My wife has been running her events company for over a decade. It hasn’t been perfect, but whenever a client had complaints, they would address them in a proper and professional manner. But for the first time, an anonymous post spread false information about her and her services. It was written by a wedding guest, while she and her client remain on good terms.

Angry and frustrated, my wife wanted to defend herself and her company. It was a difficult period filled with tears and sleepless nights, as she wasn’t used to receiving such reviews. But we patiently asked God to fight our battle. Then she received a call from a friend asking if she could coordinate a birthday celebration for one of the biggest celebrities in the Philippines. That opportunity opened the door to many endorsements and new clients for her.

In the Gospel, Jesus faced rejection, even from His own community. Yet, He embraced His identity and mission without seeking worldly validation. This reminds us that rejection in one place doesn’t halt God’s plan. 

Jan Silan (jcsilan@gmail.com)

reflect

How do you respond to rejection or criticism? Are you open to seeing God’s work in unexpected people or circumstances?

My Jesus, help me discern Your will every day. Help me grow in faith, humility, and love as I face challenges and rejections. Amen.

St. Joseph of Leonissa, pray for us.

David realizes that he relied on his own strength by counting his troops instead of trusting the Lord to secure victory in battle. Let us learn from this and remember that Jesus has already won the battle against sin and the devil on the cross. Our role is to embrace this victory in faith and live out its fruits in our lives. Though it may sound simple, it takes great faith to trust God in all things.

² King David said to Joab and the leaders of the army who were with him, “Tour all the tribes in Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba and register the people, that I may know their number.” ⁹ Joab then reported to the king the number of people registered: in Israel, eight hundred thousand men fit for military service; in Judah, five hundred thousand. ¹⁰ Afterward, however, David regretted having numbered the people, and said to the Lord: “I have sinned grievously in what I have done. But now, Lord, forgive the guilt of your servant, for I have been very foolish.” ¹¹ When David rose in the morning, the Lord had spoken to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying: ¹² “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I offer you three alternatives; choose one of them, and I will inflict it on you.’” ¹³ Gad then went to David to inform him. He asked: “Do you want a three years’ famine to come upon your land, or to flee from your enemy three months while he pursues you, or to have a three days’ pestilence in your land? Now consider and decide what I must reply to him who sent me.” ¹⁴ David answered Gad: “I am in very serious difficulty. Let us fall by the hand of God, for he is most merciful; but let me not fall by the hand of man.” ¹⁵ Thus, David chose the pestilence. Now it was the time of the wheat harvest when the plague broke out among the people. The Lord then sent a pestilence over Israel from morning until the time appointed, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beer-sheba died. ¹⁶ But when the angel stretched forth his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord regretted the calamity and said to the angel causing the destruction among the people, “Enough now! Stay your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then standing at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. ¹⁷ When David saw the angel who was striking the people, he said to the Lord: “It is I who have sinned; it is I, the shepherd, who have done wrong. But these are sheep; what have they done? Punish me and my kindred.”

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7

R: Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.

¹ Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered. ² Blessed the man to whom the Lord imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no guile. (R) ⁵ Then I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not. I said, “I confess my faults to the Lord,” and you took away the guilt of my sin. (R) ⁶ For this shall every faithful man pray to you in time of stress. Though deep waters overflow, they shall not reach him. (R) ⁷ You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me; with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round. (R)

Gospel | Mark 6:1-6

Let us never believe the enemy's lies about Jesus’ victory over sin and death. Even if we find God’s generosity difficult to accept, feel unworthy of His grace, or know we can never earn or repay His blessings, all He asks is that we receive the gift of salvation and live it out each day.

Gospel Acclamation

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.

¹ Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. ² When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! ³ Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. ⁴ Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” ⁵ So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. ⁶ He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Read the Bible in one year! Read 1 CORINTHIANS 5 - 8 today.

Bias and prejudice are part of being human, shaping how we see and interact with the world. While some biases can be helpful—such as instinctively avoiding danger or trusting familiar faces—they can become problematic when they evolve into prejudice. Prejudices are often built on unfounded or oversimplified beliefs, rooted in fear, ignorance, or past wounds. They can also lead us to make unfair judgments about others. This distorts our perception of people, situations, and even truth, ultimately preventing us from fully engaging in the richness of life and missing out on meaningful relationships and experiences.

When Jesus visited Nazareth, the people’s biases and prejudices prevented them from recognizing His true identity. They couldn’t look past His humble background as a carpenter’s son, so they dismissed the idea that someone so familiar could possess divine wisdom or offer salvation. Their preconceived notions closed their hearts to the transformative power that Jesus wanted to share with them. In our own lives, we must learn to distinguish between healthy judgment and harmful prejudice, as biases can prevent us from seeing God’s presence in unexpected places, working through ordinary people and moments.

Despite the rejection in Nazareth, Jesus continued His mission of teaching and healing. Though the lack of faith in the crowd limited the miracles He could perform, He still healed those who approached Him with trust and openness. 

Their willingness to receive Him allowed them to experience His power and grace. This reminds us that even in the face of prejudice or rejection, Jesus’ love and healing are available to those who approach Him with an open heart.

Fr. Paolo Asprer, SSP

reflection questions

Do you recognize Jesus in the ordinary people and events around you, or do your biases blind you to His presence? What barriers might be preventing God from working wonders in your life? Bring those obstacles to Him in prayer, trusting that He can overcome them.

Lord, open our eyes to the shadows of bias that veil our hearts and help us see each person through Your eyes of love. Purify our spirits from prejudice. May Your grace lead us to honor the dignity and worth of every soul we encounter. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ____________________________________