My friend Cess and I reminisced about our school days and how much has changed since then. Despite the twists and turns our lives have taken, one thing hasn’t changed: God’s faithfulness to us. We were in awe of the inner peace we have in our mid-30s no matter what we’ve been through. 

At first, I thought reaching this state of my heart is impossible and even unfair. But then again, I know that it wasn’t easy to get to this point. It needed repeated surrender, intentional prayer, and lots of tears. I gained a more intimate walk with the Lord as I learned to trust in ways I never did before. 

My life is far from perfect, and nothing grand is happening in my current season. But as I get older, I realize the extent to which I need to be in God’s presence. I have yet to learn all that God wants to teach me about joy in the midst of waiting—suffering. But I find comfort in knowing that whatever happens, He will carry me through. As long as I hold on to Him, I will be OK. Ruby Albino (r_jean07@yahoo.com) 

Reflect:

Think about a past experience of deep suffering in your life. How did you overcome this with God? Thank Him for His grace. 

Father, You have always desired joy for my life. Go deep inside me and do Your work. Change my mindset and help me to always see Your greater plans for me. Amen. 

St. John of Avila, pray for us.

Paul’s missionary journeys were not just short forays into the pagan heartland of the Roman Empire. Today’s reading tells us that he stayed in Corinth for eighteen months. Paul set up Christian communities in many of the places he visited and preached to. This would have taken a lot of time and effort on his part. 

⁹ One night while Paul was in Corith, the Lord said to him in a vision, “Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, ¹⁰ for I am with you. No one will attack and harm you, for I have many people in this city.” ¹¹ He settled there for a year and a half and taught the word of God among them. ¹² But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him to the tribunal, ¹³ saying, “This man is inducing people to worship God contrary to the law.” ¹⁴ When Paul was about to reply, Gallio spoke to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some crime or malicious fraud, I should with reason hear the complaint of you Jews; ¹⁵ but since it is a question of arguments over doctrine and titles and your own law, see to it yourselves. I do not wish to be a judge of such matters.” ¹⁶ And he drove them away from the tribunal. ¹⁷ They all seized Sosthenes, the synagogue official, and beat him in full view of the tribunal. But none of this was of concern to Gallio. ¹⁸ Paul remained for quite some time, and after saying farewell to the brothers he sailed for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had shaved his head because he had taken a vow. 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 47:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R: God is king of all the earth. 

² All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness, ³ for the Lord, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth. (R) ⁴ He brings peoples under us; nations under our feet. ⁵ He chooses for us our inheritance, the glory of Jacob, whom he loves. (R) ⁶ God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the Lord, amid trumpet blasts. ⁷ Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise. (R) 

Gospel | John 16:20-23

We experience a time of suffering before entering into a profound joy, just like a woman experiencing the pains of giving birth to her child. The joy of having a newly born child outweighs the pain of childbirth. Let us pray for the scholars of the Church as they strive for a better and fuller understanding of the mysteries of God. It may not be a physical pain that they endure, but anyone who has undergone intensive study courses knows the mental anguish of coming to grips with the process of learning. 

Gospel Acclamation

Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory. 

²⁰ Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. ²¹ When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. ²² So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. ²³ On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” 

Read the Bible in one year! Read 1 CHRONICLES 16 - 18 today.

About twenty years ago, a friend told me that stress and tension can actually lead to life and growth. He said these are not necessarily bad and do not contribute to our mental and physical breakdown if handled well. I remembered this as I prayed over our readings today, where there are lots of tension going on. Surprisingly, that is where I found Jesus—right in the tension in our lives. 

Tension is like friction; without it, we cannot experience life at its fullest. The beauty of every sunrise and sunset is due to the tension between light and darkness. Tension happens between good things, never between good and evil. Tension helps us purify our intentions and clarify our priorities because tension leads us to a deeper discernment of God’s plans and will for us. In the First Reading, there was tension between Paul and the Jews about the Good News of salvation. The division resulted into more conversions and baptisms. But what is most beautiful about tension is found in the Gospel—of how joy is borne out of pain and suffering, like a woman experiencing the pangs of childbirth. 

Jesus said to His disciples: “When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish . . . but when she had given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain . . . So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you” (John 16:21-22). 

It’s funny when you ask women, especially from the older generations, to describe giving birth to a baby. They would say it is beyond words, but when you ask them how many children they have, they would say three, four, sometimes even ten—and that’s despite the indescribable pains of giving birth! 

The same is true with many saints, like Saint Damien, whose memorial we celebrate today. Saint Damien died of leprosy after working among lepers in Molokai, Hawaii for sixteen years. He took care not only of their spiritual needs but also their social upliftment. Loved and respected by everyone, he faced so many tension that made him stronger in his ministry, earning the title of “martyr of charity.” Fr. Nick F. Lalog 

Reflection Question:

How do you deal with the tension in your life? 

Holy Spirit, help me identify the tension I encounter daily and allow it to lead me to more life and joy in You. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ____________________________________