No Time to be Complacent

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

19 July 2026

 

First Reading: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16

Second Reading: Romans 8:26-27

Gospel: Matthew 13:24-43

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

 

Franz Jägerstätter was an Austrian farmer, husband, and father who was beheaded for refusing to serve in the Nazi Army. Commenting on today’s Gospel, he wrote, “If God were to take away the persecutors, there would no longer be martyrs. If God were to remove all struggles from our lives, we would no longer receive the crown of glory.” Indeed, we often discover that God draws a straight line from what seems crooked in the world. Think of the various forms of persecution that Christians such as Franz, Lorenzo Ruiz, Pedro Calungsod, and others down the ages have encountered. These have become avenues for the Word of God to thrive in peoples’ hearts. As Tertullian’s famous saying goes, “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church”.

Living our faith is not easy. The good seed that Jesus sows in the world are constantly challenged by the weeds sown by the devil. Sometimes, we tend to be complacent, especially if we live where practicing our faith is allowed. Imagine living somewhere else where there are few churchgoers or where persecution is staring in front of you. It made me think: Will I let my faith shine through or hide it under a bowl (Mt 5:15)?

Living in Europe for many years made me realize how valuable my faith is. Unlike the churches in the Philippines were there are lots of priests and Sunday Masses and churches are full, here it’s the opposite. I recall Msgr Nestor Cerbo’s prayer when he hosted a farewell party for me: to be a missionary. By God’s grace, I carry on that role in my own small way in our parish.

Today’s Gospel constantly challenges us to remain vigilant and persevering so we can be like the good soil that became fruitful (Mt 13:1-23). We may falter along the journey, but that should not make us disheartened because “the Spirit helps us in our weakness” (Rm 8:26).  

 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, show Your strength in our moments of doubt. Fill us with good hope that we may consistently follow Your Son who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In His Name, we pray. Amen.

Source of Truth

    

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

25 June 2023

 

First Reading: Jer 20:10-13

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35

Second Reading: Rom 5:12-15

Gospel: Mt 10:26-33

 

Reflection

By: Grace B. Madrinan

 

"Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor a secret that will not be known." - Matthew 10:26

Have you ever watched some news on television? Unless you are living under a rock, you definitely watch some news whether you like it or not, either on television or social media. Have you ever seen someone in the news which made your blood boil? I can definitely see some hands raising up, including mine.

I don't know why I don't like this politician that much. Not that he did something personally to me or to my family, but I did know the history behind his family and his wealth. Well, some of his followers will definitely dispute that version of history. With their influence and power, they can definitely create another truth favorable to rectify their image.

Good thing the Gospel today is a consolotation to my worried mind, "Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed nor secret that will not be known" (Matthew 10:26). If we are for truth, then God is with us.

So if this politician is insincere and has ill intentions, I can be assured that it is just a matter of time before the truth is revealed. And if we believe and love God, we will be protected for "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:38).

Furthermore, there is judgement.

"Everyone who acknowledges me before others

I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.

But whoever denies me before others,

I will deny it before my heavenly Father." - Matthew 10:32-33

So we will remain faithful to God who is the ultimate Source of Truth and fear not.

Prayer

Father, evil is all around spreading deceit into the world. May we be able to discern the truth and fear not the works of men but rather fear the consequences of sin. Amen.

Be Ready to be Judged

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 11 August 2019
First reading Wisdom 18:6-9

That night was made known beforehand to our ancestors, so that they might rejoice in sure knowledge of the oaths in which they trusted. The deliverance of the righteous and the destruction of their enemies were expected by your people. For by the same means by which you punished our enemies, you called us to yourself and glorified us. For in secret the holy children of good people offered sacrifices, and with one accord agreed to the divine law, so that the saints would share alike the same things, both blessings and dangers; and already they were singing the praises of the ancestors.

Second reading                                                          Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old-and Sarah herself was barren ?” because he considered him faithful who had promised.

Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, of whom he had been told, “It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.” He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead-and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

Gospel                                                                         Luke 12:32-48

Jesus said to his disciples,
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you,he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.”

Reflection

By Jessa Janelle Padilla

How deep is our faith with God and what are is our definition of faith? Saint Augustine defines it as, “To believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe".

In our Gospel for today, when Jesus asks us to sell our belongings and give alms, are we willing to obey him? Nowadays, it is not easy to let go of the materials things that we have. Why would we give up things that make our lives comfortable? Simply because we are indeed called to fulfill our mission, the reason of our existence. Yes, it is not easy but our faith in Him will guide us. Pope Francis believes that ‘Because always, even in the darkest moments, in moments of sin, in moments of weakness, in moments of failure, I have seen Jesus and I trusted Him. He has not left me alone.’ He will never leave us while we fulfill what He commands.  Comfortable life is promised for our afterlife upon fulfilling our mission.  

During the 7th Philippine Conference on New Evangelization, I was so touched and amazed on how the Villafania family shared their story and how deep their faith to God is. Mr. and Mrs. Vilafania’s two children were called by God early and still their trust in God is there. They believed that their children already fulfilled their mission and God has a purpose and reason why He called them early. They trusted on God’s decision. Just like Abraham, in our Second Reading, who offered up his only son, Isaac, to God when put to the test. Abraham has faith in God and that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol. Parents are willing to give up their children once God called them because of deep faith.

Our Gospel for today encourages us to be prepared and keep on waiting for the coming of God. No one can tell when, where, and how would it be but on our part, let us always prepare ourselves. Let us live our lives day-by-day by serving our purpose and treat it as our last day. The day of judgement will come anytime. Punishment is the reward for those who do not prepared while salvation will be granted to those who are prepared.

Prayer

Lord, enlighten our hearts, strengthen and deepen our faith in You. May our fears be vanished and our trust in You will keep us in fulfilling the mission you have entrusted to us. May we prepare ourselves for Your coming and be ready to be judged. This we ask in Jesus name. Amen. 

Deliberation

First Reading:  Isaiah 66:18-21

I am coming to gather every nation and every language. They will come to witness my glory.

I shall give them a sign and send some of their survivors to the nations: to Tarshish, Put, Lud, Meshech, Tubal and Javan, to the distant coasts and islands that have never heard of me or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory to the nations, and from all the nations they will bring all your brothers as an offering to Yahweh, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules and on camels, to my holy mountain, Jerusalem, Yahweh says, like Israelites bringing offerings in clean vessels to Yahweh's house.

And some of them I shall make into priests and Levites, Yahweh says.

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 117:1, 2

Second Reading: Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13

Have you forgotten that encouraging text in which you are addressed as sons? My son, do not scorn correction from the Lord, do not resent his training, for the Lord trains those he loves, and chastises every son he accepts.

Perseverance is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons. Has there ever been any son whose father did not train him?

Of course, any discipline is at the time a matter for grief, not joy; but later, in those who have undergone it, it bears fruit in peace and uprightness.

So steady all weary hands and trembling knees and make your crooked paths straight; then the injured limb will not be maimed, it will get better instead.

Gospel:  Luke 13:22-30

Through towns and villages he went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem.

Someone said to him, 'Sir, will there be only a few saved?' He said to them,

'Try your hardest to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.

'Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself standing outside knocking on the door, saying, "Lord, open to us," but he will answer, "I do not know where you come from."

Then you will start saying, "We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets," but he will reply, "I do not know where you come from; away from me, all evil doers!"

Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrown out.

And people from east and west, from north and south, will come and sit down at the feast in the kingdom of God.

Reflection:
by Gary Tulabut

This semester is my fifth as a college instructor. Therefore I am still relatively new compared to my colleagues. I still have a lot to learn. That is why, based on what I have learned in previous sems, I innovate my rules and techniques and to suit the needs, and sometimes the stubbornness, of my students.
This sem, one of my rule changes is that the midterm grade is already the final grade… unless a student wants to change his or hers. There will be no more quizzes after the midterms… except if a student wants to take one (max of 1 per week). Everyone will still be required to take the finals but if the result is pulling the grade of a student down, it will be disregarded for that student. This means that after the midterms, if a student gets a failing grade, he can request a quiz every week (about the topic for the week) to pull the grade up. The total denominator for quizzes increases every time he requests for a quiz. There’s no taking back those added number of items no matter what the student’s score will be.Why am I implementing this?Last sem, right after the finals and just before faculty members met for a deliberation of grades, a student sent me a private message in Facebook saying, “Sir, what else can I do to get a 75?” 75 is the passing grade equivalent to a 3 on the card. When I checked the records of this student, he did not even reach 70.I replied, “Iho, you should have asked this question after prelims or after midterms, and we could have done something.”The sad part is that he was one of those happy-go-lucky students who seem not to care at all about studying; those who rest their hopes on projects, term papers, and the kindness of their professors to pass.That is why my rule on the midterm grade as the final grade; so that they can still ask me what they can do to pass, and they will be forced to at least study for the quizzes they will request; or they may opt to just drop the subject.If we fail the final exams in heaven, there will be no more projects, no term papers, or a kind Prof. St. Peter. If we ask what we can do to enter the pearly gates, he might say, “My son/daughter you should have asked that during the midterms or prelims of your life, then we could still have done something.”

Prayer:Thank you Father for constantly reminding a stubborn student like me to do something now to straighten my ways while I am still in the midterms of my life and not to cram on my final days. Amen