Ang Ubasan ng Diyos

Ika-27 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

04 Oktubre 2026

 

Unang Pagbasa: Isaias 5, 1-7

Salmong Tugunan: Salmo 79, 9 at 12. 13-14. 15-16. 19-20

Ikalawang Pagbasa: Filipos 4, 6-9

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 21, 33-43

 

Pagninilay

Ni: Renato C. Vibiesca

 

Bihira ang ubasan sa ating bayan. Unang beses na nakakita ako ng ubasan sa Candon, Ilocos Sur ilang dekada na ang nakaraan. Mapusyaw na kulay berde ang kulay ng ubas sa Candon at hindi gaanong matamis nang matikman ko. Ang totoo’y wala sa kultura natin ang ubasan at iilang lugar nga lang talaga ang merong taniman ng ubas sa atin. Siguro’y dahil sa klase ng lupa o klima na hindi akma para makapagpabunga ng matamis at masarap na ubas na karaniwang ginagawang alak. Kaya’t hindi katakataka na marami sa atin ang nangangapa sa talinghagang ito sa Ebanghelyo dahil nga halos wala sa kamalayan natin ang pagtatanim ng ubas. 

Nitong nakaraang taon lamang ako namangha nang husto nang makakita ng ekta-ektaryang ubasan at nakarinig ng ilang impormasyon tungkol sa pagtatanim ng ubas. Binigyan pa kami ni Lord ng pagkakataon na makatikim ng ilang klase ng alak mula sa katas ng ubas nang mabiyayaan kami na makapaglakbay sa Europa. Natuklasan ko na masusing inaayos ng magsasaka ang ubasan mula sa paghahanda ng lupa, pagbabakod nito, pagtatayo ng mga gapangan ng baging at ugat, patubig, pruning at pagpapabunga, pamamahala ng peste at sakit ng halaman, paglalagak sa imbakan, pagpipisaan ng ani, hanggang sa metikulosong paghahanda ng sisidlan upang lalong mapasarap ang alak mula sa katas ng ubas. Matrabaho at mahabang pasensiya ang kailangan pala sa pagtatanim ng ubas at dapat na maalam o mayaman sa karanasan ang sinumang magtatanim nito upang magtagumpay. Mahabang tradisyon na nila ang hirap ng pagtatanim ng ubas.

Ang grasya ng paghahanda ng ubasan ang ibinibigay ng Panginoon sa ating lahat. Anuman ang lakbayin natin sa ating buhay ay inihanda na ng Diyos ang lahat na ating kakailanganin upang tayo’y maging matatag sa lahat ng pagsubok. Ipinagkakatiwala ng Diyos sa atin ang biyaya na Kanya mismong inihanda upang masigurong mamumunga ito nang sagana. Ang bunga nito ay hindi lamang upang sarilinin natin at maging sakim sa lahat ng biyaya nito. Itinuturo sa atin ng talinghaga na maging tapat tayo sa Diyos na nagbigay ng saganang biyaya sa ating buhay, at ibalik sa Kanya ang papuri sa pamamagitan ng pagtanggap kay Hesus na ating Panginoon. Madalas ay nabubulagan tayo ng ating sariling tagumpay at nakakalimutan na ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit natin tinatamasa ang lahat ng bungang tinatamasa.

Kaya nga’t sa bawat Misa na ating dinadaluhan, nasasaksihan natin ang sakripisyo ng ating Panginoong Hesus sa pagtanggap natin ng Banal na Dugo sa anyong alak mula sa ubasan at Kanyang Katawan sa tinapay na nagbibigay sa ating ng buhay na walang hanggan. Patunay ang Banal na Hapag sa Misa na laging masagana ang bunga na handog sa ating buhay at marapat lamang na pakumbaba nating tanggapin at paglingkuran nang tapat si Hesus upang lagi tayong pagharian ng Diyos. Amen.

Panalangin

Panginoon, maraming salamat sa ubasang ipinagkatiwala Mo sa amin. Tulungan Mo kaming palaguin ito at maibigay nang buong puso ang alak mula sa mga bunga nito. 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.

May Our Talents Glorify God

   

  Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

18 September 2022 

 

First Reading: Am 8:4-7

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

Second Reading: 1 Tm 2:1-8

Gospel: Lk 16:1-13

 

Reflection

By: Gharri Tulabut

 

It really amazes me how students can come up with different tactics on how to cheat during an examination. In my personal experience with my students, small things such as making noise to signal whether the answer is A, B, C, or D is a common thing.  Some would even make their own alphabet and write kodigos right there on the board before my very eyes. Oh, I can only wonder what other techniques they come up with especially recently that they take quizzes online. Have you seen the movie Bad Genius? Students in that movie are for me the Mafia or drug lords of cheating.

One time, before an exam, I made a speech before my students, “We hate cheaters, don’t we? Cheaters in business. Cheaters in the government. But here you are, helping each other planning a scheme on how to cheat in small things such as these exams. We hate cheaters in relationships, but here you are young boyfriends and girlfriends helping each other cheat in your quizzes.” Then I even made a false claim, ”Well, studies say that cheaters in class becomes cheaters in relationships.” I think I heard someone say “That’s why we don’t believe in studies.” Hahaha.

What really amazes me is the fact that those who cheat, whether in class or in any other aspect of life, can spend so much energy in planning and executing their shrewd deed. Why not use this energy in doing the right things? Like instead on planning where to write the answers inside the classroom or what signals to use for the answers, why not use the energy to study? Instead of planning a scheme on how to cheat in business, why not plan on how to please the customers to have a loyal customer base? Or plan on how to improve the product.

Today in the Gospel, Jesus praised the shrewd steward in the parable. I am sure the steward was not commended for his cheating but rather for his strategic abilities. If only he could use this ability for good. Same is true with us. God has blessed us with wonderful talents. If only we could use these talents and our energy in doing God’s works on earth. God will truly be glorified.

Prayer

We thank you Father for our talents. May we use these talents to do Your works. May these talents bear fruit that will give back the glory to You. Amen.

Good Stewards

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

04 October 2020
First reading Isaiah 51:1-7

Let me now sing of my friend,

my friend's song concerning his vineyard.

My friend had a vineyard

on a fertile hillside;

he spaded it, cleared it of stones,

and planted the choicest vines;

within it he built a watchtower,

and hewed out a wine press.

Then he looked for the crop of grapes,

but what it yielded was wild grapes.

Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah,

judge between me and my vineyard:

What more was there to do for my vineyard

that I had not done?

Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes,

did it bring forth wild grapes?

Now, I will let you know

what I mean to do with my vineyard:

take away its hedge, give it to grazing,

break through its wall, let it be trampled!

Yes, I will make it a ruin:

it shall not be pruned or hoed,

but overgrown with thorns and briers;

I will command the clouds

not to send rain upon it.

The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel,

and the people of Judah are his cherished plant;

he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed!

for justice, but hark, the outcry!

Second reading                                                          Philippians 4:6-9

Brothers and sisters:

Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

make your requests known to God.

Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding

will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.Finally, brothers and sisters,

whatever is true, whatever is honorable,

whatever is just, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,

if there is any excellence

and if there is anything worthy of praise,

think about these things.

Keep on doing what you have learned and received

and heard and seen in me.

Then the God of peace will be with you.

Gospel                                                                          Matthew 21:33-43

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:

"Hear another parable.

There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,

put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. 

Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.

When vintage time drew near,

he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. 

But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,

another they killed, and a third they stoned. 

Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,

but they treated them in the same way. 

Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking,

'They will respect my son.'

But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,

'This is the heir.

Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’

They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 

What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?"

They answered him,

"He will put those wretched men to a wretched death

and lease his vineyard to other tenants

who will give him the produce at the proper times."

Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures:

The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

by the Lord has this been done,

and it is wonderful in our eyes?

Therefore, I say to you,

the kingdom of God will be taken away from you

and given to a people that will produce its fruit."

Reflection

By Theresa Ballo

The theme of today’s readings is about vineyards and seeing the fruit of one’s labor. In the Gospel, Jesus shares the story of a vine owner who leases the vineyard to others who seek only their own benefit from fruits of the vineyard. Too obvious it may seem, God is like the owner of the vineyard. The servants are the prophets from the Old Testament. They were sent by God to be messengers and protectors of his creation. The Son is Jesus. The son dragged outside the vineyard is Jesus’ passion and death on the cross.

The readings made me think of the things, people and events God has given me. Going more into thinking made me feel grateful and happy yet going deeper into the depths of my thoughts, I asked this question to myself, what have I done with all God has entrusted to me? In spite of a few true friends, supportive boyfriend and a loving family, there are still nights where I feel all alone. I know I am doing my part maximizing God’s gifts to me like for example the gift of emphatic listening. I listened very well, without judgment, without pre-conceived notion. Yet, in most cases I feel drained and tired of listening to people’s trauma, pains and desolations. Sometimes they bring back my own childhood trauma. Sometimes, I feel worthless especially when I cannot do anything to help. My powers are limited. My skills fell short. I have been given many tools that I can use in order to care for the part of the vineyard which God has let me work. I am sometimes tempted as the tenants in the Gospel, to be greedy and see what I can get out of the crop just for myself.

At night I ask myself, am I still willing to help them carry their crosses faithfully and be exemplary counselor and journey with them in their highs and lows? Maybe, this is my cross too. Maybe this is what I have been called to do. As St. Therese of Lisieux is famous for her “little way”, in which she said, no amount of effort, no matter how small, is insignificant in the effort for the conversion of souls and glory of God. I tell this to myself. I would like to be like her. She had her moments of being insane too but she became a saint, a doctor of the Church in fact.

At the start of this pandemic in the Philippines, I feel sorry and I also cried to all the fallen heroes. To the doctors, health professionals and frontliners who willingly sacrificed their lives in the service of their professions. Yet as months progresses, there are the “other” frontliners who are courageous to give their time and skills listening to people’s mental health issues, helping people manage and lessen their anxieties, extending spark of hope so people can continue to choose to live and to breathe. Simply because they cannot say “no” to the inner crops in their soul. They listened to it and stay faithful to their call.

At this time of global pandemic, we are all invited to be beacons of God’s light, truth and hope. This may expose both the best and worst of humanity but we should bear witness to God’s love and show His love to one another in these trying moments.

PRAYER

Blessed are you, O Lord God, provider and owner of all things. Through Your goodness, You have gifted us with care of those who You have entrusted to us. We ask that we may continue to be good stewards and give back to You the praise, glory, and honor that is due to You. May we follow the example of Your Son in the way that He treated and cared for Your people. In this way, we can experience true and lasting peach which is beyond all understanding. Amen.

The Owner

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time 
8 October 2017

First reading

Isaiah 5:1-7

Let me sing to my friend
the song of his love for his vineyard.
My friend had a vineyard
on a fertile hillside.
He dug the soil, cleared it of stones
and planted choice vines in it.
In the middle he built a tower,
he dug a press there too.
He expected it to yield grapes,
but sour grapes were all that it gave.
And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem
and men of Judah,
I ask you to judge
between my vineyard and me.
What could I have done for my vineyard
that I have not done?
I expected it to yield grapes.
Why did it yield sour grapes instead?
Very well, I will tell you
what I am going to do to my vineyard:
I will take away its hedge for it to be grazed on,
and knock down its wall for it to be trampled on.
I will lay it waste, unpruned, undug;
overgrown by the briar and the thorn.
I will command the clouds
to rain no rain on it.
Yes, the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts
is the House of Israel,
and the men of Judah
that chosen plant.
He expected justice, but found bloodshed,
integrity, but only a cry of distress.

                

Second reading

Philippians 4:6-9

There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise. Keep doing all the things that you learnt from me and have been taught by me and have heard or seen that I do. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Gospel

Matthew 21:33-43

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people, ‘Listen to another parable. There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard; he fenced it round, dug a winepress in it and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad. When vintage time drew near he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his servants, thrashed one, killed another and stoned a third. Next he sent some more servants, this time a larger number, and they dealt with them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them. “They will respect my son” he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, “This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him and take over his inheritance.” So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They answered, ‘He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:
It was the stone rejected by the builders
that became the keystone.
This was the Lord’s doing
and it is wonderful to see?
‘I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.’

Reflection

by Ma. Rosalina S. Flores

I have this colleague in the Ministry of Lectors and Commentators who always reminds me that proclaiming the Word of God during Mass should never be considered as me serving the Lord, but rather, the other way around. Raising eyebrows, by now? I also raised mine, the first time he told me that. How come, it is the Lord serving me while I am the one who is on the lectern proclaiming His Word in front of the people? Do my preparations of going through the readings beforehand, practicing, and getting up early especially when my schedule is 7:00 o' clock in the morning cannot be considered as service?

The statement of my fellow lector drove me to an in-depth reflection. It took me a while to realize that my mere ability will never bring me to the ministry. But with God's grace, it was made possible. He made me a tenant of the Word. God was, is, and will forever serve me as He mercifully guides me in my life journey.

That has become the problem of the tenants in today’s gospel. They thought they deserve more because they were the ones who worked at the vineyard. They were justifying their efforts up to the extent of grabbing the ownership from the original owner. They did not mind abusing their fellow tenants or even killing the heir to get what they want.

We can be like the wicked tenants mentioned in the gospel if we continue to abuse the free will given to us by the Father. Oftentimes, we may think we are the captains of our ships. But in reality, we are just the passengers waiting to set our feet on the ground. We may choose to forget that all we have are blessings from the Lord. We want the credit for ourselves that sometimes lead us to claiming the recognition of others.

In the present world where ownership is an issue, let us be reminded that we own nothing. God is the true owner of everything. We owe our lives to Him.

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your unending generosity. We don’t deserved to be served by You and yet You continue to shower us with Your abundant blessings, with Your mercy. We can’t thank You enough. May we live our life giving glory to Your name. In Jesus' name. Amen.