I had the rare opportunity to teach homiletics to a class of seminarians and priests. I told them that if they’d have a takeaway from my lecture, I hope it would be to use stories in their homilies.

The reason I fell in love with the Lord and His Word was because I attended a prayer meeting where Scripture was explained in a way that I—then a 14-year-old who only wanted to go to parties and get to know boys—understood. Scripture stopped being a textbook I studied in my Religion subject and became a life manual that spoke God’s personal message to me every day.

The truth is, facts don’t change people. If they did, nobody would smoke cigarettes given the gruesome warnings on its boxes. But stories smuggle in even truths too complex or painful for lay people. That’s why Jesus used parables to explain abstract concepts like God’s Kingdom and the Father’s mercy. 

Wanna share Jesus with others? No need to learn homiletics. Just tell them your story. 

Rissa Singson Kawpeng (rissakawpeng@gmail.com) 

reflect

“Share your story with someone. You never know how one sentence of your life story could inspire someone to rewrite their own.” (Demi Lovato)

Lord, let Scripture become plain and simple to me so I can apply it in my personal life. Amen.

Saint John I, pope and martyr, pray for us.

There is more to baptism than the forgiveness of sins. It is also the moment when we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This gift is what distinguishes the baptisms of John and Jesus. The difference is enormous because, without the Holy Spirit, we would be unable to live the holy lives we are called to. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to be true disciples of Jesus.

¹ While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior of the country and down to Ephesus where he found some disciples. ² He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They answered him, “We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” ³ He said, “How were you baptized?” They replied, “With the baptism of John.” ⁴ Paul then said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” ⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. ⁷ Altogether there were about twelve men. ⁸ He entered the synagogue, and for three months debated boldly with persuasive arguments about the Kingdom of God.  

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 68:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R: Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

² God arises; his enemies are scattered, and those who hate him flee before him. ³ As smoke is driven away, so are they driven; as wax melts before the fire. (R) ⁴ But the just rejoice and exult before God; they are glad and rejoice. ⁵ Sing to God, chant praise to his name, whose name is the Lord. (R) ⁶ The father of orphans and the defender of widows is God in his holy dwelling. ⁷ God gives a home to the forsaken; he leads forth prisoners to prosperity. (R)   

Gospel | John 16:29-33

Jesus knows that the Apostles will struggle to remain faithful to His commission to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth. In fact, the Church today still struggles with the same commission. Let us take up the task of proclaiming the Gospel and continue the work of the Church.

Gospel Acclamation

If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

²⁹ The disciples said to Jesus, “Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. ³⁰ Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.” ³¹ Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? ³² Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. ³³ I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read JUDGES 13 - 16 today.

Once, I was counseling a woman who was having troubles with her husband. She shared to me that there are nights when she’s in bed with her husband just beside her, yet she felt all alone.

That is true. I may be with a group of people yet feel like I’m all by myself. Why is this so? It is not enough that someone is with me. That someone should also be for me. Being with someone is a numerical experience. It means someone else is physically there with me. Being for someone is an existential experience. When someone is for me, I feel loved, secure, and wanted. In fact, even when that someone is not physically present, his presence is just as palpable.

In the Old Testament, it has been prophesied that a virgin will bear a son, and he will be called “Emmanuel”—a name that means “God is with us.” The New Testament saw the fulfillment of that prophecy. The virgin was Mary and the Child to be called Emmanuel was Jesus. Jesus is with us. But Jesus is not only with us. He is unstintingly for us.

In the Eucharist, Jesus’ eternal sacrament, He promised, “This is My Body, given up for you.” Readiness to be with someone is mere accompaniment. Willingness to be for someone is atonement—a readiness to die in place of someone for his salvation.

Today in the Gospel, Jesus spoke of the oneness between Him and the Father: “I am never alone for my Father is with me.” He wants to share with us that utter security and confidence. God is not only with us; He is for us. This is why, like Jesus, we can say I am never alone, because God is not only with me— God is for me! 

Fr. Joel O. Jason 

reflection questions

What is the quality of your presence to your family, Church, or community? Are you for them as well?

Lord Jesus, You are nearer to us than we are to ourselves. Free my encounters from shallow accompaniment. Amen.

Today, I pray for: __________________________________________________