Someone just texted me asking how she could discern if a business opportunity was the right one for her. She had been praying for this venture for some time, but when the door finally opened, they had just made a big investment elsewhere. 

I shared with her these three green lights for knowing God’s will. The first green light is God’s Word. You’ve been praying for a job and applying, but nothing is coming. Then you get a call. You’re hired! But your job entails you to do under-the-table deals. Put your situation against God’s Word and you have an answer.

The second green light is the circumstances you have. Your dream job is up for grabs but is only open for male applicants. If you’re a woman, then it’s not the job for you.

The last green light is God’s peace in your heart. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” 

Rissa Singson Kawpeng (rissakawpeng@gmail.com)

reflect

“God’s will is not rocket science. He delights to make His plan known to us.” (Rissa Singson Kawpeng)

Lord, I seek to know Your will. But sometimes, I can be blind and insensitive. So, make Your will obvious to me. Amen.

Saint Guy, pray for us.

Today’s reading reminds us that inspiration can come not only from great religious figures but also from secular ones. Ask yourself: What do we honor in the people we wish to emulate? Let us discern the path we are called to take and walk it with conviction.

¹ Like a fire there appeared the prophet whose words were as a flaming furnace. ² Their staff of bread he shattered, in his zeal he reduced them to straits; ³ by the Lord’s word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire. ⁴ How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Whose glory is equal to yours? ⁵ You brought a dead man back to life from the nether world, by the will of the Lord. ⁶ You sent kings down to destruction, and easily broke their power into pieces. You brought down nobles, from their beds of sickness. ⁷ You heard threats at Sinai, at Horeb avenging judgments. ⁸ You anointed kings who should inflict vengeance, and a prophet as your successor. ⁹ You were taken aloft in a whirlwind, in a chariot with fiery horses. ¹⁰ You are destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the Lord, to turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons, and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob. ¹¹ Blessed is he who shall have seen you and who falls asleep in your friendship. For we live only in our life, but after death our name will not be such. ¹² O Elijah, enveloped in the whirlwind! Then Elisha, filled with a twofold portion of his spirit, wrought many marvels by his mere word. During his lifetime he feared no one, nor was any man able to intimidate his will.  ¹³ Nothing was beyond his power; beneath him flesh was brought back into life. ¹⁴ In life he performed wonders, and after death, marvelous deeds.  

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 97:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7

R: Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

¹ The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad. ² Clouds and darkness are round about him, justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. (R) ³ Fire goes before him and consumes his foes round about. ⁴ His lightnings illumine the world; the earth sees and trembles. (R) ⁵ The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. ⁶ The heavens proclaim his justice, and all peoples see his glory. (R) ⁷ All who worship graven things are put to shame, who glory in the things of nought; all gods are prostrate before him. (R)  

Gospel | Matthew 6:7-15

Nobody enjoys listening to meaningless chatter. We have better things to do with our time than endure endless rambling. Remember, God has far greater things to attend to than listening to us speak without purpose. It is far more fruitful to spend our time listening to Him rather than indulging in empty words.

Gospel Acclamation

You have received a spirit of adoption as sons through which we cry: Abba! Father!

⁷ Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ⁹ This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, ¹⁰ thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as in heaven. ¹¹ Give us today our daily bread; ¹² and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those whose trespass against us; ¹³ and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ ¹⁴ “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read 2 KING 16 - 18 today.

The uniqueness of the Gospel in the Sermon on the Mount lies in the pure teachings of Jesus that we get to hear. Matthew presents to us Jesus’ thoughts, feelings, and teachings, especially as He instructs His disciples on how to pray.

Many Biblical scholars suggest that the “The Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew’s Gospel reflects the collective prayers of Matthew’s community, combining all the prayers Jesus taught into one.

The first word of the prayer, “[Our] Father” (“Abba”), is significant, as it is the term Jesus uniquely used to refer to God. Through this, Jesus introduces a more intimate relationship with God, portraying Him as Abba, the Father. He is not a distant, uncaring deity, but a loving, personal figure in our lives. Jesus connects us to a God who desires a close relationship with us, showing us His love.

Beyond our human parents, we must establish a fundamental, intimate relationship with God as our Father, fostering filial trust and obedience. God, as a Father, is both our foundation and our future. Without such faith and deep connection, we may feel lost and hopeless.

By surrendering our lives to God—our caring Father who will never abandon us—we are assured of His constant presence and support, preventing us from falling into despair.

This is the essence of God’s Fatherhood. 

Fr. Jason Laguerta 

reflection question

What would you like to tell God, our Father, and consult with Him?

Father, our Father, my Father, You are in heaven, but You are also in me and with me, taking care of me. Abba, take care of me and of my family. I entrust everything to You, for You know better. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________