I spearheaded a group of preachers and performers by the name of K5 or Kerygma 5. One time, we were invited to perform at a concert. We didn’t know that there were several new performers in the lineup and our name in the poster appeared at the bottom of the list—in small fonts at that.

As someone from showbiz and conscious of the importance of how performers are billed, I was upset. I reacted negatively and planned to not show up in the concert. Good thing, I shared my struggle with a friend who happens to be the CEO of the Great Image Company. She asked me a question that made me reverse my decision: “What do you think would Jesus do if He were in that particular situation?”

After a few months, my friend asked me to be on several huge billboards along EDSA as their company endorser.

Adrian Panganiban (andresignatures@yahoo.com)

reflect

“One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” (Psalm 29:23)

Lord, curb my pride. Humble me so I may be more like You. I trust that You will exult me. Amen. 

St. Peter Martinez, pray for us.

Through our baptism, we become united with Christ Jesus and live our new life in union with Him. Hence, we should no longer live like unbelievers who give no thought to God. By the power of the cross, let us put to death the evil passions and desires in our hearts. 

¹ Brothers and sisters: If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ² Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. ⁵ Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. ⁷ By these you too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way. ⁸ But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. ⁹ Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator. ¹¹ Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 145:2-3, 10-11, 12-13

R: The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.

² Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. ³ Great is the Lord and highly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable. (R) ¹⁰ Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you. ¹¹ Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might. (R) ¹² Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. ¹³ Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations. (R)

Gospel | Luke 6:20-26

From the perspective of God’s Kingdom—what is considered a curse and misfortune is seen as a blessing. This is possible when we see things from the perspective of eternity—when all the worldly values are turned upside down. In these teachings, Jesus emphasizes the importance of our total need for God which wealth and riches can obscure. For Saint Francis, poverty was a blessing as it made him more like Jesus and dependent on God the Father for all his needs.

Gospel Acclamation

Rejoice and leap for joy! Your reward will be great in heaven.

²⁰ Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. ²¹ Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. ²² Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. ²³ Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. ²⁴ But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. ²⁵ But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. ²⁶ Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

Reflect:

“What must we do to be a good Christian? The answer is simple: We have to do, in our own way, what Jesus says in the Beatitudes.” (Pope Francis)

Read the Bible in one year! Read JEREMIAH 35 - 38 today.

Our readings today clarify our idea of blessedness. Often, we look outside to determine blessedness. Most of the time, we equate blessedness with luck and material things. Saint Paul and Jesus both tell us that we have to look upwards to God and find Him inside us to realize true blessedness.

Many times, we forget these truths and realities as we spend time and effort pursuing the things of the world that later amount to nothing. How easy for us to profess our love for our family without recognizing the importance of spending quality time with them. Worst, in our pursuit of material goods and earthly things, we get trapped in “immorality, impurity, passion and evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry” (Colossians 3:1-3, 5) that destroy our relationships.

When Jesus became like us in everything except sin, He showed us that true blessedness is in being human—in the image and likeness of God. Just imagine how every day, Jesus would raise His eyes to us and tell us, “Blessed are you . . .” (Luke 6:20). Every day, as He looks up to us, He tells us to look up to the Father in heaven and see our very selves as His image and likeness. When that happens, we also start to look up to ourselves and others, instead of looking down at each other and ourselves.

When Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, it was He who looked up to each of the Twelve, including Judas, His betrayer. What a reversal of actions—we humans should be the ones looking up to God. What a great blessing to be looked up to by God who believes in us and loves us. 

Fr. Nick Lalog

reflection questions

What makes you look down on yourself when Jesus looks up to you? And why do you also look down at others?

Lord Jesus, help me to always remember that true blessedness is having nothing except You in my life. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ________________________________