Baptismal Day

The Baptism of the Lord

11 January 2026

 

First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10

Second Reading: Acts 10:34-38

Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17

 

Reflection

By: Ma. Rosalina S. Flores

 

Today, as we officially conclude the Christmas season, we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ, an important event in His earthly life. At His baptism, while Jesus humbly allowed John the Baptist to baptize Him, Our God the Father on the other hand, exalted Him as the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove, and a voice from heaven proclaimed, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

This is also what happens in our own baptism. Receiving the Sacrament of Baptism not only washes away original sin but also makes us children of God, welcomes us into the Catholic Church, opens us to spiritual graces, and gives us an indelible mark that no sin can erase. Thus, baptism serves a holy purpose far beyond custom or tradition. Through baptism, we share in Christ’s mission as priest, prophet, and king: a calling we live out by grounding our lives in His commandments.

Do you know your baptismal date? Mine is January 20, 1991. I was baptized on the feast day of Santo Niño at the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint. And this year, I will celebrate 35 years of being a Catholic. This milestone leads me to reflect: What has been the fruits of my Catholic faith? Am I a good and obedient follower of God? Honestly, the answer is no. I still need more grace to grow. Yet one thing is certain that God loves me more than anything I have done or will ever do. Even in my mother’s womb, He already knew me, and in baptism, He claimed me as His daughter.

As co-workers of Christ in His mission of love and charity through baptism, our daily lives are called to reflect that mission. It will not always be easy, but when we fail or doubt ourselves, let us return to our baptismal day, the moment God accepted us as we are, called us His beloved, and welcomed us into His family, the Church.

 

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the gift of faith, that You generously gave me at my baptism. Through the intercession of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, may I grow deeper in the understanding of the faith and live it each day, so I may serve as Your instrument here on earth. Amen.

Humble Children of God

   

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

05 November 2023

 

First Reading: Mal 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 131:1, 2, 3

Second Reading: 1 Thes 2:7b-9, 13

Gospel: Mt 23:1-12

 

Reflection

By: Carlo Alexis Malaluan

 

You have but one Father in heaven! For a Christian, this is not just a way of speaking, or a designation. Mindfulness of divine filiation is rooted in a divine gift that transforms a person from within. St. John puts it this way: "See what love the Father has for us, that He has called us sons of God, and so we are!...We are truly children of God" (1 Jn 3,1-2).

Have you ever noticed that new-born babies would often resemble the physical characteristics of their parents? And as they grow older, they would adapt their behaviours and mannerisms? For this, Jesus tells us: You have but one Father in heaven! A Father from whom we came from, and whose image and likeness we are formed and created. As we are created in the image of God, we are called to be like Him in every way, to participate in His sanctity in our everyday encounters. As Saint Matthew would tell us, “But you are to be perfect, for as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Mt 5,8).

In the Gospel for today, Jesus warns his disciples not to look for other “teachers”, rather points us to a perfect example. The Lord explicitly tells us to become humble. The greatest among you must be your servant (Mt 23,11). And who is the image of perfect humility? Jesus. He says, “learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Mt 11:29). Most of the time, it is not easy to be humble. It is way easier to assert ourselves. We always want to be heard and seen. We always want to have an impact. And humility seems to be blocking the way for us to be “known”. But, on the contrary, humility is not an act of self-rejection nor self-deprivation. Saint Thomas Aquinas defines it this way: “Humility means seeing ourselves as God sees us: knowing every good we have comes from Him as pure gift” (Summa Q161). As pride is an excessive response to cover-up our own lackness and emptiness, humility is realising our own belovedness rooted in the goodness of God. Adam, the first man turned away from God through pride and disobedience and ruptured the loving relationship of God and humanity. Jesus, who is the perfect Son of the Father understood humility perfectly the he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness (Ph 2,7) in order for humanity to come to the Father as sons and daughters. Humility, impulsed by love, brings us back into the communion with God.

As Christians, we participate in this loving action of love and humility by “deeply caring for others and by sharing with them not only the gospel of God but also our own selves”, says Saint Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians. Offering our own selves for the sake of others is an act of humility and perfection. What God has given us through his generous donation, through what Christ has shown us exemplary on the cross and through the creative action of the Holy Spirit within us- we are too called to participate in this self-giving as children of the Father in Christ through the Holy Spirit. In our small and daily activities, in thinking of the welfare of those around us, in a thoughtful action of kindness and charity - there we are able to become more and more the “image and likeness”  of God, our one Father in heaven.

Prayer

Jesus, help us to become humble like You so that in our effort to do so, we continue to become the image and likeness of our one Father in heaven.

Feast of the Holy Child Jesus

Feast of the Holy Child Jesus

The Santo Niño

17 January 2021

 

First Reading:  IS 9:1-6

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 98

Second Reading:  EPH 1:3-6, 15-18

Gospel:  MK 10:13-16

 

Reflection

By: Carlo Alexis Malaluan

 

The 500-year strong faith on the Philippine Islands, we owe to a young Child - the Señor Santo Niño. It was through this venerable icon of the Child Jesus has helped the missionaries to introduce the faith to the natives. Thus, such devotion and affection for the Holy Child is deeply ingrained in the Filipino consciousness. That is why the Holy See, has approved for us a special celebration every third Sunday of January.

 

Many parts of the country celebrate the Feast of the Holy Child. But why is this so? We are a nation of young people. The statistics tells us that children are much bigger in number compare to adult Filipinos. And for that reason, the Holy Child serves as a model for the young. For us, Filipinos who are naturally fond of children, we believe that it is much easier to approach a young child. For us, the image of a God is not a distant creator but a young gentle and kind Child in our midst whom we can talk with familiarity.

 

But, what can we learn from this child? Innocence. The innocence of children teaches us to remain pure in thoughts and desires. In a world corrupted by selfish desires, we are called to remain holy and blameless. Capable of loving like the children. Show love to the children and they will love you back.

 

Let us learn to show compassion to each one. Let us strive to bring consolation to the unfortunate and suffering. Simplicity and openness, the child is not pretentious. We must be like a child who is open and simple, without masking ourselves and hiding who we really are.

We must stick to the identity that we are God's children and in such way, we will learn the greatest lesson the Child teaches us: Total trust and dependence on God. We recognize our weaknesses, shortcomings, and need for god that we are in need of the true God. God became a child to teach us that we must become a child in front of God. By doing so, we allow ourselves to be open to the great mystery of God's goodness and love. On this feast, may we discover the "inner child" within us and imitate the Child Jesus all the days of our lives.

 

Prayer

 

Lord, You became a Child to teach us how to become a child before You. Grant us the grace to learn from You and to approach You as the Child approaches His Father with full trust and confidence in Your goodness and mercy. Amen.

 

 

 

Don't Lose Sight

First Reading: IS 35:1-6A, 10

The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.

Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; they will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.

Responsorial Psalm: PS 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10

Second Reading : JAS 5:7-10

Brothers and sisters:

Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates. Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Gospel: MT 11:2-11

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ,  he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question,  “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus said to them in reply,  “Go and tell John what you hear and see:  the blind regain their sight,  the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:

Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.

Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

Reflection 
By Pam Manzano

Here in the Philippines, we have looming issues on countless extra judicial killings, the continuous waging of war on drugs, the political circus, the drama of our every day lives - and I am just starting. I can go on and on and on and in the process easily lose track of who I am as a person, more so as a Christian.

The Gospel today can be taken as a reminder of faith, of love, and of grace. John the Baptist was preaching about the Messiah. In the dark prison, he heard from his disciples what the Messiah was doing, but John was not sure if He is the One. John got too busy in preaching and converting others that he almost missed the One whom he is preaching about. 

Same for us. We can get so engrossed in the current state of what is happening and lose sight of what is to come, of why we are here, of why we are called. The tendency to be pulled into the battle of opinions that is in Facebook or other social media networks can be so overwhelming that we sometimes tend to forget our duties as a child of God and as a testimony to God's faithfulness. We hold our opinions so high that we forget how it is to love and be compassionate. We forget who we are and what our purpose is. We forget that life is to be respected, that Jesus came for the sinners, for the tax collectors, for the unfaithful. 

If only we focus more on loving one another instead of focusing on one another's shortcomings; if only we give love to those who hurt us; if only we try to pull the people around us up instead of pushing them down just so we can get to the top; if only we remind ourselves daily that it is better to give than to receive, it is way better to understand than be understood, then we make ourselves part of helping the blind people see, the lame walk, those with sickness healed, and the dead raised. 


The world can use more people who are like Jesus. There is too much hatred already and we do not need that anymore. With people around us needing our collective help, let us be a doer and not just a speaker.

Prayer

Father, please help us to switch our focus to Jesus, our Saviour. Let us be filled with His presence always. 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.

God Knows Best

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
25 July 2010


Come, let us rejoice in the Lord: let us acclaim God our salvation, alleluia.

First reading Genesis 18:20-32
The Lord said, ‘How great an outcry there is against Sodom and Gomorrah! How grievous is their sin! I propose to go down and see whether or not they have done all that is alleged in the outcry against them that has come up to me. I am determined to know.’
The men left there and went to Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Approaching him he said, ‘Are you really going to destroy the just man with the sinner? Perhaps there are fifty just men in the town. Will you really overwhelm them, will you not spare the place for the fifty just men in it? Do not think of doing such a thing: to kill the just man with the sinner, treating just and sinner alike! Do not think of it! Will the judge of the whole earth not administer justice?’ the Lord replied, ‘If at Sodom I find fifty just men in the town, I will spare the whole place because of them.’
Abraham replied, M am bold indeed to speak like this to my Lord, I who am dust and ashes. But perhaps the fifty just men lack five: will you destroy the whole city for five?’ ‘No,’ he replied ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five just men there.’ Again Abraham said to him, ‘Perhaps there will only be forty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the forty.’
Abraham said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry, but give me leave to speak: perhaps there will only be thirty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘if I find thirty there.’ He said, ‘I am bold indeed to speak like this, but perhaps there will only be twenty there.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the twenty.’ He said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry if I speak once more: perhaps there will only be ten.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the ten.’

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 137:1-3,6-8

Second reading Colossians 2:12-14
You have been buried with Christ, when you were baptised; and by baptism, too, you have been raised up with him through your belief in the power of God who raised him from the dead. You were dead, because you were sinners and had not been circumcised: he has brought you to life with him, he has forgiven us all our sins.
He has overridden the Law, and cancelled every record of the debt that we had to pay; he has done away with it by nailing it to the cross.


Gospel Luke 11:1-13
Once Jesus was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished one of his disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘Say this when you pray:
“Father, may your name be held holy,
your kingdom come;
give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us.
And do not put us to the test.”’
He also said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, “My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him”; and the man answers from inside the house, “Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up to give it you.” I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it him for friendship’s sake, persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all he wants.
‘So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. What father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg? If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

Reflection
By Patty De la Rosa-Paat

PRAYER on its literal meaning means: An act of the virtue of religion which consists in asking proper gifts or graces from God. In a more general sense it is the application of the mind to Divine things, not merely to acquire knowledge of them but to make use of such knowledge as a means of union with God. This may be done by acts of praise and thanksgiving, but petition is the principal act of prayer. (New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia)

I would say that the “Lord’s Prayer” is a perfect and beautiful prayer from which we honor God’s name but we address Him as our “ Father” , God is God and God is our Father. No one can break our relationship with Him. This is what we receive in the Sacrament of Baptism - we are freed from original sin and we become the adopted children of God.

Like a Father-child relationship, a child seeks comfort from His father. His presence is very important before a child’s eyes for the child knows he is protected and nobody could hurt him. The essence of being a father is to sacrifice his own life and happiness for the interest of his children. He doesn’t give everything for he knows what is good for them. A father is the one who molds his children for them to become better persons. Though, sometimes he can become tough in some of his decisions but just like a mother, father knows what is best for his children.

And so as God, He is our Greatest Provider in all aspects and our Creator, and we are His masterpiece. God provides everything that we have. The food that we eat, the air that we breathe and, water that we drink. In short all our basic needs were provided by God. What you see on earth is God’s perfect creation.

When we pray, we believe in God’s name, power, presence, and holiness. He is the Supreme Being and the ruler of the universe. He is our protector. He is the loving God, the Faithful One.

Sometimes when things go wrong or something bad happens to us we easily lose our faith in Him. When we struggle God doesn’t punish nor betray us. Whatever we are going through, God give us strength and direction that we need. God is always there even if don’t ask. He knows every single detail of our lives and He has not abandoned us.

Life is beautiful but it is full of challenges. Prayer is the best thing we can do. God doesn’t see our flaws and weaknesses. As Jesus said “For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened”. We should prepare ourselves for a long journey. God rewards for those who seek Him. A dialogue with God is very important for He knows what is in our hearts. We must live according to His will and the kingdom of heaven will be open to us.

In every prayer that we made, we are having a privileged conversation with God. It is not just a simple conversation it is our way of strengthening our faith in Him.

Prayer is powerful let us bow our heads and pray...

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours.
Now and for ever. Amen.

Next on God-speak
Be Greedy To Bless Others

Rich or Poor, We Are All Welcome in God's Presence

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
20 June 2010


We are God’s people, the sheep of his flock: come, let us worship him, alleluia.

First reading Zechariah 12:10-11,13:1
It is the Lord who speaks: ‘Over the House of David and the citizens of Jerusalem I will pour out a spirit of kindness and prayer. They will look on the one whom they have pierced; they will mourn for him as for an only son, and weep for him as people weep for a first-born child. When that day comes, there will be great mourning in Judah, like the mourning of Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. When that day comes, a fountain will be opened for the House of David and the citizens of Jerusalem, for sin and impurity.’

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 62:2-6,8-9

Second reading Galatians 3:26-29
You are, all of you, sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. All baptised in Christ, you have all clothed yourselves in Christ, and there are no more distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, but all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Merely by belonging to Christ you are the posterity of Abraham, the heirs he was promised.

Gospel Luke 9:18-24
One day when Jesus was praying alone in the presence of his disciples he put this question to them, ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’ And they answered, ‘John the Baptist; others Elijah; and others say one of the ancient prophets come back to life.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ It was Peter who spoke up. ‘The Christ of God’ he said. But he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone anything about this.
‘The Son of Man’ he said ‘is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death, and to be raised up on the third day.’
Then to all he said, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it.’

Reflection
By Rose Guevarra Markell

After a few years of being here in the United States, I attended a seminar for care-givers as I was a care-giver for elderly people. In that seminar, there were different sects such as Christians and others and it happened to be a Lent season. I was one of the Catholic attendees, but the only Filipina in the group.

The topic was about the elders, most specially those in wheelchairs. It was also discussed where these people should be and someone said that they should have their own pathway in church as not to be on the way of other parishioners or rather they should just stay at home. There was also a debate about the poor not being properly dressed when they come to church.

When it was my time to speak, I told them that from the country where I came from which is the Philippines, anybody can come to church at anytime, as our church is always open. And it is open for everyone, rich or poor. We believe that our God is a God who doesn't look at what we are or how we are dressed (as long as decently when in church). And if some of our parishioners can't come to church for some reasons like too weak and sick, or ashamed to come as they have nothing good to wear, our church goes to them, talks to them. We have deacons who go out to communities to give communion to the people who are very sick and can't make it to church.

We are all children of God through faith and baptism. We are not so different from each other. All of us are one in Christ Jesus. And because we all belong to Christ, we all are to inherit God's promise no matter if we are poor or rich, bound to a wheelchair or have strong legs.

Lord, please enlighten us with Your Holy Spirit. Help us to be more compassionate, most specially to the aged and the children. May we be of good example to them. Please forgive our tresspasses and may we be a light to others, in Jesus' name, Amen.

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