We make choices in life. We choose what clothes to wear. We choose what food to eat and those that would satisfy our cravings. We choose the people whom we want to be with and those that can give us comfort. We choose what would entertain us and bring us surge of happiness. And we choose important matters in life and make decisions to which direction we should be taking.
The choices that we make would somehow shape the way we live our life. The choices we have made would also tell us how we relate with people and take care of our relationships. Spiritually, the choices we make mold our relationship with God. They shape the way we express our faith in concrete ways.
As we have just began our 40-day Lenten Journey, the Book of Deuteronomy reminds us to always “choose life.” Moses reminded the people of God to choose the Lord. This is to be expressed in three ways – in loving the Lord, in walking in God’s ways, and in keeping God’s commandments. By choosing the Lord, we choose blessing and choose life.
This is the promise of the fullness of life. Yet, we will not attain this when we are apart from the Lord. We cannot achieve it when we are away from God’s grace.
This is the invitation of Jesus for his disciples, that is, to choose him who is life himself. Yet, making such decision does not mean all success and triumph, comfort and power. In choosing the Lord and in following him, self-denial and giving of oneself become our way of life.
This is no joke because we become a contradiction to what the world wants us to be. What others want for us is self-promotion and self-preservation yet, the Lord wants us to carry our cross daily and follow him.
But Jesus has promised us, in giving ourselves for his sake and of the Gospel, then we gain the fullness of life. No matter how difficult and challenging this may be, we ask for the grace of perseverance and joy in the midst of trials and tribulations, so that we will always choose life and choose the Lord.
May this Season of Lent strengthen our faith and transform our heart in the likeness of Christ. Hinaut pa.
The Season of Lent begins today. Just few days ago, our Muslim brothers and sisters also began their month-long Ramadan of fasting, praying and giving. This is an invitation to be spiritually nourished, to be closer and more intimate with God and with the rest of the community.
As Christians too, this 40-day Season of Lent also brings us into that season of praying, fasting and giving. In today’s liturgical readings we are called to make our whole heart available and free for God and for others. In the Book of Prophet Joel, the Lord says, “return to me with all your heart…rend your hearts and not your garments…return to the Lord, your God.”
Hence, there are three best practices that by tradition as also revealed in the Holy Scriptures, would make our desire of returning and mending our closeness with God and others to be possible.
First, Prayer. It is an invitation to be closer to God by becoming more aware of God’s presence in our life. Prayer is not limited with expressing and blurting out what we need and want. Prayer is first and foremost our way of relating, communicating and being intimate with God who is faithful and loving to us despite our sinfulness and imperfections.
Prayer brings us closer into God’s presence so that in humility we recognize our own limitations and sinfulness. We realize that when our prayer focuses on God rather than on our personal wants and needs, the more we also see and know clearly who we are. Indeed, awareness of God brings us into self-awareness.
In prayer, we do not have to use plenty of words. To sit in silence for few minutes and being aware of God’s tremendous presence in that very moment would suffice and bring us into a greater consciousness of ourselves and of the needs in our community.
Second, Fasting and Abstinence. As we become aware of God, it helps us to be more aware of ourselves. Fasting and abstinence are invitations for us to recognize our thoughts, habits, behaviors and ways that prevent us from becoming closer to God and to others. Fasting and abstinence are not limited in consuming pork and beef or to other comfort foods. These are forms of self-denial so that we will be able to make ourselves free from those that are holding us back in doing good and expressing our concern.
So, we can alsoreflect and discern deeper. We can ask questions like – what is it that I will make myself free for this season of lent, what vice shall I stop or regulate? What habit or attitude shall I minimize? What thoughts and cravings should I discipline?
As we confront these questions in us, we also confront our selfish tendencies. In hope, this may make us take a step in going out of our comfort zones in order to encounter God and others.
Third, Almsgiving. The Lenten practice of almsgiving is a way of making ourselves generous to those who are in need. We recognize that prayer makes us aware of God and ourselves. Fasting and abstinence form our heart to be free and available for others. And so, almsgiving is giving ourselves for the sake others.
Almsgiving is not limited to giving few coins to a poor beggar or a spare of our material resources. To give alms is to generously give what is dear to us. We allow ourselves to be the gift to others.
We can also ask ourselves and discern more, “what is it that I can generously and joyfully give to others? Is it my time and wealth, talents and knowledge? It is my presence and comfort? My helping hand and listening ear? My understanding and love for my friends and family members? My concern, sincerity and honesty in my work?”
Empowered by hope for renewal, may we enter this Holy Season of Lent with the grace of Holy Spirit. Hinaut pa.
Peter, after realizing the many sacrifices and risks entailed in following Jesus, said, “We have left everything and followed you.” When I too will face such concern, I would also ask, “What will there be for me?” and “Where will I be then?”
The disciples of Jesus, as they were called to follow the Lord, left the comfort of their homes, families and livelihood. Like Jesus, they became itinerant, traveling from one place to another. They were dependent on God’s providence manifested in the generosity of people whom they encounter.
With this concern, Jesus assured his disciples of the wonder of giving up oneself for the sake of Gospel and of Jesus himself. The reward is in gaining more friends, families and communities along the way in their ministry. The relationships and friendships being developed will truly ease and comfort a troubled heart.
This is how we also find that when we are able to generously give ourselves or our talents and resources for the sake of others and for the sake of the Church that we are being enriched all the more. Although, the material reward may not be that great, but the spiritual graces abound all the more.
To generously give something from us is not just a simple invitation for us. In fact, this is also a moral responsibility for us especially when we know that there is someone more in need.
The Book of Sirach reminds us of this. Our expression of charity is also an expression of worship and praise to the Lord. By giving in order to respond what others need the most is an act of doing justice.
Sirach says, “To refrain from evil pleases the LORD, and to avoid injustice is an atonement.” This means that it is also not enough to not just do evil against others. We might think that as long as I won’t do anything bad to others, that’s enough. However, not doing anything for the sake for others even though we have the capacity to help, can also be a form of doing injustice.
Thus, “appear not before the Lord empty-handed.” Realize then, what we can offer and give to the Lord and for the sake of others. It does not matter if that something is small or insignificant in the eyes of others, because as Sirach says, “for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the precepts.”
What is more important then, is to give with a cheerful face and not with a grumbling heart. “With each contribution show a cheerful countenance, and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy.”
Giving with a cheerful face and in a spirit of joy makes us truly joyful and generous givers. In this way, God finds more delight in our heart. In God’s wisdom and providence, the Lord shall bless with wonders and fill us with surprises. Hinaut pa.
Do we often find ourselves judging quickly others or to speak ill of someone? Is it easy for us then, to find faults and ugly things when we are with others? Does our speech express bitterness as we describe others?
Judging others is actually natural to us. It is our way of assessing possible threats. We use it to create social order and hierarchy. It also helps reinforce our own beliefs and values.[1]
Yet, when we find ourselves having such tendencies, we might also easily fall towards self-righteousness and superiority. When we only focus on what is wrong and ugly in everything and everyone, we become more inclined to complain. We accuse and blurt out the faults and failures of others. This behavior creates a lot of toxicities and negativity in our relationships.
We may be unaware of the poisonous attitude we bring. We could believe and think that we have the best ideas and solutions. We might also think we have the best personality and attitude. Yet, we become a person who is very difficult to deal with. We are difficult to please and in need of constant affirmation.
On this Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Lord calls to pinpoint such tendencies in us. This is for our own growth as a Christian Community. Let us discern together the invitations in our liturgical readings this Sunday. They concern the intentions behind the words we speak.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus wanted his disciples to realize the danger of self-righteousness. This leads to bitterness, discontentment and insecurity. We need to recognize our own faults and sinfulness. We should not undermine them by finding the fault of others.
Jesus addressed the Pharisees and Scribes who seemed to be so righteous, yet, sick and sinful inside. Jesus compared them to blind men leading the blind. They noticed the splinters in other people but were blind to the beams in front of their own eyes. Jesus called them hypocrites.
This was clear at how these people would always notice even the minutest details of the defects of others. They were filled with complaints and biases against others. These people’s malicious words consistently attacked Jesus and his disciples. Their words revealed their evil intentions.
In fact, the First Reading from the Book of Sirach reminds us of the image. It says, “when a sieve is shaken, the husks appear, so do one’s fault’s when one speaks.” When we speak and use words that destroy others’ reputation, we reveal that we have a sick and rotten heart. Words that degrade and hurt others also show this. Similarly, words that only curse and bring insult to others reveal the evil in us.
Jesus captures this in his words, “an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil.” Let us be mindful then of things that we nurture in our heart because these are manifested in what we speak.
Moreover, to pinpoint the wrong or the faults of others is not entirely wrong. It is also our moral responsibility to express what is not good. Indeed, there is wisdom and goodness in criticism in itself.
We remind ourselves also of these two kinds of criticism. There is a constructive criticism and destructive criticism.
A constructive criticism seeks the good of my brother and sister. In this criticism, we do not seek to bring insult to the person but to help the person grow and learn from mistakes and failures. It gives both positive and negative feedback. This is done with honesty and sincerity from our part.
On the other hand, destructive criticism is hateful and malicious because it desires damage to my brother and sister. It is destructive because it puts down and humiliates the person and has no desire to help the person to grow and learn. Further, it is a mere accusation filled with bitterness and hate. In the words of Pope Francis, when we tend to destructively criticize and simply accuse others, then, we are friends of the devil because the devil is the Great Accuser. Thus, this is done with evil intent. We commonly do this when we talk behind to speak ill about the person in initiating, perpetrating and joining others to destroy the image of my brother or sister.
Jesus does not want us to be that bitter and hateful accusers. Jesus desires that each of us becomes free. We achieve this freedom by being capable of recognizing our sins. This recognition makes the transformation of hearts possible. In this way we become a help to one another, so that as parents, leaders, mentors and authority figures, we will not be leading others blindly but with humility and willingness to be corrected, affirmed and challenged.
As disciples of Jesus, he demands consistency in our words and actions, in the way we relate with others and with God, and in the way we look at ourselves.
And so for this Sunday, these are your take-away.
First, let us begin in recognizing our own “beams,” of our inconsistent words from our actions, our bitter and hateful words, our quick judgments and biases against others and other attitudes that make us hypocrites. Remember, when we choose to blind ourselves from these, then, there is a danger of making ourselves distant from God, from others and from our own reality.
Second, avoid speaking ill of others, even in joining or perpetrating or encouraging others to do so. This makes our heart free from bitterness.
Third, constructively correct others. Use words that uplift and motivate others to become better persons rather than being harsh and portraying ourselves to be superior. That’s again the attitude of a hypocrite.
As we dare to look at ourselves and confront the evil within us, may we also find Christ most willing to embrace us. Hinaut pa.
[1] Mike Robbins, “Why do we judge others?,” published on February 15, 2024,
Once in a monastery, the whole community of monks gathered together for a meeting in order to give their final judgment on a particular monk who made a mistake. Each one of them expresses their own different opinions and verdict on the monk on-trial. They even have some conflicting opinions as to what would be the proper verdict for the monk on-trial,…while Bro. Felix, the oldest of them all remained silent.
When they finally asked for his opinion, Bro. Felix quietly came forward with a sack and a basket, and filled both with sands. They were all shocked and asked Bro. Felix to explain himself. Bro. Felix finally say: “This sack of sands are my sins, which are full and heavy. I carry this on my back so that I could not see, be mindful and be sorry about my own sins and mistakes I am guilty of. While this basket of sands are the mistakes of our brother on-trial in front of us so that I could easily see, condemn, and judge him. But this is not right and just. Better for me to carry and mind my own mistakes and ask the Lord’s pardon, mercy and forgiveness than to mind and judge the mistakes of others.” Eventually all came to realize their own sins and mistakes in life, and became forgiving to their brother on-trial as they also needing God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Try to be more a forgiven convict, than to be a convicted judge.
Why is it that it is easy for us to see the shortcomings and limitations of others, but we are blind in seeing our own wrongdoings? Usually, it is easy for us to blame others than ourselves. Easy for us to criticize the faults of others. Not difficult for us to look for the sins and dirt of others, but only ourselves to blame.
In our life-difficulties, like during election campaign period, easy for us to blame others and say, “Because of my parents… our leaders… our government… our church.” We are however blinded or hard for us to accept that we are part of the problem because we don’t care and take responsibility of our own actions for the common good of our community and our country. Easy also for us to elect corrupt popular politicians and leaders as we allow ourselves to be deceived by their promises and to sell our own rights to vote. Blaming, judging, and condemning others than ourselves, make us unconscious and blind of our own mistakes and accountability.
Our gospel today reminds us of the song “Lupa” of Rico Puno, “Bago mo linisin ang dungis ng iyong kapwa, hugasan mo ang putik sa mukha”. (Before you clean the dirt on other’s face, wash the clay in your face first.) As Jesus would say “Remove first the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye. This is the advice and direction Jesus have given us all His disciples. These are His words and message not only for others but for all of us, you and I, as His disciples.
True indeed, as Christians, we are challenged to preach and share the Good News of Jesus to all people. But these Good News are not only for others or all who have not heard of Jesus, but moreso, onto ourselves who are already believers of Christ. God’s word is intended for the salvation and transformation of all people, but above all for ourselves who are Christians, His followers.
Meaning, we have first to practice what we preach, live what we believe God’s words and messages in our own lives, before and so that we can proclaim and share it to others. Good News is thus Jesus’ message if and when we practice and live its command in our own lives rather than using it as a standard in judging others.
As PCP II reminds us that for us to be Filipino Christians today is to re-tell (tell again & again) the Jesus story into ourselves so that we can proclaim Jesus Christ with authority to others. In other words, “Kung gusto mo ng pagbabago, simulan mo sa sarili mo.” If you want change in life, begin with yourselves. Thus, have a good look at yourselves first before judging, condemning and blaming others. Remember, never is it the intention of Jesus to preach us the Good News of God’s salvation to mind and judge others & ourselves but to change ourselves for the better.
In tune with examples and message of our Lord Jesus Christ, may His Gospel first reign in our hearts so that we may become worthy to be called followers and disciples of Christ and proclaimers of His Good News of salvation, and thus, less becoming judging & condemning of others.
A DOSE OF GOD TODAY 