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.

Peace Be With You

Third Sunday of Easter

18 April 2021 

 

First Reading:  ACTS 3:13-15, 17-19

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9

Second Reading:  1 JN 2:1-5a

Gospel:  LK 24:35-48

 

Reflection

By: Fely C. Santiago

 

"Why are you troubled?"

 

God knows what we really need this time of Easter. It's amazing how words in the scriptures capture our attention. Even the disciples were still frightened themselves. Imagine losing their Lord and Teacher to death. They could not grasped why it had to happen. They did not yet understand that Jesus has to suffer, die, and will rise again. And in the midst of their anxiety, confusion, and doubts, God greets them. He also greets us "Peace be with you." I often feel like God really knows just what I need to hear and when. I don't know about you, but I'm yearning for more peace during this Easter season.

In this season of CoVid-19 pandemic (sorry if I have been reflecting on the pandemic again) especially here in the Philippines where positive cases continue to rise, our hospitals are filled to the capacity, our health workers are just so exhausted, we just need the greetings of God "Peace be with you." We really can't help but be afraid especially we see people already close to us getting afflicted and suffering from CoVid-19. This is for real.

Today, we really do not understand why it is happening. But just like Jesus who said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled."  Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures. And He said to them, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead  on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness  of sins, would be preached in His name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."

 

Our mission continues to share the good news of Christ no matter where we are, what we are experiencing right now. We must continue to spread the good news of God's love. That He is present in our suffering because He suffered Himself.

Let me share the lyrics of this beautiful song because there are also words from the Lord that He will be ever with us.

I Am Ever With You

Fr. Arnel Aquino, SJ

Do not let your hearts be troubled

Do not stay afraid

It is really I whom you see

I offer you now my peace

I have waited for this moment

To be with you again

In my heart you'll remain

In your heart I'll stay

I am with you, till the end of your days

I am in you, have faith

That I hold you

Even when you let go

And I love you,

You must know. I am here. I am ever with you.

 

Do not let your hearts be troubled

Do not stay afraid

I'm beyond all anguish all death

I'm risen to life anew.

 

When you feel that you've been emptied

And can give no more

Know that I am your breath and I fill your soul.

I am with you, till the end of your days

I am in you, have faith

That I hold you

Even when you let go

And I love you.

You must know I am here. I am ever with you.

 

Prayer

 

Dear Jesus, many people are suffering, confused, afraid, worried, anxious right now,. Where are You Lord? Lord, we know that You are here with us in our suffering and pain. Please continue to strengthen us. Give us the grace of complete trust and confidence in You. Increase our hope that one day, all shall be well. All these I pray in the mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.

 

 

 

I Do Believe, Lord

Fourth Sunday of Lent 22  March 2020
First reading 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve that I have rejected Saul from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and set out. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” Samuel asked, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. You shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.”

Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.”

Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

Second reading                                                  Ephesians 5:8-14

For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light, for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Gospel                                                                   John 9:1-41

As Jesus went along, he saw a man who was blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbours and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, “Go to Siloam and wash.” Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”

They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

“We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, who had already agreed that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask himself.”

Yet again they called the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” They then asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”

Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses!  We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he listens to whoever worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.”

Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshipped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

Reflection

By Fely C. Santiago

“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”

  

Covid19 is real. It has filled us with fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. It has really put people to a STOP. Stop socializing, stop big events, stop parties, stop going to the malls, stop businesses, stop traveling, and even have to stop Masses on Sundays! I will surely miss my daily Mass!

But amidst all these fear, anxiety, and uncertainly, we need to keep the faith. And the word from the Responsorial Psalm gives us hope. “Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side. With your rod and your staff that give me courage.” We may be walking right now in the dark valley. We do not know where we are going. We do not know when the light will shine again. We are afraid. It’s so dark. It’s so scary.  But one thing is for sure, the Lord is our Shepherd. He will take care of us. He will carry us through this. He will never abandon us. He will guide us. He will heal us. He never fails. He is our Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. He will provide us with strength, with courage, and yes even provide for our food every day. So there is no need for panic buying! He is always with us and will surely take us out of this darkness we are experiencing right now. We just have to believe. Keep trusting the Lord. Hopefully this experience will bring us closer to God our Father. 

Maybe this is also the time that the Lord is calling everyone to pray, to go back to Him, to put Him again on the Throne, to humble ourselves and submit to the will of our Heavenly Father. His very own Son our Lord Jesus Christ submitted to the will of His Holy Father.  This is really the essence of Lent: to repent and go back to God. Really at the end of the day, we are not in control. This Covid19 does not exempt anyone. Whether you are the president of a country or an ordinary citizen you can get affected. But I truly believe in Romans 8:28 “all things will work for good to those who LOVE the Lord.” So we just have to stay in faith. One day, this too will pass and we can look forward to the Resurrection, Easter Sunday where suffering will end. We will be triumphant because the Lord is our Shepherd!

Prayer

Father God, thank You for allowing us to experience darkness in our lives. To experience suffering so we realize we are not in control. Thank You that You are our God who never fails us, who loves us, and who is very merciful to us. Forgive us our sins and humble ourselves before You. Fill us with Your love and mercy so we can also share this love and mercy to others. Increase our faith and trust in You. All this we pray, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

No Fear

Second Sunday of Lent 08 March 2020
First reading Genesis 12:1-4

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Second reading                                                  2 Timothy 1:8-10

Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Gospel                                                                   Matthew 17:1-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.

Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Reflection

By Fely C. Santiago

“Rise, and have no fear”

The word “fear” is mentioned in the Bible so many times that you would think it was another name for human being. That’s why in the Bible we also often hear Jesus' greetings of “Peace be with you” and “Do not be afraid”.

Fear is a normal feeling. But when it starts to consume us then it’s something that’s not from God anymore. It’s the weapon of the enemy to keep us away from our focus on God. What is your greatest fear? Is it death? Sickness? Loss of a job? No money? But the most difficult fear to overcome is a free-floating anxiety without known cause. You just worry a lot and always so anxious. I know a lot of people who worry a lot and are always so anxious even with little things. They have a lot of “what-if”.

Pause for now and ask yourself, what are you so anxious about? What are your fears? Why do you fear? Bring that fear to the loving presence of God. Imagine the Lord is sitting beside you. Cry out to him from the depths of your heart for courage. Repeat the words of Jesus “My Father if it is possible, take this cup from me, yet not my will but Yours be done”.

Renew your faith. Recite the Creed to remember that what you fear to lose is less valuable than God himself. God is everything. He is there for you. He never fails you. He never abandons you. And most of all, He loves you unconditionally. His mercy never ends. So rise, have no fear…you are never alone. God is with you always.

Remember the stormy night in Galilee? Jesus manifested a power beyond anything we can comprehend. How did Jesus respond to the disciples’ fearful cries amidst the storm? He told them to have courage. That’s the way Jesus always treats us speaking a word of courage, calming our souls. We may feel that we are alone in the dark, full of our fears but the truth is that God sees us no matter where we are or what we are going through. Just as Jesus walked on the water to come to the disciples, he can come to us and CALM our FEARS.

Prayer

Lord Jesus I am always so afraid. I am full of “what-if”. What if I die, what if I get sick, what if I don’t have money, what if...,what if…Please increase my faith in You. I know You are always there for me to guide me, to protect me, to provide for my needs, to heal me, to love me, to forgive me. You are more than enough for me. That’s all I ask in Your Mighty Name, Amen.

Rejoice in God

3rd Sunday In Advent
13 December 2009


Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.


First reading Zephaniah 3:14-18

Shout for joy, daughter of Zion,
Israel, shout aloud!
Rejoice, exult with all your heart,
daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has repealed your sentence;
he has driven your enemies away.
The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst;
you have no more evil to fear.
When that day comes, word will come to Jerusalem:
Zion, have no fear,
do not let your hands fall limp.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a victorious warrior.
He will exult with joy over you,
he will renew you by his love;
he will dance with shouts of joy for you
as on a day of festival.

Canticle Isaiah 12
The rejoicing of a redeemed people

Second reading Philippians 4:4-7

I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness. Let your tolerance be evident to everyone: the Lord is very near.
There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus.

Gospel Luke 3:10-18

When all the people asked John, ‘What must we do?’ he answered, ‘If anyone has two tunics he must share with the man who has none, and the one with something to eat must do the same.’ There were tax collectors too who came for baptism, and these said to him, ‘Master, what must we do?’ He said to them, ‘Exact no more than your rate.’ Some soldiers asked him in their turn, ‘What about us? What must we do?’ He said to them, ‘No intimidation! No extortion! Be content with your pay!’
A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all, ‘I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.’ As well as this, there were many other things he said to exhort the people and to announce the Good News to them.


Reflection
By Jeanne Therese Hilario-Andres

Shout for joy! Sing joyfully! Cry out with joy and gladness! Rejoice in the Lord always!

What marvelous superlatives. What extreme emotions. What a superabundance of exclamation points. I can almost picture Zephaniah, Isaiah and Paul scribbling smiley faces and putting dancing emoticons onto their divinely-inspired manuscripts.

Sometimes, it is effortless to rejoice in God and shout for joy, especially when things are going our way, or when we are giving thanks to God with others. It is easier to get caught up in the moment and to feel joyful and exuberant when we have just gotten some good news, or as we listen to other people’s triumphs. We laugh, sing, dance, clap our hands and feel an emotional high.

But then we go home and return to daily life. We see our dwindling funds and worsening economy. We deplore rising crime and political turmoil. We weep over broken relationships and family problems. We mourn our losses. We regret the past. We worry about what is to come. And then, easily, unwittingly, we forget to give thanks, to rejoice, to cry out with gladness to the Lord. Instead, we brood, we plan, we devise ways to survive our daily lives and be in control of our future.

In my mind, the opposite of thanksgiving is not ingratitude, but anxiety. Fear. Disquiet. Useless concern. The moment we stop trusting in the Lord, we stop giving thanks. We stop rejoicing. We stop celebrating.

Confidence and courage in God naturally leads to extraordinary joy which surpasses the fleeting pleasures offered by the world. Joyful remembrance of God’s past faithfulness leads to childlike trust and an impenetrable shield of hope. It is a beautiful, nourishing, life-altering cycle which produces a deep-seated peace that no one can steal.

What chains of worry and anxiety are binding you? What is restricting you from surrendering all your cares on the Lord? What is keeping you from dancing and crying out for joy to God at all times, in all circumstances, in all situations? Surrender them all to Him. Cast them all at His feet.

As we enter deeper into this season of Advent, no matter what may be happening in the world around us, let us rejoice and cry out with joy to the Lord, for He is our Saviour, Protector and Provider. In Him, our joy is forever renewed.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are my joy. You are my hope. You are my shield. Grant me grace to rejoice in You and to trust in Your power. Give me lasting joy and the peace that transcends all understanding. I surrender all my fears, chains and burdens to You, Lord. For You are my God, and all my hope, all my joy, all my trust is in You. Amen.

Next week on God-speak
The Lady with the Blackened Feet