God’s goodness and gracious generosity shine out today … in His call to Abram, for one. Such profligate generosity also shows in His patience. He did not give up even when fruits were not forthcoming, as the Gospel reports. He was willing to give more time and more second chances. It only means that the Lord, in His patient love for us, is waiting for us to produce the fruits of a sincere and loving response to His initiatives. There ought to be, indeed, a state of mutuality in our relationship with a God who is graciously generous and patient with us.

We should not think though, that “conversion” as our response, consists only in avoiding sin. It also includes moving away from doing little for the Lord, to doing as much as we can for the building of the Kingdom and for our own sanctifi cation. It also means being more kind, understanding, forgiving, and generous toward our neighbor like He is with us.

Let our participation in this Eucharistic celebration be a renewal of our commitment to a life of relationality and mutuality marked by the same generosity and patience of God.

Ang tiyaga at kabaitan ng Diyos sa atin sa paglalakbay na ito ngayong Kuwaresma ay di maipagkakailang malinaw sa mga pagbasa. Ito rin ang mga saloobing nararapat nating isabuhay kahit papaano. Ang Panginoon mismo, sa Kanyang matiyagang pagmamahal, ang siya ring nagbibigay sa atin ng kakayahang mamunga ng biyayang ikabubusog ng iba.

Bukod sa pag-iwas sa paggawa ng masama, inaasahan rin naman tayo na magpamalas ng katulad na pagmamalasakit. Maipakikita natin ito sa paggawa kahit kaunti lamang para sa Panginoon tungo sa pagtatatag ng Kaharian at para sa sarili nating pagpapakabanal.

Pinalakas ng kalinga ng Diyos, at yayamang tumanggap ng kabusugan ng Kanyang pagpapala, pagtibayin natin sana ang pagpapasya nating magbunga ng kabanalan ang ating pagdiriwang ng Eukaristiyang ito sa pamamagitan ng pagtupad sa ating mga tungkulin.

This Second Sunday of Lent is like a breather in our Lenten pilgrimage, which is characterized by penance and greater awareness of our sinfulness. Weak and wounded in many ways, we fix our gaze on the transfigured Christ, to derive from him the inspiration we need to undertake or continue our quest for the values of the Kingdom and the splendor of a holy life. A keyword to reflect on today is GENEROSITY.

Let us remember that Jesus was transfigured while he was praying. His relational stance before the Father speaks of mutuality and deep love. And it was in his dialogue with the Father that the glory of his true self was revealed. God’s faithful response to His Son shone at his transfiguration. May our own response of fidelity in and through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, along with our participation in this Eucharistic celebration bring about the same effect in us, both as individuals and as a community.

Ang Ikalawang Linggong ito ng Kuwaresma ay bahagyang naiiba sa ating paglalakbay na karaniwang tinatampukan ng pagtitika at kalungkutan. Bagama’t nanlalambot at sugatan sa maraming paraan, tayo’y magtuon sa pagbabagong-anyo ni Kristo, upang makahango sa kanya ng inspirasyong magpatuloy sa paghahanap ng mga pagpapahalaga ng Kaharian at kaningningan ng banal na buhay.

Alalahanin nating si Hesus ay nagbagong-anyo habang siya’y nagdarasal. Nakikipag-usap siya sa Ama nang ilantad ang kaluwalhatian ng kanyang tunay na sarili. Nawa ang ating pagdiriwang ng Eukaristiya ay makapagdulot din ng katulad na bisa sa atin bilang mga indibiduwal at bilang pamayanan.

This First Sunday of Lent reminds us that life is a constant struggle against the devil. But we are expected to face up to the source of all evil in the power of prayer, penance, God’s Word, and in our determination to be faithful to God. Jesus’ victory in all temptations encourages us to reject any compromise with the devil. It was a story of fidelity thrice over – and more !

We are expected to face bravely the source of all evil, trusting in the Lord’s help. Jesus reminds us today that our mission on earth is not just to avoid sin, but to constantly build the Kingdom of God within ourselves and in our society.

Ipinaaalaala sa atin ngayong Unang Linggo ng Kuwaresma na ang buhay ay isang tuwinang pakikipagtunggali laban sa demonyo. Ngunit inaasahang haharapin natin ang bukal ng lahat ng sama sa bisa ng Salita ng Diyos at sa ating kapasiyahang manatiling laging tapat lahat ng tukso upang tanggihan natin ang anumang pakikipagkasundo sa demonyo.

Tayo’y inaasahang buong tapang na harapin ang pinagmumulan ng lahat ng kasamaan, na nagtitiwala sa tulong ng Panginoon. Ipinaaalala sa atin ngayon ni Hesus na ang ating misyon sa mundo ay hindi lamang pag-iwas sa kasalanan, kundi pati na din ang patuloy na pagtatayo ng Kaharian ng Diyos sa ating sarili at sa ating lipunan.

agos sa puso ang nilalaman ng mga pagbasa ngayon. Tinutumbok nito ang mapagmahal na tungkulin ng bawa’t Kristiyano na ilagay sa tama ang mali. Ang pagtutuwid sa mga kamalian ng ating kapwa ay mabuti at isang gawain hatid ng pag-ibig. Nguni’t ito ay isa sa mga pinakamahirap gawin. Una sa lahat, dapat iayos muna ng magtutuwid ang kanyang sariling buhay. Paano ka nga naman magtutuwid kung kapintas-pintas din naman ang iyong sariling buhay? Pangalawa, kailangang hanapin ang pinakamabisang paraan ng pagtutuwid – yaong paraang tatanggapin ng taong itinutuwid. Tayong lahat ay katulad ng puno na dapat lamang asahang magbunga nang hitik, at magbunga nang mabuti. Bilang mga alagad ni Kristo, tayo ba ay matataguriang mabuting puno na nagbubunga rin ng maganda at kaaya-aya para sa lahat ?

Today’s liturgy invites us to BECOME the kind of person God calls us to be. This means that we must be people who have fully assimilated the values of the Kingdom and constantly endeavor to be “disciples” who reproduce in ourselves, as close as possible, the traits of the Master.

In a world full of superfi ciality, pretenses, and hypocrisy, – all forms of moral blindness – if we really want to help and guide those who are affected by such blindness, we must rid ourselves of the
many specks or logs that impair our moral vision and may even blind us completely. The best way to help our brothers and sisters blinded by sin is for us to become morally sound “trees” that bear abundant fruits of an authentic Christian life. In this Eucharistic celebration let us implore the grace to do just that !

Today’s theme – LOVE – is both attractive and challenging. In a world characterized by aggressiveness and violence, the concept of God like love may seem unrealistic and incapable of solving the problems of justice, stability, and order. Other solutions may appear to be more “effective.” But, in the long run, the real solution can be found only in a love that is patterned after God’s love for us, for “God knows best”.

Such a love is the only way to go beyond the present defi ciencies and injustices, and build the Kingdom established by Christ. This is the “new order” characterized by authentic solidarity, compassion, forgiveness, and self-giving – all “family names” of the sublime reality we call “LOVE”

Ang Hamong Magmahal Tulad ng Diyos

Ang ika-7 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon ay may paksang PAGMAMAHAL na kapwa nanghahalina at naghahamon. Sa mundo nating tinatampukan ng kapusukan at karahasan, ang konsepto ng pagmamahal na tulad ng kay Kristo ay parang alangan at walang kakayahang makalutas sa mga problema tungkol sa katarungan, katatagan, at kaayusan. Waring lalong angkop ang ibang mga solusyon, bagamat sa dulo’t katapusan, ang tunay na solusyon ay makikita lamang sa isang pagmamahal na tulad ng pagmamahal ng Diyos sa atin.

Ang gayong pagmamahal ay ang tanging paraan upang malampasan natin ang mga kasalukuyang kakulangan at kawalan ng katarungan at upang maitatag ang Kaharian ni Kristo. Ito ang “bagong kaayusang” tinatampukan ng pagkakaisa, pagkahabag, pagpapatawad, at pag-aalay ng sarili – na pawang saklaw ng katotohanan ng tinatawag nating PAGMAMAHAL.