The True Rich

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

28 September 2025

 

First Reading: Amos 6:1a, 4-7

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

Second Reading: 1 Timothy 6:11-16

Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

 

Reflection

By: Benj Santiago

 

“If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.” (Luke 16:31)

In this parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus paints a vivid contrast between worldly comfort and eternal reality. The rich man enjoyed abundance and ignored the poor beggar at his gate, while Lazarus suffered in misery while they were still alive. At death, their situations were reversed: Lazarus found comfort with Abraham, while the rich man was in torment.

This reveals the seriousness of how we live our earthly lives. Wealth or money or mammon itself is not evil or condemned, but selfishness and lack of compassion bring judgment. The rich man’s sin was his indifference and lack of empathy—he failed to see and care for the suffering Lazarus who is just outside his gate. The rich man failed to listen to what the prophets taught that we must love others expressed through generosity, mercy, and solidarity especially the poor. This is continuing situation even in this time.

The Gospel reminds us of the power and sufficiency of God’s Word. The Scriptures, given through Moses and the prophets, already contain the truth that leads to salvation. If people refuse to listen to God’s revelation, no miracle or extraordinary sign will be enough to change their hearts. It also points that our Lord Jesus is already foretelling the Pharisees of His own Resurrection. That even though He rose from the dead, many still chose not to believe.

Prayer

Lord, open our eyes to the suffering around us. Teach us to share our blessings with compassion and love. May we never be blinded by wealth or comfort, but instead live with mercy and faithfulness. Help us to open our hearts and listen to Your Word so we may share in eternal life. Help us to listen with faith, trust in Your promises. May we always believe with humility and perseverance, so that we may be strengthened in hope and remain faithful to Christ, our risen Savior. Amen.

Generosity and Love, not Greed

   

  Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

31 July 2022 

 

First Reading: Ecc 1:2, 2:21-23

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17

Second Reading: Col 3:1-5, 9-11

Gospel: Lk 12:13-21

 

Reflection

By: Benj Santiago

 

"Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?'

Being poor is difficult. To be rich is also difficult. And we all know that the love of money is the root of all evil. It is also true that money cannot buy us happiness. But it is equally true that we need money to buy the things we need. So, there must be a balance in our pursuit of wealth. The Gospel reading clearly tells us that the accumulation of possessions or wealth must not be anchored on GREED! 

As a financial mentor, I was mentored by Bro. Bo Sanchez. And the basic guide I put into practice is the “Prosperity Formula” or the “Abundance Formula” that guides us to give; at least 10% of what we earn, back to God through our Tithes.  To give back to our Church or charities at least 10% of what the Lord blesses us with. That we strive to earn more so we can give more. In our team, the Truly Rich Makers Team, we collectively support the Annual Feast Conference as a MAJOR SPONSOR. It is our collective way of giving back to the ministries supported by Bro. Bo. We continue to encourage many families to accumulate wealth not for greed but to be able to be more generous in giving. For we believe that the ultimate purpose of accumulating wealth is to use it for LOVE!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for enlightening us to guard against greed in our pursuit of accumulating wealth. We pray that all those who are blessed to have will be inspired to share to those who have not. This we pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

The Ultimate Remedy

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 23 February 2020
First reading Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbour, or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord.

Second reading                                                          1 Corinthians 3:16-23

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy and that temple you are.

Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

So let no one boast of men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apol’los or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future, all are yours; and you are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

Gospel                                                                          Matthew 5:38-48

Jesus said to his disciples, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Reflection

By Benj Santiago

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

If any one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are.”

I believe that each one of us has learned early in life through catechism that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.  But undeniably one time or in many occasions we had violated someone, or even our own body. 

Drug abuse, murder, rape, and many other forms of violence against the temple of the Holy Spirit abound around us, in our country, in the community we live in, and even in our own families.  In spite of the fact that we know that God’s Spirit dwells in each one of us. 

Greed, lust, materialism, and hatred are most common cause that push one to destroy the other. 

But all is not lost. There is still hope.In Leviticus 19:18 it says “you shall love your neighbor as yourself”. The ultimate remedy is LOVE. As we enter the season of Lent, it is a great reminder to repent and turn away from our sins. It won’t be an easy battle. Thus, we need to invoke the Holy Spirit that dwells in us to make love to reign in our hearts. 

Prayer


Come Holy Spirit and change our ways of sinfulness. Let love reign in our hearts for ourselves and for all the people we meet and interface with. This we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

Gaining to Give

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 4 August 2019
First reading Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23

“Vanity of vanities!” says the Teacher, “vanity of vanities! All is vanity. Even one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.”

Second reading                                                          Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11

Since you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

Gospel                                                                         Luke 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”

Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”

Reflection

By Jessa Janelle Padilla

Nowadays, we tend to idolize money than God. We are living for material/earthly things which are just temporary. We disregard living our our real purpose or mission in life.

Our Gospel for today teaches us that what we have now can’t be brought to our graveyard or even the afterlife. Why most of us focus on becoming rich regardless of the legality of how we obtain it? Are we not aware that everything we have is just temporary and borrowed? We are just caretakers of what we have and as caretakers we must learn to value it and even share it with those in need. Anytime, our possessions will be taken away from us.

As I read my readings for my graduate studies, I was inspired by Antonio Meloto (the founder of Gawad Kalinga). Meloto is a devout Christian with a mission in life: to help the poor. He didn’t hesitate to live in the slums with criminals, drug addicts, and poor His agenda is to make them feel that they are loved and cared for in spire of still belonging to a harsh society. He uplifts them and provides ‘Kalinga’ (help) to change their life’s point of view. Can we ask ourselves if we too are willing, like Meloto, to live with those kinds of people? Most of us will say a Big NO. But wait, they are just victims of the harsh society and deprived from having the basic needs. For those reason they were forced to become such kind of people. Our mission as Catholics is to understand them instead of judging them. Giving care and love than driving them away. Let’s help them to rehabilitate themselves with our little act of kindness and understanding.

The desire to achieve and have everything is normal and okay with a note that we need to share it. Sharing is caring. My father taught me that I must not become greedy. I must be contented on what God provides us and share His blessings with those in need. As I grew up, I’ve learned the values of caring and sharing what I have with other people. My father always remind me that I must be thankful because God never fails to bless us abundantly.

Let us be not like the brother or the rich man in our Gospel today who only focused on gaining and not even know how to share. They only focused on themselves. My brothers and sisters, richness doesn’t define who we really are. The way we treat people regardless of our status in life defines us. God teaches us to share and a little act of kindness is worth a thousand grand. 

Prayer

Lord, enlighten our hearts to be generous and not greedy, to learn the value of sharing and caring.  May we not just focus on gaining but rather value giving. May we also live our lives for heavenly desire and not for earthly things. This we ask in Jesus name. Amen

Pagpasok sa Tahanan ng Diyos

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

14 October 2018

First reading                                                                  Wisdom 7:7-11
I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called on God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her to sceptres and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her. Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, because all gold is but a little sand in her sight, and silver will be accounted as clay before her. I loved her more than health and beauty, and I chose to have her rather than light, because her radiance never ceases. All good things came to me along with her, and in her hands uncounted wealth.

Second reading                                                     Hebrews 4:12-13

Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

Gospel                                                                     Mark 10:17-30

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'”

He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”

Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age-houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions-and in the age to come eternal life.”

Reflection

By Nats Vibiesca

Si St. Francis of Assisi agad ang naiisip ko sa tuwing naririnig o nababasa ang Ebanghelyo tungkol sa mayamang lalaki na sinabihan ni Jesus na ipagbili ang lahat ng kanyang ari-arian at ipamigay sa mahihirap ang pinagbentahan kung gusto niyang magkaroon ng kayamanan sa langit. Siyempre nalungkot ang lalaki dahil napakayaman niya.  Samantalang ang santong si Kiko, hubo’t hubad na lumakad sa kalsada (buti’t nakatalikod siya sa pelikula) dahil ipinamigay niya ang lahat ng kanyang kayamanan sa mga mahihirap, kaya nga galit na galit ang tatay niya, at pati ba naman balabal o anumang saplot niya’y ipinamigay rin. Pero ‘pag ginawa natin ngayon ang maghubo’t hubad sa kalsada kagaya ni Kiko, sasabihing baliw ka o kaya’y huhulihin ka ng mga pulis dahil exhibitionist ka. Pero teka? Ano nga ba’t kayhirap gayahin ang ginawa ng santong si Kiko? 

Pagkatapos kong maisip si St. Francis at mapagnilayan ang ginawa niyang sakripisyong pagtalikod sa karangyaan at saka sumunod kay Jesus, samu’t saring katanungan naman ang babagabag sa ‘kin. Halimbawa’y lahat ba ng mayaman ay mas mahihirapang makapasok sa Kaharian ng Diyos? Marami naman akong nakilalang mayayaman na talaga namang napakabuti at napakabanal. O, ibig sabihin ba’y ang lahat ng mahirap ay mas madaling makakapasok sa Kaharian ng Diyos? Pero marami rin namang mahirap na nalugmok na sa kasalanan at patuloy na tinatalikuran ang paanyaya ng Diyos sa kanila. 

Ano nga ba ang ibig sabihin ng “Makapasok sa Kaharian ng Diyos”? Hindi ba’t laging hangad ng Diyos na ang tao’y maging masaya? Kung kapiling ang Diyos, sigurado ang kasiyahan, hindi ba’t kasama sa Kaharian ng Diyos ang maging masaya tayo? Masama bang maging mayaman? Dahil kapag naging mayaman ay mahihirapan na nga bang makapasok sa Kaharian ng Diyos? Hindi na ba tayo dapat gumawa ng paraan para yumaman? Sino nga ba ang taong ayaw maging mayaman? Exempted na si St. Francis. Parang ayoko na tuloy tumaya sa lotto. Hangad ng Diyos na maging masaya tayo at kung nakukuha natin ang mga bagay na kailangan natin sa buhay nang hindi natatapakan ang ibang tao, hindi ba’t sobrang kasiyahan ang dulot nito? 

Ang suspetsa ko’y ang tinutukoy ni Jesus na mayayaman na mahihirapang makapasok sa Kaharian ng Diyos ay ang mga taong sobrang yaman na at nakukuha ang lahat ng pangangailangan at labis na luho sa buhay, pero sobrang ganid pa rin sa pagpapayaman sa pamamagitan ng pagwawalanghiya sa kanilang mga trabahador kung sila’y negosyante, na hindi ibinibigay ang tamang pagpapasweldo o tamang benepisyo sa mga tauhan o kaya’y sobrang magpatubo ng kanilang produkto at serbisyo kahit pa ang buong pamayanan ang magsakripisyo, silang mayayaman na walang pakialam sa kahirapan na nararanasan ng mga tao sa paligid nila, silang nilulustay nang todo-todo ang anumang yaman kahit masakripisyo ang ibang tao o maging kalikasan, sila ang mga kinain na ang prinsipyo at dangal para lang makamkam ang ari-arian ng iba, silang mayayaman na handang gawin ang lahat ng panloloko sa kapwa o kahit pa pumatay ng tao makuha lamang ang kapangyarihan sa bayan.   

Lumaki ako sa Tundo at nakasalamuha noon ang maraming isang-kahig-isang-tuka sa buhay. Madalas na naririnig ko noon sa kanila’y magsusumikap talaga sila sa paghahanapbuhay para makaahon sa buhay (hindi para yumaman) dahil gusto raw nilang tulungang maiangat din ang iba pang mahirap. Hindi nakapagtataka ito dahil naranasan namin kung papaano ang magdildil ng asin, naramdaman kung papaano masaktan sa pagkakataong kung minsa’y kahit asin at kanin ay walang-wala. Kaya nga laging buhay na buhay ang bayanihan sa lugar ng mahihirap; kapansin-pansin na likas na matulungin sila dahil lagi silang nakaalalay sa nangangailangan; kung minsa’y hindi na nga kailangan humingi pa ng tulong ang kapwa nila mahirap dahil napakasensitibo nila sa pangangailangan ng iba at kahit walang-wala’y siguradong gagawa ng paraan para makatulong; totoo ang pananampalataya nila sa Diyos kaya’t walang humpay ang pananalangin; karaniwan ang paghahangad ng kung ano lamang ang kailangan at hindi ganid sa pera para magkaroon ng anumang luho sa katawan; at kung naliligaw naman ng landas ay laging hinahanap ang paraan para makabalik sa tamang daan.  

Alam ni Jesus na hindi totoong tamad ang mga mahihirap. Laging nasa isip kasi nila ang makaahon sa buhay upang matulungan ang kapwa, ngunit kahit anong pagsusumikap nila ay hirap na hirap umasenso dahil nga sa kawalan ng oportunidad. Sa bansa nati’y laging ang mga makapangyarihang mayayaman na ganid sa pagkamkam ng anumang ikayayaman nila ang nagkokontrol ng oportunidad kahit pa gawing alipin ang mga manggagawa. 

Kahit pa nasasanay na sa mga pagtitiis ang mga mahirap, nakatuon pa rin sa kung papaano iraraos nang marangal ang isang araw, subalit anu’t anuman ang mangyari’y hindi nakalilimutang ialay sa Diyos ang anumang dagok ng buhay, sapagkat ang paniniwala nila’y anumang lakas at pag-asa upang lumaban sa hirap ay biyayang galing din sa Panginoon, at nakakasumpong naman talaga ng kaligayahan sa biyaya ng Diyos. Kaya’t nakita ko na maraming masayahing tao sa Tundo o kung saanmang mahihirap na komunidad. 


Ito nga talaga ang misteryo ng buhay, ang naghihikahos pa ang may napakataas na dignidad sa hanapbuhay at sila ang kadalasang nakakaranas ng tunay na kaligayahan sa buhay.  Ang pagbibigay ng tunay na kaligayahan sa mga mahihirap ang rebelasyon ng Diyos sa atin sa Ebanghelyo, dahil walang hanggang ang Kanyang awa, ang pinakamaliit na nilalang ang Kanyang laging kinakalinga. Mahirap sigurong maunawaan ito ng mga mayayaman kung nakatuon na lamang sa pagpapanatili o pagpapayaman pa lalo ng anumang bagay sa mundo kahit pa natatapakan na ang ibang tao. Kung magmagandang loob naman at maisip na mamahagi rin ng kayamanan sa mahihirap, ano’ng silbi ng pamimigay ng kayamanan, kung hindi naman sila susunod kay Jesus at mananatili lamang sa buktot na gawain? Ang panawagan ni Jesus sa Ebanghelyo ay huwag nating kalimutan ang mga maralita, ibigay natin ang lahat ng ating makakaya upang matulungan ang mga nangangailangan. Pagkatapos ay talikuran na ang anumang kasamaan at ituon nating lagi ang pansin sa pagsunod sa Kanya. 

Ang mensahe ni Jesus ay babala at grasya rin hindi lang sa mga mahihirap kundi upang bigyang pagkakataon din ang mga mayayamang nakaligtaan na ang maliliit nilang kapwa at ang pagsunod sa Diyos.  

Prayer

O butihing Ama sa langit, maraming salamat sa lahat ng mga biyaya at pagkakataong ibinibigay Mo sa amin upang kami ay makatulong sa aming kapwa. Nawa’y patuloy kaming magkaroon ng kakayahan at pagkakataon na makapagbahagi ng Iyong pagmamahal sa aming kapwa sa ngalan ni Jesus. Amen.