I felt an undercurrent of rage running through my veins. I was one push away from exploding, but I had to keep it together. Since we opened the café, I’ve had to deal with different people, including angry ones. I’d always do my best to diffuse the situation, but this one was so terribly entitled and out of bounds, I couldn’t keep my temper any longer.

It was hard for me to stay calm. I’m on maintenance meds for anxiety and depression, and one of my triggers is anger. I don’t know how, but I managed to keep quiet and apologize, even if I knew I was right. I went back to the office, cried, and prayed until I calmed down.

It’s hard to let go of insults and slights. But sometimes, the consequences of fighting fire with fire outweigh the satisfaction of being right.

When we are in tough situations, let’s find the cracks in our spirit—and use those cracks as openings for God’s grace to flow through. 

Karren Renz P. Seña (karren.sena@gmail.com)

reflect

If you were given the chance to get back at the person who hurt you, would you take advantage of it, or will you, like David, channel God’s grace and trust that He will take care of the situation in ways you cannot?

Lord, I am angry and hurt. But I offer these pains to You, knowing that in Your loving hands, I will be at peace. Amen.

St. Marianne Cope, pray for us.

Saul’s envy sets him on the war path. He is out to kill David. It's unfortunate how Saul allowed his feelings to cloud his judgment. After all, it was David who had caused the defeat of the Philistines. Envy, jealousy, and revenge are all classic and destructive responses of sin. They will never solve any problem. In fact, these will only make matters worse.

³ Saul took three thousand picked men from all Israel and went in search of David and his men in the direction of the wild goat crags. ⁴ When he came to the sheepfolds along the way, he found a cave, which he entered to relieve himself. David and his men were occupying the inmost recesses of the cave. ⁵ David’s servants said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘I will deliver your enemy into your grasp; do with him as you see fit.’” So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul’s mantle. ⁶ Afterward, however, David regretted that he had cut off an end of Saul’s mantle. ⁷ He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, as to lay a hand on him, for he is the Lord’s anointed.” ⁸ With these words David restrained his men and would not permit them to attack Saul. Saul then left the cave and went on his way. ⁹ David also stepped out of the cave, calling to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked back, David bowed to the ground in homage ¹⁰ and asked Saul: “Why do you listen to those who say, ‘David is trying to harm you’? ¹¹ You see for yourself today that the Lord just now delivered you into my grasp in the cave. I had some thought of killing you, but I took pity on you instead. I decided, ‘I will not raise a hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed and a father to me.’ ¹² Look here at this end of your mantle which I hold. Since I cut off an end of your mantle and did not kill you, see and be convinced that I plan no harm and no rebellion. I have done you no wrong, though you are hunting me down to take my life. ¹³ The Lord will judge between me and you, and the Lord will exact justice from you in my case. I shall not touch you. ¹⁴ The old proverb says, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness.’ So I will take no action against you. ¹⁵ Against whom are you on campaign, O king of Israel? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, or a single flea! ¹⁶ The Lord will be the judge; he will decide between me and you. May he see this, and take my part, and grant me justice beyond your reach!” ¹⁷ When David finished saying these things to Saul, Saul answered, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And Saul wept aloud. ¹⁸ Saul then said to David: “You are in the right rather than I; you have treated me generously, while I have done you harm. ¹⁹ Great is the generosity you showed me today, when the Lord delivered me into your grasp and you did not kill me. ²⁰ For if a man meets his enemy, does he send him away unharmed? May the Lord reward you generously for what you have done this day. ²¹ And now, since I know that you shall surely be king and that sovereignty over Israel shall come into your possession.”

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 57:2, 3-4, 6, 11

R: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

² Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. In the shadow of your wings, I take refuge till harm pass by. (R) ³ I call to God the Most High, to God, my benefactor. ⁴ May he send from heaven and save me; may he make those a reproach who trample upon me; may God send his mercy and his faithfulness. (R) ⁶ Be exalted above the heavens, O God; above all the earth be your glory! ¹¹ For your mercy towers to the heavens, and your faithfulness to the skies. (R)

Gospel | Mark 3:13-19

Jesus needs help with accomplishing the task of preaching the Gospel to the whole world. The Apostles, the seventy-two, His followers, and ultimately, all the baptized are incorporated into His plan of bringing the Gospel to the ends of the earth. That includes you and me; we cannot leave the Gospel proclamation to just a few. We all need to do our part in living and proclaiming it to the world.

Gospel Acclamation

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

¹³ Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. ¹⁴ He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach ¹⁵ and to have authority to drive out demons: ¹⁶ He appointed the twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; ¹⁷ James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; ¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

Reflect

What task has the Lord called you to do in proclaiming the Good News? How are you doing so far?

Read the Bible in one year! Read ACTS 1 - 4 today.

In today’s Gospel, we hear how Jesus chose twelve disciples from the many who followed Him. As His popularity grew through His healings and miracles, He selected twelve to continue His mission. But why only twelve? Doesn’t Jesus treat all His followers equally? Is this favoritism?

We must remember that Jesus spent the entire night praying before choosing these twelve. This shows that His decision was deliberate and guided by divine wisdom, not impulse. We may never fully understand why these particular men were chosen—after all, Judas, who would later betray Jesus, was among them. The choice remains a mystery known only to God the Father and Jesus. What matters is that God’s selection is not about exclusivity but about trust and love.

Jesus called the Twelve to share intimately in His life—not just to follow Him publicly, but to be close to Him in private moments as well. Their deep relationship with Jesus became the foundation for their mission to serve others. Without this personal bond, their work would lack true meaning.

Being chosen was not a privilege to boast about but a responsibility to serve humbly. Jesus taught them that greatness in His Kingdom means becoming servants to all. The task is challenging and demands constant effort. We, too, are among God’s chosen. Through baptism, we receive the mission to carry on Jesus’ work. Like the Apostles, we are called into a personal relationship with Him, which must ground all our service. Though we may feel unworthy, God trusts and loves us. Out of all the world’s people, we are chosen.

Our bishops, priests, and deacons share in continuing the Church’s mission by administering the sacraments. Their calling, too, is a gift and a mystery. Let us pray for one another, that we may remain faithful in fulfilling God’s mission entrusted to us. 

Fr. Franz Dizon

reflection question

How are you responding to God’s call in your life, and in what ways are you nurturing a deeper relationship with Jesus to faithfully carry out the mission entrusted to you?

Though we may feel unworthy, You have called and chosen us, Lord. Teach us to always remain faithful to You so that our bond with You may grow ever stronger. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ________________________________________