Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube

LUNES, MAYO 1, 2023

SHARE THE TRUTH

 2,109 total reads

Paggunita kay San Jose, manggagawa

Genesis 1, 26 – 2, 3
o kaya Colosas 3, 14-15. 17. 23-24
Salmo 89, 2. 3-4. 12-13. 14 at 16

Poon kami’y pagpalain
at iyong pagtagumpayin.

Mateo 13, 54-58

Memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker (White)

UNANG PAGBASA
Genesis 1, 26 – 2, 3

Pagbasa mula sa aklat ng Genesis

Sinabi ng Diyos: “Ngayon, lalangin natin ang tao. Ating gagawin siyang kalarawan natin. Siya ang mamamahala sa mga isda, mga ibon at lahat ng hayop, maging maamo o mailap, malaki o maliit.” Nilalang nga ng Diyos ang tao ayon sa kanyang larawan. Lumalang siya ng isang lalaki at isang babae, at sila’y pinagpala. Wika niya, “Magpakarami kayo at punuin ng inyong mga supling ang buong daigdig, at pamahalaan ito. Binibigyan ko kayo ng kapangyarihan sa mga isda, sa mga ibon, at sa lahat ng maiilap na hayop, maging malalaki o maliliit. Bibigyan ko rin kayo ng lahat ng uri ng butil at mga bungangkahoy na inyong makakain. Ang lahat ng halamang luntian ay ibibigay ko naman sa maiilap na hayop, malaki man o maliit, at sa lahat ng mga ibon.” At ito nga ang nangyari. Pinagmasdan ng Diyos ang lahat niyang ginawa, at lubos siyang nasiyahan. Dumaan ang gabi, at sumapit ang umaga – ito ang ika-anim na araw.

Gayun nilikha ng Diyos ang lupa, ang langit at lahat ng bagay na naroroon. Sa loob ng anim na araw, tinapos niyang likhain ang lahat ng ito, at siya’y nagpahinga sa ikapitong araw. Pinagpala niya ang ikapitong araw at itinangi, sapagkat sa araw na ito siya nagpahinga matapos likhain ang lahat.

Ang Salita ng Diyos.

o kaya:
Colosas 3, 14-15. 17. 23-24

Pagbasa mula sa sulat ni Apostol San Pablo sa mga taga-Colosas

Mga kapatid, higit sa lahat, mag-ibigan kayo pagkat ito ang buklod ng ganap na pagkakaisa. At paghariin ninyo sa inyong puso ang kapayapaang kaloob ni Kristo, sapagkat ito ang dahilan kaya kayo tinawag upang maging bahagi ng isang katawan. Magpasalamat kayong lagi. At anuman ang gagawin ninyo, maging sa salita o sa gawa, gawin ninyong lahat sa pangalan ng Panginoong Hesus, at sa pamamagitan niya’y magpasalamat kayo sa Diyos Ama.

Anuman ang inyong ginagawa, gawin ninyo nang magaan sa kalooban na waring hindi sa tao kayo naglilingkod kundi sa Panginoon. Alam naman ninyong gagantimpalaan kayo ng Panginoon; tatanggapin ninyo ang inilaan niya sa kanyang mga anak. Sapagkat si Kristo ang Panginoong pinaglilingkuran ninyo.

Ang Salita ng Diyos.

SALMONG TUGUNAN
Salmo 89, 2. 3-4. 12-13. 14 at 16

Poon kami’y pagpalain
at iyong pagtagumpayin.

o kaya: Aleluya.

Wala pa ang mga bundok, hindi mo pa nilalalang
hindi mo pa nililikha itong buong daigdigan,
ikaw noon ay Diyos na, pagkat ika’y walang hanggan.

Poon kami’y pagpalain
at iyong pagtagumpayin.

Yaong taong nilikha mo’y bumabalik sa alabok,
sa lupa ay nagbabalik kapag iyong iniutos.
Ang sanlibong mga taon ay para bang isang araw,
sa mata mo, Panginoon, isang kisap-mata lamang;
isang saglit sa magdamag na ito ay dumaraan.

Poon kami’y pagpalain
at iyong pagtagumpayin.

Yamang itong buhay nami’y maikli lang na panahon.
Itanim sa isip namin upang kami ay dumunong.
Hanggang kailan pa ba, Poon, titiisin yaring lagay
nitong iyong mga lingkod, sa gitna ng kahirapan?

Poon kami’y pagpalain
at iyong pagtagumpayin.

Kung umaga’y ipadama yaong wagas mong pag-ibig,
at sa buong buhay nami’y may galak ang aming awit,
ipakita sa lingkod mo ang dakila mong gawain,
at sa sunod naming lahi, ipadama ay gayun din.

Poon kami’y pagpalain
at iyong pagtagumpayin.

ALELUYA
Salmo 67, 20

Aleluya! Aleluya!
Manunubos naming mahal,
salamat sa ‘yong patnubay
at paglingap araw-araw.
Aleluya! Aleluya!

MABUTING BALITA
Mateo 13, 54-58

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon ayon kay San Mateo

Noong panahong iyon, umuwi si Hesus sa kanyang bayan at nagturo sa kanilang sinagoga. Nagtaka ang mga nakarinig sa kanya. Sabi nila, “Saan kumuha ng karunungan ang taong ito? Paano siya nakagagawa ng kababalaghan? Hindi ba ito ang anak ng karpintero? Hindi ba si Maria ang kanyang ina, at sina Santiago, Jose, Simon, at Judas ang kanyang mga kapatid na lalaki? At dito nakatira ang kanyang mga kapatid na babae, hindi ba? Saan niya natutunan ang lahat ng ito?” At ayaw nilang kilanlin siya. Kaya’t sinabi ni Hesus sa kanila, “Ang propeta’y iginagalang kahit saan, liban sa kanyang sariling bayan at sa kanyang sariling sambahayan.” At dahil sa di nila pagsampalataya, hindi siya gumawa roon ng maraming kababalaghan.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

PANALANGIN NG BAYAN

Mayo 1
San Jose Manggagawa

Manalangin tayo kay San Jose para sa lahat ng ating mga pangangailangan.

Panginoon, dinggin mo ang aming panalangin.
o kaya
Paramihin mo ang bunga ng aming mga gawa, Panginoon.

Ang Simbahan nawa’y magpatuloy sa pagpapahayag ng mga kahalagahan ng katarungan bilang susi sa ating kapayapaan, manalangin tayo sa Panginoon.

Ang mga pinuno ng pamahalaan at mga ekonomista nawa’y magsikap para sa makatarungang pamamahagi ng mga yaman at magtaguyod ng dangal ng lahat ng tao, manalangin tayo sa Panginoon.

Ang mga negosyante nawa’y gamitin ang kanilang mga pangkabuhayang interes para sa paglilingkod sa lahat, manalangin tayo sa Panginoon.

Ang mga dukha at mga walang hanapbuhay nawa’y makatagpo ng marangal na paraan ng ikabubuhay, manalangin tayo sa Panginoon.

Ang mga yumaong naghirap sa paggawa noong sila ay nabubuhay pa rito sa lupa nawa’y makatanggap ng kanilang gantimpala sa kabilang buhay, manalangin tayo sa Panginoon.

Ama ng aming Manunubos, sa pagsasama ng aming mga panalangin at sa pamamagitan ni San Jose, tulungan mo kaming makita sa aming mga pagkilos ang dangal sa paggawa. Hinihiling namin ito sa pamamagitan ni Kristo na aming Panginoon. Amen.

 

Lunes sa Ika-4 na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay

Mga Gawa 11, 1-18
Salmo 41, 2. 3; Salmo 42, 3. 4

Aking kinasasabikan
ang Diyos na nabubuhay.

Juan 10, 1-10

Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter (White)

UNANG PAGBASA
Mga Gawa 11, 1-18

Pagbasa mula sa mga Gawa ng mga Apostol

Noong mga araw na iyon, nabalitaan ng mga apostol at ng mga kapatid sa buong Judea na tinanggap din ng mga Hentil ang salita ng Diyos. Kaya’t nang umahon si Pedro sa Jerusalem, siya’y pinuna ng mga kapatid na Judio. “Nakituloy ka sa mga Hentil, at nakisalo sa kanila!” sabi nila. Kaya’t isinaysay sa kanila ni Pedro ang buong pangyayari, buhat sa pasimula:

“Nasa lungsod ako ng Jope at nananalangin nang magkaroon ako ng pangitain. Mula sa langit ay inihugos sa kinaroroonan ko ang isang tila malaking kumot na nakabitin sa apat na panulukan. Pinagmasdan ko itong mabuti at nakita ko roon ang lahat ng uri ng hayop: lumalakad at gumagapang sa lupa, pati maiilap, at mga lumilipad sa himpapawid. At narinig ko ang isang tinig na nagsabi, ‘Tumindig ka, Pedro. Magpatay ka’t kumain!’ Subalit sinabi ko, ‘Hinding-hindi ko po magagawa iyon, Panginoon. Hindi ako kumakain ng anumang bagay na itinuturing na marumi o di karapat-dapat.’ Muli kong narinig ang tinig mula sa langit, ‘Huwag mong ituring na marumi ang mga nilinis ng Diyos!’ Tatlong ulit na nangyari ito at pagkatapos ay binatak na pataas sa langit ang bagay na iyon. Nang sandali ring iyon, dumating sa bahay na tinutuluyan ko ang tatlong lalaking sinugo sa akin buhat sa Cesarea. Sinabi sa akin ng Espiritu na huwag akong mag-atubiling sumama sa kanila. Sumama rin sa akin ang anim na kapatid na ito at pumasok kami sa bahay ni Cornelio. Isinalaysay niya sa amin na nakakita siya ng isang anghel na nakatayo sa loob ng kanyang bahay, at sinabi sa kanya, ‘Magpasugo ka sa Jope at ipasundo mo si Simon na tinatawag ding Pedro. Sasabihin niya sa iyo ang tungkol sa ikaliligtas mo at ng iyong sambahayan.’ Nagsisimula pa lamang akong magsalita ay bumaba na sa kanila ang Espiritu Santo gaya ng pagkababa nito sa atin noong una. At naalaala ko ang sinabi ng Panginoon, ‘Si Juan ay nagbibinyag sa tubig, ngunit bibinyagan kayo sa Espiritu Santo.’ Kung binigyan sila ng Diyos ng kaloob na tulad ng ibinigay niya sa atin nang manalig tayo sa Panginoong Hesukristo, sino akong hahadlang sa Diyos?” Nang marinig nila ito, tumigil na sila ng pagpuna, at sa halip ay nagpuri sa Diyos. “Kung gayon,” sabi nila, “ang mga Hentil ma’y binigyan din ng pagkakataong magsisi’t magbagong-buhay upang maligtas!”

Ang Salita ng Diyos.

SALMONG TUGUNAN
Salmo 41, 2. 3; Salmo 42, 3. 4

Aking kinasasabikan
ang Diyos na nabubuhay.

Kung paanong yaong batis ang hanap ng isang usa;
Gayon hinahanap ang Diyos ng uhaw kong kaluluwa.

Aking kinasasabikan
ang Diyos na nabubuhay.

Nananabik ako sa Diyos, Diyos na buhay, walang iba;
Kailan kaya maaaring sa harap mo ay sumamba?

Aking kinasasabikan
ang Diyos na nabubuhay.

Ang totoo’t ang liwanag, buhat sa ‘yo ay pakamtan,
upang sa Sion ay mabalik, sa bundok mong dakong banal
sa bundok mong pinagpala, at sa templo mong tirahan.

Aking kinasasabikan
ang Diyos na nabubuhay.

Sa dambana mo, O Diyos, ako naman ay dudulog,
yamang galak at ligaya ang sa aki’y iyong dulot;
Sa saliw ng aking alpa’y magpupuri akong lubos
buong lugod na aawit ako sa Diyos, na aking Diyos!

Aking kinasasabikan
ang Diyos na nabubuhay.

ALELUYA
Juan 10, 14

Aleluya! Aleluya!
Ako’y pastol na butihin
kilala ko’ng tupang akin;
ako’y kilala nila rin.
Aleluya! Aleluya!

MABUTING BALITA
Juan 10, 11-18

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon ayon kay San Juan

Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus: “Ako ang mabuting pastol. Iniaalay ng mabuting pastol ang kanyang buhay para sa mga tupa. Ang upahan ay tumatakas, kapag nakikitang dumarating ang asong-gubat. Iniiwan niya ang mga tupa, palibhasa’y hindi siya pastol at hindi kanya ang mga tupa. Kaya’t sinisila ng asong-gubat ang mga ito, at pinangangalat. Tumatakas siya palibhasa’y upahan lamang at walang malasakit sa mga tupa. Ako ang mabuting pastol. Kung paanong nakikilala ako ng Ama at siya’y nakikilala ko, gayon din naman, nakikilala ko ang aking mga tupa at ako nama’y nakikilala nila. At iniaalay ko ang aking buhay para sa mga tupa. Mayroon akong ibang tupa na wala sa kulungang ito. Kinakailangang sila’y alagaan ko rin; pakikinggan nila ang aking tinig. Sa gayo’y magiging isa ang kawan at isa ang pastol.

“Dahil dito’y minamahal ako ng Ama, sapagkat iniaalay ko ang aking buhay, upang ito’y kunin kong muli. Walang makakukuha nito sa akin; kusa ko itong ibinibigay. Mayroon akong kapangyarihang ibigay ito at kunin uli. Ito ang utos na tinanggap ko sa aking Ama.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

PANALANGIN NG BAYAN
Ikaapat na Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay
Lunes

Ang Panginoon ang Mabuting Pastol na nakakikilala sa mga kabilang sa kanyang kawan sa kani-kanilang pangalan. Ialay natin ang ating mga panalangin sa Diyos na taglay ang pagtitiwala sa kanyang pag-ibig sa atin.

Panginoon, dinggin Mo ang aming panalangin.
o kaya
Banal na Pastol, panatilihin Mo kami
sa iyong pangangalaga.

Ang Santo Papa, ang pastol na hinirang ng Diyos, nawa’y gabayan tayo sa matuwid na daan, manalangin tayo sa Panginoon.

Ang mga mananampalatayang Kristiyano nawa’y maging iisang kawan na nasa pangangalaga ng iisang Pastol, manalangin tayo sa Panginoon.

Ang mga kabataan nawa’y magkaroon ng buhay at lubos na magkaroon nito sa pamamagitan ng katapatan sa Mabuting Pastol, manalangin tayo sa Panginoon.

Ang mga maysakit at mga nagdurusa nawa’y magtiwala kay Jesus, ang Mabuting Pastol, na dumating upang iligtas ang mga nawawalang tupa, manalangin tayo sa Panginoon.

Ang mga yumao nawa’y makapasok sa pintuan ng kulungan ng mga tupa at magdiwang kasama ng Pastol at bantay ng kanilang mga kaluluwa, manalangin tayo sa Panginoon.

Amang lubos sa kabutihan, ginagabayan mo kami sa matuwid na daan; ang iyong Anak ay laging nasa aming tabi upang kami ay patnubayan. Bigyan mo kami ng kapanatagan sa pagtugon mo sa aming mga panalangin sa pamamagitan ni Kristo na aming Panginoon. Amen.

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF

H.E. Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, D.D. Saturday, August 22, 2026 4:14 pm

 794 total reads

Homily for the Last Day of the Novena Mass of Mary the Queen Parish, Friday, 21 August 2026

Ezekiel 37:1–14; Matthew 22:34–40, Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Why is Jesus giving two answers to one question in our Gospel reading? He could have stopped after saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” That answer would have been enough. After all, the question was simply, “Which is the greatest of all the commandments?”

The standard answer was the so-called Great Shema. It comes from Deuteronomy 6. Up until now, every young Jewish male who reaches the age of thirteen and celebrates his Bar Mitzvah is expected to know this Great Commandment by heart.

But Jesus added an unsolicited second answer. And he even qualified it as being of the same value as the first: “The second is like it.” Meaning, not only should it be treated as being of the same value; it should never be separated from the first: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” That comes from Leviticus 19:18.

The late Jaime Cardinal Sin used to refer to these “two loves” as the two lines that make up the Cross of Jesus Christ: the vertical, our love of God, and the horizontal, our love of neighbor. We cannot have the redeeming Cross of Christ without one or the other.

But take note of a further qualification in the so-called second commandment: AS YOURSELF. It does not stop at “You shall love your neighbor.” It says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” In Tagalog, perhaps we could say, “Ituring mo siyang parang hindi na iba sa iyo.” Treat the other as your own—your own brother, sister, mother, father, even as your own self.
One problem with English is that we use the same word “love” even to express our fondness for objects. “I love pasta!” “I love that shirt!” Sa Tagalog hindi natin sinasabi, “Mahal ko ang pasta.” Baka “Mahilig ako sa pasta.” Alam kasi natin na hindi naman tayo kayang mahalin pabalik ng pasta o ng T-shirt. To love a fellow human being is never to love an object, but a fellow subject, who may or may not love us back.

And remember where Jesus got that second commandment: Leviticus 19:18. It says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” Why should I love my neighbor as myself? Because, God says, “I am the Lord.”

Put it negatively and perhaps the implication becomes clearer: If you do not love your neighbor as yourself, then I am not really your Lord. You cannot separate your love for God from your love of neighbor. You cannot disconnect your faith in God from respect for human dignity, because the invisible God has made himself visible in the human being created in his image and likeness.

That is why St. John would later say, “I am a liar if I say I love the God whom I cannot see while I hate the brother or sister whom I can see.”

And this brings us closer to the theme of your fiesta: “Laboring with the Poor and for the Poor.”

There is a way of working for the poor that can still treat them merely as objects of charity, as beneficiaries of our generosity. We can give something to the poor and still fail to treat them with dignity. That is precisely one of the most serious problems of Philippine politics: the politics of patronage.

When politicians exploit people’s poverty and helplessness by using public funds to patronize them and expect political loyalty in return, the poor remain dependent on their patrons. Parang ninakawan ka ng sarili mong pera, tapos bibigyan ka ng kaunting sukli, at ngayon may utang na loob ka pa. How can we call that charity if caritas means unconditional love?

Jesus did not say, “Love your neighbor as your beneficiary.” He did not say, “Love your neighbor as the recipient of your ayuda.” He said, “Love your neighbor AS YOURSELF.”

I remember Cardinal Chito Tagle once telling the story of a little girl selling sampaguita. He was riding in a car with the sponsor of a Mass when they stopped at a red light. A little girl approached and tapped on the window. Perhaps conscious that he had to be charitable because there was a bishop beside him, the man opened the window and offered her money without taking the sampaguita.

To his surprise, the girl refused. She said, “Sir, hindi po ako nagpapalimos. Nagbebenta po ako ng sampaguita.” She returned the money and walked away.

She was trying to make a living. She did not want to be treated as a beggar. In effect she was saying, “Salamat po sa pera, pero hindi awa ang gusto ko kundi paggalang.”

And sometimes people react, “Ikaw na nga ang tinutulungan, nagmamalaki ka pa. Ayaw mo, di huwag.” But that attitude is precisely the opposite of loving your neighbor as yourself.

Many years ago, our PPC at San Roque Cathedral had a routine Christmas gift-giving project for indigent families. One day I saw a long line snaking from the cathedral all the way toward Mabini Street. I asked what was going on. Somebody said, “Namimigay po tayo ng ayuda.”

I said, “Ayuda? Galing sa gobyerno?” “Hindi po, galing sa parishioners.”

I said, “Then don’t call it ayuda, and don’t give it the way politicians often do.” Welcome them inside the church. Let them sit comfortably. Read the Gospel about the multiplication of the loaves and say something about the miracle of generosity. Then let our volunteers personally hand them the Christmas gifts. Perhaps include a little rosary and prayer card saying: “Hindi po ito ayuda ng gobyerno. Kaloob po ito ng inyong mga kapatid sa parokya. Pamasko. Pakisama na lamang po sila sa inyong panalangin.”

The difference may look small, but it has to do with dignity.

Perhaps we should ask why so much of our national budget continues to be spent on patronage-based rather than genuinely program-based projects. Why not invest more decisively in programs that truly give people a way out of poverty: good subsidized education, accessible healthcare, decent housing, sustainable livelihoods and jobs that allow people to support their families with dignity?

This is why our social action work must go beyond dole-outs and relief work. Of course, when people are hungry, we feed them. When disaster strikes, we help them. But we cannot stop there. Even our language should change. Instead of simply calling people disaster “victims,” we speak of them as survivors whom we accompany. The goal is not to keep people permanently in dependency as victims but to restore their capacity to stand on their own feet.

There are higher forms of charity: community development, transforming unjust social structures, putting an end to patronage politics, and promoting good politics for the common good. Pope Francis once said that although politics is often denigrated, it remains “a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity” when it truly seeks the common good.

Sometimes the more charitable thing is not merely to feed a hungry family today, but to ask why that family has remained hungry for generations, and what must change so that their children will not inherit the same poverty.

And this brings us beautifully to our first reading: Ezekiel’s famous vision of the valley of dry bones.

This is not originally about the literal resurrection of dead bodies. The dry bones represent the people of Israel who had lost everything in the exile—their Temple, their country, their freedom and, finally, their hope. They said, “Our bones are dried up, our hope is lost.”

And God asks Ezekiel: “Son of man, can these bones live?”

That is also the question we might ask when we look at communities trapped in generations of poverty. Can the poor in our country still rise? Can families in our slum communities escape the cycle of poverty? Can OFW parents who endure years of separation from their children help create a future in which their children will not have to leave home simply to survive? Can we still save our country from corruption and from the resentment that makes us put our hopes in violent leaders who have little respect for the rule of law?

And God’s answer is yes.

The bones come together. The breath of God enters them. And then comes the most beautiful detail: they stand on their feet.

For me, that is a wonderful image of what it means to labor with and for the poor. The goal is not simply to put flesh and bones together. It is to allow God’s breath to breathe new life and new hope into our people, so that they can stand again on their own feet and participate in changing their own destiny.

When a poor family can send their children to a good school; when those children are given genuine opportunities; when those children are protected from violent video games, from cyberbullying and online gambling, when they can find decent work and build a future without being forced to leave their families and country simply to survive—then the dry bones begin to live again. People recover hope and experience what it means to live with dignity.

And perhaps this is where our Blessed Mother, whom we honor in this Votive Mass, points us back to her Son. In the Magnificat, Mary praises a God who does not merely pity the lowly. He lifts up the lowly. “He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things.”

That is more than charity. That is the Gospel transforming the way we relate to one another.

And it all begins with the simple but radical commandment of Jesus: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Not beneath yourself. Not as your beneficiary. Not as somebody permanently dependent on your generosity. As yourself.

Because the poor are not just people we are called to work for. They are brothers and sisters we are called to work with, and to walk with. And in them, if only we learn to see, we encounter the face of the God whom we say we love.

WASTING OUR TIME

Rev. Fr. Jerico Habunal Saturday, August 22, 2026 7:56 am

 1,158 total reads

Gospel Reading for August 22, 2026 – Matthew 23: 1-12

WASTING OUR TIME

Memorial of the Queenship ofthe Blessed Virgin Mary

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

————

Sometimes, the messenger of the Good News is not good. Sometimes, we find people preaching the Gospel but not living what they preach. Should that be a reason for us to reject the Good News?
We must always remember that the messenger is not the Good News. The One who is important is the source of the Good News—Jesus himself.

Many Catholics leave the Church because they find the messenger unworthy. But the truth is, no messenger is completely worthy, wherever we may go. What is most important is that we follow the teachings of Jesus, not the imperfections of those who proclaim them.

If we are like the scribes and Pharisees, intentionally trying to make people believe that we are good when we are not, then we are only WASTING OUR TIME. What do we gain from living a farce? We may be able to convince other people, but we will never be able to convince ourselves that we are truly good. Worse, God sees what is in our hearts and minds. We can never fool him.

Mary, our Queen, teach us to be humble servants of Christ, as you were. Amen.

Sweetest, most precious word of all

Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II Saturday, August 22, 2026 7:05 am

 2,485 total reads

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Saturday, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Queenship of Mary, 22 August 2026
Isaia 9:1-6     ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*>     Luke 1:26-30
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 18 August 2026.

YES.

Perhaps the most sweetest word we all wish to hear but also the most difficult word for us to say. We want others saying “yes” to our requests and questions but we are so afraid, so hesitant telling it to others. Very often, we hide our “yes” in cloudy expressions like maybe, will try, or simply not say it all.

Especially with God.

Every love story of husband and wife, lovers as well as vocation story of any priest and religious all started with that simple word and answer “yes”.

Ang matamis na “oo” na inaasam ng binata sa kanyang dilag.

And of course, our “yes, Lord”….. “opo, Panginoon, susunod ako”!

“Coronation of the Virgin” by Spanish artist Diego Velasquez (1635-1636); from en.eikipedia.org.

We celebrate today the Memorial of Queenship of Mary, a week after the Solemnity of her Assumption into heaven. She too said that most precious sweet word of “yes” to God when she was asked by the angel to become the Mother of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her (Luke 1:38).

How amazing that such a very simple word of three letters – YES – could be so powerful enough to change one’s life. Even the world and its history.

And how could such a very short word be so difficult to say, too?!

With every yes in life we hear, it becomes so sweet because we are affirmed. We feel valuable and precious when people say “yes” to us.

However, we are very cautious in saying “yes” to others, especially to God and in the name or presence of God because when we say that “yes”, it becomes our very life.

Every “yes” becomes a commitment, a vow, a promise to keep.

Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 18 August 2026.

Not only for us priests and religious but everybody, especially husband and wife saying yes on their wedding day; doctors, lawyers and other professionals saying yes to uphold life, justice and freedom; and, children saying yes to obey their parents and teachers.

Everyone has to say a yes in different ways every day everywhere in many occasions and situations. Many times it looks so simple, sometimes it could mean life and death.

Every yes is precious and sweet because it is the beginning of love. And more love, no matter what.

That is why we need to affirm and stand with that yes day in, day out in our lives.

Like Mary, her “yes” to God did not happen just once but everyday in her life, reaching its highest point at the Cross when her Son Jesus Christ died. She must have had the most painful yet bittersweet yes too when she held Christ’s lifeless Body immortalized in Michaelangelo’s La Pieta.

But it was Mary’s yes that brought us Christmas and Easter, leading to Pentecost in the birth of our Church, and led her to heaven. That is why, we celebrate her Queenship today, a week after her Assumption. Let us pray to keep our “yes” to God true and faithful always.

O most Blessed Virgin Mary,
our Mother and Queen,
help us say "yes" like you
to God every day in our lives;
pray for us to remain faithful
and true to our "yes" to him
through our loved ones,
through his flock,
his people entrusted to us;
pray for us, 
Mary our Queen
to keep our "yes" to God
simple like yours,
trusting him always
when our "yes" 
leads us to Jesus on the Cross
and eventually into his very
presence in heaven with you.
Amen.
Mary sits enthroned in heaven on the right hand of Jesus Christ, who crowns her as “Queen of Heaven” in this 13th century apse mosaic in the Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome; photo from littleflowermemphis.org

Veritas Editorial

Picture of Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual

Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual

NEW NORMAL

Friday, August 21, 2026 7:00 am 7:00 am

 40,736 total reads

 40,736 total reads Kapanalig, sa nakalipas na dalawang lingo sa buwan ng Agosto 206., ating nasaksihan, ating naranasan kung paano naging “waterworld” ang maraming bahagi ng

Read More »

Ilawan ang katotohanan

Wednesday, August 19, 2026 7:00 am 7:00 am

 134,963 total reads

 134,963 total reads Mga Kapanalig, isinagawa na noong Biyernes ang kauna-unahang “truth-telling session” ng Truth Commission tungkol sa madugong war on drugs ng administrasyon ni dating

Read More »

Dagat ng basura

Tuesday, August 18, 2026 7:00 am 7:00 am

 195,457 total reads

 195,457 total reads Mga Kapanalig, hindi lang korapsyon sa mga flood control projects ang umaalingasaw tuwing tag-ulan. Nangangamoy din ang baho ng bigóng pagtugon natin sa

Read More »

Pahirapang dagdag-sahod

Monday, August 17, 2026 7:00 am 7:00 am

 209,364 total reads

 209,364 total reads Mga Kapanalig, “people over profit” at “labor over capital” ang ilan sa mga prinsipyong itinataguyod ng mga panlipunang turo ng ating Simbahan kapag

Read More »

PAANO GINASTOS ANG PERA

Saturday, August 15, 2026 7:00 am 7:00 am

 289,732 total reads

 289,732 total reads Kapanalig sa 15 ng impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte, hindi pa rin nabubutasan o napahina ng depensa ang prosecution theory at

Read More »

Watch Live

LISTEN LIVE TO DZRV846 E-RADIO PORTAL

RELATED TOPICS

Lunes, Agosto 24, 2026

 1,335 total reads

 1,335 total reads Kapistahan ni Apostol San Bartolome Pahayag 21, 9b-14 Salmo 144, 10-11. 12-13ab. 17-18 Talastas ng mga tao dakilang paghahari mo. Juan 1, 45-51

Read More »
Saturday, August 22, 2026 12:00 am

Linggo, Agosto 23, 2026

 2,922 total reads

 2,922 total reads Ika-21 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon (A) Isaias 22, 19-23 Salmo 137, 1-2a. 2bk-3. 6 at 8bk Pag-ibig mo’y di kukupas, gawain mo’y magaganap.

Read More »
Friday, August 21, 2026 12:00 am

Sabado, Agosto 22, 2026

 4,461 total reads

 4,461 total reads Paggunita sa Pagka-reyna ng Mahal na Birheng Maria Isaias 9, 1-6 Salmo 112, 1-2. 3-4. 5-6. 7-8 Ngalan ng D’yos ay idangal ngayon

Read More »
Thursday, August 20, 2026 12:00 am

Biyernes, Agosto 21, 2026

 5,417 total reads

 5,417 total reads Paggunita kay San Pio X, papa Ezekiel 37, 1-14 Salmo 106, 2-3. 4-5. 6-7. 8-9 Panginoo’y papurihan sa pag-ibig n’ya kailanman. Mateo 22,

Read More »
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 12:00 am

Huwebes, Agosto 20, 2026

 6,366 total reads

 6,366 total reads Paggunita kay San Bernardo, abad at pantas ng Simbahan Ezekiel 36, 23-28 Salmo 50, 12-13. 14-15. 18-19 Kayo’y aking wiwisikan upang sala’y mahugasan.

Read More »
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 12:00 am

SUPPORT OUR MISSION

BECOME A KAPANALIG MEMBER AND EUCHARISTIC ADVOCATE!

CATHOLINK

THE PHILIPPINES CATHOLIC CHURCH ONLINE DIRECTORIES

Scroll to Top