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.

Stepping Out of the Boat

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

09 August 2026

 

First Reading: 1 Kings 19:19a, 11-13a

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14

Second Reading: Romans 9:1-5

Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33

 

Reflection

By: Bernard Borja

 

“Where are my glasses?!” yelled a father who misplaced his eyeglasses for the 100th time inside his own house. He lifted the sofa, took out the bed, even opened the freezer to look for his glasses. His toddler then pointed to his head, “It’s there, papa!” The father reached up and felt a familiar piece of plastic resting on his head. He pulled it out, but instead of putting it on, he looked at it suspiciously, “Are you sure these are mine?”. Of all the people in the family, he is the only one wearing eyeglasses (and often misplaces it).

~~~

Life is rarely a calm and predictable sea. In our modern daily lives, we are constantly bombarded by storms – financial struggles, health crises, broken relationships, and the overwhelming noise of the world. When the waters are calm, we easily fall into the illusion of self-reliance, trusting our own intellect and resources and sail through the journey when conditions are favorable. But when the winds howl and we begin to sink under the waves of anxiety, our "little faith" is heavily tested.

Like Peter, we often take our eyes off Jesus, worrying instead on the terrifying storm around us. We stubbornly insist on doing things all by ourselves, waiting until we are drowning to look up and cry out to God. Yet, Christ’s invitation remains steady: He calls us to step out of the boat and come to Him on the turbulent waters, challenging us to trust His presence even when doubt clouds our minds. We must remember that God does not always announce Himself in the earthquake or the roaring wind; oftentimes, as Elijah learned, He speaks in a tiny, whispering sound, waiting for us to silence our hearts and listen.

We live in a world filled with constant noise – endless notifications, demanding schedules, and our own anxieties. If we try to tackle everything by ourselves, this overwhelming noise easily drowns out God's quiet guidance. We must learn to pause our busy lives long enough to hear the gentle, tiny whisper of the Lord directing our steps and calming our personal storms.

During difficult times, our doubts are often fueled by a misunderstanding of what God is actually providing. When a storm hits, we want an immediate, flawless rescue. God’s presence is proven in His daily, silent provision of exactly what we need to sail through the storm. As St. Paul assures us in last week’s reading, absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. In today’s reading, St. Paul demonstrates a radical, selfless compassion that differs greatly with today's “hyper-individualism”. It is incredibly easy for us to become completely indifferent to the struggles and mistakes of those around us, passing quick judgments rather than offering grace that we have received when Christ pulled us out from the water during our own difficult moments.

St. Paul’s example challenges us to examine our own hearts: do we openly pray for the wellbeing, healing, and salvation of our difficult neighbors or family members? True compassion requires stepping outside of our own occupied journeys to share in the heavy burdens of others.

Let us not lose our little faith when the waters rise or when we begin to sink. Instead, let us trust God with our whole heart that even without stepping out of the boat, He has already revealed Himself to save us from the storm. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we ask for the grace to strengthen our little faith especially when life’s storms overwhelm us. We often search desperately for You in the noise, forgetting You are already with us. Silence our anxious hearts so we may hear Your gentle whisper and show compassion to those around us. Dearest Mother Mary, intercede for us. Help us keep our eyes on Jesus, trusting that even without stepping out of the boat, He is already here to save us from the storm. AMEN.

Cast the Net over the right side of the boat

Third Sunday of Easter 

04 May 2025

 

First Reading: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13

Second Reading: Revelation 5:11-14

Gospel: John 21:1-19

 

Reflection

By: Jose Paulo M. Gonzales

 

"Cast the net over the right side of the boat."

Have you been having trouble lately trying to find out where to lower your net for a good catch? Toiling all day and night, only to be met by an unsatisfying yield?

That must have been the feeling of Peter. Leaving everything behind the moment he found Christ, setting out for mission a great part of his life, trying to live the life of an apostle whatever it could have meant before — as it could have been more difficult a task configuring oneself in character when the groundwork for what is moral is still freshly being laid down. The apostles had Christ to follow; but when Christ died, much to their dismay, who else did they have?

In the Gospel today, some Bible scholars say that when Peter said, "I am going fishing," it was nothing normal — like the average run of the mill — or rather, it was a dejected feeling of getting back to "what was normal" when they still did not know Christ; for if Christ is dead, what else is there to do? What else is there to live for? The apostles could only make do with what they knew before — their former ways of life. They could only say to the just as despirited Peter, "We also will come with you; [for what else but we should rather go fishing with you]."

Have we been anything like this? Seeing Christ faintly to nothing at all, we revert to our old ways of life? We are not alone; we could see how somber Peter and the other apostles had been when they had no sight of Christ; for when you chance upon a Good that surpasses everything, what better is there when it is gone? But one popular saying today would hold wisdom in this: "The eyes that awaken can never go back to being shut again." In Matthew 5:15, it is said: "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." The apostles saw the light of Christ and because it was so good, they knew nothing else but to grow despondent when they could not see it anymore; but the Bible tells us not to turn back. Instead, we must let the light we have seen in Christ illumine ourselves for others to see. No sight of Christ does not mean there is no Presence of Him there. For here He always is with us in Spirit; “Emmanuel.”

That time in the Gospel, as it would seem, Jesus had already shown Himself to the apostles for the third time, but it was not until Christ did anything "Christlike" that the apostles recognized Him; in some Bible interpretations this would reflect not only unfamiliarity but even weak faith — and this is we, too, when we encounter setbacks; but the Bible would tell us to keep walking in faith. For like riding a bicycle, we lose our balance if we stop or look down.

In the Gospel, the word "third" was mentioned multiple times to signify not only frequency, but ultimately, "Divine completion." So when Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love Me?" Jesus was not only being repetitive; each time He asked—as some Bible scholars would say—was a chance for Peter to atone for his threefold refusal of any  association with Jesus. "Feed My sheep"—Christ would say—to package how this atonement must take place; three times as well, meaning, in divine perfection.

Today is the third Sunday of Easter. Christ is alive forevermore; but to us who stay sullen upon our immutable woes, there is this question: "Where have we been casting our nets? Have we been casting it over the right side of the boat, as Jesus said?"

Prayer

Dear, Lord Jesus, Thank You for ever being with us even/especially when we feel hopeless about our situations at times. Please be steadfast in Your love and let it teem so richly where we could not.  

Please help our unbelief. May all the gifts we receive from this redound to Your Glory and bring furtherance to Your mission. All these we ask in Jesus' most holy Name, and in Mother Mary's loving and powerful intercession, Amen. 

Tune in to Jesus

   

Second Sunday of Lent

16 March 2025

 

First Reading: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14

Second Reading: Philippians 3:17–4:1

Gospel: Luke 9:28b-36

 

Reflection

By: Anabelle P. Balla

I hear a myriad of voices throughout the day, including my own, both those spoken aloud and those that swirl nonstop in my head. Like you, I live in a world filled with noise. These noises, particularly the ones I can view in my phone, can be overwhelming. There are addictive contents that steal away my precious time, health, and energy. Because of this, I often find myself too busy to truly listen. It is a challenge to pause, breathe, relax, and enjoy moments of quiet reflection, or to truly listen during conversations, both to what is said and unsaid. There is always something that steals my attention, making me restless.

Thankfully, God's grace has anchored me to Him. He gently pulls me closer when I drift away. He blesses my plans and grants me serene moments to marvel at the wonders of His creation, especially during family outings to the hills, mountains, forests, or seas. In these peaceful moments, I can hear His whispers and feel His loving presence. He provides me countless opportunities each day to connect with Him, even if only briefly—when I wake, eat, drive, gaze at the sky, trees, sunset, flowers, and plants, or feel the cool wind on my face, or look upon my daughters' faces. These moments fill me with gratitude and turn my heart towards Him.

However, this awareness of His presence in my life is not the same as truly listening to Him. I still need to devote time to genuinely listen to Him, to hear Him through His Son, our Savior, Jesus. As He said, "This is my beloved Son: hear him.", I should take time listen.  And I am certain that this instruction from God is for my best interest and my salvation.

Can you hear Him? Do you want to? I trust that you do, and you have the power to make that choice.

Choose to tune in to Jesus. Hear Him and be blessed!

Prayer

Father, help us to stay still and truly listen to Your Words through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

I am unworthy, but God makes me.

   

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

09 February 2025

 

First Reading: Is 6:1-2a, 3-8

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8

Second Reading: 1 Cor 15:1-11

Gospel: Lk 5:1-11

 

Reflection

By: Bro. Emerson C. Maala

 

Last year, we had our 30-day Ignatian retreat at Sacred Heart Novitiate in Quezon City. it is an intensive spiritual retreat conducted in silence, where we engage ourselves in prayer, meditation, Gospel contemplation, and discernment. One of the Gospels we contemplated was the call of Peter and Andrew in the Gospel according to Luke.

Looking back at my journal, I remember how I was able to be in the shoes of Peter. There, Jesus told me to cast off the net even though we caught nothing overnight. Then I was surprised to catch so many with the commands of Jesus and there, I recognized Jesus as my Lord, and savior saying, "I am a sinful man, and I am not worthy to be with You." At that moment, I was ashamed of Jesus. I am nothing before Him. However, He still calls me.

In the Gospel, Peter is struck by the realization of who Jesus is upon seeing the miraculous catch. He falls to his knees and exclaims: "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" Why does Peter feels unworthy? Because encountering God's holiness always reveals our own sinfulness. But instead of leaving Peter, Jesus calls him to a mission: "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be fishers of men."

Like Peter, we often feel unworthy of God's calling. "I'm not holy enough." "I've made too many mistakes." "I don't know enough about my faith." But Jesus does not call the qualified - He qualifies the called. However, if we respond to Him in faith, He will transform our weaknesses into strengths so that we can respond to Him fully, leave everything behind, and follow Him. Amen.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You called Peter and Andrew to be fishers of men and lead them into new life with You. Unworthy of Your call, make us also fishers of men and leave everything behind to follow You and serve You. For the greater Glory of God. Amen.

Partial Following

    

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

15 September 2024

 

First Reading: Is 50:5-9a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

Second Reading: Jas 2:14-18

Gospel: Mk 8:27-35

 

Reflection

By: Bernard C. Borja

 

Most of us today are familiar with following people and being followed by people in social media. We may know few or plenty of things about a person through what they post or share online. Getting to know people and being updated with them is not that hard today even if we have not met personally. We have our own reasons why we follow people on social media. Those people who have similar values and principles to us may be one of those reasons why we want to be updated about them. This following can go on until a post or something that the person says is not anymore aligned with the follower’s values and principles. For instance, we have seen many people unfollow celebrities who posted or commented about a certain issue which is against what their followers believe or stand for. In the past years, I have seen people unfollow their friends in social media because of issues such as politics and different views about justice. Someone I know was confronted by her longtime friend because of sharing a post by a human rights activist about the ceasefire against Israel’s attack on Gaza. Her friend says that she is siding with the terrorist when she shared that post. They unfollowed each other before even trying to understand and delve deeper into their points. Sometimes, differing points of view and principles can sever a relationship more than being wronged. However, what people share on social media becomes their full self and the basis for judgement. If we ask ourselves, “Who do people say that I am?”, answers can vary depending on what we post and share online, not even considering what we do offline.

If we ask our friends, “Who do you say I am?”, what will they say? I believe they will say a lot about us from a deeper perspective. When Jesus asked the disciples, Peter replied “You are the Christ.” His reply was like he knew Jesus from a deeper perspective. But things go differently when Jesus spoke about how He must suffer greatly. If I were to hear it first, like Peter, I would also react the same way. But in this way, I would only be looking at Jesus as the savior without seeing one of the most important journeys of salvation. We can ask ourselves again, “Who do I say Jesus is?” Do I think of Jesus at all, in trouble times or in joy? Because it greatly matters about the way we direct our lives through Him, the way we worship Him, and the way we live.

Peter did not realize at that time that suffering is part of the divine plan of salvation. Today, we can easily say that suffering is part of human condition but not see it through the eyes of Jesus. There is a difference between suffering and sacrifice. Through Him, suffering has a purpose, which becomes a sacrifice. A mother who suffers physical exhaustion to give her child a better sleep is a sacrifice. A father who endures the time being away from his family to work is a sacrifice. Sacrifice will always be a self-giving act, an act of love, no matter how big or small that deed is. To give a friend a chance to talk about his or her belief and be open to understand his or her principles, is an act of self-giving. I believe that sacrifice is also a “denial of self” which can be achieved only in terms of self-giving and in terms of love.

In everything that we do and decide, we can also ask ourselves, “Where is the following of Christ in this?” Our choices in life and the way we live somehow determines if we follow Christ as our whole self, or just a partial following. We can never separate our views or opinion about justice from the justice that Jesus stands for. Like when someone says that their political views are separate from their religious views. It’s like saying “I am following Christ, but I am letting Him take my cross.” Today, we pray to God to grant us the grace to allow ourselves to be whole in reaching out to Jesus, with all the inconveniences and even pain, for us to be reminded not to look away from the inconvenient part of the divine plan of salvation.

Prayer

Dearest Lord, teach us to look at our lives through Jesus. May we transform our suffering by giving it purpose and do it as a selfless act of love. We pray for the people around us that we may share the sufferings in terms of self-giving and love for each other. In Jesus' Name we pray, AMEN.

Great Men of Faith

    

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

14 January 2024

 

First Reading: 1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10

Second Reading: 1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20

Gospel: Jn 1:35-42

 

Reflection

By: Jose Paulo Gonzales

 

Featured in today’s Readings are great men of faith – called to undertake a special service for the Lord, and whose ‘yeses’ resounded in characteristic honor. In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist, deemed by Jesus Christ Himself as one who, born of women, would find relative to himself no one greater (Matthew 11:11) was to go before Christ to direct our paths to Him – to predispose ourselves for the Christ to come. When John the Baptist saw Christ passing by, he was quick to turn the attention of his disciples Andrew and Simon to Christ, making no short work of the mission assigned to him. Andrew, compelled by Jesus’ Identity as the Messiah, eagerly recounted this news to Simon, who would then be called Peter – the rock from which the Church would be built. Such an exchange is overall reminiscent of how we are called into Church – with one having testified, us being convinced, and we all pulling each other invitingly into community.

In the First Reading, we see Samuel, a model character himself. He was to act as prophet and judge among God’s people, leading them towards repentance and providing them with counsel over spiritual and civil affairs. On many accounts, Samuel was touted an impartial judge, arbitrating fairly among God’s people, listening day in and day out to their myriad disputes, and turning them away from their evil ways.

Samuel’s call to service is one we could find some fascination in. He was sleeping in church – an act others would look disapprovingly upon; but the way he was called repeatedly by the Lord nevertheless tells us that the circumstance we find ourselves in when we are called does not matter so much as the purpose for why we are called – and the purpose for which we are beckoned into service is a piece of knowledge only God holds in full. Although appreciated when known, what matters is that we are called, and what we actually do about our calling. John the Baptist and Samuel were model characters of this calling set into proper motion.

To align our bodies with the purpose they were intended for, that is, to run abreast with Christ’s mission, lends us to a life in unity with the Lord and His community – the Church. In today’s Second Reading, not to fornicate is [only] an example of how to preserve the sanctity of our bodies. Anything we do that maintains our body’s honor is homage to the rightful state in which God wants us to treat our bodies – as His very temples or tabernacles; and in so far as we live in consonance with the community around us, being social creatures that we are, the good we do to ourselves is generosity extended to our brothers and sisters.

As we assess our whereabouts for the day, a question we could ask ourselves – one simple enough that we can take with us conveniently would be: “how Christlike have I lived my life today?” Or as we go through the day when we are right in the middle of everything, a variation of this would be the more popular: “what would Jesus do?” In all these, may the Holy Spirit be our ever-living Counsel.

Prayer

Lord God, thank You for giving us good examples to emulate for the conduct of our personal lives.

As we go through each day, may we pattern our lives after Your shining example; and in all the times we fall short of Your golden standard, please give us the grace of forgiveness for the shortcomings with which we have no way else than to make peace, or the grace to persist for those with You we can amend. Please give us the wisdom to know the difference.

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

Presensiya ng Diyos: The Faith in God amid uncertainty

    

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

13 August 2023

 

First Reading: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14

Second Reading: Rom 9:1-5

Gospel: Mt 14:22-23

 

Reflection

By: Bro. Emerson C. Maala

Pastoral Year Formation

Diocese of Imus

Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol

When I was a child, whenever it rained, I would always make a mini boat out of a small piece of paper. Then I will let it float on a ditch and see how far it can go. However, since it is a paper, it easily submerged especially when it was raining. In the Gospel, Jesus made the disciples to get in the boat and go on the other side and there, the faith of the disciples was tested.

The theme of the readings for today is faith. Faith is a personal response to God's self-revelation and an acknowledgment of His truth. It is a gift from God, given to us through His grace. Through faith, we come to know and believe in the presence of God, the truths taught by Jesus Christ, and the teachings of the Church.

One of the unique ways of seminary formation of Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol is having the community thrust. Community thrust is a word or phrase that comes up through sharing of past experiences and will serve as a foundation to be lived for one year. On my first year, the community thrust that we had was PRESENSYA NG DIYOS. This community thrust came up because of the experience of faith in God in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic where each of us has experienced the presence of God even in the uncertainty of the event. Some of us have experienced anxiety and it was really an experience of test of faith for us.

The Gospel story of Peter walking on water is a profound reminder of the importance of faith and trust in Jesus, especially when facing the storms of life. Like Peter, we often find ourselves surrounded by challenges, fears, and uncertainties. Yet, if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, if we trust in His presence and power, we can walk on water too, navigating through life's difficulties with courage and hope.

However, the moment we allow fear, doubt, or distractions to divert our gaze from Jesus, we start sinking into the waters of despair and anxiety. Like Peter, we need to call out to Jesus in our moments of weakness, saying, "Lord, save me!" He is always ready to extend His hand and lift us up from the depths of our struggles.

In the face of life's storms, let us foster a life of prayer and intimacy with Jesus. Prayer allows us to hear the gentle whispering of God's voice in our hearts, guiding us through life's challenges. Regularly spending time with the Lord in prayer and reflection strengthens our faith and helps us keep our focus on Him amidst the storms.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, You tested your disciples, their courage and trust in You that lead them to see how important their faith is in You. Lord Jesus, we ask for courage to have faith and trust in You by letting us experience Your presence in our daily lives so that we may be able to face the challenges and the storms in our lives. You who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

Beautiful in White

    

Second Sunday of Lent

05 March 2023

 

First Reading: Gn 12:1-4a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22

Second Reading: 2 Tm 1:8b-10

Gospel: Mt 17:1-9

 

Reflection

By: Ma. Rosalina S. Flores

 

Today's Gospel narrates the Transfiguration of Jesus, the moment up a high mountain when His face shone like the sun and His clothes became white as light, as witnessed by Peter, James, John and his brother. His disciples also saw Moses and Elijah conversing with Jesus. They even heard a voice came from the cloud that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him."

At the end of the Transfiguration event, Jesus charged His disciples to "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

In line with the transfiguration, my father always tells me that I am God's daughter and I am robed in white garment. He then challenges me to keep my garment white until death by loving God and my neighbors in preparation for eternal life.

But isn't it difficult to make your spiritual garment white all the time, same with washing your white clothes? Sometimes, we need to try different detergents to find the perfect one that will make our clothes as white as new.

Good thing, Jesus has already given us the secrets to transfiguration: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, the three pillars of Lent.

In fact, immediately, after descending the mountain, Jesus has mentioned about prayer and fasting in His next encounter where at the multitude, He healed a demon-possessed boy. 'Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, "Why were we unable to cast him out?" Jesus said to them: "Because of your unbelief...But this kind is not cast out, except through prayer and fasting."' Following that, Jesus also taught almsgiving as He instructed Peter to pay the temple tax. "But so that we may not become an obstacle to them: go to the sea, and cast in a hook, and take the first fish that is brought up, and when you have opened its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take it and give it to them, for me and for you."

We are now on the Second Sunday of Lent, exactly 28 days before the Holy Week, may we spend well the remaining days of preparation for the much-anticipated Easter, the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Jesus, help us to prepare not only our garments but also our hearts in our journey to Holy Week and to eternal life. Help us to become prayerful, generous, and deny ourselves for a much better purpose. All these we ask in Your Mighty Name, Amen.

Christ, our Role Model

 Second Sunday of Lent

13 March 2022

 

First Reading: GN 15:5-12, 17-18

Responsorial Psalm: PS 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14

Second Reading: PHIL 3:17—4:1

Gospel: LK 9:28b-36

 

Reflection

By: Jose Paulo M. Gonzales

 

In my life, I could count in hand the number of people who for myself make awe-inspiring examples in their own regard: an insightful writer, an incisive essayist, a grounded critical thinker, a very well-rounded person; in pieces I have read on Eastern philosophy, there would be "the sage"—not only in wisdom and experience, but in overall character. Unbeknown to me, it would take some years after college to find a proximal example of the Christian character—at least one I am surprised to make my personal circle. As astounding his achievements in social charity are and as amazing the conversations on morality we have had, imagine how much better our ultimate Example is in Heaven.

Jesus transcended expectations in His [human] time and now in ours. His character and teachings go beyond divisions in time and are continuously relevant today. From His unassuming birth and overall lifestyle, His "madness" according to the Pharisees. His preference for the poor, the weak, and the downtrodden, to His salvific model of death and resurrection, Jesus was far from normative expectations. It is precisely this divergence from the norm that revolutionizes Jesus' Character. If Jesus is the Example to behold in Christianity, and if He was anything but worldly in His conduct of Self, we are more strongly acquainted with the message: we must not be of this world.

It is not exactly the departure from the norm that is moral, for that can come equally from being bullheaded; instead, it is the departure from what the norm represents. The conventions that make up the world from then to this day are built more on convenience that favors the privileged, the learned, and the illustrious and famous. While not bad in themselves, these "good things" are not confirmation of good origins, mediums, or purpose; not even are they confirmation of good hosts. Jesus' message was to seek precisely what is good and what is good for transcends what the world exalts. Gold would make no effective receptacle of the good God produces in love and goodwill for good exceeds its people-receptacles and pours into other vessels at reparable or even welcome expense. Effort, time, and money can be exhausted in the work of of good, but the product more than makes up for what has been expended. Riches, on the other hand, can only do so to an extent. Its multiplication, if ill-founded, could be deleterious to people, and the people themselves can be its unfortunate casualty. Pride is another that can come undetected for it can conflate with positive self-identifications such as achievement, leadership, recognition, and many others. These are not bad and can be used for good; what the Bible advises us against is forming unhealthy fixations on surface enticements lest we commit sin and escalate to greater works of evil. Riches and other things of equal import are only objects though they can be unwitting temptations, and it is the choice to source them from or use them for a nefarious purpose that constitutes sin.

The challenge to conform with the Image of Christ concerns us not only with the good qualities of Christ in case we fall for the appearance of these qualities in some who go by Christ's example at a superficial level or even deceitful. The challenge calls us not just to keep out of wrong examples in things and people's attitudes but also to know when to retract from bad invitations to the soul.

For Jesus' good qualities, the Bible is teeming. He is our "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6), "Advocate with the Father" (1 John 2:1), and the "Friend Who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). His qualities converge with the characteristics of love in the well-known verse, 1 Corinthians 13, so we know that in our following of Christ, we are in good hands, for we are in the keeping of One who loves us truly; but before we become pristine masterpieces as the Lord transfigured into a Figure of dazzling white, we are called to an arduous journey of spiritual refinement. The process is long and taxing, but "at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9). Further, it is not like we have no good examples to emulate, as Paul expressed in the Second Reading for today (Philippians 3:17—4:1), for we will likely meet good examples along the way as God's Hand is present in our lives, and we will always have the best example in Christ. If there is still wonder within us if anything good can come up from a start so simple, we should find our answer in Christ, for Christ has showed that a humble beginning is no deterrent to the making of a salvation story. Until we are eternally with Christ, we are called to be in this world not to be engulfed by it, but to be its salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), that in each attempt at doing good, we conform more closely with His Image, and make possible the same to others with our interactions.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for being a good Father and for all the graces You give us. We ask the Holy Spirit to help us become the best imitators of Christ that with our mere presence, more so with our actions, we lead each other to You. In times when we know not what to do—and in times when we know what we should do but refuse it anyway—please let us not lead others astray and forgive us our sins. In everything, please lead us to You. These we ask in Jesus' Most Holy Name, Amen.