“Let’s just take the service road,” I told my wife as we drove from Parañaque to Alabang. We were down to our last few pesos and we didn’t have enough for gas and toll fee to our destination. 

We were on our way to visit a co-servant from The Feast who is battling with cancer.

When we got to their place, we saw how her health had deteriorated. She lost weight and was very pale. But she said one thing I will not forget. “It’s only the Lord I’m clinging to.” 

I felt like I was doused with cold water and that woke me up. She was holding on to God—the true source of strength and provision. Why was I so afraid? Why was I bothered? Because I forgot that my God will take care of me the way He takes care of the birds in the sky. 

Oying Isidoro (oying.isidoro@gmail.com)

reflect

Have you placed your trust in materials things instead of the heavenly Father’s provision?

Lord, always remind me that as You provided for the birds in the sky, You will provide for me as well.

Saint Florentina, pray for us.

I watched a dialogue on a TV series where one of the protagonists said that all wars are criminal actions. When we look at all the things that go on in wars, like executions and death of noncombatants, we will understand where such sentiment comes from. We may have sustained a just war doctrine in the past, when wars were fought with swords, bows, and arrows, but this is not the case today. How does a modern state defend itself? Perhaps it is time to take human rights seriously, and not just give it lip service.

¹⁷ After the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and paid homage to King Joash, and the king then listened to them. ¹⁸ They forsook the temple of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and began to serve the sacred poles and the idols; and because of this crime of theirs, wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem. ¹⁹ Although prophets were sent to them to convert them to the Lord, the people would not listen to their warnings. ²⁰ Then the Spirit of God possessed Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. He took his stand above the people and said to them: “God says, ‘Why are you transgressing the Lord’s commands, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned the Lord, he has abandoned you.’” ²¹ But they conspired against him, and at the king’s order they stoned him to death in the court of the Lord’s temple. ²² Thus King Joash was unmindful of the devotion shown him by Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, and slew his son. And as Zechariah was dying, he said, “May the Lord see and avenge.” ²³ At the turn of the year, a force of Arameans came up against Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem, did away with all the princes of the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. ²⁴ Though the Aramean force came with few men, the Lord surrendered a very large force into their power, because Judah had abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers. So punishment was meted out to Joash. ²⁵ After the Arameans had departed from him, leaving him in grievous suffering, his servants conspired against him because of the murder of the son of Jehoiada the priest. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.  

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 89:4-5, 29-30, 31-32, 33-34

R: Forever I will maintain my love for my servant.

⁴ “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: ⁵ Forever will I confirm your posterity and establish your throne for all generations.” (R) ²⁹ “Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him, and my covenant with him stands firm. ³⁰ I will make his posterity endure forever and his throne as the days of heaven.” (R) ³¹ “If his sons forsake my law and walk not according to my ordinances, ³² if they violate my statutes and keep not my commands.” (R) 33 “I will punish their crime with a rod and their guilt with stripes. ³⁴ Yet my mercy I will not take from him, nor will I belie my faithfulness.” (R)  

Gospel | Matthew 6:24-34

In life, there are moments when we must choose: Do we serve God or do we serve money and wealth? We safeguard our material future because neglecting it can lead to hardship, even death. Yet, within this necessity, we have the opportunity to create an environment where we serve God. After all, we cannot serve Him here on earth if we are not alive. Today’s Gospel warns against excessive focus on wealth and possessions. These are fleeting, and once we reach heaven, we will no longer need them.

Gospel Acclamation

Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

²⁴ Jesus said to his disciples: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. ²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? ²⁷ Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? ²⁸ Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. ²⁹ But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. ³⁰ If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ ³² All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³ But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. ³⁴ Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read 2 KING 23 - 25 today.

Do you often find yourself worrying? Do you let every little thing bother you, leaving you feeling unsettled most of the time?

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus advises His listeners that excessive worry can prevent them from fully appreciating and experiencing the beauty of life because worries can dissolve and negate the grace that the Lord intends to bestow upon His people.

While it is true that people have basic needs like shelter, clothing, and food, Jesus emphasizes that life is more than just these material things that we possess but worry about. Nowadays, a lot of us worry about our finances, believing that money is the main solution to many, if not all, of our problems. For some, money becomes their mere savior. But while money is undoubtedly important, it should not dominate our lives.

The Gospel today imparts a simple yet crucial teaching: that we cannot serve both God and mammon—with mammon being the semitic word for money, wealth, and possessions that represent materialism. This highlights the importance of prioritizing our spiritual relationship with God over material possessions because when we make wealth our master, it can lead to a life of constant worry and dissatisfaction. If money is the only thing that makes one happy, then the wealthiest people should also be the happiest people—and we know that it is not the case.

We are, therefore, invited to shift our focus from material concerns to spiritual trust. By serving God wholeheartedly and trusting in His provision, we can experience a life free from anxieties. We can rest assured that God will never abandon us, especially in our moments of need, for He is our ultimate provider and caretaker.

Fr. Jason Laguerta 

reflection questions

Who are you serving in your life? Does money define your happiness or distress?

Father God, take away my worries and anxieties in life, and teach me to cling only unto You—for You are the lone Author and Creator of life, who will never abandon us in our moments of need. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________________