Our passage prompted me to reflect on my role and journey as a mother. I’m at a crossroads as my adult sons now live independent lives. Memories of the many phases of motherhood flashed through my mind—from firstday-of-school blues to bittersweet moments of letting go. I remember when I held my sons in my arms, wondering about the person each of them wouldgrow up to be. I think of the lessons I imparted, values instilled, and situations I could have handled differently. My heart swells with pride when I see them living out my positive influence as they confidently navigate the world, embrace the challenges of adulthood, forge their own paths, and make responsible decisions.

I welcome our new chapter, where my sons are no longer extensions of myself but unique individuals with their own identities and dreams. I still “mother” them, but as a supportive presence in the sidelines. I remain their constant source of unconditional love, their steady anchor in the sea of life’s complexities. 

Marie G. Ferrer (smgferrer@gmail.com)

reflect

“There is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood.” (M. Russell Ballard)

Dear Father, let me be a blessing to my children and all the people that my life touches. Help me to use my gifts and abilities in ways that honor You. Amen.

St. Pope John Paul II, pray for us.

Discipleship is a battle. As Christians, we fight for our salvation. Satan does not want to lose any of us to God’s Kingdom. Christ has defeated the devil, but that does not mean he has given up on luring us to follow him rather than Christ. He will fight until the bitter end. To defeat the enemy, let us humbly call on the grace of victory through Jesus’ cross and resurrection.

¹² Brothers and sisters: Sin must not reign over your mortal bodies so that you obey their desires. ¹³ And do not present the parts of your bodies to sin as weapons for wickedness, but present yourselves to God as raised from the dead to life and the parts of your bodies to God as weapons for righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin is not to have any power over you, since you are not under the law but under grace. ¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Of course not! ¹⁶ Do you not know that if you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God that, although you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient from the heart to the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted. ¹⁸ Freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 124:1-3, 4-6, 7-8

R: Our help is in the name of the Lord.

¹ Had not the Lord been with us, let Israel say, ² had not the Lord been with us, when men rose up against us, ³ then would they have swallowed us alive. When their fury was inflamed against us. (R) ⁴ Then would the waters have overwhelmed us; the torrent would have swept over us; ⁵ over us then would have swept the raging waters. ⁶ Blessed be the Lord, who did not leave us a prey to their teeth. (R) ⁷ We were rescued like a bird from the fowlers’ snare; broken was the snare, and we were freed. 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (R) 

Gospel | Luke 12:39-48

Let us be watchful and wary of the attacks of Satan. Let us be alert to his tactics and wiles. We should not be scared and intimidated. We live in the victory of Christ. Satan has been defeated and cannot dominate us unless we allow him to do so. May we realize this and act on the victory of Christ that we have received through baptism.

Gospel Acclamation 

Stay awake! For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.

³⁹ Jesus said to his disciples: “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” ⁴¹ Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” ⁴² And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? ⁴³ Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. ⁴⁴ Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property^{. 45} But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, ⁴⁶ then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. ⁴⁷ That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; ⁴⁸ and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

Reflect:

“There is no evil to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not already conquered. There is no cross to bear that Christ has not already borne for us, and does not now bear with us.” (St. Pope John Paul II)

Read the Bible in one year! Read ZECHARIAH 9 - 11 today.

Of late, the Tagalog word “panalo” (winner) has taken center stage in our social media-infused culture. It literally means victorious, but it also connotes being figuratively full, filled, and satisfied.

Everything in this world now is seen from the prism of competition. Merely starting school from preschool to postgraduate could be highly competitive. Buying food in dry and wet markets can also be competitive. If one starts out late, one loses the chance to get the finest, freshest, and best food products. One cannot expect to go to market late and be able to say triumphantly: “Panalo!”

In the Philippines, where only a couple hundred families (they are, truth to tell, more like dynasties) rule the political roost, fair competitions are a contradiction in terms. Public office is seen in the context of authority and power alright, but not much else, and nothing less, than everything associated with power and privilege. “Panalo” as a descriptive term for powerholders and their ilk would be entirely appropriate and to the point.

Today’s Gospel speaks to me personally. Peter was not off the mark when he asked the Lord: “Are You saying this parable only to us, or to everyone?” He sure knew how to read not just Jesus’ lips, but also His heart. The Lord did not answer him directly, but He had two words for Peter: blessed and wise! Who is the wise and sensible leader that is worthy of being put in charge? It is the blessed one who is there, not to rule over others but who is there to serve—the one who is busy doing his tasks and responsibilities when the Master arrives.

Smart alecks (that may well be you and me) may be “panalo,” but they are neither blessed nor wise! Are you? 

Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB 

reflection question

Would you say that you are a winner when the Master (God) arrives? 

Grant me the grace to persevere in toiling for Your Kingdom, Lord. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________________