Holistic Refinement

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

27 September 2026

 

First Reading: Ezekiel 18:25-28

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: Philippians 2:1-11

Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32

 

Reflection

By: Jose Paulo Gonzales

 

Today’s Gospel entices us into another novelty: Which of the two sons did his father’s will? As we have read and can further surmise, the first son did right by the eyes of heaven because though he made an initial “no,” he showed up for work at his father’s vineyard afterwards, turning his decision around. The appeal of the second brother is understandable being that there is only so much we can place our assurance in with others whose lives take shape and turn out beyond our awareness. We have heard it said in common: “A person’s word is his or her bond; a person is as good as his word;” but as we have seen in Scripture, not as the world runs does heaven conduct its ways; not at first instance does heaven decide who is right; and one’s words are as good as his or her actions can actualize.

A comparable example is Dimas whose story we revisit especially during Holy Week—the thief crucified to Jesus’ right. With a trail of crime that has defined his life enough to sentence him to execution, at the hour of death, Dimas could have defended himself from the charges against him; but at the sight of Jesus, even at the mockery of Gestas, Dimas admitted his guilt, recognized the innocence of Christ, and with his hopeful request, assented to Jesus’ Godship, leading Dimas to Paradise and his very canonization by Jesus, Godself.

In today’s Gospel, the first son is like the tax collectors and the prostitutes who, though morally precarious at the start, ultimately decide to turn their lives around at the mention of Jesus. The second son, on the other hand, is like the chief priests and the elders who, though seemingly agreeable, are exposed by their actions, and are found insubordinate to Jesus.

In these examples, we learn from those found righteous that it is most important not how we start, but rather, how we amend our lives as we come to know Jesus. We do not all start from the same place. How we start is greatly influenced by factors outside our control, but we all receive the grace to repent, so though in the world there is death, we can all find life in Jesus. There is no guarantee that anyone starts his or her endeavors with the purest intentions, so what matters is the humility to admit where we are failing and the ultimate decision to repent not as a one-time but a daily act of refining.

Interestingly, the greatness of some can detract them from repentance; the self-conviction of others can dissuade them from finding what is amiss; and the strife of others can beckon them toward Jesus, so given our circumstances, there are invitations to admit our need for the Lord, ground our hands in God’s work, and remain pliable in spirit to Jesus. In Jesus, as we realize in today’s Gospel, it is not prized most who appears resolute, but those who back away from sin and make amends, as is fitting to the Lord. In this, even hesitance finds grace to be called “blessed”—if it knows its rightful object—or should we say—the “Eternal Subject.”

Prayer

God, thank You for Your Presence and for Your gifts of prudence and discernment. May what we have learned from Your Gospel help our holistic refinement.

As we continue the Season of Creation, we pray for the well-being of everyone, the preservation of our environment, and the temperance not to resort helplessly to artificial means what can be left best for the nurture of human and greater natural life.

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

Looking With The Eyes of Love

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time
13 June 2010


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

First reading 2 Samuel 12:7-10,13
Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord the God of Israel says this, “I anointed you king over Israel; I delivered you from the hands of Saul; I gave your master’s house to you, his wives into your arms; I gave you the House of Israel and of Judah; and if this were not enough, I would add as much again for you. Why have you shown contempt for the Lord, doing what displeases him? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, taken his wife for your own, and killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. So now the sword will never be far from your House, since you have shown contempt for me and taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.”’
David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ Then Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord, for his part, forgives your sin; you are not to die.’

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 31:1-2,5,7,11

Second reading Galatians 2:16,19-21
We acknowledge that what makes a man righteous is not obedience to the Law, but faith in Jesus Christ. We had to become believers in Christ Jesus no less than you had, and now we hold that faith in Christ rather than fidelity to the Law is what justifies us, and that no one can be justified by keeping the Law. In other words, through the Law I am dead to the Law, so that now I can live for God. I have been crucified with Christ, and I live now not with my own life but with the life of Christ who lives in me. The life I now live in this body I live in faith: faith in the Son of God who loved me and who sacrificed himself for my sake. I cannot bring myself to give up God’s gift: if the Law can justify us, there is no point in the death of Christ.

Gospel Luke 7:36-8:3
One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to a meal. When he arrived at the Pharisee’s house and took his place at table, a woman came in, who had a bad name in the town. She had heard he was dining with the Pharisee and had brought with her an alabaster jar of ointment. She waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who this woman is that is touching him and what a bad name she has.’ Then Jesus took him up and said, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Speak, Master’ was the reply. ‘There was once a creditor who had two men in his debt; one owed him five hundred denarii, the other fifty. They were unable to pay, so he pardoned them both. Which of them will love him more?’ ‘The one who was pardoned more, I suppose’ answered Simon. Jesus said, ‘You are right.’
Then he turned to the woman. ‘Simon,’ he said ‘you see this woman? I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. For this reason I tell you that her sins, her many sins, must have been forgiven her, or she would not have shown such great love. It is the man who is forgiven little who shows little love.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this man, that he even forgives sins?’ But he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’
Now after this he made his way through towns and villages preaching, and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and several others who provided for them out of their own resources.

Reflection
By Rose Guevarra Markell

Her many sins have been forgiven, because she has shown great love.

Our world is divided between good people and sinners. Those who obey the Lord are the good people, and sinners are those who notoriously disobey God's commandments. God loves the good and does not tolerate sins. Simon stays away from sinners, and this is strange, as God does not think like Simon does. He may not tolerate the sins but He always forgives sinners who come to Him for mercy. God does not weigh our good and bad actions to see which is heavier, as that would be a child's game. God knows that we need time to test good and evil, and also to arrive at a mature and stable orientation. Sometimes, He lets us sin because at the end, we will know wrong from right and that we need only Him.

God easily forgets our sins and our excesses if through them we come to genuine love. So why do we look at the speck or sins of others, but do not see the speck or sins in our own eyes? Let us inspect our own lives and sins before we look for specks and sins of our neighbors.

O my God, please help us not focus on the sins of our neighbors, while ignoring our own glaring trespasses. May we learn to forgive those who sinned against us, and that they may too, learn to forgive whatever sins we committed against them. We pray for love, harmony, understanding, forgiveness, but most of all for peace in the whole world.We are thankful that after repentance comes forgiveness. Thank You Lord for loving us! Amen.

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