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Gospel Reading for November 24, 2025 – Luke 21: 1-4
SCANDALOUS
When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”
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The idiom “Filthy Rich” originated as a description of overwhelming and excessive amount of wealth usually derived from dishonest or illegal means. Today, it is used only as a description of overwhelming and excessive amount of wealth. Regardless of the original meaning or present day meaning, it is SCANDALOUS to be “Filthy Rich” when there is so much POVERTY around.
The corruption recently exposed in the Philippine Government is something we Filipinos have to be very ashamed of. How could this be happening where there are so many poor people – living on the streets, under bridges, in shanties that cannot even be called a house and people who hardly eat once a day? There are so many people needing medical care but government hospitals cannot accommodate all of them so they just die without receiving any help and when they die, there is yet another problem – their burial. Why are there so many Lazaruses in the Philippines who, because of their inability or incapability to find a job have to wait for the crumbs to fall from the rich man’s table in order to eat?
Corruption is the DEVIL’S WORK. Satan is surely very happy enjoying what is happening in our land, a land that is supposed to be 85% to 90% Christian at present. We also take note that corruption is not only big time. There are also small time corruptions where people claim to be PWDs even when they are not, just to get the discounts even when they can afford to pay as they should, and so on and so forth. All these deprive the poor of basic services. Without corruption, the Philippines would probably lose its place in the third world. What, with the remittances from OFWs all over the world!
Truly blessed are the poor, who inspite of the little they have, are still able to share with others in need!
Lord, may we not contribute to the corrupt system as our way of fighting corruption, and may we always be mindful of those who are impoverished!
