Bible Reflections from Kyregma
UNTIL LOVE LETS GO
Imagine that you were one of the Twelve Apostles. You left home, family, trade, and whatnot and followed Jesus who came from Nazareth, a place from where, nothing good ever comes. You went everywhere Jesus went. You heard His teachings and believed everything He said. If ever you had doubts about the sanity and truthfulness of Jesus, you had many chances to leave Him, but you remained with Him. Now, He is saying goodbye. How would you feel?
Then Jesus says, “Do not let your heart be troubled.” His words do not seem to help ease your hurt, do they? Letting go is such a painful process that words — no matter how beautiful and sincere they are— can even intensify the sting of separation. No matter how much we are assured that the separation is only temporary, we still believe that it is better for people we love to be physically present.
But love is not love until it lets go. One who professes love but refuses to let go is not a lover. He is a parasite. Letting go is the ultimate test of love. In the Gospel today, both Jesus and the apostles needed to let go. But their mutual letting go did not mean abandonment or betrayal. Their letting go was the ultimate challenge of their love for one another. Jesus had to let go of His apostles for their sake. The apostles must let go of Jesus so He could complete the mission entrusted to Him by the Father. From then on, the love between Jesus and His disciples – you and I included – would have to grow with faith and hope.
Love demands faith and is nourished by hope. Our faith convinces us what our physical reality fails to prove: Jesus is here with us. Our hope sustains us where human expectation falls short: Jesus will come again and take us with Him to paradise. Faith, hope, and love as St. Paul wrote, are the things that last to the end; and the greatest of them is love. But love is not love until it lets go. Fr. Bobby Titco
Refection Question:
Let go and let God.
I cling to You, O Jesus, more than anything and anyone. I let go of You so that I may cling to You even more. Amen.
WHO DO YOU LOOK LIKE?
When I was a little boy, my mother used to tell me about how I got my Christian name. She originally wanted to name me Angelito, Joselito, or Raulito. She said anything with “lito” would do because the suffix makes your name sound younger than your real age. But Angelito was her favorite because she considered me an “angel” even before she saw my face. My father, however, wanted to name me Carlo Magno. His name was Carlos, as he was born on the feast day of St. Charles Borromeo. He was not particular in making me his junior, but he wanted my name to be after Charlemagne or Charles the Great. But my name is not Angelito or Carlo. My name is Roberto.
When I was born, my mother said, my father’s brother had recently passed away. Uncle Robert Frank died at a young age. My coming into the clan was like taking the place vacated by Uncle Robert’s death. According to my mother, when my father saw me in the nursery for thefirst time, he immediately saw Uncle Robert’s features in me. Thus, from Carlo, my father shifted to Roberto, and his choice prevailed when I was christened.
My father “saw” my uncle in me — that is how I got my name. If we call ourselves Christians, should the world not see Christ in us? To see Jesus is to see the Father. Hopefully, to see us is to see Jesus, too. Fr. Bobby Titco
Reflection Question: Who do people see in me?
Lord Jesus Christ, You are God’s only begotten Son. To see You is to see the Father. I pray that when people see me, they see You, only You, always You. Amen.
St. Alphege, archbishop, pray for us.
1st READING
Notice how it is now Paul and Barnabas and no longer Barnabas and Paul. This indicates there has been a shift in leadership in the missionary group from Barnabas to Paul. Later on we will see that the two split up. It is unsure what the reason for this disagreement was. If such things can happen to saints, then they can also happen to us. Let us then strive to maintain unity of mind and heart with all whom we serve.
Acts 13:44-52
44 On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said. 46 Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” 48 The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, 49 and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region. 50 The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory. 51 So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52 The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
P S A L M
Psalm 98: 1, 2- 3ab, 3cd-4
R: All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. 1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) 2 The LORD has made his salvation known in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. 3 He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. (R) All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. 4 Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. (R)
G O S P E L
To have seen Jesus is to have seen the Father. This is a critical insight Jesus shares with Philip. It reveals the unity of the Father and Son – a unity we must all seek to enter into if we want to fully know the will of God for our lives. Jesus’ authority and purpose of mission comes from this unity. Let us therefore seek to be one with both the Father and all those with whom we serve in the building of the Kingdom of God.
John 14:7- 14
7 “If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. 12 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”
my reflections
think:Do I seek unity with the Father?
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