Pointless Obedience

    

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

01 September 2024

 

First Reading: Dt 4:1-2, 6-8

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5

Second Reading: Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27

Gospel: Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

 

Reflection

By: Bernard Borja

 

A well-off man organized an outreach event on a weekend with his friends to help the people in the slum area of the city. During the outreach, an elder woman asked the organizer why he is doing it. The man answered, “It is what our private association has been doing every year. We give donations to the poor because we have been blessed with more than we deserve.” The woman asks the man again about his own reason why he does it aside from the association’s yearly event. The man arrogantly answered, “Why do you question the one who is helping you? Can you just accept what we are giving? Maybe that is why you poor can never be successful in life. You always complain even if it is for your own good!”

A young lady is having her driving exam along with her friend. The instructor then asked a question to test her, “Two people are crossing the street. One is walking slow because he is old. The other is a young kid who is running ahead. What do you hit first?” The young lady smiled and winked at her friend to assure her of a correct answer. She then confidently said to the instructor, “Well, the old person already had a long life, but the kid still has a long life ahead. So, I would hit the old one.” The instructor and her friend could not believe what she said. When the instructor walked away shaking her head, her friend said, “That’s not and will never be the right answer! You should have answered ‘you hit the brakes!’ Why would you even think of hitting a person?” The young lady replied, “Shimenet (She may not) like the content of my answer, but I am answering.”

There are many times when we are too confident, and even proud, that we are not doing anything wrong. We oftentimes think that we are above others who do not follow rules. How many of us have been devoted to offering tithes and services in our community thinking that we are doing more than enough to help the ministries? How many of us feel proud joining an outreach for the poor on a Sunday, only to loathe the commuters who are waiting for a bus on a busy highway because they are blocking the driving lane where we are in? Are we even aware of how we “obey” the rules thinking that we are doing good, but forget how we should build our relationship with God?

Jesus rebuked the people who are so rooted in tradition but are not mindful of how God wants His people to obey His commandments in a loving way. We may eat a meal after carefully washing our hands, but if we waste food or even indulge more than we need to, we are missing the point of valuing food as grace. When we donate hard earned money to the church but despise the poor for not paying taxes, we fail to realize the true meaning of giving. Even if I go to mass every day, or receive the sacrament of reconciliation frequently, if I keep on looking down on people who does not follow rules or laws, this may hinder me in building a better relationship with God.

Everything that is good came from God. Saint Paul said that every perfect gift is from the Father, who planted the word of truth in us. He wants to be doers of the word, not just hearers. This is where we need to be aware of our freedom to choose what is good and loving. Jesus said, “Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” We are all created by God to be good and loving. It is what we do that makes us good or not. If I see injustice in our society but not speak against it, I am choosing to be unjust and letting the goodness that God planted on me decrease. As we become aware of the good nature within us, may we be reminded how Jesus leads us to have a better relationship with God, for us to understand more and obey His commandments in a loving way.

Prayer

Loving Father, we come to You in our unclean state to ask for Your mercy and compassion. Grant us the grace of awareness of the good in us so that we may choose more of the loving way that Jesus taught us. Help us to find Jesus in every person that we meet and let them guide us in building a better relationship with ou. This we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord, AMEN.

Wrong Channel

Ash Wednesday 06 March 2019
First reading Joel 2:12-18

“Now, now,” says the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.”

Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil. Who knows whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, a cereal offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God?

Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants.

Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, `Where is their God?'” Then the Lord became jealous for his land, and had pity on his people.

Second reading                                                         2 Corinthians 5:20 — 6:2

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.

As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!

Gospel                                                                         Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Reflection

By Bernard M. Borja

A young man has hurt his girlfriend because of infidelity. Willing to change his ways and ask for forgiveness, he decided to create posts in social media about how he really loves her girlfriend. He was apologizing and begging for her girlfriend to forgive him. He also took videos of himself, singing and playing a guitar, reciting poems while kneeling, creating vlogs, and posts it publicly. His posts became viral because of his sweet words and were liked by many. He did this for weeks. After some time, his posts become more about hopelessness. She is not responding to any of his posts. A few weeks after, they saw each other in a gathering with some other friends. The young man went closer to her, asked her if she has already forgiven her. The young woman looked at him and said, “Why? I never received an apology from you.” The young man explained and even tried to show to her his posts in social media. Then she took her phone out, opened her messaging accounts, and showed to the young man that there was never a single message she received from him. Not even in her email. 

We do not go through life unrewarded. In fact, God gives us graces we need every single day. Even the grace of mercy and forgiveness especially in our sinful nature. But how do we really respond to that forgiveness? Sometimes, we do our penance for our sins addressed not to the one whom we offended. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us on how we can use the “correct channel” when praying and offering ourselves to God. Sometimes, people choose to receive the praises and positive feedback of other people. We choose to receive an immediate and visible reward which is to lift our self-image so that people may look at us as good. We forget the real reward that God wants to give to us: the true forgiveness that only He can give. But this can only be received when we let God the only one who will see our offerings - be it prayer, fasting, or almsgiving. 

As the season of Lent begins, may we be reminded on how Jesus continues to offer Himself for the forgiveness of our sins. May we respond in the right way of doing penance and receive His graces not by making other people see our ways, but by hidden ways that only God can see.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, as we remember Your journey of fulfilling God’s promises, let us walk with You as we make this season holy by denying ourselves and do our offerings in hidden ways that only You can see. We thank You for we are able to walk with You as risen Christians, and we are able to celebrate Your victory because of Your mercy and compassion. With our dearest Mother Mary, like her sorrows which has transformed into joy and glory, may we accompany one another and share the loving embrace of peace that You continue to bless us. Amen. 

Great Feast Prepared For Us

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
14 August 2011


We are God’s people, the sheep of his flock: come, let us worship him, alleluia.

First reading Isaiah 56:1,6-7
Thus says the Lord: Have a care for justice, act with integrity, for soon my salvation will come and my integrity be manifest.
Foreigners who have attached themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love his name and be his servants – all who observe the sabbath, not profaning it, and cling to my covenant – these I will bring to my holy mountain. I will make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their holocausts and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.

Psalm: Psalm 66:2-3,5-6,8

Second reading Romans 11:13-15,29-32
Let me tell you pagans this: I have been sent to the pagans as their apostle, and I am proud of being sent, but the purpose of it is to make my own people envious of you, and in this way save some of them. Since their rejection meant the reconciliation of the world, do you know what their admission will mean? Nothing less than a resurrection from the dead!
God never takes back his gifts or revokes his choice.
Just as you changed from being disobedient to God, and now enjoy mercy because of their disobedience, so those who are disobedient now – and only because of the mercy shown to you – will also enjoy mercy eventually. God has imprisoned all men in their own disobedience only to show mercy to all mankind.

Gospel Matthew 15:21-28
Jesus left Gennesaret and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Then out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, ‘Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.’ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples went and pleaded with him. ‘Give her what she wants,’ they said ‘because she is shouting after us.’ He said in reply, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ But the woman had come up and was kneeling at his feet. ‘Lord,’ she said ‘help me.’ He replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ She retorted, ‘Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again.

Reflection
By Nats Vibiesca

Last Sunday Gospel, Jesus said to Peter, “O, man of little faith!” But in the Gospel today, our Lord said to the Canaanite woman, “O woman, great is your faith!”

Did you notice the irony?

Peter was so proud of himself and thought that he can really walk on water. But he sank easily when the strong waves came. Peter cried out loud, “Lord, save me!” Then Jesus said, “Go back to the special training! You will never walk on water that way! O, man of little feet!” (forgive me for my rough translation)

Now, a very humble woman, calling out loud to Jesus. She was begging like a dog, waiting for scraps from her master’s banquet, and believing in her cause against all odds. So Jesus said, “This is true woman empowerment! O woman, you’re name must be faith!” (sorry, this is what I thought Jesus said)

My reflection is that great faith springs from true humility—when I have nothing, in times of desperation, and I call out to God, “Lord, You know that I already did my best... Every night I cry to You for help. You’re my only hope now.”

All that I have becomes insignificant when I totally depend on God—faith is not about my knowledge, my educational background, my experience, and my position. Its not even how I know God or how many theological studies I obtained. Jesus knows best what is great faith. It is when I wait for scraps from His banquet because I am dying. But God comes down on me and lifts me up for a great feast prepared for us!

I know its not easy to be humiliated or to be in a humiliating situations but the sincerity of the Canaanite woman to ask Jesus’ help was something that even the disciples did not show. To call with all your heart and sincerity will surely catch the attention of Jesus. For God cares about every cry.

Then, all sickness in my life will be healed! In the great feast of the Lord all my daughters, sons or anyone in my family will surely be well!

Prayer: Our Lord Jesus, we sincerely call on You to help us in all our needs. We ask the intercession of our Blessed Virgin Mary in all our afflictions as we celebrate tomorrow the Solemnity of the Assumption. May the great faith of Mama Mary be the perfect example for us to proclaim the goodness of the Lord. Amen.

Don’t just do it, Move it!

9th Sunday in Ordinary Time6 March 2011


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

First reading Deuteronomy 11:18,26-28
Moses said to the people: ‘Let these words of mine remain in your heart and in your soul; fasten them on your hand as a sign and on your forehead as a circlet.
‘See, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: a blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord our God that I enjoin on you today; a curse, if you disobey the commandments of the Lord your God and leave the way I have marked out for you today, by going after other gods you have not known. You must keep and observe all the laws and customs that I set out before you today.’

Psalm: Psalm 30:2-4,17,25

Second reading Romans 3:21-25,28
God’s justice that was made known through the Law and the Prophets has now been revealed outside the Law, since it is the same justice of God that comes through faith to everyone, Jew and pagan alike, who believes in Jesus Christ. Both Jew and pagan sinned and forfeited God’s glory, and both are justified through the free gift of his grace by being redeemed in Christ Jesus who was appointed by God to sacrifice his life so as to win reconciliation through faith. since, as we see it, a man is justified by faith and not by doing something the Law tells him to do.

Gospel Matthew 7:21-27
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. When the day comes many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name?” Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, you evil men!
‘Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!’

Reflection
By Pam Manzano

Many things we do today are often just for the sake of “doing” it. This may not be true for you but for most people, it probably is.

We are always hurried, always in a rush and always want to be at the top of things. These make us do the things we do just fine, never mind exceeding expectations and exploring more of our potentials and capabilities. With all the things going on around us and the anxious feeling that there are things yet to be done, who would want to do extra work, right?

Suppose every task you are to do is finished. You are happy for you have finished what has been assigned to you. You look at the outcome and take pride in doing it. You listened to all the feedbacks and you feel elated. But are you contented? Especially when you know that there is more you can do to beautify what you’ve done but did not go for it? It’s frustrating, I know.

Putting your heart in everything you do makes your work priceless. It makes you go for that extra mile you’ve been wanting since then. And your effort will not only make you proud of what its achieved but it will also give you the opportunity to unleash your untouched potentials. Moreover, it will give you the feeling of contentment – the one that really pays off!

The Gospel today talks about the same thing. Many knew how to pray but only few do it with their hearts. Sincerity is an important aspect in praying. As seen in the Gospel, God hears those who are faithful and sincere in their prayers. He turns His back from those who wear their faith only on their sleeves. And in our stressful lives, we are guilty of praying hurriedly and not sincerely in one way or another.

Praying is an important thing in our lives as Christians. It gives us the opportunity to talk to our God. It helps us in our continuous spiritual growth. Praying also relieves us of our everyday stress and gives us strength to start anew. But then again, we don’t just pray for the sake of praying. We do pray to converse with the One who loves us despite our imperfections.

If we really want to see God and His face, let us all try and be sincere in our prayers. And when we pray, let us put our hearts in it. This may sound like a cliché but the Gospel today is actually a wake up call for all of us. God does not want to turn His back from us. He wants us all to be in His kingdom. And as a believer of Christ, our ultimate goal should be to see His face, be with Him, and worship Him forever!

Father teach us how to pray that we may be able to know Your will and see You through our prayers. Amen.


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Anger Management 101