He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? ²⁶ How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?” ²⁷ Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. ²⁸ That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read LUKE 13 - 16 today.

How can you preach to people whose stomachs are empty?

This question often comes from advocates of practical theology, which sometimes connects with socio-political ideas. They believe that the Church’s role is not only to proclaim God’s Word but also to free people from all kinds of poverty and oppression. This makes sense because the soul and the body cannot be separated. So, the Church should care not only for spiritual needs but also for material needs whenever possible.

The Pharisees, in their strict observance of the law, often overlooked the basic needs of the people. They focused on obeying rules rather than understanding the spirit behind them. Following God’s commands is important, but what truly honors God is living fully—mind, body, and soul. As Saint Irenaeus said, “The glory of God is man fully alive.”

We must keep a balance in our lives. Prayer is important, but so is choosing the right food. Charity and love for others are vital, but so is taking care of ourselves. Serving God through worship is essential, yet rest and self-care are equally important. God didn’t create us to be slaves to hardship. Jesus taught self-denial, but not at the expense of our well-being. Our life is a gift that should be cherished, not wasted.

Last Christmas, many gave food and aid to those in need, addressing physical needs. But how many also took the time to teach the faith, study the Bible, comfort the grieving, or listen to those in trouble? These spiritual needs are just as important. The Church calls us to practice both corporal and spiritual works of mercy, caring for the whole person. Let us not look only to heaven and ignore the real suffering around us. As Saint John said, “If we don’t love the people we see, how can we love God whom we don’t see?” Caring for both body and soul is a way to honor God. 

Fr. Franz Dizon

reflection question

How do you balance caring for your body and soul in your daily life?

Lord, my life is a precious gift from You. Help me to honor and take care of myself, and to genuinely look after the well-being of others—both in body and spirit. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ________________________________________-