Do you remember the movie Karate Kid 1? I won’t forget the scene when Ralph Macchio did his signature pose—the crane kick—that defeated his opponent.

This crane stance focuses on the ability of the player to keep balance while on one foot.

The player needs to stand on one foot on a firm foundation, while his two hands are up like a crane. And the leg will launch an unexpected side kick. 

Without the right balance, this technique will fail.

Sometimes, life kicks us out of balance as if we are just standing on one foot. But know that we can still launch a side kick that will win us in life. How?

When we keep our faith firm while lifting both hands, like a crane, in worship.

Know upon Whom you are standing.

You’re standing on the Rock.

So launch a winning kick! Arun Gogna (arun.gogna@ymail.com)

Reflect:

“Long-lasting victory can never be separated from a long-lasting stand on the foundation of the cross.” (Watchman Nee)

I am a winner. Let me stand on You, Lord. You are my solid ground.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

First Reading | Isaiah 7:1-9

The people of Israel have been unfaithful under Uzziah. They have set up altars to many gods and idols. Isaiah berates them for this and predicts disaster for them. Like the Israelites, if we live apart from God, then we must be ready for the consequences. God’s blessings reside most strongly on those who follow His ways and not on those who follow their own ways or the world’s. 

¹ In the days of Ahaz, king of Judah, son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, Rezin, king of Aram, and Pekah, king of Israel, son of Remaliah, went up to attack Jerusalem, but they were not able to conquer it. ² When word came to the house of David that Aram was encamped in Ephraim, the heart of the king and heart of the people trembled, as the trees of the forest tremble in the wind. ³ Then the Lord said to Isaiah: Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway of the fuller’s field, ⁴ and say to him: Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear; let not your courage fail before these two stumps of smoldering brands [the blazing anger of Rezin and the Arameans, and of the son of Remaliah], ⁵ because of the mischief that Aram [Ephraim and the son of Remaliah] plots against you, saying, ⁶ “Let us go up and tear Judah asunder, make it our own by force, and appoint the son of Tabeel king there.” ⁷ Thus says the Lord: This shall not stand, it shall not be! ⁸ Damascus is the capital of Aram, and Rezin the head of Damascus; Samaria is the capital of Ephraim, and Remaliah’s son the head of Samaria. ⁹ But within sixty years and five, Ephraim shall be crushed, no longer a nation. Unless your faith is firm you shall not be firm! 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 48:2-3, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

R: God upholds his city forever. 

² Great is the Lord and wholly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, ³ fairest of heights, is the joy of all the earth. (R) Mount Zion, “the recesses of the North,” is the city of the great King. ⁴ God is with her castles; renowned is he as a stronghold. (R) ⁵ For lo! the kings assemble, they come on together; ⁶ they also see, and at once are stunned, terrified, routed. (R) ⁷ Quaking seizes them there; anguish like a woman’s in labor, ⁸ as though a wind from the east were shattering ships of Tarshish. (R) 

Gospel | Matthew 11:20-24

We have heard the Good News, and we have no excuse not to respond to the Gospel. Judgment will be harsher for us who fail to respond to God’s love compared to those who have never heard of the Gospel. This is a sobering thought worth dwelling on every now and then. 

Gospel Acclamation

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 

²⁰ Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ²³ And as for you, Capernaum: Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld. For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. ²⁴ But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” 

Read the Bible in one year! Read PSALMS 46 - 50 today.

Chorazin was a favored place because there was a chair that was preserved in its synagogue, supposedly used by Moses as leader and lawgiver of Israel. Bethsaida is, until now, considered to be the place where Jesus took bread and multiplied it to feed the hungry thousands. And, of course, Capernaum—the fishing village of Peter, Andrew, James, and John—is labeled as the hometown of Jesus. Here, in the house of Peter, Jesus often stayed, making the town the hub of His Galilean ministry. Here, He also healed many and taught in their synagogue. Now, the whole town of Capernaum is preserved in memory of Jesus. The ruins of the synagogue and that of the reputed house of Peter are pilgrim sites.

Beyond the great Bible stories that make the mentioned places shrines and relics of faith, we note that Jesus’ words in our Gospel carry not blessings but rebuke. Jesus was more interested in how the faith—living faith—blossomed in the lives of persons touched by the great stories that happened in their localities. Did they come closer to a personal knowledge and relationship with God? Did their prayer life deepen? Did they become more loving and caring with one another?

Lately, a number of relics of saints have been going around parishes. For years now, many Filipinos have also been going on pilgrimages to the Holy Land and various Marian places of apparition in Europe and elsewhere. In these places, Filipino pilgrims touch the relics, pray fervently before the privileged shrines and, naturally, post selfies and groufies as mementos in their social media pages. 

These are all wonderful experiences of the Living Traditions of our faith. The experiences, however, must also develop in each one a genuine prayer and contemplative life, spiritual outlook on realities, and an authentic charity in dealing with everyone. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

Reflection Questions:

Have you gone on a pilgrimage? What is your memorable prayer experience connected with a pilgrimage or a visit to a relic?

To walk where You walked is a dream, Lord. But to walk as You walked is my prayer. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________________