Gospel Reflection: Mt 18:15-20

Gospel: Mt 18:15-20
Event: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 4, 2011)

Pericope:
"If he listens to you, you have gained your brother"

Reflection:

In our noise and busy society today, active listening is neglected and barely achieved. Some may be half- listening, some listens whenever they just want to, some listens but don't try understand and valuing things they've just heard and some people don't even listen at all.

When I was younger, I've always thought that saying something/taking is much more important than listening, when it comes to communication. That, in order for you to be active in group talks and such, you have to talk a lot. I thought that JUST listening won't make you active and too much involved with group discussions. But then, I was wrong, and the opposite is how things go. When you listen, you understand you give turns to other people to give their opinion and you give time for yourself, to think what you have to say, before you speak up. Because, if you don't listen well and all you do is talk, talk and talk, you won't understand what really the other people are saying, you might appear arrogant and bossy, you might give a feedback that isn't related to what you r friends are talking about and that feedback may offend someone, with that you might get a negative feedback and might end up with misunderstanding, or worse.

That's the problem with our society. We've learned to be loud and have mouths that talk too fast, but we lost the ability of hearing even if we have two completely healthy functioning ears. We have time to do our office works but barely have time to listen to what our friends are saying. We hear concerts every month, but don't even bother to hear mass. We've learned how to speak fluently and professionally but sometimes have trouble getting the point of other people.

Because when we are professional, we think highly of ourselves that every word that comes from our mouth is regarded as correct, that's why we tend to talk first than other, or THINK BEFORE WE SPEAK. Arrogance, what we demonstrate and that's exactly how our society works. Not all, not the church.

Before, I wondered why covenants are so quiet and some other religious place. A quiet place is a good place to focus and concentrate yourself to something, that's why it's noiseless. In that way, you can hear what God is saying.

Gospel Reflection: Mt 18:21-35

Gospel: Mt 18:21-35
Event: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 11, 2011)

Pericope:
"This how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart"

Reflection:

Apologizing isn't forced, so does forgiveness. It is a voluntary work and like what the passage says, it comes from your heart. When these things are forced, that won't do anything better to the relationship that has broken, because it's not sincere and both parties don't like it. It may appear like you're doing it because you don't want your image degraded or because you want a second round. Not only that, but forced apologies/forgiveness happen when the other party require them to do so, only making the situation worse.

These things are common to political people, celebrities and even to us and our neighbors. These things start when someone tend to say little things that offended another one, and that person who's offended say stuff like "we're offended and we want you to apologize". That type of apology is designed to humiliate the person and teach them a lesson that what they did/said was wrong, even though sometimes it's really not.

Another thing is when someone does scandalous things or says bad things to another one then ask for apologies but end up doing them again. It's not sincere, because if you really meant that apology, you won't do it again. It's the type of apology used because you're supposed to do it or because you want to protect your public image.

Forced apologies are the same with forced forgiveness. We all know that we should forgive each other and move on to what happened. But forgiveness is not an instant decision made. It takes a gradual process and should be thought of carefully. If you forgive someone right away and doesn't like it, that person will assume that things are ok between you and him/her. And it would come a time  that you keep recalling and remembering that fight that you two had and probably, you would always get mad at him/her easily, which most likely will be turned into another fight.

That's how insincere apologies or forgiveness can be turned into another fight or misunderstanding. and that's why we should avoid blame and take time to think before we start to apologize and forgive someone.

(i got eight over ten for this)

Gospel Reflection: Mt. 20:1-16a

Gospel:  Mt. 20:1-16a
Event: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 2, 2011 )

Pericope:
"Friend, I am doing you no wrong, did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go"

Reflection:

I remember what my math teacher and current adviser told us bout "bitterness". Bitterness is what makes us think of inequality and inequity in something that has given to us. we tend to question and weight these things and claim that we deserve more, than anyone. It's basically a sign of immaturity and weakness. Because if you are mature, you won't complain and ask for more, instead you will thank what you had received and make the most of it. And if you are strong, you wont' depend on material things, because strong people are self-supporting and independent.

Bitter people are like the envious students in class who always compare their grades with others. their famous (a bit exaggerated) tag line would be "Ang daya, bakit mas mataas grade mo?" when they try to compare their work with others. Wherein, some wouldn't dare to care or waste their time figuring out why they got a low score when they expected have much higher grades. Because comparing what you don't have with what other have won't make you better, in terms of grades, yes, in terms of values and real knowledge, NO. If you keep comparing and comparing even the smallest (so-called 'biased') blessing things you receive, you will end up relying on them, wasting your time, your energy, people's patience, end up having a short character, and most importantly losing self-confidence and the ability to face and DEAL WITH IT.

I admit, I'm one of those bitter people that measure every corner of unfairness in the world. Like what I do, comparing my stuff with the brand-new things my cousin has, or even with looks and talents that I don't have. Especially when I work hard on something and feel like I really deserve something more. But remember: God made us equal. We might have low income but income isn't everything. We might be uglier but looks isn't everything. And there's always "something" that makes us stand out and be unique.

(i got perfect ten for this)

Gospel Reflection: Mt 21:28-32

Gospel: Mt 21:28-32
Event: 26th Sunday in Ordinary time (September 25, 2011)

Pericope:
"The tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you... ...and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him."

Reflection:
Not all sinners will be sinners forever. AS good persons or bad, we may and CAN change. No matter how cruel you are in your previous years, as long as you repent and change yourself for God, then God will forgive you and accept you again. The merits doesn't matter, simple things can be a great achievement. A 5-peso coin from the poor can be greater than a million-dollar donation from a wealthy official.

The problem with us people, is that we are too arrogant with ourselves and what (good) we've already done for the humankind. We pride and compare ourselves to sinners, thinking that we do no harm and that we don't need to ask forgiveness, like the Pharisee and the tax collector. We are too much confident with our status that we ignore our bad habits and our so-called "little" sins and that we close our ears to God.

(i got nine over ten for this)

Gospel Reflection: Mt 25:1-13

Gospel: Mt 25:1-13
Event: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 6, 2011)

Pericope:
"They were out buying oil when the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him to the wedding feast, and the doors were shut"

Reflection:

You can never predict what's going to happen next. It's always good to be prepared and expect what is not expected. But it's more complicated and difficult than that.

As I grow up, I didn't expect that preparing is as easy as getting the materials ready. Having a plan is not enough, there should be back up plans, in case you didn't made it successfully the first time. Sometimes we underestimate the value of planning, and just go on being confident with ourselves. But miracles happen, a number of things can happen in just a minute or in a matter of seconds, and we should be prepared for it.

More than planning, I've learned through these years that we should also be ready to accept whatever the result is. Sometimes life is just so tough, that no matter how successful your plans are, no matter how hard you work, and how focused you are on that goal, you won't get it/accomplish it. Not all of us can grab all the things we wanted even if we are very qualified for it. But nothing will happen to us if we cry over a thing and stop acting on it.

We should learn how to accept failure, and STOP THINKING THAT GOD IS MAKING LIFE DIFFICULT FOR US or God is punishing us. God's will can just not be broken, but it doesn't mean that we're destined for something. It can mean that God wants to open our minds and tell us something we haven't realized when we are just focused on that goal, or it can mean that God wants us to try something new or be in a new world that can make us stronger in preparation for achieving that goal.

(i got perfect ten for this)

Gospel Reflection: Mt 25:14-30

Gospel: Mt 25:14-30
Event: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 13, 2011)

Pericope:
"... but from those who are unproductive, even what they have will be taken from them"

Reflection:

When I was a kid (like 6 or 7 years old), I had a habit of comparing what I have from what others have. Some people are given twice as much as my allowance or some receives a lot more presents (on Christmas) than I have. Then I grew up thinking that money isn't everything and became more than satisfied whenever I receive something.

I was in 1st year and I see a lot of pretty face in our school. I thought, they don't have to spend an hour fixing their hair, unlike me, I spent the whole break time fixing myself. I used to envy people with fair complexion, but a year or so I realized that tanned people was better. People from other countries pay money to get their selves tanned.

Then, just last year, I thought about people who were born with beautiful voice. That they sound like an expert and have a really nice vibrato. I was jealous of their talent and I'm not a singers, so I pitied myself and ask God why he hasn't given me anything to be proud of (talent).

But then one day, we and my choir mates were testing our vocal range. Then I found out I can do 4 octaves and had a higher range than any of us sopranos. They were surprised and I thanked God for what had happened.

Although I didn't ask for having a 4 octave range of voice, I was grateful for that. And now I realized that we are given something more than we think we can have, it's just that we don't act to find it. Sometimes we don't realize how beautiful we are or how fortunate we are that we (some of us) don't have broken families in spite of low income. We can not get all the things we want, there's always a limit for everything.
(i got perfect ten for this)

High School works and stuff

I've finished and graduated High School just last month and I'll be keeping and disposing some of my school works they have given me for the past 4 years! Since there are some good articles that I made, I'll be posting them here just so I can remember what I wrote and at least keep it before throwing the actual copy. There are also good reviewers (especially for Filipino subject) that my teachers gave me and I'll be posting it too, so that high school students can refer to these reviewers.

Here are what I'll promise to post:

Filipino essays:

• Sanaysay ukol sa temang: "Kasaysayan, lakas ng Bayan"
• Sanaysay ukol sa "Kasaysayan and dahilan kung bakit tayo nandito"
• Sanaysay ukol sa "Ang Pagkakaiba ng mga Muslim at Katoliko'
• Sanaysay ukol sa "Ang lakas ang iyong sandata, ngunit kapag ito'y inubos, unti-unti ka ring nauubos"
• Sanaysay ukol sa "Mga taong may kapansanan"
• Sanaysay ukol sa "Liwanag o Kaningningan?"
• Sulatin ukol sa "Ano nga ba ako sa taong 2010-2011"
• Sulatin ukol sa "Ang Pagbabago ko para sa nakabubuti"

Reviewers in Filipino

• Tata Selo
• Panitikan

Gospel Reflections

• Jn 6:51-58
• Mt 11:25-30
• Mt 13:1-23
• Mt 13:24-43
• Mt 13:44-52
• Mt 18:15-20
• Mt 18:21-35
• Mt 20:1-16a
• Mt 21:28-32
• Mt 25:1-13
• Mt 25:14-30
• Mt 13:33-37