Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Tag: Faith

  • M.I.C.E.

    M.I.C.E.

    February 22, 2026 – First Sunday of Lent

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022226.cfm)

    Every Holy Tuesday, we usually remember the circumstances of the treachery & betrayal of Judas Iscariot that has led to the eventual passion & death of our Lord Jesus Christ. There, we come to know Jesus exposé of Judas’ betrayal as trusted finance officer of the disciples of Jesus who corrupted their funds & conspired with the bashers, detractors & enemies of Jesus that led to the Lord’s arrest & execution.

    We may have known how painful it is & would be, if & when we are betrayed by our own trusted people. Betrayal of trust is surely a difficult & traumatic experience for us that breaks people’s hearts & lives. But we may beg the question & wonder, “what moves and tempts people to betray others?”

    It has been said that in the espionage world or the world of spies, there are four factors that tempt spies to defect & betray their loyalties & people. Its acronym is MICE (Money, Ideology, Compromise & Ego). And somehow we might say that these are the four reasons that we & other may tempt & cause to betray ourselves, others & even God. Temptations & betrayals then somehow always involved with (MICE) Money, Ideology, Compromise & Ego.

    These are very true in the case of Judas Iscariot. Definitely, he was in to betray Jesus for the M-money (30 pieces of silver). He was in for business-influences & market-consumerism of I – ideology, willing to C- compromise his faith, beliefs & values, & to conspire with the enemy. And above all, His selfish E – ego, self-centeredness causes Judas to betrays his Lord. This simply explain why we always associate people who betrayed us as Judas & we consider Judas as betrayer.

    Glimpses of MICE may also be discerned in the temptations of Christ. Same MICE tactics are employed by the tempter. We see in our gospel today how the devil tempts Jesus to turn stone into bread, (which we now associate with M-money); then, the devil dares Jesus to jump from the high cliff to I- ideologize His greatness & C-compromise His faith; and the devil offers the Lord the whole world to boost & boast His E-ego.

    These are the same pitfalls & warning signs that may fall & lead us to the temptations of betraying & betrayals. Same MICE tactics (Money, Ideology, Compromise & Ego) make us betray our suffrage – our right to vote & betrayal of public trust that lead us to vote-buying & vote selling. Somehow same MICE tactics that make building contractors & government officials corrupt & exploit our government projects that cause recent mass death & human disasters.

    And so, let us be aware of MICE tactics (Money, Ideology, Compromise & Ego) that the devil uses & have caused people & even ourselves to be like Judas Iscariot in betraying ourselves, others & our Lord that is making life difficult, harmful & traumatic for all & everyone. And above all, beware of MICE (Money, Ideology, Compromise & Ego) for it could lead us to betray our faith in Jesus Christ, & ourselves as Christians.

    Nevertheless, trials & tribulations have always been part of our life. Somehow sometime we do experience & deal with temptations & tests in life. This is not only life-trials that we choose to do, but also trials & tests imposed upon us by others & by circumstances that we find ourselves into.

    Jesus do understand & know our experiences of temptations, tests & betrayals in life. Our gospel today even describes to us the tests of MICE tactics Jesus has to face as he is about to proclaim the good news of God’s salvation. Same way, as we try to live our Christian values, like Jesus, we will also be tested & betrayed by others as to our stance in faith & life. Easy for us to fall from such temptations, to fail from such tests & compromise our values & principles, whenever we don’t take account for what we are responsible for & with in life. Amid then these evil probes & tests put upon us by others,  and  the expectations & stresses we bring to ourselves, yes, we do need our Father’s protection & guidance.

    Thus, Jesus taught us  to specifically pray that we may not be brought to the tests or be led not into temptation, but be deliver us from evil. We pray these words then not to free us from tests but to grant us the faith & strength to overcome whatever adversities that comes our way in life. For as it is said: “In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge”, without God we can do nothing, as well.

    And thus, Lord take away everything that distance us from you. Grant us everything that bring us closer to you. Detach us from ourselves to give our All to you.

    So may it be. Amen.

  • Return to the Heart

    Return to the Heart

    February 18, 2026 – Ash Wednesday

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021826.cfm)

    Many of us today could have become busy fixing our outward life. For many young people, we fix our social media posts. We fix our appearance before going out. We fix our schedules, our plans, and our budgets. This means, there is a desire in us that we want everything to look okay in the outside. Yet sometimes, in the middle of all these, we forget to check what is happening inside our hearts.

    And so on this Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Season of Lent, we ask, “How is your heart?” To discern on this, let us explore our readings and their invitations.

    In the first reading, the prophet Joel spoke in a very strong but loving way, “Return to me with your whole heart.” Not just with rituals, not just with external actions, but with the heart. The people during Joel’s time were doing religious practices, but their lives were far from God. So the Lord tells them, “Rend your hearts, not your garments.” In other words, do not just show repentance outside. Let your heart truly turn back to God.

    This is also the message of the Gospel today. Jesus warns us not to practice our faith just to be seen by others. Jesus mentions three important practices: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These are the pillars of Lent. But Jesus says, do them quietly, sincerely, and from the heart. Because Lent is not about impressing people. Lent is about coming closer to God.

    For us Filipino Catholics, this message is very real. We are a religious people. We attend Mass, we join processions, we observe traditions. These are beautiful expressions of faith. But Lent invites us to go deeper. Not only devotion outside, but conversion inside.

    So, first, Prayer. Prayer is not only about asking God for what we need. Prayer is relationship. It is being aware that God is present in our daily life even at home, at work, in our struggles, and in our worries about the future.

    Sometimes we think prayer should have many words. But the Gospel reminds us, “go to your room, close the door, and be with your Father.” This means that even a few minutes of silence each day by just sitting quietly and telling God, “Lord, I am here” can already change the heart. When we become aware of God, we also become aware of ourselves including our weaknesses, our fears, our need for His mercy. Thus, prayer humbles us and brings us closer to the Lord.

    Second, Fasting and Abstinence. Many think fasting is only about not eating meat or skipping meals. However, fasting is deeper than that because it is about freedom. So, we ask, “What are the habits, attitudes, or distractions that keep me away from God and from others?”

    Maybe it is too much time on the phone. Maybe it is anger that we hold in our heart. Maybe it is gossip, pride, or laziness. Lent asks us now, “What do I need to let go so that my heart becomes lighter and freer?”

    This means that when we fast from something that controls us, we make space for God. We also become more patient, more understanding, more available to our family and to others.

    Third, Almsgiving. If prayer makes us aware of God, and fasting makes us free, then almsgiving makes us life-giving. Almsgiving is not only about giving coins to the poor. It is about giving ourselves.

    In our situation today, many people carry hidden burdens. We have financial problems, family struggles, loneliness, sickness, anxiety. Almsgiving can be our time, our presence, our listening ear, our encouragement. Sometimes what people need most is not money, but someone who will understand and care.

    This Lent, we can ask: What can I give from my heart? My time? My attention? My forgiveness? My patience?

    When we give ourselves, we begin to see the real faces of our brothers and sisters. And in them, we encounter God.

    Now, the ashes we receive today remind us that life is fragile and temporary. But more than that, they remind us of hope. Because our God is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, rich in kindness.”

    And so, in this Lent, let us keep it simple but sincere:
    Pray more so that we become aware of God. Fast with purpose so that we will be free. Give generously so that we will be a gift.

    As we live these from the heart, this season will not just change our practices. It will change our lives. And hopefully, as we grow closer to God, we also become closer, kinder, and more available to others. Hinaut pa.

  • Choosing Life, Becoming Light

    Choosing Life, Becoming Light

    February 15, 2026 – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021526.cfm)

    What keeps you going? What makes you wake up every morning? Your answers will surely vary. For some, it is their family. For others, it is their children’s future, their work, their dreams, or simply the hope that tomorrow will be better than today.

    And yet, if we listen carefully to the stories of many, we also hear fatigue. Many are tired of stretching a small income to meet rising prices. Many are anxious about job security, about the future, about the kind of country their children will inherit. Some continue to work hard even when appreciation is little. Others carry silent battles. We have family problems, loneliness, disappointment, or the fear that their efforts may not be enough.

    In the midst of these realities, a deeper question slowly emerges in the heart. What truly gives meaning to my life? What really brings life to me?

    This Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time invites us to reflect that indeed, life becomes full and meaningful when we freely choose God and choose love. And through these daily choices, we allow ourselves to choose life and become a light for others. Now, let us discern our readings.

    The first reading from the Book of Sirach speaks with clarity and honesty. It tells us that God has placed before us a choice like fire and water, life and death, good and evil. And the important thing is this, God does not force us. God respects our freedom. Hence, the commandments of God are not chains that limit our happiness. The laws are guides that lead us to the fullness of life.

    Sometimes, we may think that God’s commandments restrict us. And so we could feel that following what is right is difficult, and that honesty is costly, that integrity slows us down in a competitive world. However, Sirach reminds us that every choice we make shapes our life and the lives of others. When we choose selfishness, dishonesty, anger, or indifference, relationships break and trust weakens. But when we choose truth, compassion, fairness, and responsibility, life becomes deeper and more meaningful.

    Sirach also speaks about the “fear of the Lord.” This is not fear of punishment. It is the fear of losing what truly matters. This is the fear of being separated from God’s grace, from love, and from the fullness of life that only God can give.

    Moreover, Saint Paul continues this reflection in the second reading. He tells the Corinthians that the wisdom of God is different from the wisdom of the world. The world measures success through wealth, influence, power, and recognition. But the wisdom of God is revealed in Christ. This is manifested in a life of humility, service, sacrifice, and love.

    Paul reminds us that this wisdom is revealed through the Spirit. When we allow God to guide our decisions, our work, our relationships, our plans, then, our lives begin to reflect a different kind of strength. The question is no longer, What will benefit me the most? but rather, What is right? What gives life? What serves others?

    This brings us to the Gospel.

    Jesus says, “I have come not to abolish the law but to fulfill it.” For many religious leaders of His time, the law had become a set of rules to follow externally. Religion had become compliance without conversion. But Jesus brings the law back to its heart. The law is not about legal perfection. It is rather about relationship with God and with one another.

    When the heart is missing, then, religion becomes routine. One can pray, attend Mass, and observe traditions, and yet still live without compassion, honesty, integrity or mercy. Jesus reminds us now that the fulfillment of God’s law is love lived in concrete ways.

    Now, in our present social situation, our country does not lack intelligent people. We have many talented, skilled, and capable individuals. But what our society urgently needs are people of conscience. People who will remain honest even when corruption is common. People who will choose fairness even when shortcuts are easier. People who will show compassion in a culture that is becoming easily harsh and judgmental.

    This means that the crisis of our time is not only economic or political. It is also moral and relational. This is how we realize that trust is fragile and our words easily wound. And so, indifference has become normal. This is why the Lord’s invitation today is urgent: Choose life. Choose what builds. Choose what heals.

    Because every time we choose truth over convenience, we give life. Every time we choose kindness over anger, we too give life. Every time we choose integrity over personal gain, we become witnesses to the wisdom of God.

    The question we must bring home today is this: What truly motivates my life?

    If what drives us is approval, success, comfort, or comparison, we will always feel anxious and never be satisfied. But if what moves us is our relationship with God and our desire to bring life to others, even simple and ordinary days will feel meaningful.

    Choosing God is not one big decision made once in a lifetime. It is a daily choice made in our small moments, silent struggles, and ordinary situations.

    So let me leave you with two simple and concrete takeaways:

    First: Each day, before making an important decision, pause and ask yourself: Will this choice give life to me and to others? Choose what builds and not what harms.

    Second: Do one silent act of goodness by helping someone, listening patiently, forgiving, or choosing honesty even when no one is watching. These small choices shape our becoming as a reflection of the light.

    Thus, when we choose God, we too choose life.  And through our simple but faithful choices, we do not only live well, we too help others live as well. Hinaut pa.

  • SPIRITED

    SPIRITED

    February 15, 2026 – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021526.cfm)

    “Do you believe in chain letters? or nowadays we may call it as Copy-Paste & Post OR-ELSE…. Facebook, Messenger, or Twitter posts?”

    At times, I have been asked about this, & I find myself giving the same answer. I say: “In general, I don’t trust anything that offers promises or threats, IF (meaning, with conditions) you do or don’t this or that, with the usual addendum “Or Else…”. In my book, deserved gifts are called prizes or salary, but underserved gifts are called Grace and Blessings. God’s grace is not something we do to God, but what God does to us. Just try to be the better Christian, as you choose and can be, not as what others (in chain letters, posts, or messages) want you to be.”

    For the past Sundays, we have been hearing about the public ministry of Jesus where he proclaims to us the Good News of God’s salvation. In his preaching, Jesus basically calls us to change our ways for God is with us (Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand). He then in Beatitudes makes known to us how blessed are the meek, humble, merciful, and righteous, because they are faithful enough to welcome God’s blessings into our lives (Blessed are you…). He also reminds us that much as we are blessed, we are also a blessing to others (You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world). Wow, what a gospel – a GOOD NEWS indeed to us!

    In a nutshell, we need to change our life since we are already and always blessed and a blessing to others because we believe that God is with us and his Kingdom is at hand. This is the very core message of Jesus ever since and until now as being always proclaimed to us and by us, His Church.

    After always hearing, reflecting, and knowing Jesus’ good news of God’s salvation, what then for us now?

    Somehow, we wonder as to HOW to gratefully respond to and live out such great blessings into our lives. We ponder on HOW can we remain, endure, and persevere in living with Jesus’ gospel in our day to day living. Like, what are we to do now to respond and be converted and practice His gospel into our lives? And surely for Jesus, it is not enough just to keep the Torah or observing the Ten Commandments or the law of Moses.

    In our gospel today, we hear the Sermon on the Mount of Jesus wherein he directs us how to live in the good news of God’s salvation. By reviewing and commenting on the Torah, which is the Jewish standard of righteousness, Jesus reorients people that there is far more better in His message of God’s salvation than just observing the Law of Moses. He reiterates that God’s kingdom is more than just the practice of not killing, not committing adultery, and not making false promises. God’s kingdom is more so and above all about respecting life, reverence for people’s union – making marriage sacred, and living life with integrity before God & others.

    For Jesus then, to live in His blessing of God’s salvation is not a matter of just practicing and observing but more so fulfilling the Law of Moses. Here Jesus is upgrading the Jewish Law of Moses into His message and mission of teaching, preaching, sharing, and witnessing the values of God’s Kingdom in our lives – An Upgrade from Torah to the Spirit of Jesus.

    Important here is the consistency between our being and our doing – our person & action now as Christian. In a way, Jesus is teaching us that our actions must now reflect our being as blessed and blessing people.

    In other words, be and become consistent with who you are now with what you do, as well as, do what you are supposed to be as Christian. Meaning, far beyond the practice (living out) the values of God’s Kingdom, there must be a Spirituality. For Spirituality is the “because I am” of the “why’s in life, i.e. “Why I do this or do that?” “Because I am…”. Spirituality is thus the spirit of the person behind the action – the meaning behind the practice.

    What matters is not just about the practice but also the spirit behind the practice and action – not only about what we do but why we do it, knowing that ours is a grateful response in thanksgiving to what God does and doing to us, and not like chain-letters, what we may do as bribe or payment for His graces.

    Perhaps you may reflect these days about your Spirituality. Ask yourself: “Why you do what you do?” Be in touch with the meaning and spirit behind your behaviors & actions. Pray that you be a better blessed and blessing Christian you choose and can be, not as others may want you to be. Pray also that our actions be a response in thanksgiving to what God does and is doing to us, rather than as what we do to Him to gain His favor.

    May we live in the spirit of the commandment with our Lord Jesus now & always.

    So May It Be. Hinaut pa unta. Amen.

  • Seeing the Light, Then Following

    Seeing the Light, Then Following

    January 25, 2026 – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012526.cfm)

    I once took a taxi from the airport on my way home. Like many taxi rides, it started quietly. Then the driver began to talk not about traffic, not about politics, but about God. He spoke with conviction and warmth. In fact, he felt compelled to share his faith story in order to preach the Gospel and bring more people into baptism.

    He was not a Catholic, but became a Born Again Christian. And so I asked him what led him into becoming a Born Again. He said, “Father, I encountered the Lord when my wife was dying of cancer.” He shared how, during those long days in the hospital, a group of Born Again Christians would visit, pray with them, and simply stay. In that dark season, he said, something changed in him. He felt seen. He felt accompanied. He felt light entering a very heavy moment of his life. That encounter changed him so deeply that he could not keep it to himself. Now, he shares his faith with almost everyone who rides his taxi.

    That very experience bring me now into the invitations being revealed to us on this Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. And so, allow me to bring you all into our readings again and realize God’s gentle invitations and reminders for us.

    In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus begins His public ministry by proclaiming a simple message: “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Then He walks by the sea and says to fishermen, “Come after me.” And immediately, they follow Him. We often wonder: why so fast? Why leave everything behind?

    The first reading from Isaiah gives us a clue. The prophet speaks of people who were walking in darkness and have seen a great light. Israel had lived under oppression, fear, and uncertainty. Hope had been delayed for a long time. When Matthew describes Jesus beginning His ministry in Galilee, he is telling us that this is the light Isaiah promised. Jesus is not just offering teachings, He is offering a new way of seeing life and a new way of living life.

    That is the single theme that runs through all the readings that people follow Jesus because they have seen light in Him. This is the light that gives meaning, direction, and hope.

    Simon, Andrew, James, and John did not follow an idea. They followed a person who made sense of their longing. Before mission came encounter. Before discipleship came experience. They saw something in Jesus that answered a deep hunger within them.

    St. Paul, in the second reading, reminded the Corinthians, and us today, that this light must not be divided or owned. “Is Christ divided?” he asked. The light of Christ is not for competition, labels, or pride. It is for unity and witness.

    Now let us bring this closer to our daily life. Many people today are walking in darkness, though they may look fine on the outside.

    And darkness can be quiet. This can be exhaustion from work, anxiety about the future, family conflicts, sickness, loneliness, or the feeling that faith has become routine and dry. And so, we light candles, attend Mass, say prayers, but sometimes we wonder if we still feel the presence of God.

    That taxi driver was honest. He said that before his wife got sick, he was Catholic but did not feel God’s presence. It was in suffering, and in the kindness of people who stayed with him, that he experienced God. That moment became his light.

    This is where we Catholics must examine ourselves. We are often faithful in rituals, but can be very hesitant in sharing our personal experience of God. We hesitate out of shyness, fear of judgment, or the idea that faith-sharing is only for priests or “church people.”

    In reality, even our Catholic students in MSU-Marawi can sometimes be annoyed or afraid when our Born Again sisters and brothers would ask them, “Do you have 5 minutes?”[1] We find ourselves so weak in speaking and sharing our God-experience and knowledge of the Church to the point that we can be easily swayed.

    However, let us remember that the Gospel reminds us that to follow Jesus is not only to believe silently. We are demanded to witness through our actions, and through words when needed.

    Hence, being Christian is not also limited to Sunday Mass, memorized prayers, or lighting candles. Being Christian means following Jesus where we are – at  home, at work, online, in public transport, or in our ordinary conversations. Remember, the fishermen followed Jesus not by becoming perfect, but by trusting the light they had seen.

    This tells us that the world does not need more arguments about religion. It needs people who have seen light and are willing to reflect it. People who can say, like that taxi driver, “I was lost, and God met me here.”

    Jesus continues to say today, “Come, follow me.” He says it to parents, soldiers and policemen, workers, students, the elderly, and the tired. He says it not to burden us, but to invite us into a life that is brighter and more meaningful.

    And so, I leave you now two takeaways for you further reflection this week.

    First, remember one moment when God brought light into your life, especially during a difficult time. Thank Him for it this week.

    Second, share that experience with one person, not as a sermon, but as a story. Be honest, simple, and real. Hinaut pa.

    [1] It was their way of starting conversation among Christian students in a predominantly Muslim Community of MSU-Marawi. This is also the beginning of their proselytization.