Team Jesus

 ‎"You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind; You shall love your neighbor as yourself." ‎In today's gospel reading, we are reminded of our number one duty, which is to love our God with all we have. These days, we are blinded by our own thinking that we forget God's greatest commandment.  ‎This verse struck me because I was reminded that love is not just an emotional feeling; it requires commitment, service, and sacrifice for the well-being of others. I believe that we cannot genuinely love God while ignoring or mistreating the people around us because loving God requires loving His people. He tells us that loving Him doesn't only include praying, reading the bible, or attending mass. We need to show compassion, genuinity, and care for others—even people we do not like, in order to show true love to God. Though sometimes, it is hard to do such things for the people we do not love, and to whom do not love us...

 “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”  This verse struck me because it reminds me that I have responsibilities not only to other people but also to God. God teaches us to do what is right and to give Him the importance He deserves in our lives. Sometimes, I become too focused on my schoolwork, personal problems, and other things that I forget to spend time with God. Through this Gospel, I realized that even though I have many responsibilities in life, I should never forget God because He is the one who guides me. I believe God is telling me to be responsible, honest, and faithful in everything I do.  Moving forward, I will try to become more responsible in my studies and in my daily life. I will also make time to pray and thank God for His blessings. I will remember to do what is right even when it is difficult and to put God at the center of my decisions. I will apply this Gospel by balancing my responsibilities and my relationship with God....

 During difficult times, we ought to be lost in a world full of distractions, practicality, and people who view life so differently from us. “We live safe and secured lives” that we don’t have to think beyond our tasks, only those that would contribute to the goals that we are so determined of attaining. We lack awareness. We become so comfortable of fulfilling the needs of everyday life.  We lose sight of those that truly matter, those who truly matter because we are so focused on the things that are already set for us, eventually leading us towards a life so focused on walking a straight path, ignoring the rocks that would make it bumpy. What we don’t always notice is that God walks with us through the bumpy roads, guiding us through and through. Even when we become so focused on other things, He still stays with us. Many times it has been where I would be distracted, worried, and afraid of what comes after. I am accustomed to having a certain feeling when it comes to school...

 “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.” In the Gospel reading, God reminds us that He has gifted us a place we can call home—a place where we can find peace and rest. He created a world that provides us with what we need throughout our lives. However, when our personal interests get the better of us, we often forget Who gifted us with such abundant blessings. We can become the worst versions of ourselves when we begin comparing ourselves with others, measuring how many things we have under our names, and developing the habit of claiming ownership over things that we can never truly possess—especially when they are far greater than material things. Last Sunday, October 4, 2026, I was truly amazed by how the priest related the Gospel to the ongoing issue surrounding Pax Silica, and I came to understand why. Authorities have simply taken away something that was never truly theirs to begin wi...

 Today’s Gospel reminds us that following God is not about being perfect or never making mistakes. We are all sinners, and there will be times when we disappoint God, the people around us, and even ourselves. The first son initially refused his father, but he eventually changed his mind and did what his father asked. This shows that our mistakes do not define us forever. What truly matters is having the humility to recognize when we have gone wrong, repent, and turn back to God. This Gospel also makes me reflect on what it truly means to be a follower of God. It is easy to say that we believe in Him or call ourselves Christians, but our actions should also reflect our faith. Like the second son who said yes but did not go, we can sometimes say the right things while continuing to live in ways that go against God's will. True faith requires more than words. It requires us to listen, repent, change, and sincerely try to follow God's path. There will always be moments when we beco...

 Imagine giving medicine to a toddler. Usually, they resist. In the child's mind, the medicine tastes horrible and they are put in an uncomfortable situation. However in the mind of the person giving the medicine, it is necessarry for the child to recover. That kind of relationship is quite similar to our Relationship with God.  Today's gospel tells the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, and it emphasizes that God's ways is not like our ways. Just like how a toddler and an adult do not meet eye to eye, us humans also cannot understand why God is putting us through certain situation. Adults know more than toddlers, and God knows even more than humans.  Although it is sometimes a challenge, I think it is incredibly comforting that God, creator of all things, promises to never leave your side. Just the thought of it makes me realize that many of my problems are actually not that big of a deal, and even if they were, God can handle it anyway. Whenever I am reminded that ...

 Matthew 18:21–35 tells a story of forgiveness and mercy toward one’s fellow brothers and sisters. In this gospel, a servant was forgiven an enormous debt by his master. However, when he faced the same situation with his fellow servant, he did not act with the same mercy and demanded immediate payment. When the master learned of his hypocrisy, he grew furious and punished him. Forgiveness must not be withheld when we are called to show grace and true compassion. Mercy is just as important when it comes to equality and justice. Extending grace as a child of God is a way to follow in His teachings. As a young person, I see how easily grudges and misunderstandings disrupt our relationships. There are times when we are blinded by anger, forgetting that true mercy should be freely given. After all, we're all just human; no one was made perfect. Choosing forgiveness, even in difficult situations, is what has enriched my faith and deepened my connection with God's word. Heavenly Fathe...

 Gospel Reflection  In Matthew 18:15-20, Jesus teaches the disciples how to handle conflicts with one another. He tells them that when someone does something wrong, they should approach the person privately and talk about the situation instead of immediately involving other people.  This Gospel made me reflect on how I handle conflicts with the people around me. There are times when someone does something that hurts or disappoints me, my first reaction is to distance myself from them or keep my feelings to myself. As someone who doesn’t want to start an argument or make the situation worse, I feel uncomfortable telling them that they have done something wrong. However, Jesus shows me that avoiding the problem is not always the best way to deal with it.  I realized that handling conflicts does not always mean trying to prove that I am right. Sometimes, I become so focused on explaining my side of the story that I forget that the other person also has feelings and thei...

 In matthew 16:21-27, Jesus reminds His disciples that following Him is not always easy. He tells them that He must suffer, be rejected, and eventually be killed, but Peter finds it difficult to accept this. Jesus then teaches that anyone who wants to follow Him must be willing to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. This Gospel makes me realize that life will not always go according to what I want. There will be struggles, disappointments, and sacrifices, but these challenges can help me become stronger and closer to God. Sometimes, I may want to choose the easier path, but Jesus reminds me that doing what is right requires courage and faith. I also learned that success is not only about gaining things or pleasing other people, what truly matters is how I live my life and how I treat others. I should not lose myself just to achieve worldly things. Instead, I should trust God, remain faithful, and continue doing what is good even when it is difficult. “Take up your...

  In Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus was talking to His disciples and asked them, “Who do you say that I am?”. Simon Peter then replied to him saying that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, which Jesus then affirmed His statement, blessed him, and renamed him “Peter” as a sign of authority for building His church. This Gospel reflects a lot about our view as a Christian and shows how deep our faith looks like with our relationship with God. It reminds us of our way of viewing Jesus personally and asks us if we truly have a genuine relationship with Him. When I read this Gospel, it also made me reflect about my view of Jesus as a believer. As someone who grew up in a religious household, I sometimes ask myself similar questions like, “Who is Jesus for me?” or “Do I really know him personally?”. These reflections really lead to me seeking an answer and wanting to learn more about my relationship with Him. Even though we say we are His followers, what makes it truly special is the g...

The gospel passage talks about the dominion and kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one chosen and presented to bring glory to the Almighty Father, meaning, His glory would not cease to exist. Moreover, this reminds us to always remember the will of the Father and His everlasting love that no man can replace.  This reflection serves as a reminder of the grace the Lord has showered upon this world. As all individuals should humble themselves and serve Jesus as He is the chosen Son of man; there is no one above him, other than God the Father of all creation. As Hebrew 13:15 says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name”. - Sophia Rafaelah Engano

 Sunday's Gospel reminded me that faith is not just about knowing, but about doing. In Luke 6:46-49, Jesus asks, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but do not do what I command?" It made me reflect on my own life. Am I just going through the motions, or am I truly living out my faith? As a youth, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life. But Jesus' words challenge me to put my faith into action. Am I using my talents and abilities to serve others? Am I being kind and compassionate to those around me? In my daily life, I can start small. I can offer a smile to someone who needs it, or lend a helping hand to a friend. These little acts of kindness can make a big difference. Let's strive to live out our faith authentically, not just with our words, but with our actions. May we build our lives on the rock of Jesus' teachings, and may our faith shine brightly in all we do. - Neil Jeff Bacquial

This Gospel challenges our desire for power and recognition. James and John seek honor next to Jesus, but He teaches that true greatness lies in service, not status. He asks if they can endure the suffering and sacrifice required to follow Him. They agree, but Jesus explains that such positions are for those chosen by God. Unlike worldly rulers who dominate others, Jesus teaches that greatness in God's kingdom comes from serving. He tells His disciples, "Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant." Jesus exemplifies this by coming not to be served, but to serve and give His life for others. This passage encourages us to rethink our views on leadership and success. In a world that values power and control, Jesus invites us to embrace humility, love, and service. True discipleship means prioritizing others and finding joy in serving them, following Christ’s example of selfless love. - Kobe Adana ccsscasasdawsdasdsdasdw

     In today's gospel, Jesus teaches us about what humility is all about. He clearly stated that the greatness in His Kingdom comes not from status or power, but from serving others. Moreover, Jesus reminds us that humility lies in caring for others, especially those who are vulnerable.    This could mean being kind to someone who feels excluded or recognizing that our achievements should not make us arrogant but inspire us to lift others up. It is much better to serve others selflessly and not thinking of receiving in return because knowing that this is what pleases our God.    This reflection encourages us to focus on being a humble and compassionate and not thinking solely on our personal success. It is very fulfilling if we also think of the well-being of those around us. By doing so, we can grow not only for ourselves mentally but also spiritually, following Christ’s example of servant leadership.               ...

   The Gospel passage addresses how the Pharisees and scribes were upset because Jesus’ followers didn’t follow the tradition of washing their hands before eating. They were more concerned about it because the Pharisees believed this washing was necessary to stay “pure” and “clean”. However, Jesus tells them that they are focusing too much on these man-made rules; they are misguided by it, but Jesus explains that it is not what we do outside but rather what really matters is what is inside our hearts; this includes our thoughts, intentions, and actions that come from within and what really makes a person unclean and impure isn’t how they don’t wash before eating but the bad thoughts and actions that come within their hearts.         In essence, Jesus is teaching us to prioritize our inner transformation over external conformity. Reminding us that purity comes from having a good heart. As 1 Samuel 16:7 says, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height...

        The gospel for today highlights the challenging nature of Jesus' teachings, and the importance of faith in truly understanding and accepting them.       Many of Jesus' own disciples found his words about the necessity of his body and blood for eternal life to be "hard" or difficult to accept. This shows that we humans tend to struggle with concepts that go beyond our natural understanding while Jesus’ teachings often had a deeper spiritual meaning that only Jesus or God knows. This also shows that faith is necessary in order to fully accept Jesus’ teachings, and that it is not enough to simply hear the words - we must also be willing to put our faith in them.      Ultimately, this gospel reminds us that following Jesus requires willingness and faith to understand the challenging truths of his teachings, and to rely on God's Spirit to guide our understanding. It's a call to a deeper level of commitment, beyond the surface level of...

       In the parable of Jesus, that the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who woke up early that hires workers for his vineyard. The landowner and the workers agreed on a silver coin for the day, when the landowner went out at nine in the morning, he saw idlers in the square so he said to them, “You, too, go to my vineyard and I will pay you what is just.” So they went. The land owner went out midday and the afternoon and did the same thing.      Finally he went out at the last working hour and he saw others standing there and he said to them, “Why do you stay idle the whole day?” They answered, “Because no one has hired us.” The landowner said, “Go and work in my vineyard.” And so they did.      When the evening came, the landowner told his manager to call the workers and give them their wages, beginning with the last and ending with the first. Those who worked at the last working hour they were given A silver coin each. When i...

       Jesus The Messiah, “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you lose on earth shall be loosed in heaven, who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Since Peter was the one who recognized Jesus as the son of the Living God, He is now the handler of the keys if the kingdom of God.      Many of us still do not believe totally about God’s faithfulness and love to us. But there are still who believe but do not follow in God’s Ten (10) commandments. They will only call God’s help and mercy when they have obstacles and trials come in their ways like emergencies, dreaded diseases and in depression. And when they can overcome those mentioned challenges in life, they forgot God even to thank Him for surpassing all those life’s suffering.      This calls us all Christians and believers of Christ to sill hang on to our faith to God in sadness, loneliness, gladness an...

  The story of the Canaanite woman's encounter with Jesus is found in today's gospel. This chapter represents a number of significant topics: such as faith, modesty, and the applicability of Jesus' message to all people. A Canaanite mother begs Jesus in this text to help her daughter who is being tormented by a demon. The woman persists, kneeling before Jesus and pleading, "Lord, help me!" At first, Jesus appears to ignore her, telling her that His primary focus is on the "lost sheep of Israel," but He later seems to change His tune, telling her that it is not right to take the children's bread and give it to "dogs," a reference to non-Jews. The woman's response is crucial to the plot. She accepts her Gentile status, but ingeniously flips Jesus' example by adding, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Her response demonstrates deep humility, unshakeable faith, and acknow...

Just like when we trust God, we know that He'll always be with us through our hardships. Once we realize that it is not us against the world; rather, it's us and our God against the world, we suddenly realize that we don't have to go through this life alone. We should be accepting of others around us because we were made in God's image. We may overcome previously insurmountable obstacles if we have complete faith that someone will be there for us in our hour of need. - Charlz Racel Dela Cruz