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.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
As we celebrate All Saints' Day, the Beatitudes' first line reminds us how to live our life in HUMILITY and DEPENDENCE on God.
Being poor in spirit is not necessarily a call to material poverty. Jesus is calling us to deeper poverty of the heart to recognize that everything good comes from God! St. Francis and St. Ignatius were from wealthy families. St. Stephen of Hungary was a King! They were poor in Spirit in spite of their wealth and power for they have shared what they possess and remained totally dependent on God.
Today, I, you, all of us are reminded to have full dependence on God. The first step is to recognize our sinfulness, weakness, and faults. We need to humble ourselves to God and ask for His mercy and forgiveness through the Sacrament of Confession.
Secondly, we need to practice humility and gratitude. Serve our family and community with humility. Lead with humility. Be thankful for all the blessings we receive.
Finally, we must acknowledge that all our posessions, position, titles, and power are not ours to own. Give to those in need. Share your blessings to family, friends, and community. Practice Tithing.
We are called to be "poor in spirit."
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for all Your blessings. We acknowledge that all we possess, and that we have is a blessing from You. We humbly pray and beg You to continually bless us so that we can bless more people like the Saints before us. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.
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.
Tent is a good place to stay – during vacation, on camping trips, or on a beach trip. And it is easy to carry. However, there is no such thing as a self-building tent. There is always someone who will configure it for it to be built. In the Gospel, Peter wants to build a tent – one for Abraham, one for Elijah, and one for Jesus. However, he was not able to do so for they heard a voice from the cloud and witnessed Jesus transfigures. With Jesus’ transfiguration, the disciples configure their lives and follow Jesus more.
Configuration to Christ is a life-changing experience starting from attraction, leading to conversion and mission that helps us to transform our lives. Allow me to share to you how configuration is a life-changing experience. The common theme of today’s readings is metamorphosis or transformation. The readings invite us to configure our lives by renewing them with Christ, and to radiate the grace of the transfigured Lord around us by our Spirit-filled lives.
Configuration starts from attraction. In the Gospel, as they were up to the mountain, Peter, James, and John were in awe as they saw Jesus transfigured, with His face shone like the sun and His clothes became white as light. There, Moses and Elijah also appeared conversing with Jesus. With this, Peter was attracted to the manifestations in the mountain. He did not want to go down anymore and even asked Jesus to stay there and he will make a tent for them. When I was in high school, I joined the Ministry of Altar Servers. One of the reasons why I joined was the attraction from the vestments and for my sister who told me that she will give me money every time I serve. When I was a child, my mother would take me with her to the church to attend mass. There, I saw the altar servers serving at the altar wearing a white robe. I said to my mother that I want to also wear a white robe, and she said that when I grow up, I can. The attraction instills in me until high school. There, I joined the Ministry of Altar Servers and was able to wear the white cassock. My experience in joining the ministry transformed me to deeply love God and the Church.
However, Configuration does not stop there. It leads to conversion. While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him." When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. The scenes changed the hearts of the disciples, that it is not the comfort that God wants them to see but what Jesus would fulfill after. I was known to be a bully when I was in High school. I always tease my classmates just to annoy and make fun of them to make my other classmates laugh. I used to tease my classmate with asthma saying “Hinga! Hinga! Hinga lang nang Hinga!" until it became a chant in the classroom. However, everything changed when I joined the Ministry of Altar Servers. It made me realize that bullying and annoying my classmates are wrong. It leads me to deeply love and understand people and not to tease them or anything no matter what.
Lastly, conversion should entail action, thus, Configuration acts to mission. Jesus and the disciples did not stay in the mountain. They went down for there is a mission they need to fulfill specially for Jesus who will suffer in the cross. From the attraction in joining the Altar Servers Ministry, to conversion and renewal of life to the Lord. All that configuration experience that I would call a religious experience leads me to enter the seminary. At first, I thought I would be an engineer. I would always say to my mother that I would become an engineer. “Nay magiging engineer ako.” However, God has always another plan for us. I find joy in the service in the Church. And this leads me to find that here is where my mission is. Transformations leads us to mission.
And so, let us configure our lives with Christ. Let us reflect in Jesus’ life and experiences, for our experiences was first experienced by Him. That is where attraction starts in the life of Jesus. Second, we go to confession and there, we will feel the mercy and compassion of God. And lastly, for our mission, we help any persons who are in need. With all these, we can configure our lives with Christ and renew ourselves.
As St. Thomas Aquinas would say, At His Transfiguration, Christ showed His Disciples the splendor of His beauty, to which he will shape and color those who are His. And so, let God configure our lives.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, You showed your disciples the transfiguration of Yours that led them to configure their lives and follow You. May we also be witnesses of Your transfiguration by letting us see You in our daily lives through the different people we encounter. So that we too may follow You and be a true missionary disciple. You who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
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.
The late Cardinal John O'Connor, former Archbishop of New York, once related a story when he went to confession to an elderly priest. The priest told him, "Now is a moment of grace. Something big is about to happen; something very big. And it's going to happen to you. We are about to begin Advent. God has become incarnate in human condition, for you, personally for you. God has become a little baby right in the middle of the sins you just told me about. You have reason for new and wonderful hope."
In today's Gospel, Jesus wants us to keep an eye on our hearts lest they become tired from "carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life." Such mundane activities often mark the forthcoming Christmas season. The Church sets aside for weeks of spiritual preparation called Advent to help us to slow down, listen to, and act upon the Lord's warning. Like what the elderly priest told Cardinal John, Advent is a moment of grace and hope for all of us. Let us then take advantage of what Advent offers us that we may stand straight before Jesus, our coming Messiah.
How do you keep your heart from becoming drowsy due to the mad rush to Christmas?
How can Advent be a season of "new and wonderful hope" for you?
How will you stand if Jesus suddenly arrives at your doorstep?
Prayer
Lord, Jesus, thank You for Your word today. Awaken our hearts from the long night of sin and vice into the new day of hope and peace in Your presence. Amen.
‘At that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who mounts guard over your people. There is going to be a time of great distress, unparalleled since nations first came into existence. When that time comes, your own people will be spared, all those whose names are found written in the Book. Of those who lie sleeping in the dust of the earth many will awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting disgrace. The learned will shine as brightly as the vault of heaven, and those who have instructed many in virtue, as bright as stars for all eternity.’
Psalm Psalm 15:5,8-11
Second reading Hebrews 10:11-14,18 All the priests stand at their duties every day, offering over and over again the same sacrifices which are quite incapable of taking sins away. He, on the other hand, has offered one single sacrifice for sins, and then taken his place forever, at the right hand of God, where he is now waiting until his enemies are made into a footstool for him. By virtue of that one single offering, he has achieved the eternal perfection of all whom he is sanctifying. When all sins have been forgiven, there can be no more sin offerings.
Gospel
Mark 13:24-32
Jesus said, ‘In those days, after the time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will lose its brightness, the stars will come falling from heaven and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then too he will send the angels to gather his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the world to the ends of heaven.
‘Take the fig tree as a parable: as soon as its twigs grow supple and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. So with you when you see these things happening: know that he is near, at the very gates. I tell you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all these things will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
‘But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father.’
Reflection
By Edgardo Tulabut
In my two previous corporate employment,
never did I experience any unannounced audit. Different types of audits happen very
often in my line of work. There were customer audits, ISO audits, 5S audits,
etc. But they were always scheduled ahead in such a way that we, the auditees, had time to prepare to make things better in the workplace than on a typical
day.
Unlike in what a community sister told me
about how they were audited in the bank where she works. She said that aside
from the same announced audits, there are also times when a mystery auditor
comes in disguised as a client or sometimes even as person who pretends to wait
for someone else while observing the transactions going on. An example of what
they check was whether the 'no noon break' policy is being followed or not.
Some of my siblings had experienced being the
official mystery customers for a fast food chain in the 90s. They do what a
regular customer would do but only taking notes of everything they observe,
good or bad, such as attitudes of servers and the guards, the quality of food,
the cleanliness of the place and the restrooms, and so on.
In the school where I now teach, the dean
and the department chairperson do observe classes unannounced. But they usually
happen towards the end of the semester. But it’s good that I just discovered
earlier before writing this article that the dean conducts one of her classes
next to my classroom so I’ll just assume that an observation may happen anytime
she wishes. So I better be at my best every day.
Jesus has not announced when His final
audit will be. But he’s given us hints when he’s coming and a lifetime to
prepare. We may not live long enough to witness the Second Coming, but a spot
audit may happen any time, that is when we will be called to leave our life on
earth.
So we better be at our best every day.
But you know what, even before that big
day, we can always do self-audits by examining ourselves, correcting our
mistakes, confessing our sins, asking for forgiveness, and aligning ourselves
to God’s specs through daily one-on-one conversation with Him and regular
confession.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
and the 24/7 open line of communication with You. May these keep us calibrated
to how You designed us to be—Your future saints in heaven. In Jesus’ name,
Amen!
To Amos himself Amaziah said, 'Go away, seer, take yourself off to Judah, earn your living there, and there you can prophesy! But never again will you prophesy at Bethel, for this is a royal sanctuary, a national temple.' 'I am not a prophet,' Amos replied to Amaziah, 'nor do I belong to a prophetic brotherhood. I am merely a herdsman and dresser of sycamore-figs. But Yahweh took me as I followed the flock, and Yahweh said to me, "Go and prophesy to my people Israel."
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14
Second Reading:Ephesians 1:3-14
Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ. Thus he chose us in Christ before the world was made to be holy and faultless before him in love, marking us out for himself beforehand, to be adopted sons, through Jesus Christ. Such was his purpose and good pleasure, to the praise of the glory of his grace, his free gift to us in the Beloved, in whom, through his blood, we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins. Such is the richness of the grace which he has showered on us in all wisdom and insight.
He has let us know the mystery of his purpose, according to his good pleasure which he determined beforehand in Christ, for him to act upon when the times had run their course: that he would bring everything together under Christ, as head, everything in the heavens and everything on earth. And it is in him that we have received our heritage, marked out beforehand as we were, under the plan of the One who guides all things as he decides by his own will, chosen to be, for the praise of his glory, the people who would put their hopes in Christ before he came. Now you too, in him, have heard the message of the truth and the gospel of your salvation, and having put your trust in it you have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit of the Promise, who is the pledge of our inheritance, for the freedom of the people whom God has taken for his own, for the praise of his glory.
Gospel: Mark 6:7-13
Then he summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs, giving them authority over unclean spirits. And he instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff -- no bread, no haversack, no coppers for their purses. They were to wear sandals but, he added, 'Don't take a spare tunic.' And he said to them, 'If you enter a house anywhere, stay there until you leave the district. And if any place does not welcome you and people refuse to listen to you, as you walk away shake off the dust under your feet as evidence to them.' So they set off to proclaim repentance and they cast out many devils, and anointed many sick people with oil and cured them.
Reflection By Beth Eguia
“Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick-- no food, no sack, no money in their belts.”
It has been 5 months now after my operation. It was scary but thank God he sent angels. I was able to go through the ordeal. I would like to take this opportunity to thank a friend whom I only met in the hospital. Her name is Mildred, a simple but extraordinary woman. I can still recall that first day in the hospital. I was pale, in pain, afraid. I made the decision to have the operation but at the back of my mind I was so scared. I needed help. I needed refuge. I needed to feel secure. Working in a Muslim country, it is surprising to have been admitted and been taken care of in a hospital facility run by nuns. And to top it all, a community of lay people visits the sick regardless of race or religion. God knew I was scared and I needed someone so He sent Mildred to me. I wanted to have a confession, to receive Holy Communion, to have anointing, and most especially, to be at peace. It was like you are going into a battle. You have to show you are in control, that you can do it, but inside you need something to fill that empty space, to push you more, to be energized.
Mildred arranged everything, called for the priest so I can have all the sacraments and most especially, she was there to comfort me. The moment we were alone together, I talked and started to cry like a child. I melted like a candle, and her mere presence made me realized how precious I am to God. Simple gestures but it all made the difference. I was very grateful for that. At the day of my operation, I was at peace. I was happy. I can’t explain it but it is like you are so secured and that everything will be fine. I know people were praying for me, my family, friends and relatives. God was with me. Worries never crossed my mind even when I was inside the operating room and they were preparing me for the anesthesia. I woke up thinking it has not started but I was already in the recovery room about to be wheeled down back to my room. Mildred visited me almost every day during my 7 days stay in the hospital. If she was not around, she made sure someone will be there so I can receive the Holy Communion.
Each one of us is being called to be the chosen one. There are no major requirements. You could be rich or poor, a degree holder or not. It does not even ask you to be a master of anything. The only basic requirement is a big heart. A heart that loves and gives beyond what is expected. A humble and contrite heart that is 100% dependent on God. That is what I have witnessed in Mildred. She was a family woman but dedicated part of her life comforting others like me. I even asked her once how she coped with this kind of life. And she just merely said, “Everyday as I wake up, I thank and praise God and surrender everything to Him. I emptied myself so God can use me in accordance to his will.’
You and I can be like Mildred too. Are we ready to be the Chosen One?
Prayer
We praise and thank You Lord for another wonderful message in today’s Gospel. Grant us the grace to live our lives emulating what the disciples did, living life in service for others. Amen.
ANABELLE PAYOD-BALLA is married and is blessed with four lovely daughters. Currently the Faith section Editor, Ana is one of the Tanghalang Anluwage’s members since its inception in 1991.
ART B. REYES is a semiconductor engineering professional. He is one of the founding members of Tanghalang Anluwage.
ELIZABETH R. EGUIA is an employee of a software provider company in Malaysia and has dedicated herself in bringing the Gospel to the barangay level.
NICOLA ALBANO-RACHIELE was a cardiac nurse for almost 8 years in Manhattan, NY before moving to Bethlehem, PA where she continues her career at St. Luke's University Health Network Electrophysiology Laboratory.
GRACE B. MADRINAN is an Industrial Engineering graduate of Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and currently works for a semiconductor company in Cavite.
EDGARDO TULABUT is a Logistics supervisor, Financial educator, Health Advocate, Future Feast Builder under the Light of Jesus-Pampanga, Blogger, Christian Music Enthusiast, & a Coffee Freak.
FIDJI RIVERA - SARMIENTO is a special educator, answered her calling to teach beyond their home-front by establishing her own intervention center. An advocate of the inclusion education system & of the handmade revolution.
MAYZELLE ATIENZA worked for 12 years as a product engineer in Intel Technology Philippines. She is currently serving as a full-time volunteer staffer for her Catholic charismatic community.
JEANNE THERESE HILARIO ANDRES was a youth worker of Christ’s Youth in Action and now a married mom of two. She and her husband are members of The Sword of the Spirit.
BENJ SANTIAGO is involved with keeping families together, & helping achieve financial independence. A member of Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen & Professionals, and Magis Deo Community.
FELY SANTIAGO is a Financial Teacher at International Marketing Group, a
Financial Mentor, Wealth Circle & Truly Rich Club, Bo Sanchez, Inc, and Head, Financial Mentoring Ministry, The Feast Bay Area.
ROSALINDA MARKELL was a Regent of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate of St. Joseph Church,Gagalangin, Tondo. Now residing in the US, was blessed with 5 children & now have 13 grandchildren, & 3 great-grand-children.
PATTY DE LA ROSA-PAAT is the writer for the web's "Ano Yun?" sub-section. She also serves as a catechist in her parish in Laguna, Philippines.
PAM MANZANO is Bachelor of Arts Major in Psychology graduate. She is the only daughter of TA senior member, the late Eliza Manzano and has a son named Piel.
GRACE JAMANDRI - FLORES is a public high school teacher in social studies. She was a parish youth leader and catechist in her younger years.
RENATO C. VIBIESCA
is teaching Literature & Creative Writing at the PUP, Jose Rizal University & St. Paul University in Quezon City. He's also contributing stories for Gospel Komiks and other publications.
THERESA BALLO is a graduate of BS Psychology in UST. She is currently working as a formation staff at the Campus Ministry and Service Office of Xavier School Nuvali.
CRIS BALLA manages a mobile apps and games design and development company. He also writes programs and designs graphics elements. He is the husband of Ana, Faith Section Editor.
MARK RODNEY P. VERTIDO is a teacher who now teaches at Holy Spirit Academy Manila. He is deeply involved in their Diocesan Youth Commission as a volunteer and other youth endeavors.
CARLO ALEXIS MALALUAN is a seminarian for the Diocese of Imus, Cavite. He have earned a degree in Bachelor of Science in Psychology before entering the Seminary. He is one of the facilitators of Online Usapang Bokasyon, an online vocation talk show of the Ministri sa Bokasyon of the Diocese of Imus. During his free time, he would spend reading books and illustrating.
MA. ROSALINA FLORES is a Technical Assistant at the Program Division of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines National Headquarters. She's also a member of the Manila Cathedral's Ministry of Lectors and Commentators.
JESSSA JANELLE PADILLA is a government employee. She is also a member of the Manila Cathedral - Basilica's Ministry of Lectors and Commentators.
JOSE PAULO M. GONZALES is a seminarian. He loves biking, swimming, and checking out new places and awesome sceneries. A lifelong learner and curious navigator, he believes there’s still a lot of wonder in life to be found.
