Producing Good Fruit

Second Sunday of Advent

07 December 2025

 

First Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

Second Reading: Romans 15:4-9

Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

 

It’s this time of year when parishes across the world organise the Sacrament of Reconciliation in preparation for Christmas. I remember the late Fr. Larry Faraon, OP once complained that some people just go to confession to remove their guilt and then repeat the same sins all over again.

In today’s Gospel, we read that John the Baptist had a great following from “Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan”. It was a great sign that a large group of people wanted to be baptised as a sign of their repentance. John welcomed them all, however he did not mince his words when he saw Pharisees and Sadducees falling in line: “You brood of vipers!” (Mt 12:34). Imagine yourself being called as such! He challenged these people to go beyond the ritual by showing that they are sorry for their sins. 

John’s harsh words are also addressed to us. If we are serious of being reconciled with God, we must not just get rid of our guilt every time we go to confession. We must “produce good fruit” (Mt 3:8) as proof of our repentance. Otherwise, we “will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Mt 3:10). 

The Jubilee Year calls us to hope. One of the threats to this virtue is presumption. John warned the Pharisees and Sadducees not to be presumptuous that they are Abraham’s children: “God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones” (Mt 3:9). We therefore need to be on guard lest we rely on ourselves to be saved or obtain forgiveness from God without conversion (CCC 2092). Being a Christian in name is not enough to be welcomed into God’s Kingdom. We need to be fruitful!

   

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You sent prophets to remind Your people of Your Son’s Coming and our need for repentance. Grant us the grace to be truly sorry for our sins, make a good confession, and do concrete actions to make amends. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

St John the Baptist, pray for us.

Arms Wide Open

   

Fourth Sunday of Lent

30 March 2025

 

First Reading: Joshua 5:9a, 10-12

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

 

Reflection

By: Anabelle P. Balla

 

As the mass began, we found ourselves settling into the serene surroundings of SVD farm. The sign that read "Confession Area" caught my eye, and I followed the arrow to a small hut where a priest was hearing confessions. Seeing no one else waiting, I hesitated a bit, but with the encouragement of smiling ushers, I approached the hut. The priest welcomed me warmly, and despite the ongoing mass, he assured me it was fine to proceed with my confession.

We waited until the sermon began, and then my confession followed. The setting, though informal, offered a surprising sense of privacy and intimacy amid the crowd. As I poured out my heart, emotions overwhelmed me, and I felt enveloped by a powerful spiritual embrace. That reconciliation moment was perfect—a rare opportunity I hadn't experienced in a long time. The confession brought huge relief and a sense of renewal, of being clean again and reconciled with the Lord.

Although I ask for forgiveness in my daily prayers, confessing in front of God's anointed representative offered a deeper comfort and liberation. It is a way of unburdening my heart, just as writing down my thoughts or speaking with someone can be. When overwhelmed by emotions or life's challenges, turning to the Lord, and sharing my innermost feelings always brings solace. God, the ultimate listener and guide, lights my path, forgives, and embraces me in times of need. He is my True North, so easy to find and always there to protect, provide, heal, and guide me.

God's arms remain wide open, inviting us to seek His loving embrace. Let us turn to Him now, for He is always ready to welcome us.

Prayer

Father, thank You for constantly waiting for our return and for always welcoming us with love, mercy, and generosity. Please forgive our sins, our selfishness, our busyness, and our vanity. in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Better Than Self-talk

   

Ash Wednesday

05 March 2025

 

First Reading: Joel 2:12-18

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20-6;2

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

 

Reflection

By: Anabelle P. Balla

 

I struggle with overthinking and intense emotions in some  days. I have tried several methods to regain my equilibrium and find peace amidst the chaos.

I tried writing down my thoughts to unload the burdens in my head, giving me a clearer perspective on my worries and anxieties. This helped me organize my thoughts and reduce my stress levels. Whenever I feel overwhelmed with emotions, I take a pause, breathe, and try to write down or process how I feel and why. This somehow brings me a sense of relief and clarity.

I do self-talk as well. I use self-talk for various reasons, such as comforting myself in a calm and reassuring manner or brainstorming solutions to problems, or when confronting myself for perceived mistakes that I did.

However, I found an even more profound way to deal with life's emotional landscape which is my daily and frequent informal conversations with God. These conversations are normally spontaneous where I reach out to Him whenever and however I can.

When I am happy, I give thanks to Him, no matter where I am or what I am doing. When I am confused, worried, or sad, I would reach out to Him, lift things up and ask for help. When I need ideas, I ask for an inspiration. When I struggle with vanity, self-centeredness, and addictions in worldly things, I turn to Him for help to grant me better control of myself, of my worldly desires. I would bring up to Him even the smallest things. When I see His beautiful creation, even the tiniest grass, leaves or flowers, I can't help but give thanks. And I don't need to kneel and be formal in doing all these. I feel like He is with me all the time, so close and can hear everything that I say, even in silence. It has become an automatic impulse to turn to Him, as if He is part of me. And I am glad of this realization for I cannot imagine navigating life without His guidance, blessings, and protection.

So yes, prayer or frequent conversation with God has helped me better. I am given better perspectives inspired by the Holy Spirit when I reach out to Him. He calms my heart, gives peace of mind, and comforts my soul, drawing me closer to Him. He is my compassionate, loving, and merciful Listener Who is Most Powerful and makes things happen for me.

Talking to Him benefits my entire being, and I am grateful for His favor despite my unworthiness. I believe He also favors everyone. We just need to reach out to Him and humbly seek His forgiveness and blessings. And today, Ash Wednesday, is a good day to start.

I love the Lord; He is filled with compassion.

Prayer

Father, thank You for listening to my mumblings every now and then. Forgive me if I get distracted while talking to You. Help me spend quality time of worship to You, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Transfiguration, Confession, Reconfiguration

    

Second Sunday of Lent

25 February 2024

 

First Reading: Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19

Second Reading: Rom 8:31b-34

Gospel: Mk 9:2-10

 

Reflection

By: Ma. Rosalina S. Flores

Last week, my fellow lector requested to swap schedule with me as he had a work-related travel. I instantly said yes, though that would mean, I might have to attend two Masses in a day, first at the Manila Cathedral for my service, then in Quiapo Church for my Friday devotion.

On Thursday night before going to sleep, I was not quite sure if I be able to attend Mass in Quiapo. Justifying my thoughts, I kept telling myself that maybe Jesus would understand if I just drop by Quiapo after my serve at the Manila Cathedral, at least, I still went, even for a visit.

On Friday morning, I came to realize that since I was feeling lazy to hear a second Mass in Quiapo, then I might just go to confession, instead, timely for the season of Lent. But the problem, I was not yet ready to face the Lord in the sacrament of reconciliation. I was not spiritually and emotionally prepared to admit my sins before the priest. So, I prayed to God on my way to the Manila Cathedral saying, "Lord, please disturb me and give me the courage I needed in order to go to confession." Immediately an answered prayer, upon hearing the word "turn", I could not contain my heart from its burning desire, I badly wanted to go to confession, NOW.

After the Mass at the Manila Cathedral, I went straight to Quiapo Church, uttering another prayer, to be at the shortest queue for confession, so that temptation of shyness and laziness will not deter my reconciliation with God.

Entering Quiapo Church, I was second in the line to the confession box, and in less than five minutes, I was there mentioning my sins to the priest. And that, I could say was my transfiguration moment, Jesus made me and my plans even more beautiful. I did not only hear Mass but also got the chance to be reconciled with Him on that Friday.

Jesus' transfiguration in this Sunday's Gospel brought peace of mind to Peter, James, and John that urged them to just stay on the mount. In our Modern world today, may the transfiguration of Jesus shake us so we be led to changing our ways of life.

In the Transfiguration, a voice was heard from the cloud, declaring Jesus as the Father's beloved Son and we must listen to Him. In Confession, we get back our identity of being beloved children of God, ready to amend our lives and align our paths to Him.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, may Your transfiguration inspires us to reconfigure our lives so we may always be united to Your will. This we ask in Your Holy Name, Amen.

Thirst for God

    

Third Sunday of Lent

12 March 2023

 

First Reading: Ex 17:3-7

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

Second Reading: Rom 5:1-2, 5-8

Gospel: Jn 4:5-42

 

Reflection

By: Ma. Rosalina S. Flores

 

What do you thirst for in life? Is it a thirst for power, fame, wealth, or love? Do you even know that you are thirsty?

Jesus asked for a water to drink from a Samaritan woman but it was the woman who actually needed quenching her thirst. She was thirsty for love but ended up thirsting again for getting involved with different men, no one her husband.

Today's Gospel is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. In fact, all of my favorite Gospel stories are about Jesus' encounters with sinners that eventually led them to conversion.

This Lenten season, most especially, Jesus invites us to go back to Him through the sacrament of reconciliation. I must admit, until now, I have to compose myself and find courage to meet Jesus at confession as approaching the confession box is difficult to do at first but it promises liberation once we are able to do it.

We still have time to make our Lenten preparation worthwhile for the Easter celebration. Let us together go to Jesus and He will quench our thirst, He will give us water and we will never feel thirsty again.

As my favorite Responsorial Psalm during Easter Vigil says, "Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for You, my God (Ps 42:1)", may we continue to journey towards knowing God and making Him the center of our lives.

Prayer

Lord, help us to go to confession and reconcile with You. May we disregard our ego, our embarassment, and instead desire for Your infinite love and eternal life in store for us at the door of the confession box and at the end of our earthly life. These we ask in Your mercy, Jesus, Our Savior, Amen.

Joy in Repentance

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 15 September 2019
First reading Exodus 32: 7-11, 13-14

The Lord said to Moses, “Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation.”

But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.'” And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.

Second reading                                                          1 Timothy 1:12-17

I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel                                                                         Luke 15: 1-10

All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Reflection

By Benj Santiago

“Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

I believe our God is a loving and merciful God. When I sin, it is I who hides away from Him. And when we hide or stray away from Him, He is the One who looks for us, like the shepherd or the woman Jesus mentioned in His parables today.

God knows how fragile and sinful we are. This is why He instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation or what we know as Confession. Every time I go for Confession, I feel unburdened and cleansed. There is joy in my heart. And I believe as mentioned in Luke 15:10, “there is joy before the angels of God”. I am assured that God will continue to welcome me with open arms, is very happy when He finds me when I stray away. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we praise and glorify You! Thank You for being a loving and merciful Father. Grant us a repentant heart that we may always seek and stay in Your love. This we ask in Jesus Name, Amen!

A Second Chance

Fifth Sunday of Lent

13 March 2016

First reading                                                                             Isaiah 43:16-21

Thus says the Lord,

who made a way through the sea,

a path in the great waters;

who put chariots and horse in the field

and a powerful army

which lay there never to rise again,

snuffed out, put out like a wick:

No need to recall the past,

no need to think about what was done before.

See, I am doing a new deed,

even now it comes to light; can you not see it?

Yes, I am making a road in the wilderness,

paths in the wilds.

The wild beasts will honour me,

jackals and ostriches,

because I am putting water in the wilderness

(rivers in the wild)

to give my chosen people drink.

The people I have formed for myself

will sing my praises.

 

Psalm                                                                            Psalm 125:1-6

             

Second reading                                                         Philippians 3:8-14

I believe nothing can happen that will outweigh the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For him I have accepted the loss of everything, and I look on everything as so much rubbish if only I can have Christ and be given a place in him. I am no longer trying for perfection by my own efforts, the perfection that comes from the Law, but I want only the perfection that comes through faith in Christ, and is from God and based on faith. All I want is to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and to share his sufferings by reproducing the pattern of his death. That is the way I can hope to take my place in the resurrection of the dead. Not that I have become perfect yet: I have not yet won, but I am still running, trying to capture the prize for which Christ Jesus captured me. I can assure you my brothers, I am far from thinking that I have already won. All I can say is that I forget the past and I strain ahead for what is still to come; I am racing for the finish, for the prize to which God calls us upwards to receive in Christ Jesus.
 

Gospel                                                                      John 8:1-11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them.

  The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in full view of everybody, they said to Jesus, ‘Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, and Moses has ordered us in the Law to condemn women like this to death by stoning. What have you to say?’ They asked him this as a test, looking for something to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. As they persisted with their question, he looked up and said, ‘If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Then he bent down and wrote on the ground again. When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir’ she replied. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go away, and do not sin any more.’

Reflection

By Grace B. Madriñan

“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” – John 8:10-11
 

These are the words that struck me from this week’s Gospel.  I was placing myself in the position of the woman who was being mocked by the crowd.  Imagine the shame and the fear of the woman, the feeling of someone about to be put to death. It was not mentioned in the Gospel if the woman pleaded for her life or even asked for forgiveness. I imagined her being quiet, allowing the crowd to do as they please to the point of stoning her to death. She was hopeless, maybe even thinking that dying in their hands can be a good end for her misery.

But Jesus saved her -- not just from being stoned to death, but He saved her from her own life. Jesus gave her a second chance. He did not see her sins, He saw her heart. Despite her sinfulness, Jesus may have seen her capacity and need for love. And Jesus gave her that, she forgave and loved her.

How marvelous the woman must have felt after hearing those words from Jesus. It must have felt as if a heavy stone is being lifted from the woman’s chest.  After this encounter, she may have become one of Jesus’ disciples and followed Him around as He preached all over town. She may have been one of the ladies in Jesus’ foot when He was crucified on the cross.  One thing is for sure, her life was changed forever by that encounter.
 

The good news is we do not need to be almost stoned to death to feel the same powerful mercy of God. We do not need to go on carrying our guilt to call on the Father to rescue us. We have access to God’s overflowing mercy every time we pray and ask forgiveness for our sins, whenever we reconcile to God during the Mass and most especially whenever we do confession and penance. We need not wait for God to be our last option – He is our only hope.

 

Prayer  

Father, we are overwhelmed by Your love for us. You have pulled out us from the gutter of sins and robed us with Your divine mercy. May Your abounding forgiveness be our inspiration to do the same for our erring neighbors. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Different Blindness

Fourth Sunday of Lent Mar 30
First reading 1 Samuel 16:1,6-7,10-13

The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen myself a king among his sons.’ When Samuel arrived, he caught sight of Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands there before him,’ but the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Take no notice of his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him: God does not see as man sees: man looks at appearances but the Lord looks at the heart.’ Jesse presented his seven sons to Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen these.’ He then asked Jesse, ‘Are these all the sons you have?’ He answered, ‘There is still one left, the youngest; he is out looking after the sheep.’ Then Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send for him; we will not sit down to eat until he comes.’ Jesse had him sent for, a boy of fresh complexion, with fine eyes and pleasant bearing. The Lord said, ‘Come, anoint him, for this is the one.’ At this, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him where he stood with his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord seized on David and stayed with him from that day on.

Psalm                                                                           Psalm 22:1-6

Second reading                                                       Ephesians 5:8-14

You were darkness once, but now you are light in the Lord; be like children of light, for the effects of the light are seen in complete goodness and right living and truth. Try to discover what the Lord wants of you, having nothing to do with the futile works of darkness but exposing them by contrast. The things which are done in secret are things that ashamed even to speak of; but anything exposed by the light will be illuminated and anything illuminated turns into light. That is why it is said:

Wake up from your sleep,

rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.

Gospel                                                                       John 9:1-41

As Jesus went along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, for him to have been born blind?’ ‘Neither he nor his parents sinned,’ Jesus answered ‘he was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

‘As long as the day lasts

I must carry out the work of the one who sent me;

the night will soon be here when no one can work.

As long as I am in the world

I am the light of the world.’

Having said this, he spat on the ground, made a paste with the spittle, put this over the eyes of the blind man, and said to him, ‘Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam’ (a name that means ‘sent’). So the blind man went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored.

  His neighbours and people who earlier had seen him begging said, ‘Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some said, ‘Yes, it is the same one.’ Others said, ‘No, he only looks like him.’ The man himself said, ‘I am the man.’ So they said to him, ‘Then how do your eyes come to be open?’ ‘The man called Jesus’ he answered ‘made a paste, daubed my eyes with it and said to me, “Go and wash at Siloam”; so I went, and when I washed I could see.’ They asked, ‘Where is he?’ ‘I don’t know’ he answered.

  They brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. It had been a sabbath day when Jesus made the paste and opened the man’s eyes, so when the Pharisees asked him how he had come to see, he said, ‘He put a paste on my eyes, and I washed, and I can see.’ Then some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man cannot be from God: he does not keep the sabbath.’ Others said, ‘How could a sinner produce signs like this?’ And there was disagreement among them. So they spoke to the blind man again, ‘What have you to say about him yourself, now that he has opened your eyes?’ ‘He is a prophet’ replied the man. However, the Jews would not believe that the man had been blind and had gained his sight, without first sending for his parents and asking them, ‘Is this man really your son who you say was born blind? If so, how is it that he is now able to see?’ His parents answered, ‘We know he is our son and we know he was born blind, but we do not know how it is that he can see now, or who opened his eyes. He is old enough: let him speak for himself.’ His parents spoke like this out of fear of the Jews, who had already agreed to expel from the synagogue anyone who should acknowledge Jesus as the Christ. This was why his parents said, ‘He is old enough; ask him.’

  So the Jews again sent for the man and said to him, ‘Give glory to God! For our part, we know that this man is a sinner.’ The man answered, ‘I don’t know if he is a sinner; I only know that I was blind and now I can see.’ They said to him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’ He replied, ‘I have told you once and you wouldn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it all again? Do you want to become his disciples too?’ At this they hurled abuse at him: ‘You can be his disciple,’ they said ‘we are disciples of Moses: we know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.’ The man replied, ‘Now here is an astonishing thing! He has opened my eyes, and you don’t know where he comes from! We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but God does listen to men who are devout and do his will. Ever since the world began it is unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man who was born blind; if this man were not from God, he couldn’t do a thing.’ ‘Are you trying to teach us,’ they replied ‘and you a sinner through and through, since you were born!’ And they drove him away.

  Jesus heard they had driven him away, and when he found him he said to him, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ ‘Sir,’ the man replied ‘tell me who he is so that I may believe in him.’ Jesus said, ‘You are looking at him; he is speaking to you.’ The man said, ‘Lord, I believe’, and worshipped him.

  Jesus said:

‘It is for judgement

that I have come into this world,

so that those without sight may see

and those with sight turn blind.’

Hearing this, some Pharisees who were present said to him, ‘We are not blind, surely?’ Jesus replied:

‘Blind? If you were,

you would not be guilty,

but since you say, “We see,”

your guilt remains.’

Reflection by Mark Vertido

It is already the last Sunday of the month and the fourth week of Lent. During the past Sundays of Lent, we have journeyed with Jesus in a transformation of spirit. We continue the journey and let God change us more.

The different characters in the Gospel this Sunday presents to us our very own characteristics as humans. First, we have the blind man who was cured by Jesus. We are not physically blind, but how many times have we neglected with our own eyes the people around us? We really need Jesus to vanish the darkness that covers our eyes that we might see light, to see the situation that is happening around. More than ever, Christians are asked to become socially aware and active because Christ is everywhere through our brothers and sisters.

But this blindness that we have reflects also how we have become spiritually blind like the Pharisees. Being blind during the time of Jesus is concrete evidence that a person is a sinner for God himself have punished that person already. Thus, the Pharisees did not believe that the blind man is already healed for he was a sinner. They even doubted the work of Jesus saying that it could not be from God. This would only show how the Pharisees are insecure when others are given blessings by God. And sometimes we become a Pharisee when we think of ourselves superior than others.

Many of us have become spiritually blind. The first reading states “man sees with the eyes; God sees the heart.” We are too much empirical that we have become blinded by the physical appearance of a person. That is why Christ has come to us that we become the “children of Light”. And as such, we need to behave accordingly as “the fruits of the light are kindness, justice and truth, in any form”.

We need to ask God to heal this spiritual blindness that we might become truly His children. The process of healing starts with the Sacrament of Reconciliation which is always offered to us by God through the Church. Let us then begin and act in kindness, justice and truth for the sake of a just and humane society, that in all things God maybe glorified!

Prayer

Lord, in Your goodness, heal our infirmities, especially our spiritual blindness, that we may ever see the beauty of creation and the people around us. Help us to see what is inside of us rather than seeing only the sin of others. Teach us to seek You always that we may become the “children of Light.” And may our actions be kind, just, and truthful, especially to our brothers and sisters in need. Amen.

New Creation

Fifth Sunday of Lent
21 March 2010


Come, today, and listen to his voice: do not harden your hearts.


First reading Isaiah 43:16-21
Thus says the Lord,
who made a way through the sea,
a path in the great waters;
who put chariots and horse in the field
and a powerful army
which lay there never to rise again,
snuffed out, put out like a wick:
No need to recall the past,
no need to think about what was done before.
See, I am doing a new deed,
even now it comes to light; can you not see it?
Yes, I am making a road in the wilderness,
paths in the wilds.
The wild beasts will honour me,
jackals and ostriches,
because I am putting water in the wilderness
(rivers in the wild)
to give my chosen people drink.
The people I have formed for myself
will sing my praises.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 125:1-6

Second reading Philippians 3:8-14
I believe nothing can happen that will outweigh the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For him I have accepted the loss of everything, and I look on everything as so much rubbish if only I can have Christ and be given a place in him. I am no longer trying for perfection by my own efforts, the perfection that comes from the Law, but I want only the perfection that comes through faith in Christ, and is from God and based on faith. All I want is to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and to share his sufferings by reproducing the pattern of his death. That is the way I can hope to take my place in the resurrection of the dead. Not that I have become perfect yet: I have not yet won, but I am still running, trying to capture the prize for which Christ Jesus captured me. I can assure you my brothers, I am far from thinking that I have already won. All I can say is that I forget the past and I strain ahead for what is still to come; I am racing for the finish, for the prize to which God calls us upwards to receive in Christ Jesus.

Gospel John 8:1-11
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them.
The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in full view of everybody, they said to Jesus, ‘Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, and Moses has ordered us in the Law to condemn women like this to death by stoning. What have you to say?’ They asked him this as a test, looking for something to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. As they persisted with their question, he looked up and said, ‘If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Then be bent down and wrote on the ground again. When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir’ she replied. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go away, and do not sin any more.’

Reflection
By Fely Santiago

“Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new!

Now I understand why Lent is commemorated every year. It gives us opportunity to be “re-born” to have a new life, to sin no more. The key is repentance. We have to resolve to really live the gospel every day, the good news of love.

God loves us so much that He sent His Son our Lord Jesus Christ to save us. Today Jesus saved the woman from death as she was caught in adultery. There appears to be no hope for the woman – she violated the law, she was ready to be stoned to death by the crowd and even the religious leaders condemned her. Her only hope was Jesus.

The woman is a symbol of humanity caught in sin. We too have sinned and have been unfaithful to God. But Jesus saved us – “nor do I condemn you. You may go. But from now on, sin no more.” This is the experience when we receive the sacrament of reconciliation. Through the priest we hear the words, “Your sins are forgiven – go in peace.” What a wonderful feeling! We become new creation. Clean again.

So remember not the sins and guilt of the past but focus on the bright future with Christ on our side. Receive the sacrament of reconciliation often so we become new creation again and again...

Lord, form me in mercy that I might both accept Your mercy and extend that mercy towards others. Make me a new creation to live the good news of love everyday. Amen.


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