Uncertain Futures; One God

First Reading
Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12
Hear this word, O children of Israel, that the LORD pronounces over you,
over the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt:

You alone have I favored,
more than all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will punish you
for all your crimes.

Do two walk together
unless they have agreed?
Does a lion roar in the forest
when it has no prey?
Does a young lion cry out from its den
unless it has seized something?
Is a bird brought to earth by a snare
when there is no lure for it?
Does a snare spring up from the ground
without catching anything?
If the trumpet sounds in a city,
will the people not be frightened?
If evil befalls a city,
has not the LORD caused it?
Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing
without revealing his plan
to his servants, the prophets.

The lion roars–
who will not be afraid!
The Lord GOD speaks–
who will not prophesy!

I brought upon you such upheaval
as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah:
you were like a brand plucked from the fire;
Yet you returned not to me,
says the LORD.

So now I will deal with you in my own way, O Israel!
and since I will deal thus with you,
prepare to meet your God, O Israel.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 5:4B-6A, 6B-7, 8
R.    (9a)  Lead me in your justice, Lord.
At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you.
For you, O God, delight not in wickedness;
no evil man remains with you;
the arrogant may not stand in your sight.
R.    Lead me in your justice, Lord.
You hate all evildoers;
you destroy all who speak falsehood;
The bloodthirsty and the deceitful
the LORD abhors.
R.    Lead me in your justice, Lord.
But I, because of your abundant mercy,
will enter your house;
I will worship at your holy temple
in fear of you, O LORD.
R.    Lead me in your justice, Lord.

Gospel
Matthew 8:23-27
As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,
so that the boat was being swamped by waves;
but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying,
“Lord, save us!  We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

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“What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?” (Matthew 8:27)

REFLECTION
I’m known as the smart kid in the family—being the most adept with modern technology, the biggest nerd, and also objectively has the highest grades. I am somewhat proud of these achievements, but it wasn’t always like this.

Back when I was graduating grade school I was very uncertain about my future since I had already grown fond of my old school and to switch schools felt extremely scary. I actually, at one point, wanted to object going to my current school because I thought that I couldn’t handle it. I didn’t, however, since I knew that it would help with our finances. My first year was my biggest struggle as I had to change my lifestyle, sleep schedule, and study habits. Halfway through, I thought about leaving since I couldn’t take it. Turned out was wrong because by the end of the school year I received an award.

Looking back, I know I shouldn’t have been worried in any way. In the heat of the moment, I always thought of giving up and losing faith. I always asked why God wasn’t there, even though He really was with me. I’m realizing now that Jesus is not there to carry us through our storms but to give us strength so we can get through them together.

Nowadays, it may appear like all hope is lost since 2020 feels like the end of the world. After every problem sprouts a new one and it just seems to get worse and worse. All of these problems make you just want to quit and give up, but just like I didn’t give up halfway through my first year in high school, I’m sure that I’m not giving up halfway through this year. This is because I learned that Jesus is always there for us. His Presence never leaves us. We just need to have faith and hold on to that faith for as long as we can, for He will never leave us during our darkest moments.

Reflection Song

When The Fight Calls by Hillsong Young & Free

Author

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Time to Eat

First Reading
Acts 7:51—8:1A
Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes:
“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears,
you always oppose the Holy Spirit;
you are just like your ancestors.
Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute?
They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one,
whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.
You received the law as transmitted by angels,
but you did not observe it.”

When they heard this, they were infuriated,
and they ground their teeth at him.
But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit,
looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God
and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened
and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
But they cried out in a loud voice,
covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.
The witnesses laid down their cloaks
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out,
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice,
“Lord, do not hold this sin against them”;
and when he said this, he fell asleep.

Now Saul was consenting to his execution.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 31:3CD-4, 6 AND 7B AND 8A, 17 AND 21AB
R.    (6a)  Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake you will lead and guide me.
R.    Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
My trust is in the LORD;
I will rejoice and be glad of your mercy.
R.    Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence
from the plottings of men.
R.    Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R.    Alleluia.

Gospel
John 6:30-35
The crowd said to Jesus:
“What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?
What can you do?
Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:

“He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”

So Jesus said to them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven;
my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.”

So they said to Jesus,
“Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

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“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” (John 6:35)

REFLECTION
Food has always been one of my interests. From watching Masterchef episodes or Tasty videos, I have always liked it. I didn’t even know I could make food but it has come to that point that when I’m hungry and no one is around, I find myself trying out recipes without any cooking experience. It is amazing just seeing delicious food, ten times more the pleasure in eating. I always look for it when I’m down, and a simple dish alone could make a bad day into a good one.

Food could always stop my hunger but only ever physically. There are times I find myself craving for something not to feed me physically but spiritually. I always come back to the cross during those times as in the readings for today, we are reminded that the Lord is The Bread of Life. Just like the crowd from the gospel, we can always come to Him whenever we are in need, to replenish our spirits.

In our current situation, we may sometimes lose hope because we cannot do anything to help other people, and end up just waiting for this crisis to end. But we must keep in mind that Jesus is with us wherever we go and He is in everything we do. We should remember that He is there for us, always ready for our prayers whenever we are in need, and we can come to Him no matter what happens for He loves us.

Prayer
O Father God, today You have reminded us that Your Son is the Bread of Life. May You always guide us back to Him when our spirits are tired. Amen.

Author

Click on the bubble to find out more about Luke!

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Forgive, Forget, Move On

First Reading
Wisdom 1:1-7
Love justice, you who judge the earth;
think of the Lord in goodness,
and seek him in integrity of heart;
Because he is found by those who test him not,
and he manifests himself to those who do not disbelieve him.
For perverse counsels separate a man from God,
and his power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy;
Because into a soul that plots evil, wisdom enters not,
nor dwells she in a body under debt of sin.
For the holy Spirit of discipline flees deceit
and withdraws from senseless counsels;
and when injustice occurs it is rebuked.
For wisdom is a kindly spirit,
yet she acquits not the blasphemer of his guilty lips;
Because God is the witness of his inmost self
and the sure observer of his heart
and the listener to his tongue.
For the Spirit of the Lord fills the world,
is all-embracing, and knows what man says.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 139:1B-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-10
R. (24b) Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.
Behind me and before, you hem me in
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
too lofty for me to attain.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall guide me,
and your right hand hold me fast.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

Gospel
Luke 17:1-6
Jesus said to his disciples,
“Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,
but woe to the one through whom they occur.
It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck
and he be thrown into the sea
than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
Be on your guard!
If your brother sins, rebuke him;
and if he repents, forgive him.
And if he wrongs you seven times in one day
and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’
you should forgive him.”

And the Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you would say to this mulberry tree,
‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

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“If he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying ‘I am sorry’ you should forgive him.” (Luke 17:4)

REFLECTION
Do you ever have those fights with your family that just makes you question your relationship towards them, to the point where you think, “Why am I related to this person?”

I remember it vividly on my sister’s birthday last year. We were staying at a hotel at the time, and as I was getting ready to sleep while washing my face, I hit my chin on the lock of the faucet drain without noticing. When my mother went in the bathroom after me, she noticed what I did and scolded me for it. I tried to explain what happened, that it was an accident, but she only replied with “Hindi, ginawa mo yan ng sadya.” (“No, you did it on purpose.”) I felt hurt, so I walked out and I started crying by myself.

I have never been one to open up about my problems even to my family because I feel like it will just bother them, but that night, my mother approached me on the sofa and tried to talk to me. There, I opened up all my problems, worries, and doubts about everything. I probably shouldn’t have because the reply I got haunts me to this day. All she said was “Luke, you don’t have a reason to feel depressed. If anything, I should be depressed.” I was silent as she asked me to come back into the room. I refused and said “Maybe later.” I didn’t sleep that night because of what she said. I felt so lost, like no one would ever listen to me because even my own mom said things that hurt and scarred me.

That night, I thought about doing things that would hurt me more. However, they ended up being just that, thoughts. I am glad that I am still alive today, because things got better with my mom, and I learned to forgive her because I knew that she just didn’t know how much I was hurting.

Brothers and sisters, God wants us to know that forgiveness may be a hard thing to do but we should always forgive those who have wronged us and not hold a grudge against them. Sometimes in a blind rage, they do not know what they are saying and how much it can hurt us. He wants to tell us no matter how great the hurt, we should not retaliate with the same hatred but instead love, accept and forgive. -Luke Miranda

Prayer
Almighty Father, teach me how to forgive all those who have hurt me no matter how hard it may be. Please give me the gift of acceptance so that I may overlook the wrong they have done and focus on the good memories we have with each other. Amen.

Author

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