Mass Readings and Reflection and Reflection for August 19th, 2026

 

First Reading: (Ezekiel 34:1–11)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 23)

R/. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Gospel Acclamation:

Alleluia, alleluia.

The word of God is living and active;
it probes the thoughts and motives of our heart.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: (Matthew 20:1–16)

Reflection:

From the Gospel, we can see that Jesus threw everything upside down.

Human reason would say that the first workers should receive much more than those who worked only one hour. Yet Jesus is speaking about the kingdom of God.

When we look at salvation, the reward is to be fully united with God in heaven. It does not matter whether we have been good Christians all our lives, from childhood, or whether we experience a conversion at the last moment before death. The gift of salvation is the same.

This is why it is so important to give freely.

Sometimes we may look at another person and think, “I have been a good person all my life. Why should they receive the same thing I receive?”

But we do not always know what another person has endured. Someone who has been far away from the Lord, particularly someone struggling with addiction, may have experienced an internal battle between good and evil that is almost impossible for us to understand.

There are people who have already experienced what hell looks like.

God is a just judge, but he is also generous and merciful.

The first reading from Ezekiel gives us another important lesson. God strongly condemns the shepherds who feed themselves rather than the sheep. They have failed to strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the injured, bring back the strayed, and seek the lost.

This message applies not only to the religious leaders of Ezekiel's time. It challenges shepherds today.

But the message also applies to every one of us.

How generous am I with my life? How generous am I with my resources? And am I willing to give them to God?

And this is needed today just as much as it was two thousand years ago.

People need signs they can trust. They need people who actually live what they preach.

This applies especially to parents. Parents are called to be examples for their children, offering a priestly presence in the home by living what they teach.

We are called not merely to preach the faith, but to live it daily.

And may we be generous with our gifts as God is generous with us.

Amen.

Sector Rotation at Best August 18th 2026

As a market spectator, I saw these guys were all as green can be just yesterday and today, they flipped into deep red.

Mass Readings and Reflection on Tuesday, August 18th, 2026

First Reading: (Ezekiel 28:1–10)

Responsorial Psalm: (Deuteronomy 32)

Response: I kill and I make alive.

Gospel: (Matthew 19:23–30)

Reflection:

Today gospel is yet one of those challenging ones to reflect on deeply. As believers, there's always the temptation we must keep in check especially when things are going well in our lives to think that we made it happened all by ourselves; we are self-made. I remember mocking with a friend some of our richest people in society who got a magazine citing them as self made billionaires. We were like "they must have given birth to themselves, too". The point was it's a lie. Nobody is self-made. We tend to pride ourselves in our abundance, feeling that we do not need God or others.

After all, what do I need from them? I have it all going well for me.

We start feeling that we are on top of the world and, rather than remaining humble, we think we have become God Himself, or even greater.

No wonder the Psalmist says:

"In his riches, man lacks wisdom."-Psalm 49:12, 20

This is the danger of riches. This is the danger of self-sufficiency. And that is what the Gospel today is pointing out. 

When that feeling comes, that because we have it all, therefore we know it all, we tends to become arrogant, unteachable, and fail to see the very vices that will lead to our own destruction.

That is why it's impossible to teach a person who feels they know it all because they think that having money, power, and influence means they know it all? We can all become victims of this. That is why a humble self reflection can be helpful. 

When Jesus said in the Gospel that it is hard for a rich person to enter heaven, He was not saying that it is bad to be rich. Far from it. Jesus had rich friends in His days.

Of course, it is God who blesses us with whatever we have.

Neither does He mean that rich people are automatically going to hell. Of course not.

There are saints who were kings and extremely wealthy. 

Very rich people can also go to heaven.

What Jesus wants us to understand is that we must guard against the dangers of self-sufficiency. It can pose as an obstacle to the Word of God because of self-sufficiency. 

Our riches can also blind us to our faults because we think we know it all.

We can feel that we are greater than God Himself, who blessed us, and think that it was entirely by our own merits, and effort that we became successful.

Our riches can make us develop an arrogant attitude, or they can distract us from God and heaven.

We may become too attached to our riches.

And remember: riches are not only material.

Our talents are our riches.

See how talented people sometimes behave.

Our intelligence is our riches.

See how intelligent people sometimes behave.

Our skills are our riches.

Your families are our riches.

We all have riches in different capacities and categories.

In the First Reading for instance, the Lord addresses the ruler of Tyre through the prophet Ezekiel.

Because his heart had grown proud, he said to himself:

"I am a god."

Yet God reminds him:

"You are but a man and no god."

He thought there was no one as wise as he was. He believed that his wisdom and intelligence had made him wealthy.

He believed that his skill in trading had enabled him to amass gold and silver.

But his fortune had made his heart proud.

Then God tells him that his enemies will besiege him, and he will discover how helpless he really is.

He will fall into the hands of his enemies and realize just how human he is.

This is the lot of those who trust in themselves.

As Proverbs 28:26 reminds us:

"He who trusts in his own mind is a fool."

And when the glory of a person's house increases, that person must still remember that earthly glory does not last forever.

We Are Nothing Without God

Remember:

We are nothing without God.

Who we are and what we have has been given to us by God.

We are nothing without Him.

So why should we pride ourselves because of our riches?

Why should we pride ourselves because of the things we own?

Why should we pride ourselves because of who we are?

Let not our self-sufficiency get into our heads.

Do not use our power, money, position, talents, or influence to intimidate others and make them feel inferior while we posture ourselves superior.

No one, remember, dies and is buried with their riches.

When we read and reflect on today's readings, we hear a call to humility in a subtle manner.

There is nothing we have that was not given to us by God.

Not even our intelligence.

It is not simply because we are extraordinarily talented or skillful in business that we have all the wealth we have.

God has been merciful to us all.

Therefore, let's remain humble.

Then we can use what God has blessed us, to also bless others who are not as fortunate or as we are.

Our blessings should become instruments through which other people experience God's goodness.

Finally, what we have should be a bridege to and not an island between us and God. It should always point us back to God:

Who would I have been without you, my God?

What would I have been without you?

Therefore, let us not become like the ruler of Tyre, who, because of his wealth, riches, and position, felt that he had become another god.

No.

We should always remain humble.

And remember the teaching of Jesus: let our riches never prevent us from coming closer to God and from coming closer to heaven.

God bless you 🙏 

Amen.

Mass Readings and Reflection for Monday, August 17th, 2026

First Reading: (Ezekiel 24:15–24)

Responsorial Psalm

The response is: Deuteronomy, chapter 32.

"You forgot God who gave you birth"

Gospel Acclamation:

Alleluia!Alleluia!

Gospel Reading: (Matthew 19:16–2

Reflection:

Today, the Gospel brings out two aspects of our Christian lives:

1. Avoiding evil.

2. Doing good.

We are meant to avoid evil, but at the same time, we are also meant to do good. They are two sides of the same coin. While we try to avoid evil, we must also try to do good.

Christianity is not only about not doing evil. It is not limited to avoiding evil. What good do you also do?

We could be very meticulous, very excellent, at avoiding evil. There are people who do not steal. They do not tell lies. They do not kill. They do not gossip. They do not fornicate. They do not hurt others because, of course, they mind their own business and respect their boundaries from other people.

They live in the comfort of their houses. They do not go out to meet others. That is all very wonderful.

But after all the avoiding of evil, what is the good that you do?

We should not end at observing the don'ts:

Don't do this.
Don't do that.

There are also the do's:

Do this.
Do that.

It may be easy for a day to pass by without one doing a single good thing, yet one may have avoided all evil.

You did not insult anyone, yet you did not reach out to anyone in need.

It is within this context and background that the question of the rich young man makes sense:

“What good must I do to inherit eternal life?”

He had observed the don'ts from when he was a boy, yet he felt empty. There was a void. He felt he needed something more.

Something was lacking.

Jesus told him:

“Yes, indeed, there is one thing you lack. Go and do something good.”

All along, he had avoided evil, but he needed to do something. He was told to go and give to the poor.

It is not enough to avoid evil.

Yes, you don't steal.
You don't cheat.
You don't embezzle.

But what is the good that you do for others?

Another biblical verse that beautifully captures this is (Isaiah 1:16)

“Wash, make yourselves clean, take your wrongdoings out of my sight. Cease to do evil, learn to do good.”

The young man was perfect in avoiding evil, but when it came to doing good, his countenance changed.

We are told that when Jesus told him to go and sell what he had and to do good, to give to the poor, he went away sad.

It was easy to avoid evil, but he found it difficult to do good.

He will not steal.
He will not lie.
But he will not assist the poor.

The challenge, therefore is to ask ourselves:

“What is the good thing that I do?”

It is good to avoid evil, but it doesn't end there.

What is the good that you do?

So, as you move about today, as we begin this new week, let you not end at just avoiding evil.

Like once someone told me:

“I don't go to church because I don't steal. I don't lie. Let the thieves and the liars go to church.”

True.

But what is the good thing you do?

Let us pray for that grace, that we may not end at only avoiding evil, which is one side of the coin, but that we may also learn to do good.

Amen.

When You Fly Blind

 

Mass Reading and Reflection for Sunday August 16th 2026

First Reading: (Isaiah 56:1, 6–7)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 67)

R. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

Second Reading: (Romans 11:13–15, 29–32)

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: (Matthew 15:21–28)

Reflection: 

Persistence often pays!

From the Gospel the Canaanite woman was a pagan, yet she came to Jesus seeking help for her daughter.

The disciples wanted her sent away because she was crying after them.

But Jesus did not allow human prejudice to have the final word.

Her faith was ultimately recognized by Jesus:

“O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.”

And her daughter was healed instantly.

Gentiles too are children of God.

Jesus came for all, Jews as well as Greeks.

Surprisingly, some of those who demonstrated the greatest faith were Gentiles who were almost pushed away by the Jews.

The first reading makes this universal invitation clear.

Isaiah speaks of foreigners who adhere to the Lord, serve him, love his name, observe the Sabbath and hold fast to his covenant.

God says:

“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

They too are children of God, and salvation is open to them.

This is the universal saving will of God: that all people may be saved.

God reaches out even to those who may seem distant from him so that they too may receive salvation.

In the second reading, Saint Paul calls himself an apostle to the Gentiles.

He reaches out to them so that all might be saved.

The responsorial psalm gives us the same universal vision:

“Let the peoples praise you, O God. Let all the peoples praise you.”

And:

“Let all nations learn your salvation.”

The question for each of us is therefore:

What do we do to reach out to everyone, even those who do not worship with us?

How universal are we?

How Catholic are we?

Let us pray that missionaries may continue to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth according to Christ's command:

“Go and make disciples of all nations.”

Let leaders work for the common good of all, not merely for a select few, remembering that all are citizens of the same country.

For we are all sons and daughters of the same heavenly Father.

And God is Father of us all.

That is why, at every Holy Mass, we address him as:

“Our Father,”

not merely “my Father.”

He is Father of us all.

Let us pray for the grace to live together, accepting one another as brothers and sisters of the same heavenly Father. 

Amen

The Trouble With Healthcare In America

 

Mass Readings and Reflection for Saturday, August 15th, 2026: Assumption Saturday

First Reading: (Revelation 11:19; 12:1–6, 10)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 45)

Response: On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

Second Reading: (1 Corinthians 15:20–27)

Gospel: (Luke 1:39–56)

Reflection: 

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Church teaches that after her earthly life, the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken up into heaven, body and soul. As human beings, we know that death is the experience we shall all pass through. At death, the body is separated from the soul. The body decays at burial on account of sin, (Romans 8:10).

It is only at the resurrection that we shall have glorified bodies, different from our earthly bodies. As (Philippians 3:20–21), (1 John 3:2), and (1 Corinthians 15:42–44) tells us.

But in the case of the Blessed Virgin Mary, although she was a human being, she was privileged that the same body she used on earth was the same body she took into heaven. She was assumed body and soul into heaven. Her earthly body did not undergo decay.

When we teach this, some people think we are making Mary into a (g)od or comparing her with God. No, she isn't God.

There were others who received the privilege of not undergoing bodily corruption. The prophet Elijah, for example, did not even die. He was taken up into heaven by a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:1). Was he God? Not at all. It was a privilege granted to him.

There are also saints who had the gift of incorruptibility. We think of St. Bernadette Soubirous, St. John Mary Vianney, St. Catherine Labouré, St. Padre Pio, and St. Carlo Acutis (recent). These were human beings who died, but their bodies did not undergo corruption. It was a privilege granted to them by God.

There are other saints whose bodies decayed, but these ones did not. It was a privilege granted to them by God.

So why do we think Mary should not enjoy privileges granted to her by God as a human being?

The lives we are living now is itself a privilege. Others are dead. The jobs we have is a privilege. Others do not have it. The families we have, the talents we have, and the opportunities we have that others do not have are all privileges given to us by God.

So why do we think Mary should not enjoy privileges granted to her by God?

The Bible teaches us that our bodies decay on account of sin. If we teach and believe that Mary was without sin, that she was immaculately conceived, that God preserved her from the stain of original sin, and that she did not commit personal sin, then it follows that she did not have to undergo decay, just as Jesus did not decay because he did not sin.

Again, all this was a privilege granted to her by God.

For those who always seek biblical proof, where is it found in the Bible that Mary was taken up into heaven?

Some lay the claim to sola scriptura, meaning Scripture alone, and argue that if something is not explicitly in the Bible, therefore it is not true.

But Scripture itself confirms that it is limited in what it records. In (John 21:25), we are told that not everything Jesus said or did was written in the Bible. If everything had been written, the world itself could not contain all the books that would be written.

Therefore, certain things were written, but not everything.

For this reason, the Catholic Church teaches us that we should also make recourse to Sacred Tradition and to the teaching of the Magisterium, the teaching authority of the Church. They also reveal truth to us.

Jesus said:

“Many things I still have to say to you that I have not said, but when I go and the Holy Spirit comes, he will reveal to you all truth.”

The Holy Spirit continues to teach, inspire, and reveal truth.

When the Holy Spirit inspires the teaching authority of the Church, the Magisterium, and the Church teaches, Catholics receive that teaching as divinely revealed truth.

Therefore, the fact that something is not explicitly written in the Bible does not automatically mean that it is false.

Let us go back to those who claim that because something is not explicitly in the Bible, it cannot be true.

Where is it in the Bible that we should go to church on Sunday?

The Bible says, “Keep holy the Sabbath,” and the Sabbath is Saturday.

Yet Christians go to church on Sunday.

Where is the verse that explicitly says we should go to church on Sunday?

There is no such verse.

But through Sacred Tradition and the teaching of the Magisterium, Christians came to observe the day of the Lord's Resurrection. If we go back to the Acts of the Apostles, we see the early Christians beginning to honor the day of the Lord's Resurrection.

So we cannot limit ourselves simply to asking, “Where is it found in the Bible?”

The Church makes recourse to biblical passages and, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, understands and teaches the truths of the faith.

Mary's Assumption

Where does Scripture tell us explicitly that Mary was taken up into heaven body and soul?

There is no single verse that says, “Mary was assumed into heaven.”

But there are biblical passages that the Church makes recourse to and interprets in light of Sacred Tradition.

Did Mary die?

Yes, of course she died.

Because Jesus died, Mary, sharing in the earthly ministry of her Son, also certainly died.

But nowhere in Scripture do we find an explicit statement that Mary died.

Does that mean she did not die?

Of course not.

Nowhere in Scripture do we find an explicit statement that St. Joseph, the husband of Mary, died. Does that mean he did not die?

Of course not.

The fact that Scripture does not record something does not mean that the event did not happen.

Where does Scripture explicitly tell us that there are three persons in one God?

There is nowhere that the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is written in those exact words. Yet the Trinity is a truth taught to us by the Magisterium, grounded in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, and received as Christian truth.

The Church also makes recourse to the image of the Ark of the Covenant.

In (Exodus 25), God gave Moses instructions for the construction of the Ark of the Covenant. It was to be made of fine material, acacia wood, and pure gold.

The Old Testament Ark contained the covenant and the sacred things of God.

Mary can be understood as the New Testament Ark because she carried Jesus, the New Covenant between God and humanity, in her womb.

If the Old Testament Ark that contained the covenant was treated with such reverence, then Mary, who carried Christ Himself, the New Covenant, was uniquely privileged by God.

That is why she was preserved from the stain of original sin-a privilege granted to her by God.

“On Your Right Stands the Queen”

The response to today's Psalm says:

“On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.”

The Book of Revelation, chapter 12, depicts a woman appearing as a great sign in heaven, with a crown upon her head of twelve stars.

The Church understands this imagery in connection with the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In Luke 1, Mary herself says:

“All generations will call me blessed.”

She is full of grace, a special privilege granted to her by God.

But above all, celebrating Mary's Assumption foreshadows the resurrection of all the just.

It points us toward the destiny of every Christian who remains faithful to God.

Mary as Mother and Intercessor

The Assumption presents Mary to us as a mother and intercessor.

As we celebrate the great things that God has done for her and in her life, let us also celebrate what God has done and continues to do in our own lives.

The Preface of today's Mass beautifully expresses this mystery:

“It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, Holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord.”

Today the Virgin Mother of God was assumed into heaven as the beginning and image of the Church's coming to perfection and a sign of sure hope and comfort to your pilgrim people.

The Assumption of Mary is therefore not merely a celebration about Mary.

It is also a message of hope for us.

Mary's glorification points toward the destiny God desires for His faithful people.

Her Assumption reminds us that our earthly life is not the end. Death is not the final word. The resurrection awaits those who belong to Christ.

Mary stands before us as an example of what God can accomplish in a person who completely gives herself to Him.

Let us therefore imitate her faith, her humility, her obedience, her trust, and her willingness to cooperate with God's plan.

You will not allow her to see the corruption of the tomb, since from her own body she marvelously brought forth your incarnate Son, the author of all life.

Amen.

O Mary, assumed into heaven, intercede for us. 

Amen.

Mass Readings and Reflection for Friday, August 14th, 2026

First Reading: (Ezekiel 16:59–63)

Responsorial Psalm: (Isaiah 12)

Response:

Your anger turned away and you comforted me.

Gospel: (Matthew 19:3–12)

Reflection

In the Old Testament, the Jews were very accustomed to making solemn oaths or covenants. These covenants bound them to the promises they had made. God himself made covenants with Abraham, confer Genesis chapter 12, chapter 15 and chapter 17, where God promised to make him a great nation, to bless all families through him, and to give him land.

In Genesis chapter 15, we see the covenant ceremony through the blood sacrifice of animals. Each time a covenant was made, a sacrifice was made to ratify it. That is, to solemnize it. God made a covenant with Noah, with Israel, and he made a covenant with us, and he ratified it with the blood of Christ on the cross.

That is to show us the power of covenants. And in all of the covenants, God always kept his promises.

This is how serious oaths and covenants were, that the one who made them was bound by them.

We remember in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 14:1-12, King Herod swore an oath whatever his daughter asked for, he was going to give to her. Though it was rash, yet he had to keep his word.

This is the reason Psalm 116:18 says, “My vows to the Lord I will fulfill.”

No one forces you to make an oath, but if you do, you must keep it. Because in swearing oaths, we call God to be a witness, and we cannot therefore not keep it because we make God a liar. Being a witness to something that is false.

And this is the second commandment. Do not call the name of the Lord your God in vain.

I swear. I swear.

Calling God to be a witness for what you know is false.

Considering how much people fail to keep their oaths and covenants, how they joked about it, Jesus thought it were better not to swear at all. (Matthew 5: 34-37). Let your yes be yes, and let your no be no. Simple.

And the letter of James 5: 12 says the same.

In the first reading, the prophet Ezekiel says God will treat us badly for making light of an oath and breaking a covenant. While God keeps his covenants with us and renews them, we make mockery of ours. We joke about them. Saying things that we do not mean. 

This is how serious it is.

It were better not to make an oath at all than to make an oath and joke about it.

One of such covenants is marriage. When two people come to church before God and the people and make a solemn covenant, a bond of marriage, to live together as husband and wife forever till death, it is no joking matter.

Once a covenant is made, the couple must be ready to keep it. And marriage of course is a very challenging institution to say the least. We like to make vows and when things are not as we thought, we walk. That is classic of what the Gospel is talking about. 

This was to sound a strong warning to those who thought that they could make empty promises or make covenants they will not keep. 

We had better not do it at all than do it thinking and will walk out of it as we choose.

Therefore, it is an invitation, an exhortation to think carefully and choose wisely before getting into a covenant with anybody.

The insistence, therefore, is to know and understand what it entails and not be in a rush to get into it.

Better a covenant never made than a covenant made and you want to go back on your word.

And once we make our covenants to the Lord, our vows to the Lord, we must fulfill.

Amen.

Mass Readings and Reflection for Thursday, August 13th, 2026

First Reading: (Ezekiel 12:1–12)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 78)

Response: Never forget the deeds of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation:

A new commandment I give you, says the Lord:

love one another as I have loved you.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: (Matthew 18:21–19:1)

Reflection:

Forgiveness! Forgiveness! Forgiveness! We all have have one or two things to say about this one. We also know that we often find it hard to forgive others and ourselves for several reasons.

Perhaps it is because of the kind of thing that was done to them. It could be betrayal or something more. We can find it hard to forgive one who betrayed or worse something more tragic.

It could also be because of the kind of person who did what they did. Perhaps it was a trusted friend, a spouse, or a sibling. No wonder the psalmist says, “If this had been done by an enemy, I could bear his stones. But it was done by you, someone I least expected it from.”

For that reason, some find it hard to forgive.

Some find it hard to forgive because of the number of times that the offender has consistently done it. It is not the first time, not the second, not the third, not even the fourth or the fifth. They kept doing the same thing all the time. They always did it. This time you said their cup was full, and you refuse to forgive.

Some find it hard to forgive because of how the offended felt, or still feels, as a consequence of what was done to them old time ago. They feel bitter. They feel empty. For that reason, some find it hard to forgive.

Others find it hard to forgive because the offenders have never ever apologized. Never have they said, “I am sorry for what I did.”

Perhaps if they apologized, they would have been forgiven.

Do you forgive someone who has never told you sorry for what they did?

For this reason, some find it hard to forgive.

Others find it hard to forgive because of the circumstances in which they found themselves before what was done to them. Perhaps they were desperate and needed help, but the help never came from those whom they expected it. And for that reason, they have chosen never to forgive.

If it were perhaps in an ordinary time, they would have understood. But not when they were desperate and badly needed your attention or help, and were failed.

And so on and so forth we go for plethora of reasons why some people find it hard to forgive.

Whatever the reasons may be, mind you, Jesus is not saying we should not feel hurt or feel bad. We have a right to feel hurt or to feel bad. When offended, we have every reason to be offended. We have every reason to feel sad. We have a right to express our feelings, our emotions, and disappointment.

Yet, there is also always a reason to forgive.

First, we forgive because God forgave us first. So it is a return favor.

In the parable, the king forgave the servant his debt. He expected him to show favor to his fellow servant.

“Look at you. I forgave you all that debt you owed me. Did you not also have to forgive your fellow servant?”

So we forgive because God forgave us first.

Look at the things we do to him. See how much we owe him, yet he forgives us our debt.

It is a reason, therefore, why we too must forgive others.

Do you know the kinds of things we do to God and how consistently, and even deliberately, we do them daily?

So we have no case to say, “I will not forgive because they have consistently done the same to me,” or, “I will not forgive because they deliberately did it.”

Yes, we do the same to God, yet he forgives us.

So it is a return favor.

We keep hurting God, yet he kept forgiving, and he kept no score of wrong.

We also have to forgive because it is the condition for our own forgiveness.

Forgiveness is a condition for our own forgiveness.

This is how God will refuse to forgive us if we refuse to forgive others.

And are you sure you are too good as not to need God's forgiveness?

And if the Lord were not to forgive us, who will survive?

“If you, O Lord, were to mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive?”

But you see, he forgives us.

And that is the condition we hear from the parable:

“This is how my heavenly Father will deal with each one of you if you fail to forgive your brother or your sister.”

So if we choose not to forgive, it means we are telling God directly:

“Don't forgive us as well.”

And if God does not forgive, we shall not make heaven.

This is the reason we forgive.

Jesus went through all we have been through, even worse, yet he forgave.

Forgiveness is not because the offender deserves it. We are not doing them a favor.

Rather, we are returning a favor God has done to us first.

Forgiveness is also doing Y

ourselves a favor. We are doing yourselves a favor.

Because when we forgive, indeed, we are the beneficiaries.

The true beneficiary of forgiveness is the one who forgives.

By forgiving, we choose not to let what happened bother us.

We choose to free our hearts, our minds, and our souls.

We choose peace over war.

We choose our mental health over brooding over an act for which, for all we know, we are killing ourselves, the offender is enjoying their life.

Just a little caution.

Remember, we are not God.

We may choose not to forgive them. We may choose not to act nicely towards them or to stop being supportive.

Yes.

But remember, we are not God.

We don't give them life.

So, with or without us, they will go on living their best life.

So you see, it is us hurting ourselves when we choose  unforgiveness.

Forgiveness itself is a strength, not Weakness

Forgiveness becomes easy when we first forgive ourselves and remember how we are also sinners in need of God's forgiveness.

In fact, if not for God's forgiveness, we would not be here speaking.

Who are the people we found so hard to forgive?

Open our hearts and let them go.

Who are those who have offended us?

Even if they have never told us sorry, open our hearts and let them go.

Remember, we too need forgiveness from God.

God has forgiven you and I.

It is a return favor.

Forgive others and let them go.

And if it is us who offend others, why make it hard for them to forgive us?. Sometimes, we all play a role.

Let's go to them and apologize if we had a role in anything leading to their attitude or offense towards us.

Tell them we are sorry so that it can become an easy process for them to forgive us also.

Let us pray for that grace that both offender and offended may find the path, the journey towards peace and reconciliation, towards genuine forgiveness from the heart.

That offenders may always go to the offended and tell them they are sorry, acknowledge their mistake, and ask for forgiveness.

And that the offended may always find a place in their heart to forgive those who have offended them.

Amen 🙏 

God bless you 🙏