God Will Provide

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

20 July 2025

 

First Reading: Genesis 18:1-10a

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 5

Second Reading: Colossians 1:24-28

Gospel: Luke 10:38-42

 

Reflection

By: Fely Santiago

 

"You are anxious and worried about many things."

I’m sure this message  will resonate with most of us. Who is not anxious and worried about many things? Where will the money to pay my bills come from? Where will I get the money for hospitalization? Tuition fees are due next month? Can I borrow money? Can I get a new job? Will I find a new relationship again? Are we going to have a baby after being married for 5 years? Will there be WWIII? What is happening in the economy?

Maybe it’s time for us to be still. Breathe. Calm down. Isn’t it that the Lord in several verses in the Bible addresses the topic of worry, encouraging believers to trust in God and find peace in Him. Two prominent passages are Matthew 6:25-34, where Jesus teaches against worrying about material needs, and Philippians 4:6-7, which instructs believers to present their requests to God in prayer, finding His peace that surpasses understanding.

Here's a more detailed look at these and other verses:

Matthew 6:25-34

This passage focuses on the futility of worry, particularly about basic needs like food and clothing. Jesus points out that God cares for the birds and the flowers, and He will certainly care for His followers. He encourages seeking God's kingdom first, and trusting that He will provide.

Philippians 4:6-7

This passage instructs believers to bring all their anxieties to God in prayer, accompanied by thanksgiving. In doing so, they will experience God's peace, which transcends human understanding and will guard their hearts and minds.

1 Peter 5:6-7

This verse encourages believers to humble themselves under God's mighty hand and cast all their anxieties on Him, because He cares for them.

Psalm 55:22

This verse provides a direct command to cast one's burden on the Lord, who will sustain the righteous.

Isaiah 41:10

This verse reminds believers not to fear, because God is with them.

These verses, among others, offer comfort and guidance for those struggling with worry, urging them to trust in God's provision, seek His kingdom, and find peace through prayer.

Let us also be conscious that the “enemy” attacks you with anxiety because he knows there’s greatness in you, that you’re on the verge of seeing a new level of your destiny. He’ll try to make you feel overwhelmed, fearful about the future, thinking it’s not going to work out. Thoughts will tell you, “This anxiety is never going to change. You’ll always have to deal with this feeling that something is wrong.”

Don’t believe those lies. The anxiety shall pass. Sometimes God will bring you out quickly. Other times He’ll take you little by little. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see anything changing. God is working. Every day you need to declare, “I’m getting better. My mind is at peace. My heart is at rest. I am free from this anxiety."

Prayer

Lord Jesus thank You in advance for the many answers to our prayers. Your strength in difficult times is the source of my security. I refuse to be overwhelmed by problems because You will bring me through to victory. I declare that I am resting in the Almighty God who is greater than anything I face. I believe that my prayers are already answered in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

There's Hope for those who believed.

   

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord 

02 February 2025

 

First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10

Second Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

 

Reflection

By: Bro. Emerson C. Maala

One of the topics we discussed in canon was the seven sacraments and one of it was baptism. Our professor asked me when was the day of my baptism. I answered him the date. It was April 5, 1997. Then he said that it is good that we remember the day of our baptism for it is where the Lord have gifted us our faith. Together with our parents, offering us to the Lord through baptism, hoping for us to grow in faith and holiness.

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. The Gospel reminds us of Hope that also coincides with the theme of Jubilee year: "Pilgrims of Hope". 

In the Gospel, Jesus is brought to the Temple, by Mary and Joseph, where Simeon and Anna recognize Him as the Messiah. Simeon proclaims that Jesus is destined for the salvation of all people, but also for opposition and suffering. This foreshadows the Hope that Simeon saw for the people of Israel. Hope that Jesus will bring the salvation to the people.

In the same way, we are called to look at our world, not with despair, but with the hope that God is at work. As we celebrate the Jubilee, we must ask ourselves: Do we bring hope to others? Do we trust that God is still leading our Church and our world despite challenges? Do we recognize Christ in the people around us, especially in the poor, the suffering, and those in need of mercy? And so let us ask God for the grace of Hope. To be an instrument of hope for others bringing light in the darkness especially to those who are hopeless. Amen.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, purify our hearts, refine our faith, and guide us in Your truth. Like Simeon and Anna, grant us the grace to recognize Christ in our midst, to trust and hope in You. So that we, too, may become an instrument of hope, despite facing the challenges of the world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Family is Forever

   

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

29 December 2024

 

First Reading: Sir 3:2-6,12-14

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

Second Reading: Col 3:12-21

Gospel: Lk 2:4

 

Reflection

By: Grace B. Madriñan

 

Today is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I believe the readings for today are one of the most beautiful sets for families with full instruction and guidance on how to live according to the will of God.

"Wives, be subordinate to your husbands,

as is proper to the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives,

and avoid any bitterness toward them.

Children, obey your parents in everything,

for this is pleasing to the Lord.

Fathers, do not provoke your children,

so they may not become discouraged (Colossians 3:18-21)."

But even these teachings get misinterpreted. Wives are forced to follow their husbands leaving the women without the voice in decision making. Husbands define love differently. Children sometimes obey their parents even when it is wronf or against their will. And fathers provoke their children and call it discipline.

But there is yet another instruction and it says, "Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another (Colossians 3:12-13). "

God probably knew that families are not perfect so we need to be guided with humility and forgiveness.

It is also fitting that we are celebrating the feast of the Holy Family this Christmas as it is the season for families to be together. Looking back, the moments that I took for granted when I was younger are the best memories after all. Because today, no matter how festive or extravagant our celebrations get, there will always be empty chairs. My brother and father can no longer be with us.

This is why it is always best to celebrate each moment and be grateful for our family's presence. Let us be more forgiving and loving because this is what God wills for us.

Prayer

Father God thank You for giving us the Holy Family to emulate, abundant wirh humility, compassion and love. May we be grateful and more loving to our own families as we follow Your will for us. These we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

"Palusot"

    

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

09 June 2024

 

First Reading: Gn 3:9-15

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 130 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

Second Reading: 2 Cor 4:13-5:1

Gospel: Mk 3-20-35

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

 

Have you noticed that those who are caught red-handed often give palusot (excuse) rather than admit their wrongdoing? Our First Reading and Gospel today feature some characters who made excuses. When God confronted Adam for eating the forbidden fruit, he blamed Eve who then blamed the serpent. When His unconvinced relatives and the scribes saw His ministry  they branded Jesus as crazy and possessed by Beelzebul.

Making excuses did not do any good for these people. It will not do any good for us too. The scribes' accusation that Jesus had an unclean spirit was unforgivable because our Lord declared it as a sin against the Holy Spirit. Sins against the Holy Spirit "are mortal sins that harden a soul by its rejection of the Holy Spirit". This includes despair, presumption, envy, obstinacy in sin, final impenitence, and deliberate resistance to the known truth.

Though some may interpret today's Gospel as an act of disrespect to the Blessed Virgin Mary, this is not the case. Jesus knew His mother well and praised her for faithfully cooperating in God's plan of salvation. While the Eve of the Old Testament made excuses for her unbelief, the Eve of the New Testament - Mary - chose to do the will of God. Mary once said to Gabriel: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord  be it done to me according to your word"? (Lk 1:38). We have a choicr here: are we going to keep on making excuse for our foolishness or are we going to take responsibility and make amends?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, forgive us for the many times that we havd made excuses for not following You. Through the prayers and example of Mama Mary, draw us to Yourself in whom alone we find mercy and fullness of redemption. 

Parents' Wonders

    

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

31 December 2023

 

First Reading: Gen 15:1-6, 21:1-3

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

Second Reading: Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19

Gospel: Lk 2:22-40

 

Reflection

By: Bernard C. Borja

 

A couple talks about the milestones of their 2-year-old son with their relatives during a family reunion. From birth to toddler, they try their best to enumerate (and exaggerate) all the good developments that their son had as the relatives listen in amazement. Milestones such as crawling on the third month, speaking words on the fifth month, walking on eight months, reading books on fifteenth month, playing soccer on twenty-second month, and so on. The child even demonstrated kicking a soccer ball inside the house. The proud parents would lift each of their own chairs (nagbubuhat ng sariling bangko) as they also argue with each other. “Mana sa akin 'yan,” said the father. But the mother disagrees saying, “Sa akin nagmana 'yan kasi matalino.” Then the child shocked everyone when he intentionally kicked the ball directly to the dining table and laughed aloud. After a brief silence, the couple then continue arguing with each other, “Manang mana sa kakulitan mo!” said the mother. “Sa iyo niya nakikita 'yan mahilig magpapansin” refuted the father.

Sometimes, I wonder how some parents could not realize their ability to influence their own children with their traits and values. Being a new parent, I have yet to understand this when my son grows up and I may also admit or deny which qualities he gets from me. But there are many things that I was only able to understand when I became a parent, like being able to answer one of the most intriguing questions often addressed to parents, “How come you are sleep deprived? Your baby sleeps 20 hours in a day and you should sleep when the baby sleeps.” I can even answer this wondering, “How can I, especially my wife, are able to do a lot of things even with little sleep?” Perhaps it will remain a mystery and an exaggeration for now, but I will always be amazed at how parents are able to do beyond their own perceived capabilities when it comes to taking care of their children.

Today is The Feast of The Holy Family. The readings today are some of the guidelines that we can follow for our children to grow and be filled with wisdom. I believe that being obedient to God, Mary and Joseph were able to raise Jesus wonderfully to honor and take care of His earthly parents. I also imagine the challenges that Mary and Joseph encountered in taking care of The Messiah Himself. When God chose to be a fragile infant to dwell with us, I can imagine how overwhelmed Mary and Joseph were during the moment Jesus was born. They knew that they will be teaching Jesus not just about the laws, but also kindness, compassion, and justice. They knew that even in Jesus’ divinity, His humanity remains, and He still needs to be guided as He grew up. I believe that the guidance and imparted wisdom of Mary and Joseph helped Jesus a lot during His mission as a grown up. And I can imagine today how Mary and Joseph, because of God’s grace, are still amazed how they were able to raise the One who redeemed the world.

Saint Paul reminds us to let Christ richly dwell in us with gratitude in our hearts. Inspired by the Holy Family, may we be able to continue receiving God’s wisdom through bearing one another in heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. May we, as sons and daughters, continue to honor our parents in obedience according to God’s grace and mercy.

Prayer

PRAYER TO THE HOLY FAMILY

(Pope Francis, 29 December 2013)

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

in you we contemplate

the splendour of true love,

to you we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

grant that our families too

may be places of communion and prayer,

authentic schools of the Gospel

and small domestic Churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

may families never again

experience violence, rejection and division:

may all who have been hurt or scandalized

find ready comfort and healing.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

may the approaching Synod of Bishops

make us once more mindful

of the sacredness and inviolability of the family,

and its beauty in God’s plan.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

graciously hear our prayer.

* Special intentions for my friend who recently got engaged. May God’s grace continue to fill her heart with joy and bring fulfillment to her longing to build a family of her own. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.

Come Holy Spirit

    

Pentecost Sundy

28 May 2023

 

First Reading: Acts 2:1-11

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

Second Reading: 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13

Gospel: Jn 20:19-23

 

Reflection

By: Fely C. Santiago

 

“Lord send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth”.

The Holy Spirit is all around us. And He is always there when you call Him even in so ordinary times like when I look for a parking space in a full mall. Always, when I sing “Come Holy Spirit I need you...", there goes a space made available for me just where I waited to find a space. Just amazing!

Or it can be when I am about to prepare a presentation I always ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit for wisdom and inspiration and the ideas and thoughts just keep flowing and when the presentation is done and I receive a lot of affirmations, I just know I am really guided by the Holy Spirit. 

Let us receive the Holy Spirit to renew us and be filled with its fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control.

Prayer

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love that we may become the channel of your peace that the world really needs now. Amen.

Matured Devotee

 The Feast of the Sto. Niño

16 January 2022

 

First Reading: IS 9:1-6

Responsorial Psalm: PS 97, 1:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

Second Reading: EPH 1:3-6, 15-18

Gospel: LK 2:41-52

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

 

Makamatanda (old fashioned). I guess that would have also been what the boy Jesus' contemporaries would label Him given today's Gospel. Instead of devoting His time to enjoy the company of His friends travelling to and from Jerusalem, He literally stayed in the Temple. I have the impression that through a boy, Jesus was already starting to realize His future vocation and so, without telling His parents, He conversed for three days and nights with the teachers in the Temple and asking them questions. Although Mary and Joseph did not have a clue of why Jesus did this, they nurtured and prepared Him for His mission. This preparation was not done overnight, but lasted for 30 years (aka Jesus' hidden life).

As a Catholic nation, we have a strong devotion to the Sto. Niño. We have a soft spot in our heart for the Christ Child. It is not surprising that there are many depictions of our Infant Lord - dressed as a monarch, a policeman, a homeless boy, etc. They are not bad per se. However, if we are not careful, we are in danger of failing to see that the Sto. Niño moved on from the crib to the cross, from the cross to the grave, from grave to the right hand of the Father. Indeed, "grew in wisdom and stature and in favor of God and man." Has your devotion to the Sto. Niño allowed you to grow as a mature Christian or not? Has the devotion challenged you to become a Missionary Christian?

Prayer

O Jesus, Beloved Sto. Niño, we adore You. Through the prayers and example of Mary and Joseph, grant us the grace to also grow "in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man" so that we may share the gift of mission to others. Amen.

 

A Strong Woman

 Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

01 January 2022

 

First Reading: NM 6:22-27

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

Second Reading: GAL 4:4-7

Gospel: LK 2:16-21

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

 

In one of the virtual meetings we had in the Diocese's Vocations Team last year, a nun told me: "Mary is a strong woman." Indeed, Mary's reaction when she heard the shepherd's testimony was remarkable: "she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart." Indeed, we could dismiss her as a simple girl who would lamely agree and accept what the shepherds told her and Joseph. However, here is a woman who would "take what they have heard and then turn it over, muse on it, consider it from various perspectives, question it, wonder about it, delight in it" (Bishop Robert Barron).

As we start a new year, we could not fail to look back at the year that was. COVID-19 would still be on top of the list for sure, plus other global and local issues. There would also be personal achievements, challenges, and failures. How do we make sense of these? What do these things tell us as we welcome and move forward to 2022? Are we just going to accept them as part of life or are we going to discern God's message and plan in these?

"Mary is a strong woman." Her life as God's Mother was not a bed of roses. Her life was full of challenges and sorrows. She and Joseph escaped with the baby Jesus to avoid Herod's wrath. She and her family returned later and lived in the remote town of Nazareth. She stood courageously at the foot of the Cross. She witnessed her Son's Resurrection and Ascension. She was with fellow Christians when the Holy Spirit descended on them. Through it all, her faith was unshaken. As we welcome the New Year, let us draw strength from Mary, God's Mother and ours that we too may treasure all the wonderful things that God has done for us last year and ponder them in our hearts.

Prayer

Lord, Jesus, thank You for the New Year. Thank You for Your Word today. Through the prayers and example of Mama Mary, give us a strong heart that would seek, marvel at, and fulfil Your plan. Amen.

 

Family is Love

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

26 December 2021 

 

First Reading: SIR 3:2-6, 12-14 or SM 1:20-22, 24-28

Responsorial Psalm: PS 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 or PS 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10

Second Reading: COL 3:12-21 or 3:12-17 or JN 3:1-2, 21-24

Gospel: LK 2:41-52

 

Reflection

By: Anabelle Payod-Balla

 

"Love is always present at home un varying degree but never absent." - Anabelle Balla

"Pag ibig, pag asa, at saya, 'yan ang lagi mong dala. Sa pamilya mo ang tunay na Pasko, family is love. Family is love..." (Love, hope, and joy, you always bring. In your family, true Christmas is...)

These are the lines of the song that we needed to memorize for our Christmas video in the office. "Family is love", is the title of the song (ABS-CBN's 2018 Christmas song).

The words, "family is love", is an absolute truth for me. I strongly believe that all families in the world have love in their hearts and that they may have different ways of expressing it. Maybe not the way we expect or prefer it to be. But there has to be love. Because WE ARE LOVE. We all came from God, who is LOVE. It is part of our genes, of our being. We can't exist without it.

Some of you may say, "my father is a monster or my sibling has no care of this world". But may I ask you to reconsider and think of the times when you've seen a glimpse of love, even the tiniest one? What made them express love? What can we do to help them show more love? Can we trigger love by being the first to show love?

And how do you love? What is your love language for your family? Are you showing enough love? Do you love enough?

I say, BE WHO YOU ARE, be the LOVE that your family needs every day. Bring hope, bring joy, bring peace, and offer comfort anyway you can because even the smallest act of love can spark the love in others and create a ripple effect to the world.

Some of us may not have a perfect family, but we have love, we have God and if we have God, then we are in great hands!

Prayer

Oh Most Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, please help us unite our family in God's love. May His peace, joy, mercy, healing, protection, guidance, and abundant blessings be upon as always, Amen.

 

Merry Christmas!

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)

25 December 2021 

 

First Reading: IS 52:7-10

Responsorial Psalm: PS 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6

Second Reading: HEB 1:1-6

Gospel: JN 1:1-18 or JN 1:1-5, 9-14

 

"A Blessed Christmas to all! For today's celebration, let us listen to the God Speaks' Writers as they pray for you. Take care and God bless!

 

The Only Name That Matters

Solemnity of Saint Joseph,

husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

19 March 2021 

 

First Reading:  2 SM 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29

Second Reading:  ROM 4:13, 16-18, 22

Gospel:  MT 1:16, 18-21, 24a

 

Reflection

By: Pietro Albano

 

In 1997, Tanghalang Anluwage staged a musical play on the life of St. Joseph, our patron saint. After reading the script for the play, Vlad Reyes (one of the musical directors and my friend) joked at me "St. Joseph was a silent man in the Bible, but you made him talkative in this play!" True, there was no record of any word that this great man has uttered. His actions spoke louder than his words. In one of the play's acts, St. Joseph lovingly and jubilantly repeated "Jesus...Jesus...Jesus" after the Baby Jesus was circumcised.

In today's Gospel, the angel of the Lord told Joseph not to be afraid to welcome Mary into his home. As for Mary's Child, he was instructed "you are to name Him Jesus". Some have commented [T]hough not a direct quotation, the one word attributed to Joseph in Sacred Scripture is the holy name of Jesus." I guess, like any parent, St. Joseph would have said the name of Jesus many times–when he woke up after that blessed sleep; when he conversed with Mary throughout their years of being together; when he saw the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in the manger (Luke 2:7); when He was circumcised and presented in the Temple (Luke 2:21-39); when he escaped into Egypt with his family (Matthew 2:13-15); when he cuddled the Lord; when he taught Jesus his trade as a carpenter as well as the Jewish faith; when he prayed and played with Jesus; and when Jesus was lost in the Temple for three days (Luke 2:41-52). I would imagine St. Joseph saying that beautiful name when he breathed his last. I also imagine him now mentioning Jesus' mighty name, in praise and thanksgiving, and in making intercession for God's people, the Church.

• How often and in what occasions do you say the name of Jesus?
• How can you welcome Jesus into your life and home?
• "Jesus wished to become indebted to St. Joseph for the necessities of life, and of this holy patriarch alone it may be said that he saved the life of his Saviour" (St. Madeleine Sophie Brat). How can you become a new St. Joseph in the world today?

Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your word today. Through the prayers and example of St. Joseph protect us from evil one and lead us to salvation where we will sing the praises of Your powerful Name forever and ever. Amen.

Suggested Lenten Penance: Pray with special devotion to St. Joseph.

 

 

 

Presence

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 21 July 2019
First reading Genesis 18:1-10

The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on-since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.”

Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.”

Second reading                                                          Colossians 1:24-28

I am happy in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to the divine commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them, God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Gospel                                                                         Luke 10:38-42

Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Reflection

By Jose Paulo M. Gonzales

Today’s Gospel shows us how we can lose track of what is important in place of something we think is more expected of us. Like how our sister in faith, Martha of Bethany, acted when Jesus stopped over at their home. We sometimes forget to be like her sister, Mary.

At work, it may be difficult to listen to a colleague when we are too concerned with what we need to do next. 

In school, it may be difficult to participate actively in class when our attention is diverted to what the outline and the content of a certain paper should be.

With our friends, it may be difficult to engage when we are busy to thinking of what to say, even when our friends only want our company.

Sometimes we choose to do what seems most important even when what is needed from us is simply our presence, our attention.

To make a situation work is not bad on its own. After all, preparations help make an event a more delightful experience. However, the fixation becomes a problem when it takes the place of what we should be prioritizing which is listening and being really present at the moment.

We can get lost in the preparations, but we can also be as distracted when we are not in charge of the preparations anymore—when at an event, we come as spectators.

How many times do we catch ourselves swept by how realistic the special effects are in a movie, how fluid the animations are, how masterful the sequencing of events to make a majestic story, but remembering only so little about the lines of the key characters and the lessons from their experiences?

How many times have we heard someone—or even ourselves—lost in the motif, the songs, the layout, the adornments, the entire preparation in a wedding, but could recall only little from his friend—the groom’s message for the bride during the Mass, or the bridesmaid’s heartfelt dedication at the reception?

When someone visits our homes, when someone vents out a negative encounter, when someone recounts a positive experience they treasure… what they could be expecting from us is not how we set the table or  how we organize the furniture or the elaborate intricacies with which we prepare the meal, but simply a listening ear,  someone who is really present.
We nab from ourselves the chance to enjoy someone’s company when we fixate on activities in the sideline. 

We rob from ourselves the privilege to grace somebody else’s presence when we focus too much on the preparations, on the details, on the mechanics. When we do not realize what is most appreciated from us which is to simply be with our visitor, to listen to our friend, and to engage with them attentively.

When was the last time we listened to someone actively as Mary did? Have we listened to someone intently today?

Prayer

Father God, thank You for Your message to us today.

Thank You for the liberty we find in Your call for us to come as we are, to listen to You and not mind other things when we are in Your company. 

May You grant us the grace to listen to You intimately and for us to find a confidant in You whom we can freely share our thoughts and daily activities.

Please grant us the grace to listen to You first before we take our turn to speak, because Your message is more important than ours, and for us to listen first to our brothers and sisters too so that we can show them that their message is important to us. 

May You give us the grace to know when to speak and carry out Your Word, so that our listening bears fruit. 

May we never lose sight of what’s most important in our daily situations.

Thank You so much, Father. May Your Name—Your Glory, be adored forever.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.