The Meek Inherits the Land

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

01 February 2026

 

First Reading: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13

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

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12a

 

Reflection

By: Grace B. Madriñan

 

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land” - Matthew 5:5

I have heard the Gospel about the sermon of the mount several times, but reading it more closely and intently this time made me pause for a question. How will the meek inherit the land? Why not the hardworking, or the strong can inherit the land instead? 

For me, meek is the last person qualified to inherit the land. Meek comes to me as quiet and submissive, how will a meek stand in front of a dominating opponent? Then thanks to an AI tool (artificial intelligence), I found the full definition of a meek person. It says:

"A meek person is gentle, quiet, and mild-mannered, often characterized by patience, humility, and a non-confrontational nature, willing to comply with others and putting up with wrongs without complaint, but it's not weakness; it's a controlled strength, like the gentleness of Christ, involving inner power and self-control rather than assertiveness or arrogance.”

I found the key words, “patience”, “humility”, “self-control”. God, therefore, favors those who are patient, humble and can control their temper. 

This reminds me of an instance when I almost lost my “meekness” last December. Our house is situated at the corner of two streets and I requested a delivery van to temporarily park in one of the sides to comfortably load the items. The two way street became one way and one of the bigger vans passing by cussed at us for causing obstruction. My initial reaction was to shout back. But seeing that the man is an elderly and handicapped, I later shouted back “Merry Christmas!” and signaled the delivery van to move back just to let them pass peacefully. I admit that my head is still fuming with rage to return the same foul words he said but I was glad that the Holy Spirit did not let me. 

I can actually win the argument with the old man but at what cost? I would disrespect an elderly person, inconvenience all incoming vehicles because neither of us will not give way, disrupting my neighbor’s peace, wasting energy and time. But when I gave in, I only lost 2 minutes and a bit of my pride. 

I realized then that hard work and skills may take you far but only patience, humility and self-control will get you through any obstacles. And the best part? You made our Father proud. 

Prayer

Father, forgive us of our shortcomings. Thank You for reminding us of what matters in the Kingdom of Heaven. Send us Your Holy Spirit to continue to accompany us on our daily struggles. Amen.

One and Only Master

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

21 September 2025

 

First Reading: Amos 8:4-7

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8

Second Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-8

Gospel: Luke 16:1-13

 

Reflection

By: Benj Santiago

 

“No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one or love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon.” - Luke 16:13

In this parable of the dishonest steward, Jesus tells us of a manager accused of wasting his master’s wealth. Very apt and timely to what is happening in our country today. Facing dismissal, the steward acts quickly and reduces the debts of his master’s debtors, hoping they will all welcome him and care for him once his master dismisses him. To his surprise, he received the masters’ praises, not for his dishonesty in squandering the wealth, but for his shrewdness in doing good to others using the wealth he squandered.

Jesus I believe does not condone greed and acquiring wealth scrupulously, but He urges all of us to use our material wealth wisely—not selfishly, but generously—so that it leads to eternal rewards. Earthly possessions are all temporary. We can’t bring any of them in the next life. No matter how many Billions or even Trillions your money is, nor how many your expensive cars and SUVs you have, it is still nothing as you can’t bring any of them to the grave. But when used to help others, provide food and medicines to those in need, they gain lasting value in God’s eyes.

Jesus teaches that true loyalty cannot be divided. A servant cannot faithfully serve two masters, because devotion to one inevitably leads to neglect of the other. Chasing and focusing on wealth or worldly possessions gain conflicts with wholehearted devotion to God. Wealth itself is not evil, but when it becomes the master of our hearts, it draws us away from our True Master: God.

Let’s all examine where our heart’s ultimate loyalty lies. Let’s all be reminded that we are called to serve God above all, trusting Him as our true source of wealth and life. May we all be reminded that faithfulness in small matters leads to trust in greater ones. We cannot serve two masters. Our loyalty must belong to God alone, not to wealth or possessions.

Prayer

Lord, make us faithful stewards of Your blessings. Teach us to use our time, talents, treasures, and resources with wisdom and generosity. Free our hearts from the grip of wealth, and guide us always to choose You to be our one and only Master above all else, so we may share in eternal life. Amen.

Mastery in Resisting Temptation

   

First Sunday of Lent

09 March 2025

 

First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:4-10

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15

Second Reading: Romans 10:8-13

Gospel: Luke 4:1-13

 

Reflection

By: Anabelle P. Balla

 

After a long day at work, I often find myself yearning to unwind with activities that require minimal effort. Sometimes, I enjoy going around the garden, capturing the beauty of the sunset through my phone camera, tidying up different areas of the house, watering our indoor plants, or even organizing my clothes for the next day. However, there are also moments when I succumb to the allure of online live selling, scrolling through Facebook, or binge-watching movie series. These habits have become temptations in my life that I strive to manage or eliminate entirely. It's no easy feat, especially since they've become ingrained as habits. Mastering the ability to switch off these cravings at will, such as stopping a series even when the episodes ends on a cliffhanger, requires immense self-discipline or self-mastery.

As the old saying goes, self-mastery is not easy. The pursuit of self-mastery is filled with challenges and is often a lifelong journey. It demands unwavering dedication, self-discipline, and a willingness to confront one's flaws and weaknesses. The path is often marked by setbacks and failures that test one's resolve. However, it is through overcoming these obstacles that we grow stronger and develop the ability to resist temptations.

Achieving self-mastery on our own can be challenging, but when anchored in our relationship with God, we may find it more attainable. God can provide us with the conviction, grounding us in values centered on Him, calming our spirits during times of emotional turmoil, and offering supportive circumstances that help us move away from temptations. We just need to reach out to Him and ask for help.

Embracing the path to self-mastery not only empowers us to achieve our personal goals but also enriches our overall well-being, including our relationship with God.

Prayer

Father, give us the strength and the mastery to resist temptations. With Your help, we can achieve progress. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.