Forgive As We Are Forgiven

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

13 September 2026

 

First Reading: Sirach 27:30–28:7

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12

Second Reading: Romans 14:7-9

Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

 

Reflection

By: John Paulo Gonzales

 

[WARNING: Contains mention of violence only for the purpose of discourse]

Today is posed another challenge in the Gospel: How do we forgive? It is important that we are reminded of how essential it is to forgive so we are strengthened in our understanding of why we must do it in perpetuity—seventy-seven times, even (Matthew 18:21-22). The importance of forgiveness is stated in the Bible: God’s forgiveness affords us His eternal redemption in Heaven through the shedding of Christ’s Blood (Acts 2:38). On earth, we are forgiven, ourselves, if we forgive our brothers and sisters (Matthew 6:14-15).

So important is forgiveness that God says: if we have any grievance against our brothers and sisters, we must resolve it first before leaving our offering at the altar (Matthew 5:23-24; Mark 11:25). Indeed, it is expressly significant to forgive not that it precedes adoration (as if to establish eminence), but that it personifies our adoration to the Father. That is, as we worship God in prayer, so should we exercise forgiveness in our relationship with our brothers and sisters.

Many accounts give us demonstrations of how it is to forgive: Joseph forgave the brothers who had him almost killed but opted instead to sell him into slavery (Genesis 50:15-21), giving rise to one of the passages we behold today: “What [others] intended for evil, God meant [it] for good” (Genesis 50:20). St. Maria Goretti, a budding adolescent then, was locked into by the eyes of a tormentor whose heated passion subjected her to carnal assault. She died about 24 hours after the attack. 30 years after the perpetrator was put behind bars, one night, Goretti appeared in a dream where she gathered flowers and offered them to him. After the perpetrator’s release, he begged for the forgiveness of Goretti’s mother, and he was seen kneeling among a sea of people, crying tears of joy at Goretti’s beatification in 1947 (Fraciscan Media, n.d.). St. Maria Goretti’s forgiveness paved the way not only for the emancipation of her perpetrator, but also for his radical conversion, with the perpetrator—Alessandro Serenelli—soon becoming a Capuchin brother.

St. John Paul II is another exemplary model of forgiveness. In 1981, amid a general audience in St. Peter’s Square, the former pontiff was shot twice in an assassination attempt. After two years of recovery from sustained wounds, St. John Paul II visited his assailant, talked with him to foster conversation and express his forgiveness, and rallied the faithful to forgive and pray for him as well. More than a decade into the assassin’s incarceration, the former pope appealed to the president of Italy for pardon, leading to the gunman’s release in 2000—symbolically—in a Year of Jubilee (Tornielli, 2021; Szalajko, 2026).

Forgiveness does not always announce itself from the mountaintops. Sometimes, it exists in the stillness of a whisper. St. Thérèse of Lisieux provides a notable example of how to administer forgiveness towards those who, day-to-day, give us a hard time. In her convent life, St. Thérèse suffered reproach from her elders, to which she responded with grace, silent acceptance, and forgiveness, considering such slights as “simple barriers [she needs] to endure [...] to share in God’s holiness” (Melbourne Catholic, 2020).

Amid our many stellar examples of forgiveness, there is One we know from the Bible Who “demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, [He] died for us” (Romans 5:8). This is Jesus—the Christ Who petitioned the Father in ultimate forgiveness: “Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

While we are in the world, there are many things that can move us; some affecting us so deeply as to stir within us a significant disquiet. There are transgressions that can pierce us so greatly that we struggle to move forward, live in good spirits, let alone forgive perfectly; but the virtue of forgiveness is presented nevertheless, in a measure we can carry out by the strength of God than our own, so we have a means through which we not only absolve others, but also liberate ourselves. Lofty a standard it is to forgive, but it is never a door we cannot walk through, by the grace of God which makes the impossible possible. In our predicaments, we have a “High Priest who is [able] to empathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15); One in Whom we can confide our pains; the “Friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

If it is us, in turn, who need forgiveness, the grace of God is replete in the sacraments: Penance and Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist—with the Penitential Act preceding standard liturgical celebrations; and the Church—the Community we are likewise encouraged to convene with when confessing our sins so we can share our struggles, pray for them, and obtain healing together (James 5:16).

Prayer

God, thank You for Your Presence and for reminding us how important it is to forgive, especially that in such a way, we, ourselves, be forgiven. Please help us forgive the faults we have yet to pardon, to be patient with our own errors, to courageously ask forgiveness for the mistakes we commit, and to help create a space in Church where it is healthy to confess our failings and hardships with each other in trust, faith, and love, as You intend.

We also continue to pray for those who suffer the effects of devastating weather conditions, political conflicts, violence, eternal peace for the deceased faithful from the clergy to the lay community, and for spiritual vocations.

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

Paghahanda sa Kamatayan

Paggunita sa Lahat ng mga Pumanaw na Kristiyano

Nobyembre 02, 2025

 

Unang Pagbasa: Karunungan 3:1-9

Salmong Tugunan: Salmo 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

Ikalawang Pagbasa: Romano 5:5-11

Mabuting Balita: Juan 6:37-40

 

Pagninilay

Ni: Renato C. Vibiesca

 

Sa ating kultura ang Undas ay hindi lamang para sa pag-alaala sa mga patay kundi panahon din ito ng pagsasama ng buong pamilya. Ang magkakamag-anak na malayo na sa isa’t isa ay sinisikap na muling magbuklod sa puntod ng namayapang minamahal upang ipanalangin ang kanilang kaluluwa. Ang pag-aalay ng kandila, bulaklak, pagkain at pagsasama-sama ay mahalagang ritwal ng pag-aalaala upang mapanatili ang ating pananampalataya sa Diyos na tayong lahat ay muling mabubuhay magpasawalang-hanggang. Ang ating Panginoong Hesus ang pinanggagalingan ng ating matibay na pananampalataya dahil ang kanyang muling pagkabuhay mula sa pagkamatay sa krus ay patunay na sa huling araw ay bubuhayin din tayong muli upang makapiling at mahalin ang Diyos. Kaya nga marapat lang na pagnilayan din sa panahon ng Undas ang kamatayan natin sa mundong ibabaw, pero hindi upang takutin ang ating sarili tulad ng karaniwang ginagawa sa Holloween party. Ang tunay na paghahanda sa kamatayan ay araw-araw na pagpapahalaga sa buhay na nilalaan para pag-ibig sa Diyos at sa kapwa. Hindi pagkatakot o pag-aalala (worry) sa oras o araw ng kamatayan ang paghahanda. Ang dapat nating gawin sa paghahanda sa kamatayan ay ang pag-aalaala (remembering) sa pagmamahal ng Diyos sa atin bawat oras na nabubuhay tayo. Habang nabubuhay tayo ay laging nandiyan ang pagmamahal sa atin ng Diyos na hanggang sa oras ng kamatayan ay nananatili ang pagmamahal na ito. Kaya nga dapat na mahalin nang lubos ang bawat oras ng ating buhay dahil ito ay biyaya ng pag-ibig ng Diyos sa atin. Itinuro naman ng ating Panginoong Hesus ang paraan kung papaano natin maibabalik sa Diyos ang tapat na pag-big at ito’y sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakita rin natin ng pag-big sa ating kapwa.

Sa panahon ngayon na lagi na lamang naka-focus tayo pagmamahal sa sarili at nakalilimutan na ang kapwa sa paligid; namamatay ang ating sensibilidad sa mga nangangailangan ng tulong dahil nabubulagan sa pag-angkin ng yaman ng mundo at kadalasang nagiging sakim para sa sarili; magandang pagkakataon na pagnilayan din kung papaano natin ginugugol ang oras ng ating buhay para sa iba, lalo na sa kapwa tao na nakikita nating nahihirapan sa buhay. Hindi ba’t ganito ang ginawa ng mga Santo habang sila’y nabubuhay? Bukod sa paglalagay ng mga Santo ng tanda ng kamatayan, halimbawa’y ang pagsusuot ng singsing o kwintas na may nakasulat na “memento mori” sa wikang Latin na ang ibig sabihin ay “alalahanin ang kamatayan”, ginugugol nila ang bawat oras nila sa mundo sa paglalaan ng kabutihan sa kapwa lalo na sa mga higit na nangangailangan. Pinatunayan ng mga Santo noong nabubuhay pa sila na ang pagmamahal at pagtulong sa kapwa ay ang tunay na paghahanda sa ating kamatayan. Mahirap gawin ito dahil nasanay na tayo sa pamumuhay na laging sarili ang ating iniisip o para sa kapakanan ng ating sariling pamilya ang laging pinagkakaabalahan na hindi naman masama dahil kagustuhan din ng Diyos na buhayin natin ang ating pamilya ng masagana at marangal. Pero kung magiging sakim tayo sa ating sarili o mananatili lang sa ating pamilya ang biyaya ng Diyos, madali nating makalilimutan ang “memento mori”-- na ang lahat ng kayamanan ng mundo ay maiiwan, maliban sa pag-ibig ng Diyos. Hindi naman kailangang engrande lagi ang pagtulong sa kapwa. Kaya ba nating gawin sa ngayon ang ginawa noon ni San Franciso ng Assisi na ipamigay lahat ang sariling kayamanan sa mahihirap hanggang sa kahuli-hulihang saplot sa katawan? Hindi sa ganoong paraan pero sa maliliit na pagkakataon ay siguradong kayang-kaya natin, pagnilayan halimbawa ang mga sumusunod: huwag nang tumawad sa tinitindang gulay na nakalagay sa bilao sa palengke; magbigay ng kahit maliit na tip sa serbidora sa karinderyang kinainan; dalasan ang pasyal sa matatandang magulang at kamag-anak; bigyan ng malamig na tubig ang basurero kapag dumaan sa harap ng bahay ang trak ng basura; huwag awayin kundi patawarin ang nakagasgas ng kotse mo; kung kumita ng malaki’y gawing papel na pera ang ihulog sa simbahan para hindi laging barya ang alay sa pagsamba; ipamigay na sa mga magsasaka (o barangay tanod na gabi-gabing naglilibot sa inyong kalsada para panatilihin ang kapayapaan ng iyong pagtulog) ang mga sapatos at damit na bagong-bago pa ang hitsura pero hindi naman na ginagamit (pwede ring ihulog sa Segunda Mana ng Caritas); maglagay ng puting ribbon o bumusina bilang pakikisangkot sa laban ng katiwalian sa bayan; huwag itapon kung saan-saan ang shower cap na ginamit pagkatapos sumakay sa motorcycle taxi; at ang dami-daming pang maliliit na bagay sa mundo ng pagpapakita ng pagmamahal sa kapwa at sa Diyos bilang paghahanda sa ating kamatayan o masasabi nating ang mga ito’y selebrasyon ng ating buhay sa mundo.

Panalangin

Panginoong Hesus, dalangin nami’y pagkalooban mo na ng walang-hanggang buhay sa langit ang mga namayapa naming mahal sa buhay at kami naman ay mapatawad mo sa lahat ng aming pagkakamali. Manatili nawa kami sa iyong matimyas na pag-ibig at laging alalahanin at paghandaan ang aming kamatayan sa mundong ibabaw sa pamamagitan ng pag-ibig din namin nang lubos sa aming kapwa. Amen.

Living Fully, Not Just Existing

    

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

18 August 2024

 

First Reading: Prv 9:1-6

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

Second Reading: Eph 5:15-20

Gospel: Jn 6:51-58

 

Reflection

By: Theresa B. Manio

The past weeks were a roller coaster ride for me. All emotions were up and shifted momentarily in just a flicker. I was surprised, excited, and extremely scared, but I could not stop the thrill of the ride. I had to endure until it stopped, and I literally felt the rise of acid inside my gut. Just like any other circumstance in life, it stopped and passed. In God’s grace, I thrived again. 

Last weekend, my husband and I attended the Life in the Spirit Seminar of Bukas Loob sa Diyos Community, and in that seminar, I realized a thought that deeply hurt me, nobody stopped and intentionally  asked me, how I was? Nobody asked me, “kumusta ka?”, someone who would take the time to really listen. I know everyone is busy. I also know that because I was still in the situation, if someone asks, I couldn’t also elaborate my thoughts so I would simply say, “Okay lang”. I was fighting the meltdown upon having this thought. In silence and darkness, all they asked us was to surrender to the Holy Spirit, to talk to Jesus, to be with His presence.

Most often the conversations we have been having  were about the circumstances of life. We might be thriving and busy, competently making our work done, meeting deadlines and expectations, fulfilling obligations, loving and caring for the people around us, to simply say we have been doing life and not necessarily having a life within us. Last weekend made me realize that I have been doing life lately and not having a life, and Jesus was concerned about this, is there a life within me? Is there a life within you? This question pushes us to discover the hunger within us and the life Jesus wants to feed us. All the Gospels these past few weeks, have been all about this. 

Two weeks ago Jesus challenged us to consider the bread we eat. Is it a perishable one or does it sustain us? Last week, Jesus declared himself to be the bread of life. Today, he says, “Eat me. Drink me.” This is the only way to have life within us. Any other diet leaves us empty and hollow, hungry for life. When we depend on people, even on our loved ones to fill in the hunger we have, most of the time we will just be disappointed and later we might be toxic to them too. 

Jesus is talking about the life that is beyond words and yet we know it when we taste it or when we experience it. We get a taste of it when we love so deeply and profoundly that everything about us passes away and somehow we are more alive than ever before.  In this moment we are in the flow, the wonder, and the unity of life, and it tastes good.

Jesus is our healer and our health. He is our life and the means to the life for which we most deeply hunger. We don’t work for the life we want. We eat the life we want. Wherever human hunger and the flesh and blood of Christ meet, there is life. We consume his life that he might consume and change ours. We eat and digest his life, his love, his mercy, his forgiveness, his way of being and seeing, his compassion, his presence, and his relationship with the Father. Jesus said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood, remains in me and I in him. Let us work on having a life and not just living it.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, who offers Himself as the Bread of Life. May we embrace this sacred gift with reverence and faith, finding in Him the sustenance for our souls and the strength for our journey. Help us to live in unity with Christ, ever mindful of His presence and love within us. Guide us to cherish this holy communion and to share its grace with others, so that through our lives, Your love and truth may be made known. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

#Don’t Stop Bilibid

Second Sunday of Advent
08 December 2019

First reading                                                                  Isaiah 11:1-10
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

Second reading                                                    Romans 15:4-9

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God so that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name.”

Gospel                                                                     Matthew 3:1-12

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'”

Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Reflection

By Theresa Ballo

It’s common for people to judge the sins of others while excusing their own “minor flaws.”  At some point in our lives, we all do this. It’s a normal defense mechanism, wherein we improve our own self-esteem by magnifying the mistakes of others while at the same time minimizing and excusing our own. Sometimes we denounce “wordly” sins while excusing our own more “acceptable” sins of pride, selfishness or lack of love.

If we are doing this to people in our circle, what better judgment can we give to persons in conflict with the law? What would be your initial feeling when you will be surrounded by men who are sentenced to prison for twenty years and more? Would it be easier to condemn them because of the crimes they have committed? 

Last November 29, together with our Grade 9 students, we had a service interaction at the Medium Security Compound of the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa. A month before this day, two of my colleagues and I went there for the ocular inspection. Initially, I was curious and excited in this experience. I have experienced visiting city jails but the main national prison is a first. We interacted with the Education Unit so basically all the inmates we met are all students also. I never felt that my safety was compromised inside. I met polite, talented and God-fearing men. I listened to some of their stories and how their experience inside the prison made them realize the value of their parents, the importance of education and the mercy and compassion of God. Those students/men believe that only by the grace of God they will be free from guilt for the crimes they committed and endure the miserable situation of Philippine prison as they serve their sentence. 

Day after this service interaction is the recollection of our students. I facilitated one section for this whole day recollection. As we processed their experience in Bilibid, we also explore on their own sinfulness, bars, repentance and forgiveness. This was my second year of running this Christ Behind Bars module yet I could not help myself to shed a tear while the students are engaging a dialogue of expressing their own hurts, prejudices and offenses as well. Afterwards, comes healing and openness to forgive and acknowledge the presence of a loving Father that remains faithful to them.

As I lay myself to sleep that day, I think of my own sinfulness and surrender them to God and relentlessly ask Him for mercy and forgiveness. I pray for our society, that we become more accepting of individual differences and initiate restorative justice for people who are in conflict with the law. I recalled one of the hashtags given by a group of students, #DontStopBilibid (don’t stop, believe it) because they realized that their partner inmates are still hopeful of their future no matter how hazy it may appear now and with their renewed relationship with God, nothing is impossible. Indeed, Advent is a good time for each of us to examine our own conscience and ask ourselves, what troubles me? Which of my actions are hurtful, dishonest and demeaning to others? What can I do to restore my relationship with God and others?

Prayer

Lord, help me to take time to acknowledge my own sinfulness daily. Grant me humility of heart and help me to be an instrument of repentance for others.  May I always receive Your words in love and offer them in the form of love that is most effective.  Amen.

Unwelcoming

Fourth Sunday of Lent 31 March 2019
First reading Joshua 5:9-12

The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” And so that place is called Gilgal to this day. While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.

Second reading                                                         2 Corinthians 5:17-21

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Gospel                                                                         Luke 15:1-2, 11-32

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable:

“There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.

When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and nobody gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”‘ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe ” the best one-and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.

“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'”

Reflection

By Bernard M. Borja

I have a friend who is now happily serving at a church he longed to belong to. But before he was able to serve, he went through a lot of challenges and ridicule. During his younger years, he spent his time with vices such as womanizing and health abuse. At 19 years old, having a wife and two kids did not stop him from continuing his vices. His family experienced emotional and physical abuse from him and after several years, his family left him. Few years past and he became worse that even his friends went to distance themselves from him. Feeling all alone and depressed, he then realized he was so tired. A simple prayer came out from him as he whispered, "Lord, I want to go home." He got so tired of all the things he pursued for his own satisfaction. He got tired of abusing the people around him especially those closest to him. He got tired of being alone and left out. There were only two ways that he was thinking on how we wants to go home. One is to take his own life and end it all so he can be home to wherever he thinks he might belong. He chose the other way which is to go back to the church where his family and friends belong. But when his former friends saw him there, they said many things to him such as "You don't belong here." and "Baka masunog ka dito (You might get burned here.)"

How easy it is for us to "excommunicate" people who we think have no hope of turning away from their wicked ways. And it is even easier for us to judge people who wanted to come home to God who are in the same family as we are in.

Jesus' message of repentance is still clear in our Gospel. The tax collectors and sinners draw near to listen to Jesus and this may be considered as their first step toward repentance. But those who are "serving" at the temple did not like how Jesus welcomes these people. Just like in the parable, when the elder son spoke to his father and said, "This son of yours...", he is somehow forgetting his relationship as his brother. He forgot that even though the younger son spent all his inheritance, he once belonged to the same house he is in. If we look closely in our society today, this is similar to what is happening. My friend who chose to come home almost gave up and thought of going back to his vices because of those people who were unwelcoming. Sometimes the very people who are always with God, and who has God's everything, are the ones who dissipate the blessings that were always meant for everyone. People think that the greater blessings are only meant for those who are in the house of God. This is somehow true because God has longed for us all to be part of His family. But to think that the riches of the Kingdom of God will only be inherited by the rich in spirit alone is dire. Worse is when we also think that we have always been doing the righteous things, not realizing that we also sin because of the things we did not do for our brother or sister.

Jesus continues to proclaim the Kingdom of God through the parable of the prodigal son. God always runs toward us to welcome us back when we repent. God also pleads with us to forgive each other and celebrate how we are found after being lost. Before Jesus died on the cross, he pleaded to Our Father saying, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." What if Jesus would plead to us with the same words, like the father in the parable, whenever our hearts are hardened to forgive our brother or sister? Should we open our hearts and welcome them if Jesus would say to us, "Please forgive him/her because he/she does not know what he/she was doing."? Or would we behave like the elder brother in the parable?

We must remember that when God calls us to repent, he also calls us to feast and to rejoice. God awaits for us and always sees us from afar when we come home. He also wants us to see from afar our brothers and sisters who wants to come home, for us to welcome them and celebrate because they have been found after getting lost. 

Prayer

Dear God Our Father, we thank You for Your generosity as You continue to give us every blessings and riches in Your kingdom. Open our hearts to share these graces to our brothers and sisters especially to those who want to come home to You. We also pray for the grace to ask forgiveness to those whom we have offended because of committed and omitted mistakes. May we welcome You in our hearts as we commemorate the passion of Your Son this Lent. We also ask Mama Mary for her guidance and intercession as we look up to her, overflowing with God's inspiration, to repent and amend our life. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

One Last Plea

Third Sunday of Lent 24 March 2019
First reading Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15

Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”

And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.'” God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’: This is my name forever, and this my title for all generations.

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

I want you to know, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same supernatural food and all drank the same supernatural drink. For they drank from the supernatural Rock which followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless with most of them God was not pleased; for they were overthrown in the wilderness. nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as a warning, but they were written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

Gospel                                                                         Luke 13:1-9

Some people came and told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them-do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.” Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next ear, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'”

Reflection

By Bernard M. Borja

Have you ever asked someone give you one last chance? It could be to prove them  that you are right or they are wrong, or simply to redeem yourself? Have you ever been in a situation when you have to ask someone a chance, in behalf of your loved one, and took all the responsibility to guarantee that your loved one would be better? I believe this is what Jesus did for us, and continues to do for us. 

One of the messages of Jesus to the people is repentance. To turn away from their evil ways and, and return to the good. Several times during His ministry Jesus was asking the people, through His preaching and parables, to repent. It seems like it is more than just asking, but a plea to the people because Jesus brings the Kingdom of Heaven and He wants the people to receive it by repenting. Up to the time when He entered Jerusalem, Jesus was still pleading to the people to repent and forgive each other. But when everything seems to lose hope, while many people were still continuing their wicked ways, Jesus pleaded to God our father. Nailed on the cross, Jesus begged His Father for mercy and forgiveness for the people especially those who crucified Him. Even in His suffering and death, He still gave His all to cultivate us and hoped that we shall bear good fruit in the future, just like the fig tree in the parable. 

The message of repentance is preached by the prophets from the Old Testament, to the apostles after Christ’s commissioning, and still continues up to present day. But it has always been a challenge for the people to turn away from the things they used to do. And it is a greater call for us to do what the gardener did in the parable: to take responsibility in hoping that people just need a chance to be cultivated,and bear fruit. This can clearly be seen in our country today. 

I have seen people do wrong things, regret it, and are trying hard to do good. I know about some people continuing to do sinful things and not having any regret of doing it. I have heard stories of people living in their evil ways, some still have a chance to turn back, but some have been cut off and denied the chance to repent. All people, no matter how long they have lived in their evil ways and how dreadful their ways are, have been given a chance to repent through the mercy of God, and the plea of Jesus Christ. One could be a petty thief, a liar, a greedy official, an abusive person, even a drug addict, but Jesus continues to ask us return to our good ways, to our true selves. We must therefore never take for granted Jesus the gardener's last plea to God the vineyard owner not to cut us down and nourish us to be better.

Prayer

Dear Father, we praise You for Your mercy and compassion through our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray that we may be able to receive Your Kingdom through our repentance. Help us to forgive one another as we plead for a chance to turn from our sinful ways, and be able to come back to Your loving embrace. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen. 

Well Seasoned, Well Lit

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Feb 9
First reading Isaiah 58:7-10

Thus says the Lord:

Share your bread with the hungry,

and shelter the homeless poor,

clothe the man you see to be naked

and do not turn from your own kin.

Then will your light shine like the dawn

and your wound be quickly healed over.

Your integrity will go before you

and the glory of the Lord behind you.

Cry, and the Lord will answer;

call, and he will say, ‘I am here.’

If you do away with the yoke,

the clenched fist, the wicked word,

if you give your bread to the hungry,

and relief to the oppressed,

your light will rise in the darkness,

and your shadows become like noon

Psalm                                                                            Psalm 111:4-9
Second reading                                                          1 Corinthians 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers, it was not with any show of oratory or philosophy, but simply to tell you what God had guaranteed. During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ. Far from relying on any power of my own, I came among you in great ‘fear and trembling’ and in my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. And I did this so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God.

Gospel                                                                         Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.

  ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.’

Reflection by Rosalinda Markell

A newly wedded couple were opening their gifts after the reception.  One item that caught their attention was a wooden container with three bottles: one for the salt, another for pepper, and another for sugar.  On the container it was written "A well seasoned home".

How do we keep our homes (and communities) well seasoned? How do we become the salt that Jesus identifies us to be? By expressing our different opinions and conviction with lowliness, gentleness, and patience.  Easier said than done, right? But let's be open to the Spirit who will give us the power to react in love toward those whom we disagree with.  Often we make choices that are hurtful to other persons, even  to ourselves. Sometimes we wind up on the inflicting side and sometimes, on the victim side. Interestingly no matter which side we are on, we still suffer. But forgiveness brings healing. When someone has treated us poorly or has hurt us in word or in the way that they have behaved toward us, we can begin the healing process by making that decision to forgive. Our forgiveness serves like salt that preserves unity among believers. Our kindness becomes a light shining for the dark world to see, for fellow believers to be inspired of and praise God!

Prayer

Lord, may our walk and our services be a reflection of Your Light. Please fill us with the fruit of the Spirit so that we may be compassionate and forgiving. No matter how the other person has behaved toward us, we are responsible for what we do or say to them. May we always choose to be the salt of the earth and light of the world so as to maintain the unity You desire, Lord.  Amen.

Sinners, You are All Welcome!

First Reading: Joshua 5:9, 10-12

And the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day. While the people of Israel were encamped in Gilgal they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at evening in the plains of Jericho. And on the morrow after the passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. And the manna ceased on the morrow, when they ate of the produce of the land; and the people of Israel had manna no more, but ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

Psalm: Psalm 34:2-7

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: And he said, "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, `Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want.

         

So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, `How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger!

I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, `Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry.

"Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, `Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, `Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, `Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

Reflection

By Fely Santiago

“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

What if the Lord shuns His door to all sinners and will not give us a chance to repent? Scary isn’t it?

In Luke 6:36-38 Jesus said to the disciples, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back."

The father in today’s Gospel did this! He showed so much mercy to his son who betrayed him, abandoned him. He did not condemn his son instead prepared a feast for him and most of all – forgiven him. That’s how much God loves us! He is the most merciful and loving God! He loves us unconditionally! He forgives even before we repent! If we truly realize to have a God like that isn’t it automatic for us to repent and be ashamed of our sins just like what the son in this Gospel did to his father? He asked forgiveness and repented from the sins he committed to his father. He realized he was wrong.

This season of Lent is really a great time to reflect on God’s unconditional love for us. It is a time to celebrate life with love and thanksgiving for we have a great GOD! Let us also do the same to others – we must be easy to forgive, not judgmental and condemning. This is also my prayer this Lent that God will give me a loving, gentle, forgiving heart. I am a very critical person. I don’t know but I always notice what is not good in a person. And sometimes I say words that hurt others! And I justify it by saying I just want to be honest about how I feel even without regard for the feelings of others! And so this is my prayer that God will give me a loving and non-judgmental heart. It is not easy but with Christ nothing is impossible. I just surrender to Him all my weaknesses and sinfulness. He always have open arms ready to embrace me!

And the transformation is an ongoing process. I am learning. I am changing. I am just glad that I belong to a community whose target are the “unchurched”. We welcome everybody at The Feast of the Light of Jesus Family! All sinners are welcome! When you experience the love of God there you can’t help but be transformed to the person God wants you to be – loving Christian, trying as much to live like Christ, to live the Gospel of LOVE!

Prayer

Jesus, help me to love anyone as you love me unconditionally. Remind me that the Spirit of love is given to me, as it was to You, and with it I can love truly. May I rest in the prayer of simple presence, abiding with You. May I savour the depth of your intimate love every moment of my life. Thank You for the depth of your undying love. May my faith in this love deepen through these days of Lent. I ask this through Mary's intercession. Amen.