God is a Person

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)

25 December 2025

 

First Reading: Isaiahn 52:7-10

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6

Second Reading: Hebrews 1:1-6

Gospel: John 1:1-18

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

Ever since Lent 2024, I have been visiting the St Barnabas Cathedral near my workplace whenever I can. This goes on especially this Jubilee Year as the cathedral and Good Shepherd Church which is near where I live are among the jubilee churches in our diocese. I also join the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in our parish every Friday night.

Spending a few moments with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament has been a rich source of strength, guidance, and inspiration to me as I start the day or as I head home after a busy day. There were times when I was alone with the Lord which made it much easier for me to pour out my heart before Him, cry, or even sing a song. In our family bereavement this year, this beautiful devotion provided an uplifting experience. 

A story goes that one of the conversion moments for Edith Stein (aka St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) to Catholicism was witnessing people praying in church. Such action convinced her that God is not a mere idea, but a person that we can relate with. Indeed, that is what we are celebrating today: “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (Jn 1:14). God’s gift of His Son - a Son who desired to be with His people - is second to none. Adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and receiving Him in Holy Communion, may we become faithful witnesses of His abiding presence in the world that “came to be through him but…did not know him” (Jn 1:10).

  

Prayer

Happy birthday, Jesus! Thank You for becoming one like us. Thank You for dwelling among us despite our unworthiness. Open our hearts to always welcome You and rejoice in the light You bring. Make us zealous in leading others closer to You so that together we may see Your saving power. Amen.

"Palusot"

    

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

09 June 2024

 

First Reading: Gn 3:9-15

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 130 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

Second Reading: 2 Cor 4:13-5:1

Gospel: Mk 3-20-35

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

 

Have you noticed that those who are caught red-handed often give palusot (excuse) rather than admit their wrongdoing? Our First Reading and Gospel today feature some characters who made excuses. When God confronted Adam for eating the forbidden fruit, he blamed Eve who then blamed the serpent. When His unconvinced relatives and the scribes saw His ministry  they branded Jesus as crazy and possessed by Beelzebul.

Making excuses did not do any good for these people. It will not do any good for us too. The scribes' accusation that Jesus had an unclean spirit was unforgivable because our Lord declared it as a sin against the Holy Spirit. Sins against the Holy Spirit "are mortal sins that harden a soul by its rejection of the Holy Spirit". This includes despair, presumption, envy, obstinacy in sin, final impenitence, and deliberate resistance to the known truth.

Though some may interpret today's Gospel as an act of disrespect to the Blessed Virgin Mary, this is not the case. Jesus knew His mother well and praised her for faithfully cooperating in God's plan of salvation. While the Eve of the Old Testament made excuses for her unbelief, the Eve of the New Testament - Mary - chose to do the will of God. Mary once said to Gabriel: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord  be it done to me according to your word"? (Lk 1:38). We have a choicr here: are we going to keep on making excuse for our foolishness or are we going to take responsibility and make amends?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, forgive us for the many times that we havd made excuses for not following You. Through the prayers and example of Mama Mary, draw us to Yourself in whom alone we find mercy and fullness of redemption. 

The Road to Conversion

    

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

21 January 2024

 

First Reading: Jon 3:1-5, 10

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: 1 Cor 7:29-31

Gospel: Mk 1:14-20

 

Reflection

By: Jose Paulo Gonzales

 

Today’s Gospel cues us into the spectacle of conversion. Conversion is comparable to the ‘toss and turn’ we run through as we try to sleep and go in search for the spot that gives us the greatest comfort; do we sleep on one side? On our bellies? On our backs? The shuffling on bed we experience gives us that: the chance of finding which position is most comfortable. While conversion involves quite a longstanding series of toss and turn… of trial and error, in the story of conversion, comfort is where we depart, as the road to conversion is anything but comfortable.

John the Baptist is associated strongly to conversion. As he earnestly called people into repentance, he was labeled rather harshly. His zeal for service among other things that would have him living so austerely such as going from place to place homeless, wearing camel hair over his body, and feeding on locusts and wild honey would brand him upon others a madman; but all this would only bring more attention to his untamed fire for evangelization.

 

Special was John’s relation to the Lord that the Lord would find Himself weeping strongly upon his later execution; but the Lord we see in today’s Gospel did not steer away from service, despite John being delivered up to his captors. Jesus went on to continue His mission, proclaiming to people the Good News of salvation.

In mission, Jesus would find two of His early apostles – Simon who would be called Peter, and his brother Andrew, who would believe in His Messianic Identity. The brothers were casting their nets into the sea, only to be told they would be fishing for much bigger catch – people themselves. If only they knew how much more baffling it would be to perfect the self, let alone to lead others to a life that is spiritually spotless, their ‘yeses’ could have been a more difficult give; but it remains – people are in for some spiritual reeling.

Here, the amazing display we could emulate is how instant Simon and Andrew were to follow the Lord. While not all instant things are good and at times being instant could mean the lack of preparation or thoroughness, Simon and Andrew’s instant ‘yes’ in this case signifies the abandonment of self in the Face of One with Whom they can place their trust in confidence and childlike innocence.

The road to conversion is not always to be spoken of in third person as written accounts of conversion would have us think instantaneously. it is not for the people only – those outside us – to undertake. In the First Reading, in the story of Jonah, it was revealed: the prophets themselves (as are we) may be just in equal need of conversion, if not greater.

In more expounded accounts, Jonah would be shown to be rather obstinate. God would tell Jonah to call Nineveh to repentance, and Jonah, repeatedly, would turn away from the Lord, going into a place he thought he would not be found. He was angry with God for giving importance to Nineveh enough for him to be instructed to deliver God’s message there personally, and so because God was patient with the Ninevites and gave them considerable leeway to correct themselves. These were grating for Jonah to see; but the Lord would later lovingly reply: “is it right for you to be angry?” (Jonah 4:4) “Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left? […]” (Jonah 4:11) The Lord would send a big leaf to grow over Jonah’s head, sheltering him from the sweltering heat (Jonah 4:6) – all this love for the dissenting and angry Jonah.

Does this story remind us of anyone familiar? I am welling up with droplets as I am writing this. This show of complicated feelings represents us all. The road to conversion is not at all easy and as others are called to it, so are we. Conversion does not mean perfect – as a standard that impeccable would have everyone falling short; it points instead to the unyielding zest to lay down our arms, to relinquish all defense, to turn back to the Lord with contrite hearts over and over, seventy times seven, the only perfect thing here being God’s love… God’s patience… God’s mercy.

On the road to repentance, does it matter if we start perfectly? Not so. For in the eyes of heaven, who is the son obedient to his father’s request? The son who has said “no” but had a later change of heart and went to follow his father’s wishes, or the son who said “yes” but later recanted his decision? The hearers of the parable would say: “the first.” (Matthew 21:28-32)

Prayer

Lord God, thank You for Your being patient with us in our conversion.

Though we have hearts of stone, please help us gain hearts of flesh and please send within us Your Spirit to help us live in Your statutes. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

Though our sins be like scarlet, please make us white as snow; though our sins be like crimson, please make us white as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)

In all these, please shower Your love upon us, to make our yokes easy and to make our burdens light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

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

Saving Grace

   

  Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

30 October 2022 

 

First Reading: Wis 11:22-12:2

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14

Second Reading: 2 Thes 1:11-2:2

Gospel: Lk 19:1-10

 

Reflection

By: Theresa Ballo-Manio

 

We are all like Zaccheaus at one point in our lives. Sometimes life drifts us apart from the straight road. We do sinful ways because we become impulsive to act to our desires, histories, and self-preservation. There are also times when sin creates a feeling of home, an illusion that we are not and will never be alone. We fall into temptations. There are also times when we rationalize sin for good intentions like stealing and lying to feed a family, killing a killer, or saying it was just part of my job or what I was raised to. In spite of these sinfulness and shortcomings, there’s the small voice that echoes within us telling us the truth. The truth that says we want to be good, we long to repent, and we wish to feel God’s attention and favor in us once again. Like Zaccheus, we crave for Jesus’ attention and forgiveness. He climbed a tree and called out to Jesus. What Jesus did, he stopped, looked at him, asked him to go down and stayed in his house even though this was not actually part of his planned itinerary. 

That’s how Jesus responds when we show interest in Him, no matter how small and how sinful we are. He goes out of His way for us. He draws us closer to him. He offers to listen, dine with us, and  have a personal encounter with us. This kind of love and attention changed Zaccheaus. Same with us, when we feel God’s presence in our lives, the more we strive to be good, to offer whatever we have in obedience and in the service of Him. 

Moreso, we can be like Jesus too in every Zaccheaus we meet in our lives. Let us not focus on the sin but on the sinner. We are invited to listen and see each person  as needing love and attention – this changes people. In this way, we get trust in return. Then we can now go towards helping the person correct his mistakes and turn away from sinful habits and ways. Zaccheaus changed his mind about the importance of money and told Jesus that he will now give rather than just receive. Indeed, true repentance is a change of thought that results in a change of action. 

The Gospel today contains a promise to all of us, that anyone, even sinners desire to see Jesus' will. More than that, Jesus sees us and in this way he will make our joy complete. 

Prayer

Lord, God, You showed as saving grace through Zaccheaus' conversion. Help me to be generous, so that they will see how wonderful it is to follow You! Help me become more aware that I am in Your loving presence at all times and in all places. Help me to see the helpful generosity  in me and in every person that I meet, and this includes those whom I may find difficult. Amen.

Cutting Off Part of Ourselves

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

26 September 2021 

 

First Reading: NM 11:25-29

Responsorial Psalm: PS 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14

Second Reading: JAS 5:1-6

Gospel: MK 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

 

Reflection

By: Theresa Ballo

 

This Sunday Jesus calls us to reflect on our thoughts and actions like any other Gospel. However, in today’s readings He invites us to examine parts of ourselves that are causing us to stumble and fall into sin. In so doing, we can make a choice to detach those part of our lives. Moreover, He also invites us to be tolerant of others because we are all sinners. At times, we may not even know that another person is suffering which may drive him to hurt others as well. Tolerance in excess is bad. But, tolerance to give others the benefit of the doubt, be more open-minded and giving allowances for mistakes that just like me, maybe, the person needs someone who would understand and lead him to a life more pleasing to God. 

For instance, I am recognizing that envy is a source of sin in my life. I often think that some people are just born lucky having all the ideals in life and some people are born to experience trauma, neglect and abandonment. I often asked God why does unfortunate events keep happening in my life. Am I the one to blame? Do I make bad decisions more often? Am I inviting people to hurt me? Honestly, when I get to look closely in my life, I am in trouble because my actions simply have consequences. This often led me to shame especially towards my relationship with Jesus. I am struggling to detach from this but I am surrendering my sinfulness to God by making a confession. When you sin big time, admitting it to a priest, to a human being, makes you feel really humble. I do my best to reflect each night and identify the parts of my day I should be thankful for. 

“Cutting off” parts of ourselves that lead us to sin is really hard and challenging but it is possible. 

 

Prayer

 

Thank you Lord God for letting your Word get through me. I surrender my life to You. Help me to recognize the small blessings I enjoy each day and lead me to trust You that all things work for Your greater glory. Help me to see myself as how You see me. Amen.

 

Relearn, Rethink, Rectify

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 12 July 2020
First reading Isaiah 55:10-11

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Second reading                                                          Romans 8:18-23

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

Gospel                                                                          Matthew 13:1-23

Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!”

Then the disciples came and asked him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” He answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. The reason I speak to them in parables is that ‘seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.’ With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: ‘You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn-and I would heal them.’

“But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.

“Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”


Reflection

By Jose Paulo Gonzales

It may be a little difficult to digest the reading for today because there are stern warnings about how we ought to act. Some have grown up set in their ways, although for people willing to be molded by God, Gospels like this come as a point to relearn; to rethink and rectify their ways.

In today’s Gospel, there are four ways to be: the first group consists of those who do not understand what the Kingdom of God is. The Kingdom of God has been likened to multiple parables, instead of being given directly, perhaps because its eternal reality would not be given justice by worldly analogies requiring definitive descriptions; but in our Catechism classes, we learn that the Kingdom of God is the reign of God. The reality of the reign of God may fly over the minds of some because of the allurements of the world—the temptations that snatch one away from understanding what is truly essential, and the deceit of the evil one—diversions the enemy uses for God’s people to have skewed perceptions of the Word. The people who do not understand make up the first group Jesus described.

Before we go off-tangent on what today’s Gospel means by those who do not understand, let us think about this some more. To understand may be a passive ability for some people. For some who are smart, to understand may come very easily. But what today’s Gospel means by those who do not understand are not those who cannot wrap their minds around God’s Word by will or ability. As eternally mysterious God is, no one can fully wrap his mind around God’s reality. What today’s Gospel means by those who do not understand are those who consciously close themselves off to God’s Word. To one who lacks understanding but is willing, the Bible says: the wisdom of the Lord comes generously to one who asks (James 1:5). If there is something we can learn from the first group, it is to repent, to be open, and to be malleable to God’s Word.

The second group consists of those who warmed up to the Word of God instantly, but as quickly as their joy came, their disinterest soon followed. This is because their interest was not made to develop roots. Those who do not solidify their relationship with God can be likened to the man who built his house on sand, not rock. The storm came, and his foundation soon faltered (Matthew 7:24-27). When one does not center his identity on God, he runs the risk of being swept all too easily by the machinations of the enemy. Hardships in this world and persecution from others may be enough to sway him from the faith. The second group reminds us to nurture and strengthen our relationship with God and His Word; To identify ourselves with Him faithfully.

The third group is made up of those who, while receptive to God’s Word, just like those in the second group, were swept easily by the cares of this world. This tendency for us to bombarded by the cares of this world may be difficult to detect because unlike other sins, it does not seem just as evil. It appears harmless. And this is why we should stand on-guard just the same. When we are snowed under with bills to pay, debts to reconcile, or other worldly concerns, it may be tempting to build a life centered on finances to insulate or protect us. But as the Kingdom of God is eternal, so we should set our sights, hearts, and minds on the eternality of God; everything of this world is transitory. God offers that which transcends anything of this world.

The first, second, and the third groups are not there simply for us to feel mighty over or demean, as when we fall on our guards, we could fall just as badly into the same behaviors. We are given these groups to signify what not to be, all the while savoring and emulating the fourth group—what we should be. 


The fourth group is made up of the fruitful ones. These are the people who receive God’s Word, act on the Word, and bear fruit. These may be challenging to bear but rewarding and fulfilling to accomplish. It may be difficult an effort, but we have the Spirit who gives us strength to surpass ourselves and do the feats God calls us to carry out. Let us call out to God to help us in our need.

Prayer

Abba, thank You that besides the fourth group in today’s Gospel, You gave us Jesus—the true model of faith and good works whom we should emulate. Thank You, also, for revealing to us Your Kingdom, so we could wait for it with good works and a joyfully expectant hope.

You have given us multiple stories that invite us all the more to anticipate the eternal life we are to share with You; please help us be like Jesus, growing to be more worthy of this promise as we take our walk in life.

You are glorious, Lord, and eternally loving; for these, may we be ever grateful.

In Jesus’ most holy Name, Amen.

Fruitless

Third Sunday of Lent

28 February 2016

First reading                                                                             Exodus 3:1-8,13-15

Moses was looking after the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law priest of Midian. He led his flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the shape of a flame of fire, coming from the middle of a bush. Moses looked; there was the bush blazing but it was not being burnt up. ‘I must go and look at this strange sight,’ Moses said, ‘and see why the bush is not burnt.’ Now the Lord saw him go forward to look, and God called to him from the middle of the bush. ‘Moses, Moses!’ he said. ‘Here I am,’ Moses answered. ‘Come no nearer,’ he said. ‘Take off your shoes, for the place on which you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your fathers,’ he said, ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ At this Moses covered his face, afraid to look at God.

  And the Lord said, ‘I have seen the miserable state of my people in Egypt. I have heard their appeal to be free of their slave-drivers. Yes, I am well aware of their sufferings. I mean to deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians and bring them up out of that land to a land rich and broad, a land where milk and honey flow, the home of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites.’

  Then Moses said to God, ‘I am to go, then, to the sons of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you.” But if they ask me what his name is, what am I to tell them?’ And God said to Moses, ‘I Am who I Am. This’ he added ‘is what you must say to the sons of Israel: “I Am has sent me to you.”’ And God also said to Moses, ‘You are to say to the sons of Israel: “The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.” This is my name for all time; by this name I shall be invoked for all generations to come.’

 

Psalm                                                                            Psalm 102:1-4,6-8,11

             

Second reading                                                         1 Corinthians 10:1-6,10-12

I want to remind you, brothers, how our fathers were all guided by a cloud above them and how they all passed through the sea. They were all baptised into Moses in this cloud and in this sea; all ate the same spiritual food and all drank the same spiritual drink, since they all drank from the spiritual rock that followed them as they went, and that rock was Christ. In spite of this, most of them failed to please God and their corpses littered the desert.

  These things all happened as warnings for us, not to have the wicked lusts for forbidden things that they had. You must never complain: some of them did, and they were killed by the Destroyer.

  All this happened to them as a warning, and it was written down to be a lesson for us who are living at the end of the age. The man who thinks he is safe must be careful that he does not fall.

Gospel                                                                       Luke 13:1-9

Some people arrived and told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with that of their sacrifices. At this he said to them, ‘Do you suppose these Galileans who suffered like that were greater sinners than any other Galileans? They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen on whom the tower at Siloam fell and killed them? Do you suppose that they were more guilty than all the other people living in Jerusalem? They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did.’

  He told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but found none. He said to the man who looked after the vineyard, “Look here, for three years now I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and finding none. Cut it down: why should it be taking up the ground?” “Sir,” the man replied “leave it one more year and give me time to dig round it and manure it: it may bear fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.”’

Reflection By Pietro S. Albano
Fr Anong was assigned to a big parish in the city.  Since he began his ministry, people saw him as a zealous minister, an eloquent preacher, and an effective leader.  Apart from having a lively celebration of the sacraments, this priest organised seminars, talks, recollections, etc. to educate his parishioners.

One day, he came to visit Lolo Tasyo, an old man who was very ill, to administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.  The priest was accompanied by a few manangs (older women known for their active participation in church day in and day out) who knew the old man. They were welcomed by Lola Alice. After returning to church, Fr Anong confronted his companions. "I have been with you for five years already and you still haven't learned what I have taught you!", he told the women.  “Bakit po, Father?” (Why, Father?), asked one of the women. “Lolo Tasyo has been living with Lola Alice without the blessing of the Church! Now the poor man is about to die. Why did no one tell me about this beforehand?”, he lamented.

I sometimes identify myself with those manangs or with that fig tree in today's Gospel. Though immersed in prayer and other religious activities for years, there are moments when I am not meeting God’s expectations. He taught me how to love and yet I am full of hatred. He taught me how to be generous, but I kept counting on the costs of giving. He taught me how to be grateful, but I have been envious of others’ blessings. He taught me humility, but I kept on staying in my ivory tower.  

Today’s Gospel is a wakeup call for us to change, to become more pliable to Jesus the Gardener so as to bear fruit abundantly.

  Prayer  

Merciful Father, thank You for putting up with our fruitlessness. Through Your Son Jesus, You keep on nurturing us to be fruitful. This Lent, help us to make every effort to be open to Your mercy. In Jesus’ mighty Name. Amen.

A reminder to All

Ash Wednesday 10 February 2016

First reading   Joel 2:12-18

‘Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks –
come back to me with all your heart,
fasting, weeping, mourning.’
Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn,
turn to the Lord your God again,
for he is all tenderness and compassion,
slow to anger, rich in graciousness,
and ready to relent.
Who knows if he will not turn again, will not relent,
will not leave a blessing as he passes,
oblation and libation
for the Lord your God?
Sound the trumpet in Zion!
Order a fast,
proclaim a solemn assembly,
call the people together,
summon the community,
assemble the elders,
gather the children,
even the infants at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his bedroom
and the bride her alcove.
Between vestibule and altar let the priests,
the ministers of the Lord, lament.
Let them say,
‘Spare your people, Lord!
Do not make your heritage a thing of shame,
a byword for the nations.
Why should it be said among the nations,
“Where is their God?”’
Then the Lord, jealous on behalf of his land,
took pity on his people.

Psalm                                                                            Psalm 50:3-6,12-14,17

               

Second reading                                                          2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2

We are ambassadors for Christ; it is as though God were appealing through us, and the appeal that we make in Christ’s name is: be reconciled to God. For our sake God made the sinless one into sin, so that in him we might become the goodness of God. As his fellow workers, we beg you once again not to neglect the grace of God that you have received. For he says: At the favourable time, I have listened to you; on the day of salvation I came to your help. Well, now is the favourable time; this is the day of salvation.

Gospel                                                                       Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

Jesus said to his disciples:
  ‘Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.
  ‘And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.
  ‘When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’

Reflection  By Pietro S. Albano

As kids, my brother and I were thrilled to have ashes put on our forehead during Ash Wednesday. Not satisfied with the ash we received, we sneaked back to the chapel to put some more ashes!  In the Philippines, being a Catholic country, people won't be surprised why you have an ashen forehead.  The opposite is true when I came to England. 

After returning from church one Ash Wednesday, I have to assist some Chinese students who were organizing their Chinese New Year celebration the same day. Some of them noticed my forehead and asked what the ash was for.  At first, I felt uneasy to explain  - practicing one's faith in this country is something private.  Later on, I began explaining to them what the ash was for and why. Surprisingly, they listened to me intently.  

Indeed, as Fr James Sullivan, OP wrote "[t]he witness of our ashen cross reminds not only ourselves of sin though. It reminds the world, and particularly all those who see the cross on our foreheads.".  

Lent is a time when we are called to give alms, pray, and do penance. By doing these, may God, who sees everything in secret, see in us the authentic reminders of His mercy to all.

Prayer

Merciful Father, You keep on calling us to return to You. Strengthen us through alms giving, prayer, and penance to heed Your call and inspire others to do the same. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Daang Matuwid

First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11

Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.

A voice cries out:

In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; the rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Go up on to a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings; cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news! Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm; here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.

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

Second Reading:   2 Peter 3:8-14

Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.

Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire. But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.

Gospel: Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.

A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Reflection
By Pietro S. Albano

Even before Noynoy Aquino became president, "daang matuwid" has already been the battlecry of John the Baptist. An austere man who calls a spade a spade, he exhorted his contemporaries to turn away from their sins, to make straight the path for the coming Messiah.

A path that is straight has its obvious benefits - ease in mobility among them. 

Imagine if all roads in the metropolis and in the outskirts are all made straight, produce from the provinces would been easily transported to the city, emergency assistance wouldn't be a struggle. Our country would have been economically rich! 

Imagine if all roads in our hearts are all made straight and cleared of all hindrances, the Gospel of Jesus would have been welcomed and upheld, no one would be treated less favorably.  Our country would have been spiritually rich!


Lest we get mired in the empty and often stressful hustle-bustle towards Christmas, why not prepare that straight path in our hearts for the Lord?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, forgive us for making the path in our lives so messy, so complicated. Help us to keep it clean and simple so Your Son could easily pass. In His Name we pray. Amen.