Incovenience Needs

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

16 August 2026

 

First Reading: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

Second Reading: Romans 11:13-15, 29-32

Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28

 

Reflection

By: Bernard Borja

 

A young professional who works in a corporation at Makati commutes to work as early as 5am from Mandaluyong to Ayala, not because he wants to be early at his office, but he attends the 7am mass at a chapel near his workplace. One day, when he was waiting for the train, the MRT announced a stop operation because someone fell off the tracks and will need emergency response. He thought to himself, “Abala naman ito. Baka hindi pa ako makaabot sa misa. (Another hassle. I might miss the mass.)”

~~~

The disciples’ reaction to the desperate Canaanite woman is uncomfortably familiar: “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” To the disciples, she was a foreigner, an annoyance, and an interruption to their current mission. Today, this exact scene plays out not on the ancient roads of Tyre and Sidon, but along the streets of Metro Manila and within the divided chaotic world of social media. We find a deeply divided society, where the cries of the marginalized are frequently treated as mere noise by those in positions of privilege.

When we reflect on the disciples’ quick dismissal of the woman, we are challenged to ask: “When have we turned away those seeking help because their needs felt inconvenient? Or when have we looked at other’s suffering a disturbance to our comfortable routine?” In our society today, this disconnect is glaring. Consider the ongoing struggles of marginalized sectors, such as traditional jeepney drivers fighting for their livelihoods amid transport modernization, or the people who constantly suffer from flood during rainy season. To the comfortable and the well-off, the protests and pleas of these sectors are often dismissed as "anti-progress" or “not resilient enough”. Worse, most would just say, “Mga tamad kasi (They’re just lazy).” Just as the disciples wanted the Canaanite woman silenced, the privileged often wish the marginalized would simply disappear so their daily routines remain undisturbed.

This deep-rooted division often integrates into our spiritual lives. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God’s house is a "house of prayer for all peoples," yet we often act as gatekeepers to His grace. In a city where abundant, air-conditioned churches sit just few hundred meters away from a stretch of informal settlers, religious biases run deep. It is dangerously easy for the privileged to unconsciously connect their wealth and comfort with divine favor, somehow judging the poor as lacking in faith, discipline, or merit. We forget St. Paul’s powerful reminder that God’s mercy is universal and entirely unearned. We must ask ourselves: “Does our own comfort and perception of "worthiness" prevent us from showing the radical kindness and generosity that God has given to all of us?”

Jesus’ eventual response to the Canaanite woman challenges this spiritual pride. The woman humbled herself entirely, enduring the disciples' disregard to fight for her daughter. Jesus ultimately praises her, saying, “O woman, great is your faith!” Similarly, the most profound faith in our country is often found on the margins—in the parents who work grueling, minimum-wage jobs to feed their children, or those who maintain hope despite the neglect of those who are in the government. Yet, rather than learning from this profound dependence on God, privileged society tends to merely romanticize the "resilience" of the poor without offering true compassion.

To heal the fractures in our society, we must follow Christ’s ultimate example. He crossed the societal boundaries of His time to answer a marginalized woman’s plea. For true faith to flourish, it must move beyond the gates of exclusive subdivisions and comfortable pews. It demands us to stop seeing the poor as an inconvenience, to dismantle our religious pride, and to recognize that the margins of society are exactly where God's transformative mercy is most powerfully at work.

Prayer

Lord, open our hearts to hear the cries of those outside our comfort circle, just as you heard the desperate plea of the Canaanite woman. Forgive us for the times we have treated the suffering of others as a mere inconvenience to our daily routines and comfortable lives. Strip away our spiritual pride and the false belief that our privilege is a sign of greater faith or worthiness. We ask for the courage to cross the boundaries of our comfort zones to offer true compassion, rather than empty praise, to those in need. May we follow your example of radical kindness, ensuring that your house truly becomes a place of grace for all people. Blessed Virgin Mary, assumed into heaven and mother of all, intercede for us so that our faith may flourish through transformative acts of mercy and love. AMEN.

More Of What We Truly Need

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

02 August 2026

 

First Reading: Isaiah 55:1-3

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18

Second Reading: Romans 8:35, 37-39

Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21

 

Reflection

By: Bernard Borja

 

A father asked his son what he wants for his 18th birthday. The son teasingly answered, “Maybe a red sports car.” The father took his son for a drive using their clunky old family car around the city. Tuning into his favorite FM station through the broken radio, singing his heart out loudly and off-key, he told his son, “You don’t need a fancy car to be happy.” The son cried out, “I changed my mind! I want earplugs!”

~ ~ ~

Have you ever caught yourself scrolling endlessly through an online shopping app, filling your digital cart with items you feel you must have? We convince ourselves that the latest gadget, a trendy outfit, or a new piece of furniture will finally make our lives complete. But after the package arrives and the excitement fades, we are often left feeling just as empty, looking for the next thing to desire. It is today’s epidemic of confusing our shallow wants with our actual needs. In our prayers, do we often ask for what we really need more than what we want?

In today’s readings, we see a profound example of God's true mindfulness and provision, and how he sees deeply into our hearts what we really need. In the Gospel reading, Jesus had just received devastating news: the death of his cousin, John the Baptist. He sought solitude, withdrawing in a boat to a deserted place. Yet, even during a moment of grief, Jesus still “listened” to the crowd who called upon him. As the responsorial psalm reminds us, “The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.” St. Paul beautifully echoes this enduring, unbreakable presence in his letter to the Romans: “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.”

Instead of asking the crowd to leave Him to His sorrow, Jesus lets them stay because he knows what they need most. The Gospel tells us, “When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.” He didn't just give them a temporary want; He provided healing and spiritual food through His word, and later, physical food through the multiplication of the loaves.

Sometimes, our wants drive us more than our needs. And we do not realize that God had already provided more of our needs. Just as a simple gesture like cleaning the house shows true mindfulness of a spouse's needs, God’s daily, silent provisions are profound gestures of His great love.

We can see this struggle between wants and needs in our everyday lives. In our families and relationships, we often want the flawless, picture-perfect smiles we see on social media— conflict-free adventures and cinematic vacations. But what we really need is the grace to forgive often, the patience to listen, and the steadfast, messy, real presence of our loved ones. God has already provided us with the capacity for this resilience. In our careers, we might desperately want a flashy job title or a higher salary, believing these will bring us respect and happiness. Yet, what we truly need is a sense of purpose, honest work that sustains our families, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing our worth is rooted in Christ, not a paycheck. In social awareness, we frequently want the satisfaction of being seen on the "right side" of an issue, especially on the internet. However, what we really need is compassion. When we witness oppression, we cannot simply "take a break" by being silent. We need the courage to stand up for justice without placing exceptions on who deserves our compassion.

God constantly nourishes us, providing not what this world tells us we want, but the eternal spiritual nourishment we absolutely need. We just need to call upon him in our honest and true hearts, believing that He knows and will provide more of what we truly need.

Prayer

Dearest Father in heaven, we thank you for keeping us in your ways and letting us turn to you in our difficult times. We thank you for looking past our shallow wants and providing exactly what we need. When we face anguish or distress, remind us that nothing can separate us from your love. Teach us to be mindful of your presence in our families, our work, and our communities. Help us to recognize the abundant blessings you have already laid before us. We pray with our dear Mother Mary, whom you have chosen to guide us, that we may always seek you in truth, AMEN. 

Detachment

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

07 September 2025

 

First Reading: Wisdom 9:13-18b

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

Second Reading: Philemon 9-10, 12-17

Gospel: Luke 14:25-33

 

Reflection

By: Benj Santiago

 

“Anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” - Luke 14:33

In the world we live in, a lot of us value possession over love of neighbor and charity for the poor. Social media is filled with influencers who flaunt their excessive wealth for the purpose of gaining fame and significance. Even to the point of excess and absence of caring and sharing to others.

We all have those tendencies. I am not an exemption. The Lord in today’s Gospel challenges us to be detached or not to be controlled by material things or possessions we have. But, the Lord does not necessarily command us to give away all we possess. We simply must not cling to our material possessions but instead we need to use our wealth to help others. We are called to be good stewards of the blessings we receive and not to hoard or store it for our selfish gain.

This is really in great contrast to what we see in our society, community, and the whole world today. We all have these tendencies to always strive to have more money and investment than others. To be more famous than my peers. To have more properties and SUVs.

Today’s Gospel reminds me to be detached, to put God first above all material possessions, or title or fame. To be good stewards of the blessings I received and to always find true security, happiness and contentment in Him alone!

Prayer

Lord, I pray that I always be reminded that all that I possess is Your gift that I must use to help those in need. Make me more generous and detached to all that we have. Use me and my possessions to support ministries, works and missions to help those in need. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Brought to Him

    

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

08 September 2024

 

First Reading: Is 35:4-7a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10

Second Reading: Jas 2:1-5

Gospel: Mk 7:31-37

 

Reflection

By: Bernard Borja

“There are three quickest ways to spread a rumor: through the internet, through the phone, and telling your mother.” This was one of the jokes I read during Mother’s Day. But because today is Mama Mary’s birthday, I would like to honor her with this reflection. I remember I was a shy little child and growing up, I would always ask my mother to tell people what I wanted to say. I would ask, “Can you tell teacher about my homework…?” or “Can you tell my classmate that I need my pencil back…?” I also run to her every time I have problems. Come to think of it, don’t we all desire to run to our mothers most of the time, especially when we need something?

My prayers would often include asking for the intercession of The Blessed Mother. Like the song goes, “Sa aking paglalakbay sa bundok ng buhay, Sa ligaya at lumbay, maging talang gabay.” I always ask her to guide me to her son. Not that I can’t pray to Jesus directly, but I believe it adds to essence and “back up”. It’s like how me and my siblings communicate sometimes. I would ask my mom, “Can you ask kuya to pick me up somewhere…?” or my mom will ask me on their behalf.

In the Gospel today, I was struck by how the people brought the deaf man to Jesus and begged to lay His hand on him. It reminded me of how my mother became my spokesperson when I had “speech impediment” because I can’t find the words to say what I want. Just like the people who brought the man to Jesus and begged Him, The Blessed Mother also does this for us. She builds a bridge, or becomes a bridge herself, and brings us to her son.

How many of us now are deaf about injustices and oppression, not because we chose not to listen, but because we have already become numb? How many of us now who can’t speak for ourselves and are in need of someone to stand up for us? I believe The Blessed Mother can help us in these times. There is also a saying, “Silence is golden. Unless you have kids, silence is suspicious." I imagine how The Blessed Mother suspects that in most of our silent moments, something is bothering us. Like a mother who always observes her children and is on the lookout for our concerns. I also believe she participates in the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, “the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; the lame will leap like a stag, the tongue of the mute will sing.” by bringing us to her son. Through The Blessed Mother, Jesus tells us “Ephphatha!”.

 

I also want to share another saying for my last point: “Nothing is really lost… until mom can’t find it.” Sometimes, I think mothers do a better job than Saint Anthony in finding things. I believe that The Blessed Mother constantly looks for us especially when we feel lost. For her, no one is really lost. We just need to be guided to the right path and be opened. Just like Saint Monica led her son, Saint Augustine, back to God, our hearts will be restless until we are brought to Jesus and rest our hearts in Him. We can always ask our Blessed Mother Mary to bring us to her son. Like another song goes, “Puso ko'y pahimlayin Inay, upang yaring hamog ng gabing tiwasay ay madama ko bilang damping halik ng 'yong Anak. Ay! Irog kong Inay.”

 

Prayer

Dear Lord, we ask for Your heavenly grace that this day may bring deeper peace to those whose hearts are deaf and mute. We ask the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary to tell her son our joys and sorrows, and whisper to Him that we love Him. Mariang aming ina, kay Kristong aming kapatid, akayin mo kami. AMEN.

God Knows Best

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
25 July 2010


Come, let us rejoice in the Lord: let us acclaim God our salvation, alleluia.

First reading Genesis 18:20-32
The Lord said, ‘How great an outcry there is against Sodom and Gomorrah! How grievous is their sin! I propose to go down and see whether or not they have done all that is alleged in the outcry against them that has come up to me. I am determined to know.’
The men left there and went to Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Approaching him he said, ‘Are you really going to destroy the just man with the sinner? Perhaps there are fifty just men in the town. Will you really overwhelm them, will you not spare the place for the fifty just men in it? Do not think of doing such a thing: to kill the just man with the sinner, treating just and sinner alike! Do not think of it! Will the judge of the whole earth not administer justice?’ the Lord replied, ‘If at Sodom I find fifty just men in the town, I will spare the whole place because of them.’
Abraham replied, M am bold indeed to speak like this to my Lord, I who am dust and ashes. But perhaps the fifty just men lack five: will you destroy the whole city for five?’ ‘No,’ he replied ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five just men there.’ Again Abraham said to him, ‘Perhaps there will only be forty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the forty.’
Abraham said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry, but give me leave to speak: perhaps there will only be thirty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘if I find thirty there.’ He said, ‘I am bold indeed to speak like this, but perhaps there will only be twenty there.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the twenty.’ He said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry if I speak once more: perhaps there will only be ten.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the ten.’

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 137:1-3,6-8

Second reading Colossians 2:12-14
You have been buried with Christ, when you were baptised; and by baptism, too, you have been raised up with him through your belief in the power of God who raised him from the dead. You were dead, because you were sinners and had not been circumcised: he has brought you to life with him, he has forgiven us all our sins.
He has overridden the Law, and cancelled every record of the debt that we had to pay; he has done away with it by nailing it to the cross.


Gospel Luke 11:1-13
Once Jesus was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished one of his disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘Say this when you pray:
“Father, may your name be held holy,
your kingdom come;
give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us.
And do not put us to the test.”’
He also said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, “My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him”; and the man answers from inside the house, “Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up to give it you.” I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it him for friendship’s sake, persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all he wants.
‘So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. What father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg? If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

Reflection
By Patty De la Rosa-Paat

PRAYER on its literal meaning means: An act of the virtue of religion which consists in asking proper gifts or graces from God. In a more general sense it is the application of the mind to Divine things, not merely to acquire knowledge of them but to make use of such knowledge as a means of union with God. This may be done by acts of praise and thanksgiving, but petition is the principal act of prayer. (New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia)

I would say that the “Lord’s Prayer” is a perfect and beautiful prayer from which we honor God’s name but we address Him as our “ Father” , God is God and God is our Father. No one can break our relationship with Him. This is what we receive in the Sacrament of Baptism - we are freed from original sin and we become the adopted children of God.

Like a Father-child relationship, a child seeks comfort from His father. His presence is very important before a child’s eyes for the child knows he is protected and nobody could hurt him. The essence of being a father is to sacrifice his own life and happiness for the interest of his children. He doesn’t give everything for he knows what is good for them. A father is the one who molds his children for them to become better persons. Though, sometimes he can become tough in some of his decisions but just like a mother, father knows what is best for his children.

And so as God, He is our Greatest Provider in all aspects and our Creator, and we are His masterpiece. God provides everything that we have. The food that we eat, the air that we breathe and, water that we drink. In short all our basic needs were provided by God. What you see on earth is God’s perfect creation.

When we pray, we believe in God’s name, power, presence, and holiness. He is the Supreme Being and the ruler of the universe. He is our protector. He is the loving God, the Faithful One.

Sometimes when things go wrong or something bad happens to us we easily lose our faith in Him. When we struggle God doesn’t punish nor betray us. Whatever we are going through, God give us strength and direction that we need. God is always there even if don’t ask. He knows every single detail of our lives and He has not abandoned us.

Life is beautiful but it is full of challenges. Prayer is the best thing we can do. God doesn’t see our flaws and weaknesses. As Jesus said “For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened”. We should prepare ourselves for a long journey. God rewards for those who seek Him. A dialogue with God is very important for He knows what is in our hearts. We must live according to His will and the kingdom of heaven will be open to us.

In every prayer that we made, we are having a privileged conversation with God. It is not just a simple conversation it is our way of strengthening our faith in Him.

Prayer is powerful let us bow our heads and pray...

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours.
Now and for ever. Amen.

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