As a husband to Mayi and a father to Haeli, Hosea, and Herald, I want them to feel safe with me. But let’s be real—I can’t do that if I’m running on empty. As a doctor, I tell others to rest, yet I push myself too hard. I remind people to slow down, but I overcommit. I think, “I’ve got this!”—until my body (or my wife) reminds me otherwise.

Jesus said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). His love isn’t about just getting by—it’s about fullness, peace, and joy.

How do I remain in His love?

Note to self: Stop trying to be a superhero. Even doctors need checkups. And yes, naps too. 

Didoy Lubaton M.D. (didoymd@gmail.com)

reflect

“Faith is reason at rest in God.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)

Lord, You bless me in my sleep. Teach me to let go and yield to You. 

St. Rose Venerini, pray for us.

Moving away from the practice of the Mosaic Law is a gradual process that takes years. This is OK since life is a journey. It takes time to change a mindset that has been established for over a thousand years. This is the challenge when we try to evangelize a culture, particularly an ancient one. Let us go on a journey with the people we are evangelizing. The work of the Spirit takes time, especially if the one being evangelized is stubborn. Most cultures are stubborn when it comes to change.

⁷ After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to the Apostles and the presbyters, “My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel and believe. ⁸ And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit just as he did us. ⁹ He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts. ¹⁰ Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹ On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.” ¹² The whole assembly fell silent, and they listened while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them. ¹³ After they had fallen silent, James responded, “My brothers, listen to me. ¹⁴ Symeon has described how God first concerned himself with acquiring from among the Gentiles a people for his name. ¹⁵ The words of the prophets agree with this, as is written: ¹⁶ After this I shall return and rebuild the fallen hut of David; from its ruins I shall rebuild it and raise it up again, ¹⁷ so that the rest of humanity may seek out the Lord, even all the Gentiles on whom my name is invoked. Thus, says the Lord who accomplishes these things, ¹⁸ known from of old. ¹⁹ It is my judgment, therefore, that we ought to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God, ²⁰ but tell them by letter to avoid pollution from idols, unlawful marriage, the meat of strangled animals, and blood.   ²¹ For Moses, for generations now, has had those who proclaim him in every town, as he has been read in the synagogues every sabbath.”    

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 10

R: Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

¹ Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all you lands. ² Sing to the Lord; bless his name. (R) Announce his salvation, day after day. ³ Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. (R) ¹⁰ Say among the nations: the Lord is king. He has made the world firm, not to be moved; he governs the peoples with equity. (R)   

Gospel | John 15:9-11

Jesus encourages us to remain in His love. What does it mean to remain in the love of God? It seems to me that we cannot go wrong by interpreting this literally—meaning, we should allow ourselves to be soaked in the love of God and keep ourselves immersed in it. Then, love becomes the focal point of our lives, knowing we are loved by God. We begin seeking to love Him with all our heart, mind, and soul.

Gospel Acclamation

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

⁹ Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. ¹¹ “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.”

Reflect

How is Christ’s joy evident in your life? How do you share His joy with those around you?

Read the Bible in one year! Read DEUTERONOMY 27 - 30 today.

Jesus revealed the importance of remaining in His love. He was a witness to this love through His loving relationship with His Father. Throughout His life and ministry, and in spite of every temptation and obstacle thrown at Him, He remained connected and faithful to His Father. He and His Father were always in touch. Time and again, Jesus was found praying. His faithfulness to the Father— even at the face of humiliation, torture, pain, and death—did not deprive Him of the great joy and fulfillment of His mission in the end.

The Christian challenge is to remain in Jesus’ love and stay faithful to Him every step of the way, at whatever cost. It entails following His commandments, professing the faith, and having the willingness to suffer and die for it. Faithfulness does not happen only in church or on Sundays. Faithfulness is a way of life that is expected from every baptized Christian. The state we obtained after baptism must be maintained. That is part of remaining in Jesus’ love. As Jesus said, it will make our joy complete.

We came from God, and so we have been holy from the beginning. Concupiscence entered humanity because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. They rejected holiness and embraced evil. Yet, we did not lose our sense of holiness. Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation to bring us back to His fold. 

Evil is cunning. It will exert every effort to lure us away from being faithful. But we have the freedom and capacity to reject temptation. Discernment, through the power of the Holy Spirit, will help us undress temptation and make us see the good from the bad, the moral and the immoral, the devil and the Lord. Reason alone will not be sufficient. Faith is. 

Fr. Benny Tuazon

reflection questions

Have you experienced being away from the Lord? Try to describe it. How did you get back in the relationship?

Lord Jesus, I commit myself to staying connected with You. I commit to always regard my relationship with You as my topmost priority. I commit to be an agent of Your peace to others. Amen. 

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________