A Million Disciples

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

14 June 2026

 

First Reading: Exodus 19:2-6a

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 5

Second Reading: Romans 5:6-11

Gospel: Matthew 9:36–10:8

 

Reflection

By: Anabelle Balla

 

I have always felt deeply blessed to have been drawn closer to God early in my life. Looking back, I see how He has guided me—not through just twelve disciples, but through countless people He has placed along my path. Each person carries a gift from Him, whether meant to teach, challenge, comfort, or guide me.

I have come to realize that there is goodness in everything that happens around me, even in moments that are sad, confusing, or frustrating. God is always at work, shaping my heart and spirit through people and experiences. With His help, I continue to learn how to open my eyes and recognize the blessings hidden within every situation.

God is my ultimate Shepherd. I call upon Him many times each day, and He never feels distant. He is my constant companion—my provider, protector, guide, and healer. His presence steadies me, His love strengthens me, and His grace carries me forward.

I truly believe that His goodness follows me every moment of my life. Because of this, I find myself with a million reasons to give thanks and praise as I walk in His amazing grace, step by step.

I praise Jesus, the greatest Shepherd of all.

Prayer

The Lord Is My Shepherd – Gospel Song by Sheephia

You lead me where the waters flow,

In meadows green, my spirit grows.

No fear can steal the peace You give,

You are the reason I can live.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want,

Your goodness fills my heart.

You lead me in mercy, You call me by name,

I rest in Your loving arms.

When shadows fall, You light my way,

Your gentle voice reminds me to stay.

Though storms may rise, I will not fear,

For I know, my Shepherd’s near.

In You I find my peace complete,

Your grace provides all I need.

No treasure compares to what You’ve done,

My Shepherd, my Savior, the Holy One.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want, Forever in You I trust.

Disciples of All Nations

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

17 May 2026

 

First Reading: Acts 1:1-11

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23

Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

 

Reflection

By: Carlo Alexis Malaluan

 

Today we stand with the disciples on a mountain in Galilee. Yet even here, the Gospel tells us something striking: “When they saw Him, they worshipped, but they doubted.” Faith and hesitation sit side by side. That detail alone makes this passage feel very human. Unknowingly to the apostles, that tension is where the mission begins. Jesus does not choose flawless people. He entrusts His mission to those still growing. And this is important for us also, today: mission is not reserved for the spiritually confident. It begins with those willing to listen, even with uncertainty.

There is something deeply reassuring in this. Jesus does not wait for perfect clarity before He speaks His commission. He does not delay His trust until every question is resolved. Instead, He steps directly into the middle of their mixed interior state—worship and doubt together—and still sends them. He comes closer and declares what has become known as the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Jesus says, “Go.” It is not a suggestion to stay comfortable in familiar spaces. The Gospel always moves outward toward people we haven’t met, cultures we do not know, and places we might not naturally choose.

This also speaks directly to us. Many people imagine that they must first resolve every doubt before they can serve God, pray with others, or share their faith. But the Gospel shows the opposite. It is precisely in the midst of our unfinished understanding that Jesus calls us forward. What matters is not the absence of hesitation, but the decision to remain open—to worship even while still asking questions, to follow even while still learning.

Although the Gospel does not narrate the Ascension directly, this passage carries its meaning. As he ascends, Jesus is no longer bound to one place or one group. He is preparing to be present everywhere through His Spirit and through His disciples. In a sense, He is “ascending” not by leaving us, but by expanding His presence in the world through us. The movement is very important: From seeing Jesus in one place to carrying Jesus everywhere.

But at the heart of the passage, Jesus does not end with departure, but with presence. His promise transforms the meaning of absence: we are not working alone, we are not speaking into silence, and we are not left to improvise God’s mission. The Ascended Lord is not distant. He is always present, sustaining the Church from within. To hear this Gospel today is to recognize that the mission of Christ has not changed. Rather, it has only been handed on. We become His voice in places where silence has grown, His hands where healing is needed, and His witness where hope feels thin. And we do this not by our strength alone, but by the assurance that the One who sends us also accompanies us.

The disciples leave the mountain changed not because all their doubts are gone, but because they now know that doubt does not cancel a mission. They have witnessed the mystery of the Ascension of Christ going to the Father, which moves us to go to the farthest places of the earth to proclaim the Gospel. The Lord’s Ascension is not His absence. It is the beginning of His presence in us. And that is why His final words are not an ending, but a beginning: “I am with you always.”

I am Sending You

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

06 July 2025

 

First Reading: Isaiah 66:10-14c

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20

Second Reading: Galatians 6:14-18

Gospel: Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

 

Reflection

By: Fely Santiago

 

“The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few” - Luke 10:2

Go out to all the whole world and tell the good news. This is a calling for all of us. In the Gospel today, God appointed seventy-two others aside from the twelve apostles to help Him spread the good news. God is also asking us to help Him. We live in a world today where many people are hurting and I believe they need to experience God’s unconditional love for them. The world is just so noisy with negative news especially in the social media that we do not know who to believe anymore or what is the truth anymore. That is why I believe that in this present time God is also sending us to spread the good news of His love. And we can turn the negative or the bad news into positive with the power of social media by sharing our stories of how the Lord have accompanied us and how He have shown His love for us amidst many ups and downs of life. We can create many contents of how God’s love is shown to us everyday from the simple blessings to the big ones. We can be a living witness of God’s love and mercy. Let us tell the world of His love.

We are being called to a mission to bring heaven to earth, bring many souls to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus and establish God’s kingdom on earth. Only then can we truly experience the peace that God speaks to us many times.

Prayer

Lord the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Give me a discerning heart to listen to your voice may I realize the purpose of my life and the mission you have given me. Lead me Lord. Help me to listen and follow your will in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

It is the Lord!

Third Sunday of Easter

05 May 2019

First reading                                                                        Acts 5:27-32, 40-41
When the guards had brought in the apostles, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.”
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
When they had called in the apostles, they had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonour for the sake of the name.

Second reading                                                        Revelation 5:11-14

I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

Gospel                                                                     John 21:1-19

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his followers. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Reflection

By Pietro S. Albano

“It is the Lord!”, cried St John the Beloved, when he recognized it was Jesus who was waiting for them and giving them instructions where they could catch fish. That recognition was enough for St Peter to put his clothes on, jumped into the sea, and meet Christ. That encounter brought together the Master and His disciples for a meal. Having been nourished by the breakfast Jesus prepared Himself, what came next was a surprise for St Peter when he was asked not once, but thrice, if he loved the Lord. Having given the affirmative, he was called to missionary discipleship. Hence, looking back at the First Reading, we see not a cowering fisherman, but a courageous fisher of people.

Over these past few weeks, we read news of how Christians were persecuted. The bombings in Sri Lanka come to mind. The vandalization of churches here and there are another. At home, we see how the country's president called God 'stupid' to the glee of  his followers. One could say it is not that easy to become a Christian nowadays. It is never easy! Regardless, let us remain faithful to Jesus. 

“It is the Lord!”. Through our steadfast faith in the Risen Lord, may those around us - active or lapsed Christians, Christians or non-Christians, believers or non-believers - come to know Him. If that happens, then the experience of the disciples in today's Gospel would become real in our present times.

Prayer

Most loving and faithful Jesus, You were recognized by Your disciples in the sea. Help us too to recognize You in those moments when have not caught any fish in the sea of life.  May our actions and words point our sisters and brothers to You, our Savior. Amen.

O Mary, Star of the Sea, pray for us.