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.

My Deeper Hunger

    

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

04 August 2024

 

First Reading: Ex 16:2-4, 12-15

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54

Second Reading: Eph 4:17, 20-24

Gospel: Jn 6:24-35

 

Reflection

By: Theresa B. Manio

 

In the Gospel, Jesus invites us to look beyond our material needs and personal desires, prompting us to seek the spiritual nourishment that only He can provide. The crowd was focused on the miracle of the loaves and fishes, but Jesus taught them to something deeper and far greater: the bountiful providence that comes from trusting in Him. He wanted to give us something that will feed our hungry hearts and souls, not just our stomachs. 

I have read somewhere that we all have hearts that are hungry for something. In my Grade 12 class in Personal Development, I shared with my students that the class will mainly revolve around answering three fundamental questions: Who am I? Where do I fit? What am I here for? These questions of identity, belongingness, and purpose can also be thought of as our personal hunger. We can be hungry for acceptance, self-worth, words of affirmation, rest, hope, and many more.

As we grow, we will be in constant struggle to satisfy this hunger in ways that would give temporary or short-term relief, when will we say that I am already satisfied? We can be very efficient with our work, make ourselves busy in the Church, join every ministry there is, engage in activities that look “holy” from the outside but actually distracts us from filling the hunger inside.

I think the Gospel is trying to remind us that Jesus is the one who can really satisfy our deeper hunger. If we’re hungry for identity, Jesus gives us a new identity as children of God whom he loves and favors. If we’re hungry to belong, Jesus makes us feel that there will always be a community in the Church that will welcome us. If we’re hungry for purpose, Jesus calls us to be part of God’s mission by being his follower who gives light to others and nurtures others' light. 

In my teenage years up until becoming a young professional, my deeper hunger is security. I was always anxious that people I care so much about would leave me, perhaps get tired of me, or would find someone else better than me. To keep them in my life, I was in constant struggle to please them, held them tight, and became a toxic person for myself. It’s like I'm poisoning my own self trying to be the best for other people. This life was really tiring. Not until I have recognized the presence of Jesus in my life. During my younger years, I only prayed to God and sometimes acknowledged the Holy Spirit , since I had a traumatic experience as a child, I thought Jesus abandoned me. He allowed bad things to happen. It took a long while of prayer, retreats, doing the sacraments, reading and understanding the Bible, being vulnerable to spiritual mentors that I get to feel and understand Jesus' presence in my sufferings and struggles. Since then, I never let go once more. I take care of my relationship with Him. When we have found this Bread for ourselves, we can share it to others who are hungry for the goodness of God in their lives too. 

I invite you to listen to God's promises, in His Gospels and sacraments,  bring our hunger to God in prayer and keep pursuing the goodness of God in Jesus, the Bread of Life. Let’s not settle for crumbs when we are offered a bountiful feast. 

Prayer

Dear Lord,

In a world full of temporary solutions, give us the grace to seek for your presence in our lives. Cleanse our motivations that it is not just blessings we ask from you but nurturing a deeper and personal relationship with Jesus. May we allow you to be in our lives, to transform us, to purify our thoughts and actions so that we can answer your invitation to become bread ourselves, sharing ourselves with a hungry world. Amen.

Follow Me

 

  Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

26 June 2022 

 

First Reading: 1 Kgs 19:16b, 19-21

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11

Second Reading: Gal 5:1, 13-18

Gospel: Lk 9:51-62

 

Reflection

By: Fely Santiago

 

"Speak, Lord, your servant is listening; you have the words of everlasting life."

"Trust and obey, there's no other way." I fondly remember my late Papa with these words that he often said. He is a man of Christ. I got my spirituality from him. My Papa was a very prayerful man. And these words have also become my guiding principle in my spiritual journey. I always prefer to go where the Lord leads me because in God we can have everything. This is His promise in Matthew 6:33 "seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you."

How often do you listen to the Lord? Mostly, we come to God asking for favors. Let us also spend time in prayers just to be in God's presence and let our hearts respond to His love. Also, listen to what God may be trying to tell us and from there, we might know the answer to our prayers. Prayer is a conversation with God. It requires talking and listening. May we learn to be still and listen in our prayers, and imagine Jesus sitting beside us. I would love to picture myself in my prayer time with my head on His lap. I picture the gentleness in His eyes and the smile full of love as He gazes on me. I can be totally honest with Jesus as I tell Him of my worries and my cares. I open up my heart to Him as I tell Him of my fears and doubts. Then, I ask Him to help me to place myself fully in His care, to abandon myself to Him, knowing that He always wants what is best for me. And most importantly, I listen to His response. He often tells of how much He loves me and encourages me to put my trust fully in Him. "Magtiwala ka lang."

God wants us to experience real freedom if we put our trust and obey Him. What most often stops us from achieving freedom is our tendency to be caught up in fears and expectations about what we 'ought' or 'should' be. Our usual automatic responses tie us down and inhibit us from exploring new areas of growth. Let's ask and pray for a greater sense of inner freedom and that we might preach the fresh and challenging possibilities that God wishes us to realize. Our God is a BIG God and with Him are limitless possibilities.

Prayer

Lord, I ask for the grace to know that doing Your will is a joy because Your will is my deepest desire and You are always willing what is best for me. Thank You for the gift of freedom Lord. Grant that I may always choose to follow You. Keep me ever mindful of Your ways, of Your love and concern for all people. May I respond to Your call today. Teach me to recognize Your hand at work in my daily living. All this I pray, in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.

The Gift of Work

St Joseph the Worker 

01 May 2018

First reading                                                                       Genesis 1:26-2:3
God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground." God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them, saying: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth." God also said: "See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food." And so it happened. God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed—the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed. Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing, God rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation. 
Gospel                                                                     Matthew 13:54-58

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue.
They were astonished and said,
"Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
Is he not the carpenter's son? Is not his mother named Mary
and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?"
And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them,
"A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and in his own house."
And he did not work many mighty deeds there
because of their lack of faith.

Reflection

By Pietro S. Albano

Work has been an essential part of our life since the world was created. In the First Reading, we read how God has given us dominion over His creation. Such dominion requires work. Take for example how the farmers till the land patiently so that we could have rice, fruits, vegetables, etc. Or the fishermen catching bangus, salmon, oysters, etc. Or the teacher preparing and delivering mind-challenging lessons for her students. Or perhaps a parent working abroad for their family's better future. At times, work gets the better of us that we don't have anytime for God such as attending Mass. There are also occasions when we don't have time for our family either.

Through work, St Joseph provided for Jesus and Mary. We could just imagine the effort and sacrifices he made to ensure that there is food on the table and roof under their heads. We could only imagine how busy he was. And yet, he remained docile to God's will through prayer and living in the presence of Christ. Fr Gabriel of St Mary Magdalen, OCD once wrote "Saint Joseph teaches us the blessed secret of a life of combined activity and contemplation, so that, following his example, we may give ourselves to the active life without neglecting our life of intimate union with God." As we celebrate Labor Day, let us think of the benefits of work, be grateful, and work assiduously.  Let us also think of those times when we have been too preoccupied with work and ask St Joseph to teach us his secret.

Prayer

Loving Father, we thank You for entrusting the care of the world to us through the gift of work. Through the example and prayer of St Joseph, may we always give ourselves generously for Your glory and in the service of Your people. Amen.

St Joseph, Patron of Workers, pray for us.