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PREPARING OUR HEARTS FOR THE CENTENARY

Saturday, January 3, 2026 11:38 am

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My dear People of God in the Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan:

Today, we stand at the threshold of 2026. As the world celebrates a new calendar year, we as a local Church stand at a significant crossroads. We are now exactly two years away from the great centenary of the Diocese of Lingayen in 2028. This milestone is not merely a look backward at our history, but a clarion call to look forward. To prepare our hearts for this hundred-year jubilee, our theme for this year is pasimbalo—a Pangasinan word for renewal that literally means making things new again in Christ.

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, is the perfect lens through which to view this renewal. In the Gospel, we see Mary pondering all things in her heart. She does not simply let life happen to her; she allows the grace of God to renew her understanding and her purpose. If we are to undergo a true pasimbalo in our archdiocese, we must use five specific tools for renewal.

Our primary tool is prayer. Real change starts on our knees. To pray is to allow God’s breath to enter the stagnant areas of our lives. As we look toward our centenary, we must ask: Is our prayer life a routine, or is it a relationship? True pasimbalo happens when we move from talking about God to talking with God. Mary treasured all these in her heart.

The second tool is our courageous protest against sin. We often think of protest as something done in the streets, but the most radical protest happens in the soul. To protest against sin is to refuse to be comfortable with “the way things have always been” if those things are contrary to God’s law. Mary stood at the foot of the cross.

We must specifically protest against the culture of corruption that “poisons a country’s soul”. Corruption is not just a political issue; it is a “sin against God and the poor”. Let us resolve this year to “make corruption shameful again” by refusing to participate in bribery or vote-selling.

If pasimbalo is to last, we must pressure ourselves for sustained conversion. Renewal is rarely a lightning bolt; it is a steady drip of water that eventually carves through stone. We must apply a “holy pressure” upon ourselves to ensure our conversion is not a New Year’s resolution that fades by February. Mary stayed with the apostles in prayer.

We must pressure ourselves to stand against the culture of killing. We cannot celebrate the “Mother of Life” while remaining silent about summary executions or the disregard for human dignity. Sustained conversion means choosing to protect life from conception to natural death, every single day of 2026.

Pasimbalo demands that we prune all that is inconsistent with the Gospel. In any garden, growth requires cutting back. To experience pasimbalo, we must look at our habits and ask: “What is taking up space but bearing no fruit?”

We must prune the culture of vulgarity and lies that has increasingly stained our public and online discourse. Vulgarity is not a sign of “authenticity”; it is an

offense against the dignity of the person. This year, let us prune our tongues of “bashes,” online bullying, and obscenity, replacing them with words that build up rather than tear down.

Pasimbalo calls us to plant seeds of hope through vigilance. Renewal calls us to be “watchmen of the morning.” Vigilance means staying awake to the needs of the “defenseless and silent poor” who are often the primary victims of both corruption and violence. We plant hope when we demand accountability from those in power and refuse to be swayed by “false prophets” who exploit public anger for political gain.

Mary is our ultimate model for this journey. She was the first to experience the “renewal” of humanity through the Incarnation. She did not fear the “pruning” of her own plans, and she remained “vigilant” at the foot of the Cross.

As we begin 2026, let us entrust this Year of Pasimbalo to her maternal care. Let us use these two years leading to our centenary to transform the Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan into a vibrant, living witness of the Gospel—a church that rejects the “reign of murder and vulgarity” and embraces the reign of Christ.

May the spirit of pasimbalo burn brightly in our hearts! Happy New Year!

OCCASIONS OF SIN

Saturday, January 3, 2026 11:28 am

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Gospel Reading for January 03, 2026 – John 1: 29-34

OCCASIONS OF SIN

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

————

John the Baptist described very well who Jesus was, with the signs given to him. He probably kept anticipating that the Messiah may appear anytime during his ministry and he had to be prepared to pave the way for him, to make him known to his followers, to the people of Israel. While in prison, he heard about the miracles Jesus was performing, so he told his followers to ask Jesus directly if he was THE ONE or if they would look for another one. And Jesus responded by pointing out the fulfillment of the prophecy in the Old Testament (Matthew 11: 2-6).

John the Baptist did not fully share the belief of the Jews that the Messiah would be a king in the line of David, who would liberate them from the Romans, restore an earthly Jewish kingdom and establish worldwide peace and reign with justice. He knew that the liberation would be more on the spiritual side of humanity and not political, hence, the need for repentance.

This is something we have to learn about Jesus’ teachings. Although justice and peace are of primary importance to his mission of salvation, when we uphold or even fight for these values, we need to be very objective and not drag into our fight our political preferences. Take for example, the recent spate of exposures of corruption in certain government agencies – as Christians, we let the law enforcers do their job, but what we have to work on is to review the present systems’ weaknesses and/or loopholes that allow corruption to seep in, then, come up with a permanent solution and push for the solution to be enforced fully.

Let us remember that Jesus was not against the sinner, but he was against the sin. Hence, the OCCASIONS OF SIN are the ones to be prevented.

Lord Jesus, help us be your true instruments of salvation!

REPENTANCE

Friday, January 2, 2026 11:08 am

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Gospel Reading for January 02, 2026 – John 1: 19-28

REPENTANCE

This is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

————
Being baptized with water by John signified REPENTANCE. A lot of people came to believe in him and because of this he was able to draw them to REPENTANCE. John was a perfect instrument of Christ because he made it very clear to his followers “who the boss was” and made it very clear that he was just preparing the way for him.

We may be good preachers and even have the gift of healing, and be able to claim a substantial number of followers, but if we are unable to draw our followers to REPENTANCE, we are unable to contribute substantially to Christ’s mission of salvation. This is because for us to be saved, we need to acknowledge our need to repent and change our ways. For us Catholics, we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation, through which we are able to receive God’s forgiveness, the authority of which was given by Jesus to his apostles.

Lord, we pray to never get lost along the way to you, or if we do, to always find our way back to you!

Who are you?

Friday, January 2, 2026 6:43 am

2,038 total views

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Memorial of Sts. Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen,
Bishops and Doctors of the Church, 02 January 2026
1 John 2:22-28     ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*>     John 1:19-28

*Photo by author, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkiye, 01 November 2025.*

Lord Jesus,
today I feel like John
being asked by priests
and Levites sent by Jews
from Jerusalem:
"Who are you?"

What a great question 
we all have to confront
at the start of the new year
because unless we truly know
and accept who we are,
we can never give the right
answer in making you known,
Jesus; many times,
we fail to make you known
not because you are difficult to
know but simply because we do not
know who we are unlike John;
we cannot give a definitive answer
"I am not the Christ"
because even if we do not 
claim it verbally, unconsciously
we pretend as the Christ;
many times, Lord
you are not known 
not because you are so far
but because our lives are so far
from you that people could not 
believe what we say about you;
most often, you are not known
Jesus not because your teachings
are hard and difficult but because
we ourselves are lost and could not
find the way into our true selves
to be the voice of one in the desert 
like John crying out,
"Make straight the path 
of the Lord."

At the start of this new year,
dear Jesus,
help me to be like John
or St. Basil or St. Gregory
who knew themselves very well,
embracing everything about me
especially my sins and weaknesses
so that like John, 
I can declare "I am not the Christ"
and therefore, stop from pretending
or acting or speaking as the Messiah;
let me embrace the limitations I have,
the darkness and emptiness
within me so that
I may remain in you
and your grace only.
Amen.

*Photo by author, detail of John the Baptist from the Deesis Mosaic in the hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkiye, 01 November 2025.*

ASSURED

Thursday, January 1, 2026 11:08 am

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Gospel Reading for January 01, 2026 – Luke 2: 16-21

ASSURED

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.

And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

————

The feast we celebrate today is not meant to make Mary a pseudo-god but is meant to emphasize that the Son of God indeed became man so humankind may be saved from eternal destruction. This became possible because Mary obediently responded to God’s will without counting the cost.

As we look back at the year 2025, are we able to see the times when we said “yes” to God’s will without counting the cost and by it brought blessings to others? Saying “yes” to God also brought blessings to us – the happiness and peace that comes from knowing that we had been a blessing to others; the strength and resilience we gained from facing the challenges that came our way; the wisdom we gained from lessons learned; and most of all, being ASSURED of God’s love forever and always!

Lord, as we face the new year, we are filled with HOPE that whatever is in store for us, you will always be with us!

Welcoming 2026 with Mary

Thursday, January 1, 2026 7:42 am

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Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, 01 January 2026
Numbers 6:22-27 ><}}}}*> Galatians 4:4-7 ><}}}}*> Luke 2:16-21

*“The Adoration of the Shepherds”, a painting of the Nativity scene by Italian artist Giorgione before his death at a very young age of 30 in 1510.*

Still a blessed Merry Christmas to everyone! Please continue greeting one another with a Merry Christmas until January 11, 2026, the Feast of the Lord’s Baptism that closes the Christmas Season.

Keep greeting Merry Christmas even on this new year’s day because what we celebrate today is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God – not the New Year! Remember we had our new year last first Sunday of Advent, evening of November 29 and the 30th.

Stop announcing our New Year’s Mass. Our Mass today is Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God which is the Eighth Day within the Octave of Christmas.

It is the oldest feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary that celebrates the mystery of her being the Mother of Jesus Christ who is true God and true Man following the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. Since Jesus remained fully God and fully human in his conception by the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is right and proper too as the Council affirmed to call Mary the “Mother of God” (Theotokos). Since the birth of Christ is also our point reference in reckoning time that we have the terms “BC” (Before Christ) and “AD” (Anno Domini or Year of the Lord), this celebration teaches a lot on how to welcome this 2026 like Mary.

*Photo by author, mosaic of Mary with Jesus, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkiye, 01 November 2025.*

First lesson the Blessed Virgin Mary teaches us this new year in Christ is what we have mentioned last Christmas – if there is anything that merits haste, it is those of things of God. How sad that these days we are so preoccupied with what is trending and viral or we race for what is “in” in fashion and everything. In an age of instants, we rush everything that we miss out life itself, God and one another, especially our very selves.

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child (Luke 2:16-17).

Mary went in haste too for the Lord. Recall her response to the Angel at the Annunciation, “Be it done unto me according to your word.” Her response was immediate. She did not dare the Angel like Zechariah. After the Annunciation, Mary went in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth pregnant with John the Baptist.

It is true that “haste makes waste” because doing things too quickly leads to mistakes that result in greater losses in time, effort, and materials. The great St. Francis Sales cautioned us that haste is the biggest enemy of growth in spirituality.

However, during the Christmas season, we find that haste is not that totally bad at all.

As shown to us both by Mary and the shepherds, there is something so good with making haste to find Christ, to share Christ, to be with Christ.

We have a prayer formula now rarely used in public prayers wherein the leader says “O God come to my assistance” with the people responding, “O Lord make haste to help me” while making the sign of the Cross like in the praying of the Rosary. It is a beautiful prayer that tells us how God would always hasten to come to us even before we have called Him!

How sad that we rush to everything and everyone except to Jesus our Lord and God! More sad is the fact so many people have been in making haste to these days for the more mundane things without even spending some quality time in the church to pray.

This 2026, let us go in haste in the Lord for He has so many things in store for us as the shepherds and Elizabeth realized.

*From forwarded cartoon at Facebook, December 2020.*

Second important lesson the Blessed Mother is teaching us in welcoming Jesus Christ this new year is the value of silence which is a prerequisite in cultivating a prayer life, in making haste to God.

Though I grew up from the very barrio that manufactures most of the pyrotechnics sold in my hometown of Bocaue in Bulacan dubbed as the fireworks capital of the Philippines, I never liked these popular products every new year. Aside from being so dirty, these are so dangerous as I have seen many of our neighbors who have lost their arms, hands or fingers in manufacturing and playing with fireworks. Worst of all are the many lives of people lost following explosions of some factories in our barrio.

When I became a priest, I kept telling people including my barrio folks that welcoming the new year with fireworks is pagan practice, not Christian. And the most Christian way of welcoming new year like Mother Mary is always in silence, silent prayer like before the Blessed Sacrament.

*Photo by Ar. Philip Santiago, Chapel at the Angels’ Field in Bethlehem, October 2025.*

All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart (Luke 2:18-19).

It is very interesting that Luke had told us how people were amazed at what the shepherds spoke about that night on the birth of Jesus Christ they have found on a manger with his Mother Mary and her husband Joseph. Keep in mind that the shepherds were among the least trusted people of that time but their story went “viral” and “trending” so to speak. Amid all these talks was Mary, the Mother of Jesus, silently meditating everything in her heart!

Tonight or today, try to spend some silent moments of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament to thank God for all the blessings of 2025 as well as to listen to Christ’s instructions and plans for us this 2026. Jesus has always something to tell us but we always go in haste somewhere else or to somebody else. Jesus is right there in our hearts, the faintest voice you always dismiss and take for granted.

Let us cultivate a prayer life like Mary who always kept in her heart the words and experiences she had with Jesus. Let us not be like the shepherds who were there only at Christmas, never came back to Jesus specially when he was preaching in Galilee and when crucified on Good Friday wherein his constant companion in silence was Mary his Mother.

*Photo by Ar. Philip Santiago, Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth, October 2025.*

Third important lesson the Blessed Mother Mary is teaching us this first day of 2026 is to have faith in God in Jesus Christ His Son our Savior. Therefore, please stop all those superstitious beliefs of pampasuwerte like feng shui and fortune telling that are pagan practices.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb (Luke 2:21).

Mary was very much like us when Mary gave birth to Jesus on that first Christmas: she too was totally unaware of what was in store for her, of what would happen to her Son. She was totally unaware of what would happen in the future. The only thing she was certain was the name to be given to her child, “Jesus” which means “God is my Savior”.

All blessings come only from God, not from any other spirits. We drive all the malas and bad spirits and negative vibes of the past year not with noises and blasts of trumpets or fireworks but with silence that is rooted in deep faith in Christ Jesus.

Such was the attitude of Mary on that first Christmas until her glorious Assumption into heaven: she never knew Jesus would be betrayed by one of his trusted friends and apostles; she was never told by the angel how after Jesus would feed and heal so many people He would later be arrested and crucified like a criminal except that she believed in Him until the end, remaining with Christ at the foot of the Cross.

All Mary had was a deep faith in Jesus as told her by the angel as the name to be given to her child is also the child of the Most High. Like Mary, let us keep our faith in Christ alone, not to round fruits nor stones nor other stuffs peddled to us to bring luck this new year.

Let us imitate Mary, the Mother of God, so human like us except in sin who was always in haste with things of God, silently meditating his words and workings, and most of all, trusting wholly in her Son Jesus. Amen. May your new year be filled with Christ’s peace and grace!

BRANDING

Wednesday, December 31, 2025 11:08 am

1,550 total views

Gospel Reading for December 31, 2025 – John 1: 1-18

BRANDING

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him,and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’” From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

————

If God the Son did not become man, Christianity would not have come about. For those of us who are Christians, can we imagine what our life would have been without knowing and following Jesus? And, without Christianity, can we imagine how the world would be now? As it is, even with Christianity, the world is already in shambles. How much worse would it be without Christianity?

If God the Son did not become man, man would have never known the kind of Father God is. Deuteronomy 6: 15 says: “For the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.” Perhaps, this was the reason why the commandments given to Moses were interpreted so meticulously, making BRANDING of sinners very easy.

But with Jesus, the Father was the opposite of all these. As a matter of fact, the conversion of sinners was of prime importance to the Father. We have to always remember that God cannot be anything but LOVE because he is LOVE himself.

Let us reflect on this song written by Gregory Norbet, HOSEA –
Come back to me with all your heart;
Don’t let fear keep us apart.
Trees do bend though straight and tall,
so must we to others call.
Long have I waited for
your coming home to me
and living deeply our new life!
The wilderness will lead you
to the place where I will speak.
Integrity and justice
with tenderness,
you shall know.
Long have I waited for
your coming home to me
and living deeply our new life!

ENTITLED

Tuesday, December 30, 2025 11:08 am

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Gospel Reading for December 30, 2025 – Luke 2: 36-40

ENTITLED

There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

————

Although Mary and Joseph knew that Jesus was the Son of God and the Messiah, they fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord. They did not feel ENTITLED. There are those among us who ask to be exempt from pre-sacramental preparation/seminar, claiming they do not need them as they are knowledgeable. Instead of appreciating the effort of the Church to prepare them for such an important sacrament, they think they are ENTITLED to not attend.

We are all equally created by God. Not one of us should think we are ENTITLED to anything. Everything we have are given. This should keep us humble.

Teach us O Lord, the humble ways of your Holy Family!

Pagsusunuran

Monday, December 29, 2025 11:31 am

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Sa Kapistahan ng Banal na Mag-anak, pinaaalalahanan tayo na ang tunay na pagsusunuran ay hindi lang basta pag-uutos at pagsunod, kundi pakikinig, pag-unawa, at pagtitiwala sa isa’t isa. Tulad nina Hesus, Maria, at Jose na unang sumunod sa kalooban ng Diyos at saka nagmahalan bilang pamilya, tinatawag ang bawat magulang at anak na maging huwaran ng pananampalataya, bukas na komunikasyon, at malasakit. Sa gitna ng hirap at hamon ng buhay, ang pamilyang marunong magsunuran sa pag-ibig ay lalong tumitibay at higit na napapalapit sa Diyos.

FRUITION

Monday, December 29, 2025 11:08 am

1,550 total views

Gospel Reading for December 29, 2025 – Luke 2: 22-35

FRUITION

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

———-

Simeon was an ordinary man, who was not a high priest, a scribe or a Pharisee, but what made him extraordinary was his being righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and that the Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Christ. So, when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, he immediately recognized Jesus, took him into his arms and prayed what we now call the Canticle of Simeon, which the Church uses for Compline (Night Prayer).

Simeon did not fear death. For him it meant the FRUITION of his hope for the consolation of Israel. A lot of us are afraid of death, perhaps because what happens next is unknown to us. But, if like Simeon, it will mean to us the FRUITION of our hope to live with God forever, we need not fear.

This old children’s prayer before bedtime should perhaps be better for us adults to pray before retiring to bed at night:
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
bless this bed that I lie on.
Before I lay me down to sleep,
I give my soul to Christ to keep.
Four corners of my bed,
four angels `round my head:
one to watch, one to pray, and
two to bear my soul away.
I go by sea, I go by land,
the Lord made me with his right hand.
If any danger comes to me,
Sweet Jesus Christ, deliver me!
He’s the branch, and I’m the flower,
I pray that God send me a holy hour.
And if I die before I wake,
I pray that Christ my soul will take!

KUWENTO NG DALAWANG PAMILYA: NI JOSE, AT NI HERODES

Sunday, December 28, 2025 1:28 pm

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Homiliya para sa Kapistahan ng Banal na Pamilya at Pagsasara ng Jubilee of Hope sa loob ng Octaba ng Pasko, 28 Dec 2025, Sir. 3:2–6, 12–14; Col 3:12–21; Mat 2:13–15, 19–23

Ang Ebanghelyo ngayon ay parang simpleng kuwento lang ng isang pamilyang tumatakas sa panganib. Pero kung babasahin nang masinsinan, kuwento ito ng dalawang pamilya—dalawang klase ng pamilya, dalawang direksiyon ng buhay, dalawang klaseng hinaharap.

Nasa background ang pamilya ni Herodes—makapangyarihan, pero takot na mawalan ng kapangyarihan, handang pumatay para manatili sa trono. Ayon sa kasaysayan, naging napaka-insecure ni Herodes, lubhang ipinapatay ang marami sa sariling mga kaanak niya—sariling mga anak, asawa at mga kapatid dahil sa hinala. Kapag ang pamilya ay nabuo sa pagkagumon sa kayamanan at kapangyarihan, nagiging mapanganib ito—kahit sa sarili nitong mga miyembro.

Sa kabilang banda, nariyan ang pamilya ni Jose—mahina sa paningin ng mundo, walang proteksiyon, walang yaman, napilitang lumikas para lang mabuhay. Isang karpintero, isang kabataang ina, at isang bagong silang na sanggol. Walang palasyo. Walang mga sundalo. Walang ambisyong magtatag ng kaharian.

At ngayong sinasara natin ang 2025 bilang Jubileo ng Pag-asa, sa gitna pa ng saya ng Pasko, tinatanong tayo ng Salita ng Diyos:

Aling uri ng pamilya ang nagbibigay ng pag-asa sa mundo?

Sa Ebanghelyo, nagsalita ang anghel sa panaginip ni Jose: “Tumindig ka, kunin mo ang bata at ang kanyang ina, at tumakas kayo patungong Egipto.” Walang pagtutol si Jose. Walang tanong. Walang planong pansarili. Pero buo ang loob na makilahok sa plano ng Diyos. Ang mahalaga lang sa kanya: ang kaligtasan ng munting pamilya ng Diyos na ipinagkatiwala sa kanya, at itinuring na niya bilang kanyang sariling pamilya.

Nang mamatay si Herodes, pinabalik sila—pero hindi sa Betlehem, hindi sa bayan ng kanyang ninunong si Haring David. Masyado kasi itong malapit sa Jerusalem, sa sentro ng kapangyarihan at intriga. Sa halip, doon sila nanirahan sa liblib na bayan ng Nazaret—isang tahimik, hindi kilalang bayan.

Napakahalaga nito.

Hindi na abala si Jose sa pagtatayo ng sarili niyang pangalan o kaharian. Tinanggap niya ang mas malalim na tawag ng Diyos: ang makiisa sa plano ng Diyos na magtayo ng pamilya—hindi sa langit, kundi dito sa lupa. Hindi sa isang palasyo sa Jerusalem, kundi sa tahimik na Nazaret. Hindi sa paghahangad ng kapangyarihan, kundi sa kalinga at pangangalaga.

Hindi sa trono, kundi sa tahanan.

At doon, sa isang munti at simpleng pamilya, itinanim ng Diyos ang binhi ng bagong sangkatauhan—si Kristo, na magtuturo sa atin kung paano maging pamilya ng Diyos.

Sa unang pagbasa, pinaaalalahanan tayo ng aklat ni Sirak kung paano magsisimula iyon: sa paggalang sa magulang, sa pag-aaruga sa mga nakatatanda, sa pananatiling buo ng pamilya.
At si San Pablo naman ang nagsabi kung ano ang hitsura ng pamilya ng Diyos:

“Pagsumikapan ninyo na mabuhay sa malasakit, kabutihan, kababaang-loob, kaamuan, at pagtitiyaga. Pag-aralan ninyo ang magparaya sa isa’t isa. Magpuno sa pagkikulang ng isa’t isa, magpatawaran.”

Hindi ito magagandang mga salita lamang. Ito ang buod ng tahimik at pang-araw-araw na gawain ng pagmamahalan. Ito ang nakapagbubuo at nakapagpapatatag ng pamilya.
Napakalapit nito sa ating karanasan bilang mga Pilipino.

Kilala tayong mga Pilipino sa pagiging maka-pamilya—at tama naman iyon. Pero alam din natin na mayroong tama at mayroon ding maling mga halimbawa ng pagiging pamilya.

May mga pamilyang ginagawang negosyo ang pulitika. Tama o mali, pinapaboran ang pamilya. Ang namanang kapangyarihan ang ibig ipamana. Walang ibang hangarin kundi ang mapanatili sa puwesto ang angkan. Tulad ng pamilya ni Herodes, nauuwi rin ito sa bangayan—magkakapatid laban sa isa’t isa, nagsisiraan at naglalaglagan, mag-asawa laban sa isa’t isa, anak laban sa magulang—ganito ang kinahahantungan kapag pagkaganid sa kapangyarihan at kasakiman na ang namayani.

Ang ganitong pamilya ay unti-unting wumawasak sa sarili nito.

At kapag itong klase ng mga pamilya ang umiral at namayani sa lipunan natin, pati ang buong bansa ay nawawasak.

Pero may isa pang uri ng pamilyang Pilipino.

Mga tahimik na pamilya.

Mga pamilyang nagpupunyagi sa gitna ng mga matitinding mga pagsubok, lumulusong sa mga kalamidad ng baha, bagyo, sunog, at lindol. Mga pamilyang nagtitiis sa kahirapan, ang iba’y pangingibang-bansa, binabata ang pagkakalayo sa isa’t isa.

Mga pamilyang sabay na nagtitiis, nagdarasal, sama-samang naglalakbay, bumabagsak, at bumabangon muli.

Mga pamilyang nagpapalawak ng kanilang tolda—tumatanggap ng mga kamag-anak, kaibigan, kapitbahay, pati dayuhan st kapuspalad. Pinipili ang pagkalinga at malasakit kaysa galit at hinanakit, ang pagpapatawad kaysa paghihiganti.

Ito ang pamilyang nagsimula sa sabsaban ng Betlehem na napadpad bilang pamilyang migrante sa Egipto. Umuwi at muling nag-ugat sa Nazaret.

Hindi sila sikat. Pero sila ang binhi ng pag-asa ng sangkatauhan.

Kamakailan, nagpost ako ng litrato ng aming pamilyang David sa Betis—mahigit animnapu kami, hindi pa kabilang ang nasa abroad, ang may karamdaman. 13 kasi kaming magkakapatid; nag-asawa ang 12, nagpari ang isa. 11 sa nag-asawa ay nagkaanak at nagkaapo. Isama pa ang mga hipag at manugang. Isang Barangay na kami, pero patuloy pa rin na nagtitipon-tipon sa aming Bale Pinaud (bahay na pawid) sa probinsya sa mga espesyal na okasyon tulad ng Pasko at Pyesta, bilang parangal at paggunita sa aming mga magulang. Isang malaking pamilya na binubuo ngayon ng munting mga pamilya; at ako imbes na padre de pamilya ay naging padre ng simbahan, pamilya ng Diyos. Sama-samang nagsisikap manatili at magpanatili sa pagkakakaugnay sa puso at diwa.

Iyan ang institusyong nagpapatatag sa bansa—hindi ang maling modelo ng pamilya ni Herodes, kundi ang tahimik na pamilya ni Jose.

Sa pagtatapos ng Jubilee of Hope, hindi tayo pinapadalhan ng Simbahan ng malalaking plano o estratehiya. Ibinabalik niya tayo sa tahanan. Doon kasi nagsisimula ang pag-asa.

Kapag natutunan natin ang landas ni Jose kaysa landas ni Herodes sa pagiging pamilya. Kapag mas mahalaga ang buhay kaysa kapangyarihan.

Kapag ang pamilya ay naging lugar ng pagkalinga at pag-aaruga, hindi ng kontrol at kapangyarihan. Kapag pinalalaki natin ang mga anak hindi para magmana ng pribilehiyo, kundi ng malasakit.

Hindi iniligtas ng Diyos ang mundo sa pamamagitan ng imperyo. Iniligtas niya ito sa pamamagitan ng isang pamilya.

Hindi perpekto, pero tapat.

Hindi makapangyarihan, pero mapagkatiwala. Hindi siya nagtayo ng palasyo at nagtatag ng kaharian. Hinayaan lang niya na tahimik na umusbong ang kanyang pamilyang makalangit sa isang simpleng pamilyang ng mga taong nagpapakatao dito sa lupa.

Nawa’y ang ating mga pamilyang Pilipino ang maging mga binhi ng pag-asa. At nawa’y turuan tayo ng Banal na Pamilya ng Nazaret kung paano maging mga minamahal na pamilya ng Diyos.

Amen.

Holy Family

Sunday, December 28, 2025 1:26 pm

1,484 total views

Sir 3:2-7, 12-14

Written in the second century B.C.

Sirach emphasizes Israelite respect for parents, ranking it just after the commandments about God and before other human laws (Ex 20:12; Deut 5:16). It urges obedience to parents (vv2, 6), highlighting filial love, especially in old age (v12df). Rewards include blessings in life, such as atonement for sins (v4), offspring (v5a), answered prayers (v5b), and long life (v6a), reflecting Sirach’s view of temporal sanctions and blessings

Col 3:12-21
Paul highlights virtues like compassion, kindness, patience, and love, rooted in Christian baptism. These virtues primarily promote harmonious relationships and spiritual unity under Christ, emphasizing forgiveness, peace, and joy. He encourages teaching and actions rooted in faith, highlighting respect and submission within societal roles, especially in family relationships, reflecting biblical values.

Mt 2:13-15, 19-23
Matthew portrays Jesus’ Egyptian stay as paralleling Israel’s history, emphasizing him as the new Israel and its representative. The story concludes with Hosea 11:1, depicting Israel as God’s son called to freedom, with ‘son’ representing both individual and collective, pointing to Christ’s call from Egypt. The narrative parallels Moses’ story, including Josephus’ account of Moses’ miraculous rescue amid Pharaoh’s order to kill Hebrew boys. The latter part explains Jesus’ Nazareth origins—agreed upon by Matthew and Luke, though with different bases—echoing Moses’ return to Egypt (Ex 4:19). Archelaus’ receipt of Herod’s kingdom complicates Joseph’s return. Matthew omits that Herod Antipas ruled in Galilee, but the main purpose is to locate Jesus in Nazareth, emphasizing country’s significance in the tradition. The quote ‘Nazorean’ has no direct biblical basis and likely relates to Nazirites or the Messiah as the “bud’ from Jesse, underscoring Jesus’ Davidic lineage. This highlights Nazareth’s importance in Jesus’ story. The narrative concludes with Jesus as the new Israel reclaiming his homeland.

Scriptures oppose the decline of family today; solutions can’t rely solely on government. Religion must instill family values often discarded. Children thrive when loved, disciplined, motivated, and educated by parents committed to religious values. The feast of the Holy Family presents Mary, Joseph, and Jesus as models for Christian families. Jesus grew up in a close family, learning from his parents. Life is a responsibility; when well done, it brings joy. Successful parents help children develop virtues and respect. May all families be inspired by the Holy Family in Nazareth. Amen!

GREEDY

Sunday, December 28, 2025 1:24 pm

2,449 total views

Gospel Reading for December 28, 2025 – Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23

GREEDY

When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt I called my son.

When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, He shall be called a Nazorean.

————

Indeed, children badly need the protection of their parents. The Holy Family had to travel about 500 to 700 kms. to hide the baby Jesus from Herod, who was out to kill him upon learning that the child who was born was the one who will be king of the Jews (Matthew 2: 1-2). One can imagine the great difficulty the Holy Family had to go through, given the means of transportation during those times.

Because of the greed for power, Herod was badly disturbed to know that the child born will be the king of the Jews topple him some day, who by all means, he should eliminate. So, he ordered the slaying of male infants (holy innocents) two (2) years and below (Matthew 2: 16-18).

This is what happens when we become GREEDY for power and wealth – we will eliminate anyone who stands in our way of getting what we want. We just have to get/acquire them, whatever it takes. The worst part is that they will never be content with what they get and they will just be wanting for more, to the detriment of their victims.

On this Feast of the Holy Family, we pray that parents realize that they are called to mold/shape the character of their children according to the person of Christ!

A kingdom or a home?

Sunday, December 28, 2025 1:23 pm

2,965 total views

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph, Cycle A, 28 December 2025
Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 ><}}}}*> Colossians 3:12-21 ><}}}}*> Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

Last November we were blessed to have visited Romania’s three famed castles at Transylvania region: the Bran Castle considered as the home of Count Dracula in Bram Stoker’s stories; the Cantacuzino Castle owned by one of Romania’s wealthiest family which is the setting of Netflix’s Wednesday series; and the Pelisor Castle which is the smallest but loveliest for me due to its romantic story behind.

I remembered these Romanian castles because of our gospel today about two kings: one is a ruthless, old king named Herod so “greatly troubled” upon hearing the news of the “newborn king of the Jews”, our Lord Jesus Christ (Mt.2:2, 3).

Very often when we hear of kings and royalties living in castles, so many images of affluence and power come into our minds. And indeed they are so true when we went inside those castles with its wonderful interiors and amazing artworks; however, as we learned more of its history especially of the lives of its occupants, our wonder and excitement dissipated. It was really more like a fairy-tale, or a horror story in the case of Bran Castle.

*Photo by author, Cantacuzino Castle, Romania, 06 November 2025.*

It must have been so lonely and sad living in those palaces; however, let us admit how often the presence and reality of Jesus whom we take for granted like when he was born in Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago invite us into those parts of our lives where we like to rule like kings or queens.

I find this important and even essential before reflecting about the Feast of the Holy Family because it is right in our homes – ironically or tragically – where we are first exposed to evil and sins. It is inside our homes when the father or mother or siblings take on their “power trips”, insisting on their rules, even flexing their powers over each other that in the process we hurt each other. Sometimes, the trauma that comes after may last a lifetime.

Would we rather choose a kingdom or a home? Be a Herod or a Baby Jesus?

Of course, our answers are so obvious as we would generally choose a home than a kingdom and be a Baby Jesus than a Herod. This we can do by imitating St. Joseph.

When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell yo. Herod is going to search for the child and destory him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt… When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there… He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, He shall be called a Nazorean (Matthew 2:1314, 19-22, 23).

*Photo by author, site of the Nazareth home of the Holy Family underneath the Church of St. Joseph in Nazareth, Israel, 2017.*

Remember how Matthew described St. Joseph as a righteous man? Here after the birth of Jesus Christ, we find Joseph’s holiness most shining. See how before this scene, Matthew described to us the attitudes of Herod and the experts in Jerusalem vis-a-vis the Magis from the East: Herod and company were all disturbed while the Magis were all sincere and so open in their search for the Christ.

That’s what we were saying earlier: of how we play so much on our turf and power, on how we want to make our “rule” as sovereignty felt always right in our home, in Jerusalem that was then the seat of power and of worship. Very clear at that time, the temple was already so untidy that needed Christ’s cleansing thirty years later.

When sin especially pride fills us, it is difficult to recognize Jesus. Moreover, even the smallest and harmless or weakest person like a child or a woman would always disturb anyone filled with one’s self, feel threatened like Herod that one’s rule is being taken away. How sad when a father or a husband, a mother or a wife including the eldest children would dare challenge everyone at home, asking who is the father or who is the one supposed to be in command? Sino ba and tatay (o nanay) dito na dapat masunod? It is the most scariest tactic of all not because of what the power trippers can do but actually it was a proof enough they are immatured and lacking of proper understanding about power and authority.

Joseph was clearly not of the same kind. He readily left his home and moved the Infant Jesus and Mary to Egypt. Remember that Bethlehem as the town of David is Joseph’s turf so to speak being from royal Davidic lineage himself. It must have been so difficult for him to leave Bethlehem and be a refugee in Egypt!

But Joseph had none of those airs of rule and superiority. For him, the only rule was God and that meant always the good of Jesus and Mary. That is why Joseph twice “rose” to obey the angel’s instructions to him to take the Infant Jesus and Mother Mary to Egypt and then back to Israel after some time.

Joseph’s rising was actually an act of bowing low to the power and authority of God, most of all to the Son of God he had named as “Jesus”.

Can we imitate Joseph’s “rising” from our selfishness and ordinariness of petty quarrels and assertions of power or “rule” especially in our homes? To imitate the Holy Family, we need to be like Joseph who rose not just literally from his sleep and comfort but rose above his very self. Jesus is inviting us this Sunday to rise too above our pride and self-centeredness to give way to his love and mercy, kindness and understanding for each other so that everyone remains safe and unharmed like the Infant Jesus and Mary following Joseph’s selflessness.

*Photo by author, St. Joseph Parish Church, Pacdal, Baguio City, 28 December 2024.*

Home is where the heart is. This is most true when we get into the origin of the Filipino equivalent of home which is tahanan which is from the root word tahan that means to stop crying. When children cry, we tell them to tahan na, tahan na… or stop crying.

Home is where we stop crying because that is where we are most safe, that is where we find the people who love us, believe in us, the one who would still accept us and forgive us when we have sinned. Home is our safest place because that is where there are people willing rise above their selfishness, to rise above their painful memories, and rise to let go of their comforts for others in distress and more difficult plight and situation in life.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph all rose from their very selves for each other to be safe. Most of all, they rose above themselves because they love so much for each other, a reflection of their great love for God the Father. Amen. May your family be blessed!

GREEDY

Sunday, December 28, 2025 11:07 am

1,302 total views

Gospel Reading for December 28, 2025 – Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23

GREEDY

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On this Feast of the Holy Family, we pray that parents realize that they are called to mold/shape the character of their children according to the person of Christ!

Veritas PH

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