Clearing to be Fruitful

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

12 July 2026

 

First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14

Second Reading: Romans 8:18-23

Gospel: Matthew 13:1-23

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

 

In the Second Reading, Saint Paul tells us that all creation awaits with eager expectation...(to) be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God (Rom 8:19-21). We are all part of that creation. In the past, we may have heard God's Word, but it did not grow in us due to our lack of understanding. Perhaps we may have initially received it ningas kugon, but trials overtook us. Or we may have been distracted by the cares of ambition, money, power, or pleasure that there is no room for the Word to thrive in us. Yet, there is hope that we would be fruitful as long as we keep on listening to the Lord.

When we moved to our current home 12 years ago, we planned to put some plants on the front and back gardens. Before we could do so, we cleared the space otherwise the seeds we sow or the plants we put won't grow. We kept ourselves vigilant too with those nasty weeds that keep on coming. This clearing holds true for God's Word too. If we want it to take root in our hearts, we must allow God to make our hearts fertile and fruitful (Is 55:10). We must also weed out any distractions such as sin, vice, idleness, gossip, etc. that would hinder us from bearing fruit and yielding a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold (cf. Mt 134:18).

Prayer

Loving Father, You generously sowed Your Word into our hearts but because of our failure to listen, this has not grown into fruition. Clear our hearts of any weeds that would prevent us from becoming fruitful. Help us to be vigilant to protect the holiness in us. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Bear Fruits of Goodness

   

Third Sunday of Lent

23 March 2025

 

First Reading: Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11.

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

Gospel: Luke 13:1-9

 

Reflection

By: Anabelle P. Balla

 

I have started writing my autobiography and it is challenging to make quick progress with so many events to include. I tried organizing my thoughts based on important people in my life, but the list kept growing. I also attempted to break it into short stories, which resulted in a lot of content to cover. My life has been full of experiences, never boring.

However, beyond the stories and individuals, I reflect on my contributions and impact. Am I achieving my purpose and making a positive difference?

I realized that the measure of a fruitful life goes beyond tangible achievements. It is found in the love I share, the kindness I extend, and the positive impact I have on those around me. It's the comforting words I offer to a friend in need, the lessons I teach my children, and the care I provide to my community. It's not just about the milestones but also the moments of grace, forgiveness, and compassion.

We are meant to live fully, make our lives beautiful and productive, and nurture God's creations with love. With God, we can bear fruits of goodness that can help make this world a better place to live.

Prayer

Father, may the story of my life inspire those around me to cultivate their own fruitful lives, rooted in faith, love, and service. In Jesus' 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.