I’m an advocate of information and communication. In the groups where I lead and serve—in our school, spiritual community, and even in our family—I tell people to speak up. If it is something that needs to be fixed and improved, I tell them to let us know. It will be for the good of all. But say it properly, sincerely, and lovingly. 

If it’s something good, all the more you should tell everyone! Don’t keep it to yourself. Don’t even think that you’re bragging, greasing, or out to get brownie points for saying good things—about the company, the community, or what we did right. We need to hear it—not just to boost our egos, but to inspire others to do more. 

The Bible says, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds  and glorify  your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). 

Go testify to the great things God is doing. And when you do, make it about Him who is with you from the beginning. Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com)

Reflect:

The difference between bragging and praise is in who gets the glory. “Go and testify” about the good things God has done for you and honor Him! 

Dear God, grant me a sincere, honest, brave, and bold heart to testify to Your goodness and greatness in my life—to inspire others more and give glory to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Saint Benedicta, pray for us.

When evangelizing, we need to find people who are willing to listen to us as we share the Gospel with them. Choosing to listen is a sign that the Holy Spirit is already at work in the person’s life, disposing him toward the Gospel. Let us take every opportunity and run with it. If someone is not willing to listen, then maybe it is not his time yet. However, if someone is listening, then this is perhaps the day that will change his life forever. 

¹¹ We set sail from Troas, making a straight run for Samothrace, and on the next day to Neapolis, ¹² and from there to Philippi, a leading city in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We spent some time in that city. ¹³ On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there. ¹⁴ One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. ¹⁵ After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,” and she prevailed on us. 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 9

R: The Lord takes delight in his people. 

¹ Sing to the Lord a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful. ² Let Israel be glad in their maker, let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. (R) ³ Let them praise his name in the festive dance, let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp. ⁴ For the Lord loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory. (R) ⁵ Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their couches. ⁶ Let the high praises of God be in their throats. ⁹ This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia. (R) 

Gospel | John 15:26–16:4

The Holy Spirit plays an important role in our lives. Jesus says that He will reveal the truth to us through the Spirit. However, we must submit ourselves to this truth if we want to fully experience it. This does not mean that we suspend our freewill or our minds. But we must use them for the purpose that they were originally given: to rejoice in the truth. 

Gospel Acclamation

The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord, and you also will testify. 

²⁶ Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. ²⁷ And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. ^16:1 “I have told you this so that you may not fall away. ² They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. ³ They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. ⁴ I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.” 

Read the Bible in one year! Read 1 CHRONICLES 4 - 6 today.

The late Fr. Henri Nouwen wrote in one of his books that “self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the Beloved.” Beautiful but sadly very true. 

During the early months of the pandemic, I felt depressed. I looked down on myself, doubted my abilities, even my goodness. It was a long struggle for me to see myself as God sees me—His beloved one. 

Recently, as a hospital chaplain, I encountered patients approaching death, still feeling unforgiven of the sins they had confessed and been absolved of a long time ago. They felt unworthy before God. Maybe that is the main problem we will always deal with, even until death—our doubt about God’s immense love for us and how we mean so much to other people. We look at our dark sides rather than at how God has worked His goodness in us and through us. 

In the First Reading, Lydia, a new convert, was inviting Paul to stay at her house after being baptized. She must have been so impressed not only with his preaching but also with his sincerity and purity of heart. In life, what we really have to keep in mind and in heart is to know, first of all, that we are loved with our very personhood as children of God—and not with our talents and prowess. 

Jesus warns us again of how the world hates us, His followers: “They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God” (John 16:2-4). The Lord’s words are still true these days. Some people think they are doing God a big favor by hurting us Christians because they have not really known Jesus and the Father. They have never experienced being in a relationship with God as a person, as a Father, as a Brother. That’s what makes Christianity so unique because our God is a personal God who knows when to give us that proverbial pat on the shoulder when we forget our goodness, which is His presence in us. Fr. Nick F. Lalog 

 Reflection Question:

How do you see yourself amid all your struggles in life? 

Lord Jesus Christ, we pray today for those experiencing self-rejection. We pray, too, for those rejected or neglected by society and even by the people close to them. Remind us that despite our many flaws and sins, You love us and will always love us. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _____________________________________