Sabado sa Unang Linggo ng Apatnapung Araw na Paghahanda
Deuteronomio 26, 16-19
Salmo 118, 1-2. 4-5. 7-8
Mapalad ang sumusunod
sa utos ng Poong Diyos.
Mateo 5, 43-48
Saturday of the First Week of Lent (Violet)
UNANG PAGBASA
Deuteronomio 26, 16-19
Pagbasa mula sa aklat ng Deuteronomio
Sinabi ni Moises sa mga tao: “Ngayon ay ibinigay nga sa inyo ng Panginoon ang mga tuntuning ito; sundin ninyo ito nang buong puso’t kaluluwa. Ipinahayag ninyo ngayon na ang Panginoon ang inyong Diyos, lalakad kayo ayon sa kanyang daan, susundin ang kanyang mga tuntunin at didinggin ang kanyang tinig. Ipinahayag naman niya sa inyo na kayo ay kanyang bayan, tulad ng kanyang pangako, at dapat ninyong sundin ang kanyang mga tuntunin. Palalakihin niya kayo higit sa ibang bansa upang maging kapurihan niya, karangalan at kadakilaan. At tulad ng sabi niya, kayo ay isang bansa na nakatalaga sa kanya.”
Ang Salita ng Diyos.
SALMONG TUGUNAN
Salmo 118, 1-2. 4-5. 7-8
Mapalad ang sumusunod
sa utos ng Poong Diyos.
Mapalad ang mga taong malinis ang pamumuhay,
ayon sa utos ng Poon ang gawain araw-araw.
Mapalad ang sumusunod sa kaniyang kautusan,
buong puso ang pagsunod sa utos na ibinigay.
Mapalad ang sumusunod
sa utos ng Poong Diyos.
Ibinigay mo sa amin iyang iyong mga utos,
upang aming talimahin at sundin nang buong lugod.
Gayun ako umaasa, umaasang magiging tapat,
susundin ang iyong utos, susundin nang buong ingat.
Mapalad ang sumusunod
sa utos ng Poong Diyos.
Ang matuwid mong tuntunin habang aking tinatarok,
buong pusong magpupuri, pupurihin kitang lubos.
Ang lahat ng iyong utos ay sisikapin kong sundin,
huwag mo akong iiwanan, huwag mo akong lilisanin.
Mapalad ang sumusunod
sa utos ng Poong Diyos.
AWIT-PAMBUNGAD SA MABUTING BALITA:
2 Corinto 6, 2b
Ngayo’y panahong marapat,
panahon ng pagliligtas,
araw ngayon ng pagtawag
upang makamit ang habag
ng Panginoong matapat.
MABUTING BALITA
Mateo 5, 43-48
Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon ayon kay San Mateo
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, “Narinig na ninyong sinabi, ‘Ibigin mo ang iyong kaibigan at kapootan mo ang iyong kaaway.’ Ngunit ito naman sabi ko: ibigin ninyo ang inyong mga kaaway, at idalangin ninyo ang mga umuusig sa inyo, upang kayo’y maging tunay na anak ng inyong Amang nasa langit. Sapagkat pinasisikat niya ang araw sa masasama at sa mabubuti, at pinapapatak niya ang ulan sa mga banal at sa mga makasalanan. Kung ang mga umiibig sa inyo ang siya lamang ninyong iibigin, ano pang gantimpala ang inyong hihintayin? Hindi ba’t ginagawa rin ito ng mga publikano? At kung ang binabati lamang ninyo’y ang inyong mga kapatid, ano ang nagawa ninyong higit kaysa iba? Ginagawa rin iyon ng mga Hentil! Kaya, dapat kayong maging ganap, gaya ng inyong Amang nasa langit.”
Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.
PANALANGIN NG BAYAN Unang Linggo ng Kuwaresma
Sabado
Taglay ang pagtitiwala, lumapit tayo sa mapagpatawad na Ama na ang habag sa atin ay walang hangganan at walang katapusan.
Panginoon, dinggin Mo ang aming panalangin. o kaya Panginoon, gawin Mo kaming ganap sa Iyong pag-ibig.
Ang Simbahan nawa’y maging buhay na halimbawa ng pagpapatawad at habag na ipinakita ni Jesus, manalangin tayo sa Panginoon.
Atin nawang kaawaan ang mga taong nakasakit, nakapinsala o nagdulot ng mga paghihirap sa atin, manalangin tayo sa Panginoon.
Sa tulong ng biyaya ng Diyos, nawa’y mapatawad natin ang ating mga kaaway, manalangin tayo sa Panginoon.
Sa mga maysakit, matatanda, at mga pinabayaan nawa’y ating maipadama ang ating pagmamahal at habag, manalangin tayo sa Panginoon.
Ang mga yumao nawa’y biyayaan at gantimpalaan ng buhay na walang hanggan, manalangin tayo sa Panginoon.
Makapangyarihan at mahabaging Ama, pinasasalamatan ka namin sa pagpapatawad na inihandog mo sa pamamagitan ng iyong Anak. Tulungan mo kaming ipahayag sa iba ang iyong pagpapatawad. Hinihiling namin ito sa pamamagitan ni Kristong aming Panginoon. Amen.
Rev. Fr. Jerico Habunal
Monday, September 21, 2026 10:05 am
35 total reads
Gospel Reading for September 21, 2026 – Matthew 9: 9-13
INCLUSIVE
As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
————
Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. Before he became a disciple of Jesus, he was a publican or tax collector in the town of Capernaum, collecting tolls and taxes for Herod Antipas. In Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:27, he is originally identified as Levi, the son of Alphaeus.
The first-century Jews hated and despised tax collectors. They viewed them as traitors and collaborators who cheated their own people by collecting more than what was due and keeping the excess for themselves. Because of this, they were labeled “sinners.” The Pharisees, who considered themselves “holy,” would never want to be seen in the company of “sinners.” This is why they could not understand why a holy man like Jesus would even sit at table with them.
Imagine what would have happened if Jesus had not challenged this mindset. How could the Church have become INCLUSIVE? Since we are all sinners, who among us could even become a member?
We call the Church holy not because its leaders and members are holy in the way the Pharisees thought of themselves as holy, but because the Head of the Church is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. All of us in the Church—the Pope, bishops, priests, religious, and the faithful—are sinners. Yet all of us are called to share in Christ’s mission of salvation so that all may be saved from sin.
Lord Jesus, unworthy as we are, we believe that by doing our best to follow You, we may attain eternal life. Amen.
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II
Monday, September 21, 2026 7:00 am
340 total reads
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday, Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II
Feast of St. Matthew the Apostle
Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}}*> Matthew 9:9-13
Caravaggio’s painting, “The Calling of St. Matthew” from en.wikipedia.org
That beautiful painting by Caravaggio, “The Calling of St. Matthew” completed in 1600 for the French congregation of San Luigi Francesi in Rome is said to be the favorite of the late Pope Francis among the many other masterpieces found in the eternal city.
If given another chance to go on a pilgrimage to Rome, I have vowed to personally see that painting by Caravaggio along with his two other masterpieces, that of the meeting of Thomas Didymus with the Risen Lord and his breaking of bread at Emmaus that all evoke body movements and inner motions among the characters that lead us to continue the beautiful story of the painter’s subjects.
But I can’t wait to go there in Rome to view those paintings; through the wonder of internet, let us reflect on this Feast of St. Matthew using this painting characterized by lights and darkness, from his sitting to his rising and standing to follow Jesus while working as a tax collector.
As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him (Matthew 9:9).
Sitting. Many centuries from now, anthropologists and other experts will study our generation on how humans have evolved – or retrogressed – with our spending too much time sitting. Doctors warn of the many health risks that result in prolonged sitting like obesity and heart disease.
Sitting is an important human movement especially in studying and learning lessons through reading and writing, meeting and discussions.
Imagine St. Matthew when he was called by Jesus, while sitting at the customs post: here we find sitting at its worst imagery of being stuck on our seats of comfort and complacency, sins and other vices. Worst is see how in our modern time we have given so much premium on where we sit to insist on our ego trips and sense of territory as well as claims to fame and prominence not realizing that what really matters in life is not where we sit but where we stand (https://lordmychef.com/2019/02/22/it-is-where-we-stand-that-matters-most-not-where-we-sit/).
See in Caravaggio’s painting how everybody is seated at the table with St. Matthew dressed in the artist’s period of the 1600’s to show that Jesus continues to come in our own particular time in history.
Most of all, the gospel tells us that St. Matthew was seated at his customs post when called by Jesus but Caravaggio’s painting portrays them to be inside a tavern to tell us that we are also St. Matthew whom Jesus visits and calls daily while we are busy or drunk sitting at our comfort zones, in our vices and sins, in our complacency and mediocrity.
And like St. Matthew, we, too, are invited to rise and follow Jesus right away!
This brings us to the second movement of man so important, that of standing.
Following Jesus demands that we must first rise from our seats to make a stand for Jesus and his teachings of love and kindness, mercy and forgiveness, service and self-sacrifice. Notice how St. Matthew, the fat man at the middle with a black hat like a beret pointing to the man bowed down to the table.
See and feel the hesitancy of St. Matthew – like us – always wondering, asking God, “is it I, Lord?” So many times we cannot believe Jesus really looking for us, wanting us, calling us, believing in us!
And in all that beautiful interplay of light and darkness by Caravaggio in his painting, we feel the eyes of Jesus looking at our beloved apostle as if telling him, “yes, you, Matthew; Follow me”.
Cast all your doubts if Jesus were really calling you, believing in you, trusting you – he does! Jesus always comes to each of us in the most personal manner like with all his apostles, telling us, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit” (Jn.15:16).
Don’t you hear how Jesus is calling you daily, asking you, “will the real you please rise up and stand for who you really are”?
See yourself the way Jesus sees you – forgiven and beloved, precious and loved. No need for us to look good before Jesus. Just rise and stand with him!
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo, July 2026.
Walking. It is not enough for us to remain standing. Making a stand for Jesus means to follow him in his path of justice and love, mercy and forgiveness, being small and the least serving the weak and the poorest of the poor.
To walk in Christ is to be like Christ because Jesus himself is “the way the truth and the life” (Jn.14:6).
Walking in Christ is following the “road less travelled” that leads to the Cross of self-offering and sacrifice, of love and acceptance.
Notice in Caravaggio’s painting how he portrayed Jesus in his own traditional clothes along with Simon Peter – and they are both barefooted!
There seems to be a slight commotion wherein Simon is like warning the man with a sword close to him to be still, to not make any move for they are walking away soon once St. Matthew rises and stands from his seat. Look at the feet of Jesus and Simon; they are all set to walk, as if telling St. Matthew, “come on, let us go!”
But where to?
While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Matthew 9:10-13).
The two disciples walking to Emmaus not recognizing Jesus was with them.
Following Jesus, walking on his path of the cross means going to those forgotten by us and the society, walking to meet those who are not like us – in beliefs and way of thinking, in clothing and appearances, in disposition and backgrounds.
It can be a lonely walk filled with pains and sufferings, and yes, disappointments like the two disciples who walked back to Emmaus on Easter without realizing Jesus was the stranger who had joined them along the way. That is the beauty of walking with Jesus, in Jesus, and to Jesus: you never see him nor recognize him right away but he is always with us, walking with us by our side even if we are going the opposite direction in life!
Walking the way of Jesus is tough and rough. It is not easy but it is the only way we must follow. That is why we need to rest in Jesus, with Jesus who asks us to be seated again as he washes our feet to comfort and console us, and prepare us for longer walks in the journey.
Photo by Ms. JJ Jimeno, UP Parish Diliman, June 2019.
Kneeling. Of all the body movements modern man has forgotten is kneeling. Again, look at Caravaggio’s painting, take a peek below the table and notice the robust knees of St. Matthew, look at the soft throw of light on his right leg and the softer tone on his left.
Caravaggio must be telling us something about the healthy lower body of St. Matthew despite his sitting position. See Caravaggio’s genius in throwing that soft light on St. Matthew’s legs and knees that were made strong not only by long hours of standing and walking with Jesus but with longer time of kneeling and praying after the Lord’s Ascension.
Kneeling is one very important gesture and body movement we must regain to truly follow Jesus and regain order in ourselves and in our nation. It is the best praying position for it signifies surrender and humility before God. In fact, for the Hebrews, the knee is the symbol of strength that to bend one’s knees – to kneel – means to submit one’s self to God the all-powerful.
How sad when people refuse to kneel because their knees or expensive pants and clothes might get dirty. Worst of all is when we have refused to kneel and bend our knees because we feel so strong and able to accomplish a lot that we would rather be pursuing our own interests than following Jesus.
Like Caravaggio’s painting of “The Calling of St. Matthew”, our lives and nation are into a great darkness due to the pandemic and the worsening decadence in every aspect of our society.
It is not a time to be a fence-sitter or a bystander; Jesus calls us to arise and make a stand against the pervading evils, asking us whom are we really following in this journey in history and life.
Amid the gloom are streaks of light bringing hope and reason, truth and goodness, inviting us to learn from the call of St. Matthew to…
Sit and learn more of Jesus
Rise and stand with Jesus
Walk and follow Jesus
Kneeling always at the foot of his Cross
to truly follow him our Lord and Master.
Amen.
Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual
Monday, September 21, 2026 7:00 am
4,781 total reads
Mga Kapanalig, sa Ebanghelyo ni San Mateo, matutunghayan natin ang pagtuligsa ni Hesus sa mga tagapagturo ng kautusan at sa mga Pariseo. Mababasa natin ito sa Mateo 23:23: “Kahabag-habag kayo…! Mga mapagkunwari! Nagbibigay kayo ng ikasampung bahagi ng maliliit na halamang tulad ng yerbabuena, ruda at linga ngunit kinakaligtaan naman ninyong isagawa ang mas mahahalagang turo sa Kautusan: ang katarungan, ang pagkahabag, at ang katapatan.”
Mahalaga ang sinasabi sa ating mga batas at mabuting sundin ang mga tuntunin, pero may mas mabibigat na bagay na dapat unahin, gaya ng katotohanan at katarungan.
Ganito rin ang mensahe ng isa sa mga amici curiae (o “friends of the court”) na inimbitahan ng Senate impeachment court para hingan ng opinyon tungkol sa pagtatakda ng bilang ng botong kailangan para ma-convict o ma-acquit si Vice President Sara Duterte. Ayon kay retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, kung magiging istrikto sa paggamit ng 16 na boto bilang katumbas ng two-thirds ng mga senator-judges, hindi patas ang kalalabasan ng impeachment trial. (Sa ating Konstitusyon kasi, nakasulat na 2/3 dapat ng mga bumubuo ng senado ang magpapasya sa isang impeachment trial, pero hindi naman 16 ang nakalagay sa teksto.)
Ang punto ni Justice Panganiban, kung ang pamantayang gagamitin para bilangin ang mga dapat bumoto ay napakaistrikto at hindi na isinasaalang-alang ang mga senador na absent o hindi kwalipikadong magpasya, nawawalang-saysay ang katarungan at siguradong maa-acquit lang ang akusado. Para sa dating chief justice, hindi makatarungan sa publiko at sa proseso ng batas ang hindi pagdalo ng mga senador sa hearing at hindi pag-aaral sa mga ebidensya at pagkatapos ay susulpot na lang sa araw ng pagdedesisyon. Dagdag pa niya, dapat magsilbi ang mga tuntunin sa mas malawak na layunin ng paggagawad ng patas na hatol.
Naniniwala rin si Justice Panganiban na ang Senado lamang ang may kapangyarihang magbago ng basehan ng pagboto depende sa kung sino ang aktwal na nakikilahok. Kung siya ang tatanungin, hindi 2/3 ng 24 ang threshold kundi 2/3 ng bilang ng mga senador na naglaan ng panahon para seryoso at aktibong makilahok sa impeachment trial.
Anong say ninyo, mga Kapanalig? Sa tingin ninyo, okay lang bang bumoto at magdesisyon ang mga senador na nagtatago, hindi nagpapakita, nasuspinde, at nakakulong?
Mahigit sampung linggo nang tumatakbo ang impeachment trial ni VP Sara. Sa apat na articles of impeachment, tatlo na ang natatalakay—ang grave threats, ang hindi maipaliwanag na yaman, at maling paggamit ng confidential funds. Labing-apat na testigo na ang naipresenta ng prosekusyon, at may mga inaasahan pa sa mga susunod na linggo. Marami nang narinig at nalaman ang taumbayan—pero higit sa lahat, ang mga senator-judges ang unang dapat makaintindi at makapagtimbang sa mga ebidensyang iniharap at sinuri. Hindi nga natin sigurado kung ang mga pumapasok na senador ay masinop sa kanilang pag-aaral sa mga ebidensya at salaysay, paano pa kaya ang mga absent sa impeachment trial?
Ngayong narinig na ng senate-impeachment court ang posisyon ng mga amicus curiae, itakda na sana nito ang voting threshold na gagamitin para sa pagdedesisyon kung guilty o not guilty ang pangalawang pinakamakapangyarihang opisyal ng gobyerno. Naghihintay ang taumbayan at wala nang panahong dapat sayangin ang ating mga senator-judges. Sabi nga ni Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo noong isang taon, kung patatagalin pa ang impeachment trial, hihina ang tinatawag nating public trust o tiwala ng publiko sa mga institusyon ng demokrasya. Labag ito sa kabutihang panlahat o common good, sa katarungan, at sa katotohanan.
Mga Kapanalig, kung hindi man lahat ng senador, mas marami sana sa kanila ang magpasya batay sa katotohanan, katuwiran, at katarungan.
4,782 total reads Mga Kapanalig, sa Ebanghelyo ni San Mateo, matutunghayan natin ang pagtuligsa ni Hesus sa mga tagapagturo ng kautusan at sa mga Pariseo. Mababasa
70,844 total reads Kapanalig, laganap sa ating bayan.. sa ating mga Pilipino, lalu na sa mga lider ng bansa ang ‘culture of superiority’, maging sa loob
90,150 total reads Kapanalig, simpleng lohika lamang ang kailangan ng mga Senador-judges para pagbotohan kung iko-convict o hindi si Vice-President Sara Duterte. Ito ang kasagutan ni
168,538 total reads Mga Kapanalig, break muna tayo sa mga bad news. Pag-usapan naman natin ang isang magandang balita sa usapin ng klima. Naaalala ba ninyo
212,837 total reads Mga Kapanalig, hindi lang sa mga flood control projects may scam. Tila may nakawán ding nangyayari sa mga paaralan! Lumabas noong isang linggo
3,987 total reads Kapistahan ni Apostol San Mateo, manunulat ng Mabuting Balita Efeso 4, 1-7. 11-13 Salmo 18, 2-3. 4-5 Laganap na sa daigdig ang kanilang
5,288 total reads Ika-25 Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon (A) Isaias 55, 6-9 Salmo 144, 2-3. 8-9. 17-18 D’yos ay tapat at totoo sa dumadalanging tao. Filipos
6,156 total reads Sabado ng Ika-24 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon (II) o kaya Paggunita kay San Januario (Jenaro), obispo at martir o kaya Paggunita sa Mahal na
