THE WORD
FIRST READING Ac 15,1-2.22-29
Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers “Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.” Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and presbyters about this question.
Then the apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers. This is the letter delivered by them: “The apostles and the presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings. Since we have heard that some of our number [who went out] without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind, we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of mouth: ‘It is the decision of the holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’”
SECOND READING: Rev 21,10-14.22-23
He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal. It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, [the names] of the twelve tribes of the Israelites. There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west. The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb.
GOSPEL: Jn 14, 23-29
Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.
IN OTHER WORDS
Aside from the smile, the joy, the faith and the warmth that our Filipino brothers and sisters are known for here, the most significant for me are their calloused hands. Maraming kalyo, so to speak.
Every time I shake hands with them or when they reach out for my hand for the traditional “mano”, I come in contact with their struggles, tribulations, difficulties and daily challenges. One even remarked that hearts get calloused too.
Peace is found in Jesus. While Sunday gatherings can turn also into, yes, just gatherings, it also helps me know the migrant Filipinos’ deep yearning for a faith-life. In the beginning, I thought that everything could be reducible to work or euros and that faith did not authentically occupy a spot in their lives. “May pera po, may trabaho pero ‘di naman po mapayapa ang loob ko…” (There is money, there is work but I am not at peace…). Such a statement is very revealing of this need for peace and not just money. The world can always challenge this. Why sacrifice the time for rest by going to Mass when there is TV at home or friends to hang out with? The search for peace may not really commence with eluding the sources of peace. Neither can it take root by rooting out Jesus. Neither can wealth fill up an empty heart.
Yes, it can be uncomfortable sitting, standing and kneeling next to someone you don’t like; suffer the homilies of good Padre who may hurt at times or bore at times or simply stress forgiveness, or ask for donations or exhort people to help out in some activities. All these can be very disturbing.
However, the Sunday that disturbs and confronts our consciences is the same day for softening our calloused hearts by God’s grace. No calloused hand can work simply in isolation or simply out of good intention or serious effort. From the same font we drink of God’s mercy and compassion. There we find that peculiar peace which the world cannot simply distribute to every heart. Call itfanaticism or wishful medieval thinking, but many of these calloused hands and hearts, and let us say, calloused life histories, find peace in His word, in His sacrament and in the Christian community. “May problema pa rin po pero naliwanagan po ako nung narinig ko yung rst reading, medyo gumaan…” (The problem remains but I was enlightened upon listening tothe rst reading and somehow it lightened me up…) This experience may not be understandable to the world of eeting perks but it is not impossible to understand it from the heart. A person at peace with the Lord and with others shows somehow. Then, we hope to be that person.
- Fr. Ferdinand Bajao, SVD | Rome, Italy
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
