It happened in the time of our Lord and it’s still happening now. We can act like the religious people during Jesus’ time who think that the good we do is the only way—and that other people’s way of doing things is not good enough. 

People have the tendency to compare what they do to what others do. You didn’t fast more, or pray longer, or kneel properly, or cry loudly, or raise your hands straight up high. 

Of course, we’ve got to have standards. We should also guard ourselves from pure relativism. Yet, in the end, the only real standard as you come to the Lord is your heart. And only He sees it—not the nitpickers around you. 

To God, your heartfelt worship and love for Him is good enough. He does the rest of it. Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com) 

Reflect:

Were you ever told that how you love and worship God is not good enough? Did you search your heart about it? Come to the Lord now and feel His embrace telling you: you’re good enough.

Dear Lord, I know and confess that my love for You is never enough. Yet, I believe that by Your grace, You meet my humble efforts with Your mercy and love. Amen. 

St. Maria Goretti, virgin and martyr, pray for us. 

Amos prophesies a new beginning and prosperity for Israel. However, this comes after a period of suffering and tragedy. It is the same in our lives. Suffering and disasters cause us to reexamine our values and commitments. This reflection gives rise to a new and hopefully deeper commitment to the values of the Kingdom of God. True prosperity and happiness will be ours only with this commitment. 

¹¹ Thus says the Lord: On that day I will raise up the fallen hut of David; I will wall up its breaches, raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old, ¹² that they may conquer what is left of Edom and all the nations that shall bear my name, say I, the Lord, who will do this. ¹³ Yes, days are coming, says the Lord, when the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the vintager, him who sows the seed; the juice of grapes shall drip down the mountains, and all the hills shall run with it. ¹⁴ I will bring about the restoration of my people Israel; they shall rebuild and inhabit their ruined cities, plant vineyards and drink the wine, set out gardens and eat the fruits. ¹⁵ I will plant them upon their own ground; never again shall they be plucked from the land I have given them, say I, the Lord, your God. 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14

R: The Lord speaks of peace to his people. 

⁹ I will hear what God proclaims; the Lord—for he proclaims peace to his people. ¹⁰ Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. (R) ¹¹ Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. ¹² Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. (R) ¹³ The Lord himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. ¹⁴ Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. (R) 

Gospel | Matthew 9:14-17

Jesus reminds John’s followers that they should not measure a new reality by the standards of the old one. Let us live by this principle as we undergo conversion from our sinfulness. We will constantly enter new grounds of faith and holiness that require deepening and faith-filled responses. Let us trust that God is with us as we walk this exciting journey of faith. 

Gospel Acclamation

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me. 

¹⁴ The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” ¹⁵ Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. ¹⁶ No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. ¹⁷ People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” 

Read the Bible in one year! Read JOB 38 - 42 today.

The celebration in a Jewish wedding was Jesus’ favorite demonstration of the Kingdom of God. He shared several parables on the Kingdom that made use of wedding details. He also had His first miracle in a wedding feast at Cana, where He turned water into wine. Now, the Jewish wedding was not hours but days of celebration—with community singing and dancing, with almost the entire village in attendance, and with overflowing food and wine. The Jewish wedding was the imagery of joy overflowing. 

Pope Francis has “joy” as a very important word in his official writings. On November 24, 2013—on the first year of his papacy and the conclusion of the Year of Faith—he wrote the apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” on the proclamation of the Gospel today. This Latin title literally means “The Joy of the Gospel.” After the bishops met in the Synod of 2014 and 2015, where they discussed and reflected on present issues and concerns on marriage and family life, Pope Francis wrote “Amoris Laetitia” (The Joy of Love). 

Joy is in sync with the Gospel. Jesus explains that this is not some passing feeling, but Gospel joy springs from the very presence of the Divine. Jesus has come to be the face of God, and with this, He brings the grace of salvation (the “new cloak” and the “new wine”) longed for by sinful humanity. Jesus indicates the way of lasting inner peace, which is forgiving and asking for forgiveness. Jesus opens wide the door of healing for those who come for God’s mercy. Above all, He opens the door to spiritual healing, which makes us see meaningfulness of life, without attempting to erase all of life’s problems. The joy of the Gospel is a joy from within, a joy that the world cannot give. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP 

Reflection Question:

What unique joyfulness have you been blessed with ever since you had a deeper relationship with Jesus? 

Lord, You bring newness to life. I pray that You may bring life to every area in me that is decaying or dying. Amen.

Today, I pray for; _____________________________________