Ang Karunungan ng Diyos

Ika-29 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

18 Oktubre 2026

 

Unang Pagbasa: Isaias 45, 1. 4-6

Salmong Tugunan: Salmo 95, 1 at 3, 4-5. 7-8. 9-10a at k

Ikalawang Pagbasa: 1 Tesalonica 1, 1-5b

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 22, 15-21

 

Pagninilay

Ni: Renato C. Vibiesca

 

Ipinapakita sa Ebanghelyo ngayon na napakatalino ng Diyos na ating Panginoong Hesus dahil gusto ng mga Pariseo na siluin Siya, ngunit hindi sila nagtagumpay. Ang gusto nila’y bigyang katuwiran ang pagbibigay ng buwis kay Cesar na kung ang sagot ni Hesus ay hindi dapat magbuwis, pararatangan siyang rebelde sa pamahalaan ng imperyong Romano; at kung ang sagot nama’y dapat na magbuwis, ipinapahayag Niya ang pagsang-ayon sa korapsiyon ng pamahalaan at patunay na hindi siya pumapanig sa mamamayang naghihirap na nasusuklam sa sistema ng sapilitang pagbubuwis sa awtoridad na may titulong Cesar. Sa tingin ng mga tusong Pariseo ay mahuhuli na Siya sa kanilang tanong dahil kahit ano ang isagot Niya ay walang kawala sa bitag. Gusto nilang talian ng lubid sa leeg si Hesus upang matigil na sa Kanyang magagandang gawain at gusto nilang parang aso na susunod lamang sa kanilang mga utos. Marahil ay inggit na inggit na sila sa patuloy na pagsikat ni Hesus dahil sa husay ng kanyang pangangaral na kadalasang taliwas sa kanilang itinuturo. Marami ding humahanga kay Hesus sa tunay at sinserong paggawa ng mabubuting bagay para sa mamamayan, samantalang, mga taong mapagkunwari ang mga Pariseo dahil sa pakitang-tao lamang ang kanilang pananampalataya.

Tulad ng mga Pariseo, nasasadlak din tayo sa pagkakataon na maging tuso at mapagkunwari sa ating kapwa. Kung tayo’y mapagmataas sa kapwa, kasunod nito’y inggit; kung tayo’y naiinggit sa posisyon at nauunahan ng iba sa itaas, gusto nati’y hilahin sila pababa; kung tayo nama’y nahihigitan sa kasaganaan at kasikatan, gusto nati’y angkinin ang kanilang natamo. Lalong malakas ang tukso ng inggit at pagmamataas kung tayo’y nasa posisyong tagapamahala tulad ng mga nasa politiko at negosyo. Kaya nga napakahirap mamuhay sa gitna ng mga tuso sa pamahalaan at naliligid ng mga mapanglamang na may-ari ng malalaking negosyo. Subalit, hindi naman tayo hahayaan ng ating Panginoong Hesus na mahulog sa bitag ng mga kaaway sa lipunan at kung mananatili tayong tapat sa Diyos, higit Niyang ibinibigay sa atin ang biyaya upang hindi masilo sa anumang masasamang balak sa atin. Ang sagot? Laging maging tapat sa pagibibigay ng nauukol para sa Diyos tulad ng pagsisimba tuwing Linggo o higit pang mga araw, tapat na pangungumpisal at pananatiling masigasig sa pagtupad ng lahat ng Sakramento ng ating simbahan.

Noong isang Linggo, habang papunta kami ng buong pamilya ko sa simbahan, nakasakay kami sa isang napakagarang kotse ng Grab na aming na-book at namangha kami sa kakaibang kwento ng drayber nito. Buong buhay niya raw ay ginugol sa negosyo at pagtatrabaho kaya ngayo’y retirado na’t nagtagumpay na sa buhay, kaya naglilibang na lang siya sa pagmamaneho. Nalibot na nga raw niya ang buong mundo at naiinip na lang sa bahay kaya nagpasyang maging drayber ng Grab. Kaya lang ay hindi naman daw siya nagsisimba at ni minsa’y hindi niya naisama sa pagsisimba ang kanyang mga anak at asawa dahil lahat nga sila ay abala sa pagtataguyod ng negosyo. Sayang naman ang sabi ko, sayang nga raw talaga kasi’y huli na ngayon dahil hiwa-hiwalay na sila ng tirahan ng kanyang pamilya. Nasilip ko sa salamin ang lungkot ng kayang mga mata nang sabihin ang panghihinayang.

Ang hamon ng ating buhay ay hindi lamang tungkol sa pag-aasikaso ng buwis o anumang negosyo o ganansiya sa kaperahan sa mundo, bagkus ay ipinapakita sa atin ni Hesus ang mabuting halimbawa na ang higit na kailangan nati’y ang pagbibigay ng ating oras at buhay na naayon para sa Diyos. Sapagkat ang tunay na layunin ng ating buhay ay ang makilala nang husto ang Diyos at mahalin nang tunay upang maialay natin ang ating buhay hanggang sa makapiling Siya habambuhay. Hindi naman bulag ang Diyos para hindi makita ang mga ninanakaw na buwis sa atin ng mga tusong nagsasamantala. Nag-uumapaw naman ang kagustuhan ng Diyos na tayo’y pasaganahin din sa ating buhay upang sundin ang kalooban Niya na maglaan tayo ng oras para sa Kanya. Ang totoo’y higit pa sa katalinuhan ang ipinamalas ni Hesus sa pagsagot sa Pariseo dahil ito’y tunay na karunungang mula sa Kanyang pagka-Diyos at kahit sino pang may pinakamataas na katungkulan o pinakamatalinong tao na tuso ay hinding-hindi uubra sa karunungan ng ating Diyos. Amen.

 

Panalangin

Panginoong Hesus, higit ang Iyong katalinuhan at walang hanggang karunungan na amin ding kahilingan na kahit mambunan man lang, upang mapagtagumpayan namin ang anumang hamon ng pagsilo ng mga tuso at maging grasya ito ng pagbabalik namin ng aming buhay na nararapat para sa Iyo. Amen.

Paghahanda sa Kaharian ng Diyos

Ika-28 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

11 Oktubre 2026

Unang Pagbasa: Isaias 25, 6-10a

Salmong Tugunan: Salmo 22, 1-3a. 3b-4. 5, 6

Ikalawang Pagbasa: Filipos 4, 12-14. 19-20

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 22, 1-14

 

Pagninilay

Ni: Renato C. Vibiesca

Sa susunod na buwan ay dadalo kami ng aking misis sa isang kasalan sa Baguio upang maging isa sa mga ninong at ninang. Enero pa lang ay naimbitahan na kami kaya’t halos sampung buwan na kaming naghahanda para sa kasalang ito. Ang ilan sa pinaghahandaan namin ay ang pansamantalang tutuluyan namin, ang budget na gagatusin para sa transportasyon, ang aming tutuluyan at destinasyon sa pamamasyal pagkatapos ng piging. Mabusisi rin ang paghahanda namin sa mga isusuot tulad ng kulay ng aming damit na kailangang akma sa ibinigay na tema ng ikakasal. Inaasahan din naming mas malamig na rin ang klima sa Baguio dahil sa paglakas ng hanging amihan kaya’t kasama rin ito sa paghahanda ng iba pang kasuotan. Tulad sa talinghaga ng ating Panginoong Hesus, kung tayo ay tumugon sa paanyaya ng hari, marapat lamang na paghandaan ito nang mabuti upang maging angkop ang kasuotan sa piging ng kasal. Sa pakahulugan ng ating simbahan, ang piging ay paanyaya sa kaligtasan sa lahat, walang pinipili ang ating Panginoon sa mga iimbitahan dahil nga ang kasal ay larawan ng Kaharian ng Diyos. Siguradong maraming imbitadong mga banal at kahangan-hanga ang buhay ng mga taong pinili mismo ng Diyos upang makasalo sa piging at mayroon ding mga kilala o mga sikat na personalidad na inanyayahan. Subalit hindi naman lahat ay tumutugon sa paanyaya dahil siguro’y nasilaw na sa kaharian ng mundo ang karamihan at marahil ay nagbibingi-bingihan na lamang sa pagtawag sa kanila. Sa walang-hanggang kabutihan at awa ng Diyos ay kahit paulit-ulit pa tayong tumanggi ay hindi Siya nagsasawa na paulit-ulit din tayong iniimbitahan sa Kanyang Kaharian.

Ang nakapagtataka talaga ay kahit pa tayong mga walang pangalan sa lipunan o mga makasalanang tunay na lagi na lamang nadadapa sa kasalanan sa mundo ay patuloy ding iniimbitahan ng Panginoon sa Kanyang Kaharian. Kaya nga dapat na ipagpasalamat talaga na tayong lahat ay iniimbita ng Diyos sa Kanyang Kaharian sa langit kahit pa hindi naman tayo karapat-dapat. Ang paghahanda ng ating pananamit naman sa pagdalo sa kasalan ay ang ating pagsisikap na maging mabuting Kristiyano. Ang isa sa paghahanda sa piging ay ang malimit na pagtanggap natin ng mga sakramento ng ating simbahan. Tila magarbong damit na akma sa kasalan ang pagsasabuhay ng mga sakramento para sa mga grasyang dulot ng pakikipagkaisa kay Hesus. Tulad ng sakramento ng pangungumpisal na nagpapalinis ng ating kaluluwa at nagpapaputi ng ating kasuotan para sa dadaluhang piging. Higit na magpapakinang sa ating kalooban ang malimit na pagtanggap sa ating Panginoong Hesus sa sakramento ng Eukaristiya sa banal na Misa. Hindi ba’t napakalaking biyaya ng ating Panginoong Hesus para sa ating lahat na Siya na nga mismo ang nagbigay sa atin ng mga biyaya ng kabanalan para sa paghahanda sa piging sa pamamagitan ng mga iniwan Niyang Sakramento? Ang simula ng hamon sa atin bago pa nga ang paghahanda ng lahat ng kasuotan ay ang pagtugon sa Kanyang paanyaya. Kung naging pusong bato na tayo, nalunod na sa kasakiman ng kayamanan sa mundo, nabaliw na sa pagyakap sa kasalanan, at napagkakamalan nating hindi na tayo makakaahon pa sa putikan, lagi lang nating isipin na ang paanyaya ng Diyos sa atin ay walang hanggang awa at pagpapatawad. Kung parang ang lahat ay madilim na sa ating buhay, kung halos iniwan na tayo ng lahat at wala na tayong malapitan, kung nasadlak na tayo sa mapapait na karanasan at kabiguan, ang pagmamahal ng Diyos sa atin ay nananatili, kailanma’y hinding-hindi tayo bibiguin ng ating Panginoon. Muli nating tugunan ang patuloy na pag-anyaya sa piging ng Kanyang Kaharian at doon sa banal na pagsasalo ay yakapin natin nang mahigpit ang ating mapagmahal na Diyos. Amen.

 

Panalangin

Panginoong Hesus, pasasalamat at papuri ang aming dalangin para sa walang hanggang pagmamahal mo sa amin dahil sa patuloy na pag-anyaya sa amin sa iyong Kaharian kahit pa hindi kami naging karapat-dapat. Kami po ay mapagpakumbabang tumutugon sa Inyong paanyaya at pahintulutang kaming makapaghanda para sa pakikipagkaisa sa aming Panginoong Hesus. Amen

Ang Ubasan ng Diyos

Ika-27 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

04 Oktubre 2026

 

Unang Pagbasa: Isaias 5, 1-7

Salmong Tugunan: Salmo 79, 9 at 12. 13-14. 15-16. 19-20

Ikalawang Pagbasa: Filipos 4, 6-9

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 21, 33-43

 

Pagninilay

Ni: Renato C. Vibiesca

 

Bihira ang ubasan sa ating bayan. Unang beses na nakakita ako ng ubasan sa Candon, Ilocos Sur ilang dekada na ang nakaraan. Mapusyaw na kulay berde ang kulay ng ubas sa Candon at hindi gaanong matamis nang matikman ko. Ang totoo’y wala sa kultura natin ang ubasan at iilang lugar nga lang talaga ang merong taniman ng ubas sa atin. Siguro’y dahil sa klase ng lupa o klima na hindi akma para makapagpabunga ng matamis at masarap na ubas na karaniwang ginagawang alak. Kaya’t hindi katakataka na marami sa atin ang nangangapa sa talinghagang ito sa Ebanghelyo dahil nga halos wala sa kamalayan natin ang pagtatanim ng ubas. 

Nitong nakaraang taon lamang ako namangha nang husto nang makakita ng ekta-ektaryang ubasan at nakarinig ng ilang impormasyon tungkol sa pagtatanim ng ubas. Binigyan pa kami ni Lord ng pagkakataon na makatikim ng ilang klase ng alak mula sa katas ng ubas nang mabiyayaan kami na makapaglakbay sa Europa. Natuklasan ko na masusing inaayos ng magsasaka ang ubasan mula sa paghahanda ng lupa, pagbabakod nito, pagtatayo ng mga gapangan ng baging at ugat, patubig, pruning at pagpapabunga, pamamahala ng peste at sakit ng halaman, paglalagak sa imbakan, pagpipisaan ng ani, hanggang sa metikulosong paghahanda ng sisidlan upang lalong mapasarap ang alak mula sa katas ng ubas. Matrabaho at mahabang pasensiya ang kailangan pala sa pagtatanim ng ubas at dapat na maalam o mayaman sa karanasan ang sinumang magtatanim nito upang magtagumpay. Mahabang tradisyon na nila ang hirap ng pagtatanim ng ubas.

Ang grasya ng paghahanda ng ubasan ang ibinibigay ng Panginoon sa ating lahat. Anuman ang lakbayin natin sa ating buhay ay inihanda na ng Diyos ang lahat na ating kakailanganin upang tayo’y maging matatag sa lahat ng pagsubok. Ipinagkakatiwala ng Diyos sa atin ang biyaya na Kanya mismong inihanda upang masigurong mamumunga ito nang sagana. Ang bunga nito ay hindi lamang upang sarilinin natin at maging sakim sa lahat ng biyaya nito. Itinuturo sa atin ng talinghaga na maging tapat tayo sa Diyos na nagbigay ng saganang biyaya sa ating buhay, at ibalik sa Kanya ang papuri sa pamamagitan ng pagtanggap kay Hesus na ating Panginoon. Madalas ay nabubulagan tayo ng ating sariling tagumpay at nakakalimutan na ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit natin tinatamasa ang lahat ng bungang tinatamasa.

Kaya nga’t sa bawat Misa na ating dinadaluhan, nasasaksihan natin ang sakripisyo ng ating Panginoong Hesus sa pagtanggap natin ng Banal na Dugo sa anyong alak mula sa ubasan at Kanyang Katawan sa tinapay na nagbibigay sa ating ng buhay na walang hanggan. Patunay ang Banal na Hapag sa Misa na laging masagana ang bunga na handog sa ating buhay at marapat lamang na pakumbaba nating tanggapin at paglingkuran nang tapat si Hesus upang lagi tayong pagharian ng Diyos. Amen.

Panalangin

Panginoon, maraming salamat sa ubasang ipinagkatiwala Mo sa amin. Tulungan Mo kaming palaguin ito at maibigay nang buong puso ang alak mula sa mga bunga nito. Amen.

Holistic Refinement

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

27 September 2026

 

First Reading: Ezekiel 18:25-28

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: Philippians 2:1-11

Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32

 

Reflection

By: Jose Paulo Gonzales

 

Today’s Gospel entices us into another novelty: Which of the two sons did his father’s will? As we have read and can further surmise, the first son did right by the eyes of heaven because though he made an initial “no,” he showed up for work at his father’s vineyard afterwards, turning his decision around. The appeal of the second brother is understandable being that there is only so much we can place our assurance in with others whose lives take shape and turn out beyond our awareness. We have heard it said in common: “A person’s word is his or her bond; a person is as good as his word;” but as we have seen in Scripture, not as the world runs does heaven conduct its ways; not at first instance does heaven decide who is right; and one’s words are as good as his or her actions can actualize.

A comparable example is Dimas whose story we revisit especially during Holy Week—the thief crucified to Jesus’ right. With a trail of crime that has defined his life enough to sentence him to execution, at the hour of death, Dimas could have defended himself from the charges against him; but at the sight of Jesus, even at the mockery of Gestas, Dimas admitted his guilt, recognized the innocence of Christ, and with his hopeful request, assented to Jesus’ Godship, leading Dimas to Paradise and his very canonization by Jesus, Godself.

In today’s Gospel, the first son is like the tax collectors and the prostitutes who, though morally precarious at the start, ultimately decide to turn their lives around at the mention of Jesus. The second son, on the other hand, is like the chief priests and the elders who, though seemingly agreeable, are exposed by their actions, and are found insubordinate to Jesus.

In these examples, we learn from those found righteous that it is most important not how we start, but rather, how we amend our lives as we come to know Jesus. We do not all start from the same place. How we start is greatly influenced by factors outside our control, but we all receive the grace to repent, so though in the world there is death, we can all find life in Jesus. There is no guarantee that anyone starts his or her endeavors with the purest intentions, so what matters is the humility to admit where we are failing and the ultimate decision to repent not as a one-time but a daily act of refining.

Interestingly, the greatness of some can detract them from repentance; the self-conviction of others can dissuade them from finding what is amiss; and the strife of others can beckon them toward Jesus, so given our circumstances, there are invitations to admit our need for the Lord, ground our hands in God’s work, and remain pliable in spirit to Jesus. In Jesus, as we realize in today’s Gospel, it is not prized most who appears resolute, but those who back away from sin and make amends, as is fitting to the Lord. In this, even hesitance finds grace to be called “blessed”—if it knows its rightful object—or should we say—the “Eternal Subject.”

Prayer

God, thank You for Your Presence and for Your gifts of prudence and discernment. May what we have learned from Your Gospel help our holistic refinement.

As we continue the Season of Creation, we pray for the well-being of everyone, the preservation of our environment, and the temperance not to resort helplessly to artificial means what can be left best for the nurture of human and greater natural life.

These, we ask, in Jesus’ most holy Name, Amen.

God's Generosity

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

20 September 2026

 

First Reading: Isaiah 55:6-9

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18

Second Reading: Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a

Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16a

 

Reflection

By: John Paulo Gonzales

 

Let us picture this: a hard day’s work at the office: a truckload of paperwork, deadlines running concurrently with each other, pressure from multiple authority figures, on top of the widely changing landscape our daily interactions. These present to us giants that need to be conquered every day, which is why it is relieving to receive our salary for a “job well done.” Normally, those who have worked longer at the company receive a proportionate increase in their salary, while juniors are extended the hope of reaping the same benefit come the proper time.

In today’s Gospel, the dynamic of compensation is not so straightforward. In the story, some laborers have been scouted early in the day to render work in the open field, only to realize that at the day’s end, they would receive the same wage as those who started later but ended with them at the same time. The question arises: “Why were they given the same amount?” Does the question sound familiar? This is when what we read becomes a personal experience.

In the story of the Prodigal Son, a comparable inner tempest can be seen. When the profligate son returned home to his father only hoping to be given bare sustenance the same as that given to the least in the household—only to be treated to the finest drapes, food, and festivity instead—the elder brother lamented to their father: “All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. (Luke 15:11-32)”

What is challenging in the Gospel is its relatability. At any point, we can find ourselves wrestling with the same thing: the feeling of not being given what we perceive we are worth… of not being given what we asked for... that indignance; for we know how much we have worked (compared to others). If we have reservations about naming what we deserve, we know how much we have pained (especially more than others did); but the Gospel today helps us realize how easy it is to identify with those who express their injuries openly and how helpless we can be at intuiting those whose pains we do not see readily.

In the Gospel, the problem was not that the grumblers had the temerity to ask, as to ask the Lord is an option not denied (Mark 7:7), but that they were much more keen on keeping score with the late workers. They could have asked the landowner if they could be requited for the work they believe goes beyond the usual daily wage, but instead, they objected to the following: “You have made them equal to us”—which can be taken as a denial of grace. As spectators ourselves, the lesson is just as crucial. It may be easy to associate with someone whose feelings we find personable that we fail to see the feelings of those who, buffeted by their own situation, may not have the strength to voice out their agony with any urgency anymore.

In the Gospel, we may find ourselves given to the groaning of those who started work early because their pain sounds familiar; their plea, we heard in plain; but we can be so unwitting to those subject to a different struggle. Where others have a headway at work, others may find themselves unable to even start. We have much to learn from God, the Landowner, who understood the late starters: “Why do you stand here idle all day?” […] “Because”—they answered—“no one has hired us.” As it turns out, the problem of the late workers is one that has existed for as long as work itself—and is one we still find relevant today. When we espouse God’s love in the way we look at His beloved in our midst, we realize that while all their good work is valuable, no pain from anyone is discountable. The Gospel also points to a most eminent truth: God is sovereign and supreme; He can give to whomever He wants; He remains generous, nevertheless. The Sacrifice of Christ makes a special point, however. The Father is already free to give to whomever He wants; but with the spiritual adoption won by the blood of Christ, who, then, is estranged from God’s generosity? Is there anything barring God from giving anyone a good thing? In this spirit, we can better understand God’s Own indignance in saying: “Am I not free to do as I wish with [what I have]? Are you envious because I am generous?”

If I can opine, the Gospel takeaway is not so much that “there are the blessed, and there are those who are not.” This is a line of thought tempting to the broken, especially to those who have been dented for so long; but that we can find ourselves—at any point—at either end of the discourse—between the “blessed this time” and the “blessed in time.” Anyone, at a time we are vulnerable, can be a “lost sheep,” so it is consoling to remember two things: first, God leaves the ninety-nine (comfortable) to recover the one who is lost (Luke 15:1-7; Matthew 18:12), and second, a community of believers provides a nurturing space where help can be sought and obtained.

Generosity is one revelation of God’s Personal Character—the fullness of which His heart speaks; and it is so expressive that in the Kingdom of God, there is preference for the last, the least, and the lost, so while we are in the world, we do not lose sight of those we must first seek to extend our generosity.

We are called to be generous so that in the order of things, with everything put in its proper place, we know that generosity is the measure to uphold. We all experience our peaks and troughs. One moment, we may be content, and another, we are in need. To the extent that we are capable of generosity, we are called towards it, and for the times when we are struggling, there is grace. To be generous when we are able is virtue, and to be generous when we are unable is great love. Lastly, though the world is rife with triggers for our indignation, there is Christ with Whom we can share our struggles and candid pleas, and our neighbors whose plights—resembling our crosses—we can help ease and offer in prayer.

Prayer

God, thank You for Your Presence. Thank You for reminding us today that as many are the crosses we bear, so do others endure their own sufferings. Please help us lighten each other’s burdens where we can, offer to You the parts we cannot help anymore, and to share with You everything just the same because You are our constant trusted Companion.

As we continue the Season of Creation, we also raise up to you our environment, natural and social, ravaged by inclement weather and multiple forms of violence. Please help us become Your good and faithful stewards. These, we ask, in Jesus’ most holy Name, Amen.

Forgive As We Are Forgiven

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

13 September 2026

 

First Reading: Sirach 27:30–28:7

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12

Second Reading: Romans 14:7-9

Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

 

Reflection

By: John Paulo Gonzales

 

[WARNING: Contains mention of violence only for the purpose of discourse]

Today is posed another challenge in the Gospel: How do we forgive? It is important that we are reminded of how essential it is to forgive so we are strengthened in our understanding of why we must do it in perpetuity—seventy-seven times, even (Matthew 18:21-22). The importance of forgiveness is stated in the Bible: God’s forgiveness affords us His eternal redemption in Heaven through the shedding of Christ’s Blood (Acts 2:38). On earth, we are forgiven, ourselves, if we forgive our brothers and sisters (Matthew 6:14-15).

So important is forgiveness that God says: if we have any grievance against our brothers and sisters, we must resolve it first before leaving our offering at the altar (Matthew 5:23-24; Mark 11:25). Indeed, it is expressly significant to forgive not that it precedes adoration (as if to establish eminence), but that it personifies our adoration to the Father. That is, as we worship God in prayer, so should we exercise forgiveness in our relationship with our brothers and sisters.

Many accounts give us demonstrations of how it is to forgive: Joseph forgave the brothers who had him almost killed but opted instead to sell him into slavery (Genesis 50:15-21), giving rise to one of the passages we behold today: “What [others] intended for evil, God meant [it] for good” (Genesis 50:20). St. Maria Goretti, a budding adolescent then, was locked into by the eyes of a tormentor whose heated passion subjected her to carnal assault. She died about 24 hours after the attack. 30 years after the perpetrator was put behind bars, one night, Goretti appeared in a dream where she gathered flowers and offered them to him. After the perpetrator’s release, he begged for the forgiveness of Goretti’s mother, and he was seen kneeling among a sea of people, crying tears of joy at Goretti’s beatification in 1947 (Fraciscan Media, n.d.). St. Maria Goretti’s forgiveness paved the way not only for the emancipation of her perpetrator, but also for his radical conversion, with the perpetrator—Alessandro Serenelli—soon becoming a Capuchin brother.

St. John Paul II is another exemplary model of forgiveness. In 1981, amid a general audience in St. Peter’s Square, the former pontiff was shot twice in an assassination attempt. After two years of recovery from sustained wounds, St. John Paul II visited his assailant, talked with him to foster conversation and express his forgiveness, and rallied the faithful to forgive and pray for him as well. More than a decade into the assassin’s incarceration, the former pope appealed to the president of Italy for pardon, leading to the gunman’s release in 2000—symbolically—in a Year of Jubilee (Tornielli, 2021; Szalajko, 2026).

Forgiveness does not always announce itself from the mountaintops. Sometimes, it exists in the stillness of a whisper. St. Thérèse of Lisieux provides a notable example of how to administer forgiveness towards those who, day-to-day, give us a hard time. In her convent life, St. Thérèse suffered reproach from her elders, to which she responded with grace, silent acceptance, and forgiveness, considering such slights as “simple barriers [she needs] to endure [...] to share in God’s holiness” (Melbourne Catholic, 2020).

Amid our many stellar examples of forgiveness, there is One we know from the Bible Who “demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, [He] died for us” (Romans 5:8). This is Jesus—the Christ Who petitioned the Father in ultimate forgiveness: “Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

While we are in the world, there are many things that can move us; some affecting us so deeply as to stir within us a significant disquiet. There are transgressions that can pierce us so greatly that we struggle to move forward, live in good spirits, let alone forgive perfectly; but the virtue of forgiveness is presented nevertheless, in a measure we can carry out by the strength of God than our own, so we have a means through which we not only absolve others, but also liberate ourselves. Lofty a standard it is to forgive, but it is never a door we cannot walk through, by the grace of God which makes the impossible possible. In our predicaments, we have a “High Priest who is [able] to empathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15); One in Whom we can confide our pains; the “Friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

If it is us, in turn, who need forgiveness, the grace of God is replete in the sacraments: Penance and Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist—with the Penitential Act preceding standard liturgical celebrations; and the Church—the Community we are likewise encouraged to convene with when confessing our sins so we can share our struggles, pray for them, and obtain healing together (James 5:16).

Prayer

God, thank You for Your Presence and for reminding us how important it is to forgive, especially that in such a way, we, ourselves, be forgiven. Please help us forgive the faults we have yet to pardon, to be patient with our own errors, to courageously ask forgiveness for the mistakes we commit, and to help create a space in Church where it is healthy to confess our failings and hardships with each other in trust, faith, and love, as You intend.

We also continue to pray for those who suffer the effects of devastating weather conditions, political conflicts, violence, eternal peace for the deceased faithful from the clergy to the lay community, and for spiritual vocations.

These, we ask, in Jesus’ most holy Name, Amen.

A Christian Responsibility

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

06 September 2026

 

First Reading: Ezekiel 33:7-9

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: Romans 13:8-10

Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

 

Reflection

By: Jose Paulo Gonzales

 

“To err is human, to forgive, divine.” Credited to Alexander Pope, I would often see this sticker plastered across many rear windshield or bumper – a thoughtful reminder of how noble it is to forgive, but on the basic level, how common it is for all of us to make a mistake.

As a child being eased into the world, I would often get reminded to pay elders my basic respects: “O, magmano ka” (when it was still the norm especially within Filipino circles). In the household, we have probably seen the youngest member of the family doodling their masterpiece on the wall; a young teen blasting their music louder than others in the room can tolerate; or even the most seasoned of parents leaving cabinet doors open. All of us have our share of faults, enough that it has become customary to say “sorry” to acknowledge what we did and audibly express our contrition; but it is a different matter when the person who makes a mistake does not know what happened (i.e. ignorance). Depending on the severity of the fault, the aggrieved may simply choose to go on his or her way; but what do we do when the wrongdoer, after seeing something amiss to which they had some sizable contribution, ‘maintains,’ especially in earnest, that there is no harm done? Further, what do we do when the person repeats the same mistake?

Both the First Reading and the Gospel for today provide inquiry into the matter: when we receive God’s revelation, it is on ourselves to relay what God shared, so that others know what they need to do to participate, especially if there is something for which they must atone. If they do not want to repent for the wrong made known, the guilt rests upon their hands, and is extinguished from us, for we have done our part in reminding (although perhaps a certain sense of compassion would stretch some to remind further, again and again, very insistently; after all, if we must forgive others seventy seven times, should we not remind others just the same—as an act of love—so they can be forgiven?) Scripture is clear: our guilt is absolved when we admonish; another’s, if he or she repents; nevertheless, it is love itself that decides to go the extra measure: “Regardless of whether I am already free of guilt—what can I do to help the other person be forgiven?” This perhaps is when we become more Christlike—when we love, as said in the Second Reading. The Gospel shares with us more crucial insights into how to confront a wrongdoer. Telling someone his or her fault alone with only yourselves present is like today’s “Praise in public, criticize in private.” Letting confrontation remain privately between or among only those concerned addresses the issue while protecting the dignity of the parties involved; but in cases where the issue cannot anymore be resolved privately for the repercussions are wide-reaching, more so if the wrongdoer willfully does not admit to the mistake, the testimony of two to three witnesses establishes the more convincing claim of truth (in cases where the statements of more people hold a higher truth value). The solidarity exemplified here gives mention to two things: the importance of community—the Church—in maintaining discipline and how discipline, best handled privately with discretion, is ultimately a common social responsibility. After all, are we not our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers? Finally, it is wonderfully heralded in the Gospel: the two, three, or many believers helping us make sure that we remain in God’s discipline and love resemble the same community God accompanies fondly in prayer. This tells us: we must always strive to keep the quality of our bonds especially as the Church, and the [best] way to live harmoniously together is through love… through God, Godself.

Prayer

God, thank You for Your Presence and for reminding us how important it is to preserve our connection as Your Church. May we all do our share in keeping the Church alive and extend Her reach especially to those who have yet to encounter Her closely.

We also commend to Your loving hands those ravaged by the monsoon rains and flooding, the current state of political affairs, and the rise in incidents of violence among schools in the Philippines, those devastated by flashfloods in China-Tibet and Nepal, those in Southeast Asia who sustain the diffusion of toxic fumes from peatland fires, and those around the world who are suffering the effects of war.

These, we ask, in Jesus’ most holy Name, Amen.

The World's Logic

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

30 August 2026

 

First Reading: Jeremiah 20:7-9

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

Second Reading: Romans 12:1-2

Gospel: Matthew 16:21-27

 

Reflection

By: Bernard Borja

 

In last week’s Gospel, Jesus named Simon as Peter, the rock in which the Church will be built. In the Gospel today, Peter immediately commits a deeply human mistake: he tries to write God’s plan using worldly logic. When Jesus foretells his own suffering and death, Peter rebukes him, triggering Christ’s piercing response: "You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." This kind of thinking – the tension between divine wisdom and self-reliant human rationality – sits at the heart of our most evident moral failures, both personal and societal. But as soon as Peter made a mistake of “thinking as human beings do”, Jesus immediately takes him back on how to discern God’s will, even before the Church is built.

We are often tempted to conform to the reasoning of what the world does, which is a mindset that St. Paul warns against in his letter to the Romans. The world’s logic is often practical. It prioritizes survival, comfort, and the preservation of power. When we fail to truly discern God's will, we easily fall into the trap of self-reliance, convincing ourselves that our personal ambitions or political loyalties are somehow aligned with divine favor simply because they are effective or popular.

This dangerous mindset is more visible in the current socio-political view of the world, especially in the Philippines. Over the years, the nation has witnessed a disturbing normalization of violence, where government officials promoted thousands of extrajudicial killings under the banner of public safety. The tragedy is not just the massive loss of life, but the moral reversal that comes with it. Many people blindly supported these brutal campaigns, persuaded by a twisted logic that sacrificing the marginalized, the poor, and the voiceless was a necessary trade-off, thinking that this is something "good for most people". This is the exact human thinking Jesus rebuked: the belief that a necessary end justifies a ruthless, bloodstained means.

The moral conflict becomes louder when those in power weaponize religion to shield themselves from accountability. We see leaders and their enablers facing severe domestic and international investigation, including those investigated by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, yet they shamelessly quote scripture, post themselves in social media attending mass or church services, and declare that God is with them. They use faith as a dramatic prop to maintain their grip on power and evade justice. It becomes a “poser” faith that demands divine blessing while strongly rejecting the cross of accountability and truth.

The experience of the prophet Jeremiah can be compared with this. In the first reading, Jeremiah cries out that speaking God’s truth has brought him "derision and reproach all the day." True prophets and genuine disciples do not inflict violence to maintain authority. They endure hardships to uphold the truth. They do not twist God’s word to justify the shedding of blood. They allow their hearts to be broken by the injustices of the world.

Jesus now asks us a question that breaks the mindset of self-reliance: "What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" When people blindly follow leaders who evade justice, and when officials use God’s name to sanction cruelty, they are forfeiting the soul of a nation. Genuine faith requires a radical renewal of the mind. It demands the courage to see through the propaganda and true intent of the powerful, to reject a false peace built on violence, and to take up the difficult cross of demanding justice, accountability, and the inherent dignity of every human life.

Prayer

Lord God, we come before You as we recognize how often we rely on our own flawed human logic rather than trusting in Your divine wisdom. Grant us the grace to renew our minds, that we may not choose comfort over truth and justice. We lift up our nation to You as we pray for healing and accountability. As we also remember the Passion of St. John the Baptist, inspire us with his courage to speak the truth to earthly authorities, even when it demands ultimate personal sacrifice. May we always choose to take up our cross to defend the dignity of every human life. We pray for guidance to live as faithful disciples who seek justice and mercy above all else. In Jesus Name, AMEN.  

The Weight of Heaven's Keys

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

23 August 2026

 

First Reading: Isaiah 22:19-23

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8

Second Reading: Romans 11:33-36

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20

 

Reflection

By: Bernard Borja

 

When Jesus hands Simon Peter the "keys to the kingdom of heaven," it is a surprising moment of divine trust placed in a deeply flawed, ordinary fisherman. Like Peter, many of us tremble before the massive weight of our assigned roles, feeling unworthy of the authority and responsibility we are given. Yet, God reminds us that He does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called, providing the grace needed to sustain us.

This burden of leadership is particularly witnessed today in the Philippines, where Catholic priests, bishops, and lay leaders are carrying the heavy cross of fighting systemic corruption. In the first reading, Eliakim is entrusted with authority and called to be a "father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem." We see this spiritual fatherhood alive in Church leaders today who continuously fight to protect their flock from the results of poverty, which has been worsened by the plunder of public funds, from anomalous flood control projects to the shameless misuse of confidential funds. Acting as true fathers to our country, they continually demand that corrupt officials not only face justice but admit their sins, repent, and return stolen wealth to the people.

Like Peter, accepting such role to have authority to build God’s kingdom comes at a price. When Jesus granted Peter the authority to "bind and loose," it signified a brutal moral responsibility over the welfare of others. For the Filipino clergy and true leaders in the government, exercising this authority by holding those who are powerful accountable has made them top targets. Priests and leaders who file plunder complaints or publicly condemn the political impunity of top government officials face severe harassment, intimidation, and relentless attacks from those trying to protect their power.

But we are reminded that we can find consolation in Christ’s promise to Peter: “The gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” The systemic greed, political machinery, and targeted attacks that our leaders face can easily feel like the forces of hell trying to silence the truth. They stand firm, knowing that their spiritual endurance relies not on human resilience and wisdom, but on the divine assurance that evil will not have the final word.

When the corrupt seem to succeed and the fight for accountability feels impossible, we can turn to St. Paul’s words: “How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!” We may not always understand why God places us in the receiving end of these political conflicts or calls us to fight deep-rooted injustice. However, surrendering to the mystery of God’s wisdom will bring us peace and allow true leaders to trust that their sacrifices are planting seeds for a reformed nation.

True justice demands courage. Whether we are clergy facing harassment or everyday citizens having our own overwhelming responsibilities, we are reminded that our unworthiness is no obstacle to God's grace. Like Peter, we are simply asked to profess our faith in Christ and use whatever "keys" we have given to unlock a more just, accountable, and compassionate world.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, whose judgments are inscrutable and ways unsearchable, we thank You for entrusting us with the massive weight of building Your kingdom, despite us being ordinary, flawed individuals. Just as You qualified Saint Peter despite his trembling unworthiness, pour out Your sustaining grace upon us to faithfully bear the spiritual and moral responsibilities of our assigned roles. Protect those who face severe harassment and relentless attacks for demanding truth and accountability, reassuring them that the gates of the netherworld shall never prevail against Your kingdom. We also ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Queen and Mother. May she who reigns with compassionate grace intercede for our nation, inspiring all in authority to act as true spiritual fathers who protect the vulnerable from the plunder of greed.

Through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Incovenience Needs

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

16 August 2026

 

First Reading: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

Second Reading: Romans 11:13-15, 29-32

Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28

 

Reflection

By: Bernard Borja

 

A young professional who works in a corporation at Makati commutes to work as early as 5am from Mandaluyong to Ayala, not because he wants to be early at his office, but he attends the 7am mass at a chapel near his workplace. One day, when he was waiting for the train, the MRT announced a stop operation because someone fell off the tracks and will need emergency response. He thought to himself, “Abala naman ito. Baka hindi pa ako makaabot sa misa. (Another hassle. I might miss the mass.)”

~~~

The disciples’ reaction to the desperate Canaanite woman is uncomfortably familiar: “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” To the disciples, she was a foreigner, an annoyance, and an interruption to their current mission. Today, this exact scene plays out not on the ancient roads of Tyre and Sidon, but along the streets of Metro Manila and within the divided chaotic world of social media. We find a deeply divided society, where the cries of the marginalized are frequently treated as mere noise by those in positions of privilege.

When we reflect on the disciples’ quick dismissal of the woman, we are challenged to ask: “When have we turned away those seeking help because their needs felt inconvenient? Or when have we looked at other’s suffering a disturbance to our comfortable routine?” In our society today, this disconnect is glaring. Consider the ongoing struggles of marginalized sectors, such as traditional jeepney drivers fighting for their livelihoods amid transport modernization, or the people who constantly suffer from flood during rainy season. To the comfortable and the well-off, the protests and pleas of these sectors are often dismissed as "anti-progress" or “not resilient enough”. Worse, most would just say, “Mga tamad kasi (They’re just lazy).” Just as the disciples wanted the Canaanite woman silenced, the privileged often wish the marginalized would simply disappear so their daily routines remain undisturbed.

This deep-rooted division often integrates into our spiritual lives. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God’s house is a "house of prayer for all peoples," yet we often act as gatekeepers to His grace. In a city where abundant, air-conditioned churches sit just few hundred meters away from a stretch of informal settlers, religious biases run deep. It is dangerously easy for the privileged to unconsciously connect their wealth and comfort with divine favor, somehow judging the poor as lacking in faith, discipline, or merit. We forget St. Paul’s powerful reminder that God’s mercy is universal and entirely unearned. We must ask ourselves: “Does our own comfort and perception of "worthiness" prevent us from showing the radical kindness and generosity that God has given to all of us?”

Jesus’ eventual response to the Canaanite woman challenges this spiritual pride. The woman humbled herself entirely, enduring the disciples' disregard to fight for her daughter. Jesus ultimately praises her, saying, “O woman, great is your faith!” Similarly, the most profound faith in our country is often found on the margins—in the parents who work grueling, minimum-wage jobs to feed their children, or those who maintain hope despite the neglect of those who are in the government. Yet, rather than learning from this profound dependence on God, privileged society tends to merely romanticize the "resilience" of the poor without offering true compassion.

To heal the fractures in our society, we must follow Christ’s ultimate example. He crossed the societal boundaries of His time to answer a marginalized woman’s plea. For true faith to flourish, it must move beyond the gates of exclusive subdivisions and comfortable pews. It demands us to stop seeing the poor as an inconvenience, to dismantle our religious pride, and to recognize that the margins of society are exactly where God's transformative mercy is most powerfully at work.

Prayer

Lord, open our hearts to hear the cries of those outside our comfort circle, just as you heard the desperate plea of the Canaanite woman. Forgive us for the times we have treated the suffering of others as a mere inconvenience to our daily routines and comfortable lives. Strip away our spiritual pride and the false belief that our privilege is a sign of greater faith or worthiness. We ask for the courage to cross the boundaries of our comfort zones to offer true compassion, rather than empty praise, to those in need. May we follow your example of radical kindness, ensuring that your house truly becomes a place of grace for all people. Blessed Virgin Mary, assumed into heaven and mother of all, intercede for us so that our faith may flourish through transformative acts of mercy and love. AMEN.