Adulting tends to lessen the spark of life it once had on us. Before, we only see the good. Now, we see the good, the bad, and the ugly. Often, the bad and the ugly outweigh the good. Suddenly, we start asking, “Lord, did I make the right decisions? Did I pray the wrong prayer? Will my dreams still come true?” 

I love my life but there are moments when I can’t help but feel jaded. Thankfully, the Lord would be quick to remind me that it’s OK to feel bad because in every bad, there is good.

We hate waking up early but some would never wake up to see the light of the day again. We daydream on the job that some see as their dream job. We despise school but some had no choice but to learn from the school of life.

It’s all right to see the ugly as it can jolt us to look for something beautiful. Or it can help us to be more appreciative of the good that is already there. 

Laarni Uy (laarni.u@svrtv.com)

reflect

God created an imperfect world because if it was perfect, life would be so perfectly boring.

Lord, You know the good, the bad, and the ugly in me. Thank You for still loving me.

Saint Notburga, pray for us.

First Reading | Numbers 21:4-9

The cross is a symbol of salvation for Catholics. When we look at the cross, we are reminded that this is the result of our sin. God redeemed us through this most horrific means of suffering. This shows us the depth of God's love for us—Jesus was willing to die on the cross to save us from sin. As we reflect on this image of our salvation today, let us remember the price that Jesus paid to give us new life.

⁴ With their patience worn out by the journey, ⁵ the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!” ⁶ In punishment, the Lord sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died. ⁷ Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned in complaining against the Lord and you. Pray the Lord to take the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, ⁸ and the Lord said to Moses, “Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if any who has been bitten looks at it, they will live.” ⁹ Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 78:1-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38

R: Do not forget the works of the Lord!

¹ Hearken, my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. ² I will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter mysteries from of old. (R) ³⁴ While he slew them they sought him and inquired after God again, ³⁵ remembering that God was their rock and the Most High God, their redeemer. (R) ³⁶ But they flattered him with their mouths and lied to him with their tongues, ³⁷ though their hearts were not steadfast toward him, nor were they faithful to his covenant. (R) ³⁸ Yet he, being merciful, forgave their sin and destroyed them not; often he turned back his anger and let none of his wrath be roused. (R)

Second Reading (Optional*) | Philippians 2:6-11

Paul understands the central role of the cross in our faith. He recognizes that it took something as great as Jesus’ death on the cross to redeem us. Today, let us reflect on this reading to help us understand not only the meaning of suffering and its redemptive value but also where love leads and what it means to lay down our lives in the service of others.

⁶ Brothers and sisters: Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. ⁷ Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, ⁸ he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. ⁹ Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel | John 3:13-17 

The Father sent Jesus. I believe that Jesus’ death on the cross is as hard for the Father as it is for Jesus. As a parent, you realize how much you will do to prevent your child from suffering. Isn’t it the same for God the Father? So, let us remember the agony of the Father as He gazes upon His dead Son on the cross.

Gospel Acclamation

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your Cross you have redeemed the world. 

¹³ Jesus said to Nicodemus: “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. ¹⁴ And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that he who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Reflect

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus cries out from the cross for all humanity. What The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us about this quotation here, about this cry of Jesus is this: All the troubles, for all time, of humanity enslaved by sin and death, all the petitions and intercessions of salvation history, are summed up in this cry of the incarnate Word. Here the Father accepts them, and beyond all hope, answers them by raising His Son. (CCC 2606)

Read the Bible in one year! Read PSALMS 101 - 105 today.

Carrying the Cross: Our Daily Yes to Jesus

One time, a youth from my previous parish messaged me. He said, “Father, can you help me get into the seminary?” I replied, “Are you sure about this? Have you really thought things through? This will not be easy. The preparation takes 10 years, and there are mental, emotional, spiritual, and pastoral demands among others.” He said he had thought about it and felt it was his calling. Then after a moment, he added, “Mama said it’s going to be difficult, but I should just try it—because anyway, I can always leave if it gets too hard.” I thought to myself, “He hasn’t even entered yet, and he is already thinking about how to leave.” I told him to pray about it some more. I have not heard from him since.

Pope Francis once said: “There is no Christianity without the cross. And there’s no cross without Jesus Christ.” Our world is so imperfect that it cannot be devoid of suffering. There is suffering. There is pain, and there is death that comes our way. We do not have to find them. These difficulties and challenges in life find us. Do you agree?

Since we do not have control over people’s poor choices in life—whether they hurt us, disappoint us, or make things harder—we are invited to focus on what we have control over: the way we respond, the attitude we keep, and how we carry our own crosses. We may not be able to change others, but we can choose to carry our burdens with patience, faith, and love, trusting that God sees our efforts and strengthens us through them. And in doing so, we become quiet witnesses of God’s grace, showing others what it means to live with hope amid life’s trials. 

Fr. Ricky Montañez, AA

reflection question

Can you face your suffering with trust and let God turn it into something good?

Lord, teach me to embrace sacrifice with trust, that it may become a source of grace for me and for those around me. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________