Cast Shadow of Goodness!

   

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

02 March 2025

 

First Reading: Sirach 27:4-7

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:54-58

Gospel: Luke 6:39-45

 

Reflection

By: Anabelle P. Balla

 

During a recent training session, an intriguing question was posed by our facilitator: "What leadership shadow do you cast?" This question led me to reflect on how my behavior and leadership style impact those around me, both in the workplace and at home.

I started thinking whether shadow I cast inspires people to excel in their roles and become better individuals. When we hear the saying, "Like father, like son", what usually comes to mind? Any father would probably hope to hear positive comments such as, "His son is kind, just like his father." I can imagine the father's smile, brimming with pride.

This made me think about the idead of basking in God's shadow, following His guidance, and emulating His goodness-which all of us can freely do if we want to! If we strive to emulate Him and nurture His seed of goodness within us, we can make Him smile and be proud of us as well. As we we embody His goodness, we may be able to cast shadows that encourage others to draw closer to Him and aspire to be more like Him.

Let us focus on growing God's goodness within us so that we can spread that goodness to those around us. After all, what we are and what we have are what we can give to the world.

Let your shadow reflect your true form, which was created in God's likeness.

Prayer

Father, thank You for casting Your shadow to all of us through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to cast shadow of goodness everywhere we go. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Christ, our Role Model

 Second Sunday of Lent

13 March 2022

 

First Reading: GN 15:5-12, 17-18

Responsorial Psalm: PS 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14

Second Reading: PHIL 3:17—4:1

Gospel: LK 9:28b-36

 

Reflection

By: Jose Paulo M. Gonzales

 

In my life, I could count in hand the number of people who for myself make awe-inspiring examples in their own regard: an insightful writer, an incisive essayist, a grounded critical thinker, a very well-rounded person; in pieces I have read on Eastern philosophy, there would be "the sage"—not only in wisdom and experience, but in overall character. Unbeknown to me, it would take some years after college to find a proximal example of the Christian character—at least one I am surprised to make my personal circle. As astounding his achievements in social charity are and as amazing the conversations on morality we have had, imagine how much better our ultimate Example is in Heaven.

Jesus transcended expectations in His [human] time and now in ours. His character and teachings go beyond divisions in time and are continuously relevant today. From His unassuming birth and overall lifestyle, His "madness" according to the Pharisees. His preference for the poor, the weak, and the downtrodden, to His salvific model of death and resurrection, Jesus was far from normative expectations. It is precisely this divergence from the norm that revolutionizes Jesus' Character. If Jesus is the Example to behold in Christianity, and if He was anything but worldly in His conduct of Self, we are more strongly acquainted with the message: we must not be of this world.

It is not exactly the departure from the norm that is moral, for that can come equally from being bullheaded; instead, it is the departure from what the norm represents. The conventions that make up the world from then to this day are built more on convenience that favors the privileged, the learned, and the illustrious and famous. While not bad in themselves, these "good things" are not confirmation of good origins, mediums, or purpose; not even are they confirmation of good hosts. Jesus' message was to seek precisely what is good and what is good for transcends what the world exalts. Gold would make no effective receptacle of the good God produces in love and goodwill for good exceeds its people-receptacles and pours into other vessels at reparable or even welcome expense. Effort, time, and money can be exhausted in the work of of good, but the product more than makes up for what has been expended. Riches, on the other hand, can only do so to an extent. Its multiplication, if ill-founded, could be deleterious to people, and the people themselves can be its unfortunate casualty. Pride is another that can come undetected for it can conflate with positive self-identifications such as achievement, leadership, recognition, and many others. These are not bad and can be used for good; what the Bible advises us against is forming unhealthy fixations on surface enticements lest we commit sin and escalate to greater works of evil. Riches and other things of equal import are only objects though they can be unwitting temptations, and it is the choice to source them from or use them for a nefarious purpose that constitutes sin.

The challenge to conform with the Image of Christ concerns us not only with the good qualities of Christ in case we fall for the appearance of these qualities in some who go by Christ's example at a superficial level or even deceitful. The challenge calls us not just to keep out of wrong examples in things and people's attitudes but also to know when to retract from bad invitations to the soul.

For Jesus' good qualities, the Bible is teeming. He is our "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6), "Advocate with the Father" (1 John 2:1), and the "Friend Who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). His qualities converge with the characteristics of love in the well-known verse, 1 Corinthians 13, so we know that in our following of Christ, we are in good hands, for we are in the keeping of One who loves us truly; but before we become pristine masterpieces as the Lord transfigured into a Figure of dazzling white, we are called to an arduous journey of spiritual refinement. The process is long and taxing, but "at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9). Further, it is not like we have no good examples to emulate, as Paul expressed in the Second Reading for today (Philippians 3:17—4:1), for we will likely meet good examples along the way as God's Hand is present in our lives, and we will always have the best example in Christ. If there is still wonder within us if anything good can come up from a start so simple, we should find our answer in Christ, for Christ has showed that a humble beginning is no deterrent to the making of a salvation story. Until we are eternally with Christ, we are called to be in this world not to be engulfed by it, but to be its salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), that in each attempt at doing good, we conform more closely with His Image, and make possible the same to others with our interactions.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for being a good Father and for all the graces You give us. We ask the Holy Spirit to help us become the best imitators of Christ that with our mere presence, more so with our actions, we lead each other to You. In times when we know not what to do—and in times when we know what we should do but refuse it anyway—please let us not lead others astray and forgive us our sins. In everything, please lead us to You. These we ask in Jesus' Most Holy Name, Amen.

Practical Life

First Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-18

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals. I will remove disaster from among you, so that none may recount your disgrace.

Responsorial Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6

Second Reading: Philippians 4:4-7 

Rejoice 1 in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Gospel: Luke 3:10-18

And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" He said to them in reply, " Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, " Teacher, what should we do?" He answered them, "Stop collecting more than what is prescribed." Soldiers also asked him, "And what is it that we should do?" He told them, " Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages."

Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. John answered them all, saying, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.

Reflection
By Nats Vibiesca

Are you one of those people who count their troubles every night before going to bed? Many times we yearn for things which we do not have and feel miserable for not enjoying the blessings we want. Then we ask John the Baptist, what should we do?

John the Baptist is a very practical person, a down-to-earth preacher. His preaching is straightforward and realistic. Caring. Sharing. Responsibility. Self-giving. Do not sin anymore. Be honest. Being honest all the time honors the Lord we love. Be just. Break the bad habits. Do not abuse power or position. Give power to the powerless. Add value to others. Moderation. Simplicity. Lead good lives. Retain the good and build better habits. I think the reason why St. John preached being practically good and lead by example because people do what people see. If some people see I’m giving food to the victims of calamities, many people will do the same. It’s contagious.

While I’m overly distracted with the jollies of Christmas season, let me start some practical and simple gestures of following the answers of John the Baptist: Care for my family by spending more time with them each day. Share my Christmas bonus to some elderly people forgotten by their love ones. To speak the truth at all times, lead people by example, and live with integrity.

Prayer

Lord, by following John the Baptist, we come nearer to Your Son and our Lord Jesus Christ. We surrender every detail of our lives to You. Strengthen us and give us the wisdom to live with integrity and holiness in Jesus' Name. Amen.