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

A Limited Time Offer

    

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

15 October 2023

 

First Reading: Is 25:6-10a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

Second Reading: Phil 4:12-14, 19-20

Gospel: Mt 22:1-14

 

Reflection

By: Anton Ocampo

 

As someone who has lived in Canada for the majority of his life, I would often see some commercials of promos, whether it be fast food restaurants, banks, cars, or plane ticket sales, which would end with the voiceover saying something along the lines of “Hurry, this offer is for a limited time only.” These commercials invite viewers to purchase any product that is being sold. However, they must make a very quick decision because the offer will end some time soon. In fact, there is absolutely no guarantee that a similar type of offer will be available in the coming months or even the years to follow. Yes, television in the Philippines may also have these types of commercials, but most of the commercials that come to mind came from the many Canadian television stations. 

The theme of the readings for this Sunday’s Eucharistic celebration is stated in the Responsorial Psalm: “I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6cd). These words highlight the opportunity God gives us everyday. Each day of our lives here on earth, we are given an opportunity to choose Him so that we may be able to be with Him and dine with Him in the eternal banquet in His heavenly kingdom, just like what is being stated in the First Reading and the parable narrated by Christ in the Gospel. 

One important detail that must be given attention to and taken note of is the last part of the longer version of the Gospel for this Sunday where Jesus narratate that the king punished a man who was not dressed in a wedding garment by having him sent out by the guards and casted out into the darkness (Matthew 22:11-13). What does this last part of the longer version of the Gospel teach us? Every opportunity that the Lord gives us to choose Him needs to be valued. Yes, the Lord will continue to give us numerous opportunities to choose Him by choosing to live holy lives, but we must value each and every one in preparation for eternal life with Him in His presence forever in heaven where He has prepared a feast for all of us. Just like what was said in the First Reading, the banquet of the Lord in heaven is open to all. The Lord God continues to give us many chances to choose eternal life with Him in the heavenly banquet for as long as we live in this earth. However, we must not waste these opportunities because we will not live here on earth forever. Our lives may seem to be long, but we must remember, there will come a time when we must leave this earth and move on to the next life. We will not find eternal life on earth because the life here on earth is limited, short, and temporary. 

In a way, the opportunities God gives us to choose Him and the path of holiness so that we will be able to join Him and dine with Him forever in the eternal banquet in His eternal heavenly kingdom are limited time offers. Yes, He does for us daily for as long as we live here on earth, but, given the fact that our lives here on earth are not eternal but temporary, the opportunities God gives us are limited time offers. 

How must we respond to these limited time offers given to us by God? The example that Saint Paul the Apostle exhibits in the Second Reading is something we must follow. In the Second Reading, we hear the famous words of Saint Paul the Apostle “I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). We hear these words being quoted by many people, but many people tend to forget the context of these words. Saint Paul the Apostle, when he wrote these words, was referring to the numerous struggles he faced in his mission as apostle and missionary to the Gentiles. If we were to make educated guesses on what should have happened to him, without knowing what already happened, there was absolutely no way we would think Saint Paul the Apostle would or should have been able to withstand and conquer these challenges and hardships in life. However, he was able to do so because he became open to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Now, how would the example of Saint Paul the Apostle in the Second Reading apply to us in the modern age? Choose holiness. By choosing holiness, we choose the Lord God wholeheartedly. It is in choosing to walk the path of holiness that we open ourselves to Him wholeheartedly. We allow the grace of the Lord God to move us and see how wonderful the opportunity to be with Him forever in the heavenly banquet truly is. Through this, we accept the limited offers God continues to give us each day of our temporary lives here on earth. 

We are reminded this Sunday that our lives here on earth are temporary. No matter how many times God gives us opportunities to choose eternal life with Him in His eternal kingdom in heaven, the opportunities God gives us are limited time offers. Thus, we must think carefully and value each opportunity the Lord God gives us to choose Him and eternity with Him in His heavenly kingdom.  

Prayer

Lord, as we continue to live our lives here on earth, You continue to give us multiple opportunities to accept this limited time offer of eternity with You in Your heavenly kingdom. Help us recognize the value of Your offer to be with You forever in heaven and may we be open to Your grace, love, and mercy so that we may be able to offer You our wholehearted “Yes” as our response to Your invitation. Amen.

Wedding Feast

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

11 October 2020
First reading Isaiah 25:6-10

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.

It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain.

Second reading                                                          Philippians  4:12-14, 19-20

I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress. And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel                                                                          Matthew 21:33-43

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them.

The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Reflection

By Theresa Ballo

Being the hopeless romantic that I am, weddings always give me a joyous feeling. I remember in college, I would love to witness weddings of couples I do not know in UST. It was a habit going to Santissimo Rosario Parish after class and in most cases I am down, witnessing couples so in love with each other gives me hope and encouragement. 

This is the parable that Jesus offers us today. A king sends out invitation twice to everyone on the occasion to his son’s wedding. A royal and grand wedding it is. But when he sends out his servants a second time to invite the guests, they all give lame excuses why they are unable to attend the wedding. The king got furious. He then sends his servants to invite every and anyone to the feast. So, the wedding hall was filled with guests. However, all is not as it seems. The king sees a guest who is not wearing proper attire  and has this man removed from the celebration. The king had the final word of warning; “for many are called, but few are chosen.”

Imagine the king inviting Filipinos in his son’s wedding. Definitely, most guests will be asked to get out of the feast for not wearing proper wedding garments. We, Filipinos have our unique traditions for wedding feasts. The king also in the Gospel seems to be bipolar. Just in his son’s wedding, he gets to experience a wide range of emotions and reactions. And in the end, in rage he has a guest thrown out from the wedding! If the wedding is a symbol of the Kingdom of God and the King is God, are we going to be treated similarly? 

All of us receives an invitations to God’s great feast. All meaning regardless of color, gender and status in life, we are all called to be part of His glory. How are you going to respond to the invitation? What will be your lame excuse? Probably, mine would have to be my laziness. Attending a wedding would require me to dress up, put some make up and wear heels. That would require so much effort. But then, if the host of the occasion is a friend, all the effort seems to be okay. Because I have established a relationship to the host, the effort becomes worth it. Same thing with God being the host of the occasion, if we have a strong connection and relationship with Him, saying “yes” again and again comes natural and easy. 

There is a cost to God’s invitation. Accepting the invitation comes with great responsibility. We are given the choice to attend or not. If we do turn up, accepts the invitation. We are expected to arrive at the celebration ready and prepared to join the party.  We are supposed to arrive dressed for the occasion. Do we take this literally? What do we have to wear exactly? I think since wedding feasts are celebration of love, we should carry love, compassion and forgiveness in God’s banquet. It is through how we live our daily lives and treat others that we make our attendance worthy as God’s guests. Each day may we do our best to be genuine, kinder, patient and more loving. Simply because our presence is the pleasure of Jesus in the meal given for His glory. 

Prayer

Thank You for the invitation to be part of Your kingdom. Show us Your mercy as we make ourselves worthy of Your grace. Clothe us with the righteousness of Jesus. Help us as we strive to be faithful servants that go and invite others as well to the great wedding feast. Amen.