Lizelle (not her real name) is an only child who lives with her well-to-do parents, studies in a prestigious college, drives her own car, and enjoys the luxuries of life. She has a handsome boyfriend that her parents were not aware of. Her boyfriend lives with and provides for his mother and two siblings. He has not finished school. He has no savings. He relies on his well-to-do girlfriend to pay for their dates and gimmicks. 

Then Lizelle got pregnant! She was devastated and kept the pregnancy to herself. She also decided not to depend on her boyfriend. But her parents noticed she was getting bigger. After much prodding, she finally confessed to her mom on her fourth month. The parents took charge. They took her to the doctor for checkups, cared for her, and forgave her.

To date, Lizelle is a happy single mother, raising her daughter lovingly and responsibly. She’s also employed in a multinational company and earning well. Lizelle learned her lesson the hard way, but she is now stronger and wiser. Thanks to her parents who took charge of her. 

Sol Saura (sol_saura@yahoo.com)

reflect

Are you putting to good use the blessings you enjoy? 

Father, for the many times I take Your blessings for granted, disregard the guidance of the people who care for me, and ignore You—have mercy and forgive me. Amen.

St. Francis de Sales, bishop and Doctor of the Church, pray for us.

David refuses to dishonor Saul even though Saul intended to kill him. David sees no need to disparage the name of a king who had done his best to serve the people. Let us give others the benefit of the doubt when we are in conflict with them. There is always a way to preserve peace. However, it will require bigheartedness from both sides. Let us respect even those we are in conflict with and find the common ground necessary for true peace and cooperation. 

¹ David returned from his defeat of the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag. ² On the third day a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. Going to David, he fell to the ground in homage. ³ David asked him, “Where do you come from?” He replied, “I have escaped from the camp of the children of Israel.” ⁴ “Tell me what happened,” David bade him. He answered that many of the soldiers had fled the battle and that many of them had fallen and were dead, among them Saul and his son Jonathan. ¹¹ David seized his garments and rent them, and all the men who were with him did likewise. ¹² They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the soldiers of the Lord of the clans of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. ¹⁹ “Alas! the glory of Israel, Saul, slain upon your heights; how can the warriors have fallen! ²³ “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and cherished, separated neither in life nor in death, swifter than eagles, stronger than lions! ²⁴ Women of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and in finery, who decked your attire with ornaments of gold. ²⁵ “How can the warriors have fallen—in the thick of the battle, slain upon your heights! ²⁶ “I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother! Most dear have you been to me; more precious have I held love for you than love for women. ²⁷ “How can the warriors have fallen, the weapons of war have perished!”

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 80:2-3, 5-7

R: Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

² O shepherd of Israel, hearken, O guide of the flock of Joseph! From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth ³ before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Rouse your power, and come to save us. (R) ⁵ O Lord of hosts, how long will you burn with anger while your people pray? ⁶ You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in ample measure. ⁷ You have left us to be fought over by our neighbors, and our enemies mock us. (R)

Gospel | Mark 3:20-21

Jesus’ relatives and friends do not understand His identity as the Messiah. They are not trying to thwart God’s plans, but they find it impossible to believe that one of their own should have such a prominent role in the new movement of renewal and spiritual reform. There were no signs of such a future when they played with Jesus as children.

Gospel Acclamation

Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son.

²⁰ Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. ²¹ When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

Reflect

Do you believe Jesus is the Messiah who came to save us? Is there anything about Him you still find difficult to accept? 

Read the Bible in one year! Read ACTS 5 - 8 today.

Jesus once said that the Son of Man had nowhere to rest His head, implying He had no permanent home. Yet today’s Gospel tells us that He “came home.” Whether this was His parents’ house in Nazareth or His second home in Capernaum, the important thing is understanding what “coming home” means. It’s not just returning to a physical place but also finding rest after a long day’s work. Home is connected to peace and comfort. For many Filipinos working abroad, returning home is a deeply anticipated moment, full of joy and preparation.

Jesus and His disciples barely had time to eat because the crowds kept coming. This teaches us that responding to people’s needs has no fixed time or place. Service often comes knocking unexpectedly, and our hearts must always be ready to welcome it. Rest doesn’t mean doing nothing; it can be found even in busy work when it brings joy and fulfillment. “Coming home” can also mean feeling content and at peace with the work we do, just as Jesus did.

On the other hand, some people criticize Jesus. Some might have been relatives, neighbors, or acquaintances. Yet, these criticisms might also show concern. Perhaps they thought it was foolish to neglect oneself, like skipping meals, to care for others. 

The question remains—will they take this chance to ask Jesus about His mission, now that He is close to them? Why did Jesus say the Son of Man has nowhere to rest? Could it be that even when He returned home, He found no peace among His own family? Perhaps that is why He found true rest only in the presence of the Father. His times of prayer were His real homecoming. In this world, true rest and peace are never fully found because only God can give perfect rest—the ultimate “home” where we are meant to return. 

Fr. Franz Dizon

reflection questions

Do you also consider churches and places of prayer as “home”? Compared to moments of joy with family and friends, where do you find your deepest rest—in prayer or in celebration?

Lord, we come home to You, for You alone can truly heal the deepest weariness and sorrow in our hearts. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ________________________________________