One of my biography clients told me that his mother lived for over 90 years even though she occasionally had her share of hard liquor and cigarettes. She wasn’t careful with her diet too. “Do you know her secret to her long life?” he asked. “She was forgiving and always happy.”

Since our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, it’s important that we take care of it. But it’s also best to check the health of our heart and mind. The brain and heart are powerful organs, and both go haywire when we are angry: the heart beats fast and blood pressure rises. Do we dwell on thoughts against another person? Is there hate and anger in our hearts? Are we struggling with forgiving someone?

The Gospel today implies the impact of unforgiveness on our life on earth and thereafter. The longer we hold on to our anger and hate, the farther we stray from God. It’s a self-inflicted punishment that can only be absolved by God’s grace—when we choose to forgive. 

Elaine Marie Factor (elainemariefactor@gmail.com)

reflect

Write a list of people who have hurt you. Even with a heavy heart, pray for them today.

Father, as I ask for Your forgiveness. Give me the grace to forgive those who have sinned against me.

Saint Barnabas, Apostle, pray for us.

First Reading | Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3 (or 1 Kings 18:41-46)

Barnabas played a key role in the life of the Early Church. Apart from being the man who introduced and vouched for Paul to the Jerusalem Church, he was also a respected leader in his own right. Barnabas led Paul’s first missionary journeys. After a falling out with Paul—which shows how humans, even the saints, can be—they parted ways and proclaimed the Gospel independently.

²¹ In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord. ²² The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. ²³ When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, ²⁴ for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. And a large number of people was added to the Lord. ²⁵ Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul, ²⁶ and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, they met with the church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. ^13:1 Now, there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ² While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off. 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6 (or Psalm 65:10, 11, 12-13)

R: The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

¹ Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) ² The Lord has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations, he has revealed his justice. ³ He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. (R) All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. ⁴ Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. (R) ⁵ Sing praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. ⁶ With trumpets and the sound of the horn sing joyfully before the King, the Lord. (R) 

Gospel | Matthew 5:20-26 (or Matthew 10:7-13)

Conversion must take deeper root in our lives, continuing this side of the grave. Let us open ourselves to God’s transforming grace so that we may remain faithful to His call—to follow Jesus and become more like Him. May we pray for the zeal to persevere in this process until the day we die.

Gospel Acclamation

I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.

²⁰ Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. ²¹ “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. ²² But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. ²³ Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ²⁵ Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise, your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read 1 KING  19 - 20 today.

Dreamer or Doer?

It was not the time for wishful thinking and directionless dreaming. It was a time for commissioning and doing. “Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them.” And He had a long list for them to do: “Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons, give without cost.”

Dreamers abound in the world. Discipleship is not about aimless dreaming and planning; it is about going and doing, being sent and charged with a mission to fulfill.

In my years of leadership, I have known many who had the perfect ideas, the most brilliant suggestions, and the seemingly most effective solutions to many problems. But that was true only during meetings. They know what steps to take and obstacles to avoid, but they are nowhere to be found when it’s time to execute those plans.

The Lord is quite clear about the mission: “As you go, make this proclamation: the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” But He spells out what that proclamation entailed concretely: work for the sick, the dead, the lepers, and those tormented by demons.

In a highly transactional world, where peace is measured in billions of dollars’ worth of rare earth metals to be mined and owned by bigger and more powerful nations and groups, mission work and discipleship may also be subjected to this market-value mentality. (Read: If it does not produce wealth, it does no one any good).

Today is the time to remember the essentials. Discipleship is not meant to be focused on short-term products and results, but on the long-term goals that befit the ideals of the sender. It is not about gold or silver or copper, but the goal of peace associated with eternal life.

Don’t fall in love with a mere dreamer. Follow Him who was sent, who went and fulfilled His mission. 

Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB 

reflection question

Are you more of a dreamer or a doer?  

Help me to fulfill Your mission for me, Lord. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _________________________________