Paring Pasyonista
Paring Pasyonista offers concise reflections on the Gospel seen through the lens of priesthood and the Passion of Christ. Each meditation bridges Scripture and vocation — revealing how the Word continues to shape, challenge, and sustain those called to serve.
The Life-changing Touch
“Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.”
Jesus is consumed healing energy that anyone who needs restoration of health begged to be allowed to touch him. All who were able to touch even just the tassel on his cloak were healed. Being close to Jesus means opening one’s life to the newness every day.
Lent is a season to look deeper on how close we are to our Lord Jesus Christ and see how our life is being influenced by Him everyday!
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us when we just want to be closer to you but unwilling to let you renew our life.
Mk 6:58-56
Real Sight
“I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.”
Jesus exposed what is real blindness and real sight.
The blind was able to see clearly because he believed Jesus, the Pharisees were not able to see and remain blind because of unbelief.
Discipleship is knowing Jesus deeply, loving Him dearly and serving Him purely.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us when we choose to remain blind because of unbelief which deprived us to have a real sight.
Jn 9:1-41
Humility
“…for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus warned his audience about the danger of “I am holier than you” attitude. Our holiness does not depend on how we lift our selves up above others but on how we humble ourselves before God.
Discipleship is learning how we can truly humble ourselves before God and our neighbor.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us, when we see ourselves as above the rest of humankind and fail to see how lowly we are in your presence.
Lk 18:9-14
The First of all the commandments
"You are not far from the Kingdom of God."
Jesus gave two inseparable commandments in the Gospel today. They are to love God above all and love your neighbor as yourself! Jesus gave the compact answer that should inspire every rule and law. Jesus did not only give the law but also a measure to see the legitimacy of every law. Is it loving God and loving neighbor without diminishing oneself?
Discipleship is a journey towards the Kingdom of God by living out these two inseparable commandments.
Lord Jesus have mercy on us when we can say with our lips that we love you yet not able to love our neighbor especially those who offended us as well as doing charity as if it is enough without having the time to worship you and discern your love and will in our lives.
Mk 12:28-34
Enemies of the Kingdom
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
Jesus did not come to divide but to invite us to enter the Kingdom of God. Clearly there are those who would like to have their own kingdom like Satan. Those who follow Satan surely are not with Jesus. Our oneness with Jesus is not simply the sacrament of baptism but the clarity of who really reigns in our hearts that influences our decisions and choices in life.
Discipleship is to love, follow and serve Jesus alone.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us when we sometimes choose to let our hearts be reigned by other beings aside from you that make us actually enemies of the Kingdom of God.
Lk 11:14-23
Fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”
Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. Everything that points to Jesus signifies the purpose of the law and the prophets, hence, Jesus would not abolish them. Consequently, Jesus would clarify in his proclamation that everything will lead to the establishment of the New Heaven and the New Earth - the Kingdom Of God! Every law that we promulgate may always be related to the building of the Kingdom of God and not the kingdom of human beings.
Discipleship is to be familiar with the Kingdom of God so as not to be misled and mislead other people.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us when we fail to see the importance to obey the law in spirit which gears towards the building of your kingdom.
Mt 5:17-19
Forgiveness
“Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?As many as seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times…” Peter acknowledges that human beings sins against one another and would like to know when is the time not to forgive anymore. Jesus affirmed Peter’s assertion but taught Peter that forgiveness is not about how many times but as long as we want our heart to be free from unforgiveness.
For God, forgiveness never ends for his mercy is always available to those who want to avail of it. So, as humans we all are sinners and need forgiveness. Forgiveness is made available to us when Jesus offered himself as a ransom for our sins. Sincere repentance always merits forgiveness from God.
Mt 18:21-35
Teredore, when we are forgiven, we also must forgive those who offended us. Unwillingness to forgive means we have not truly live in our lives the power of being forgiven. To forgive is divine for it manifests the presence of God’s grace actively working in our lives. To err is human, to forgive is divine.
Discipleship is willingness to forgive after receiving the grace of forgiveness.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us when we choose not to forgive and eventually take your sacrifice on the cross for granted which obviously harden more our hearts to receive and share your forgiveness.
The Native Place
“Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place…”
Jesus was aware that the prophets were first rejected in their native place. Familiarity builds contempt that Jesus’ pronouncement were taken with fury. Blessings and miracles did not happen in his native place because they drove Jesus away.
Discipleship is welcoming Jesus into our hearts and allowing him to do wonders into our lives.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us when we are blinded by our pride and jealousy and miss your transformative work in the process!
Lk 4:24-30
The Samaritan Woman
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Jesus treated the Samaritan woman with respect and dignity though he knew the woman was living in sin. Jesus did that which was socially forbidden like talking to a Samaritan much more to a woman.
The Samaritan Woman was the first person to whom Jesus expressly revealed his identity as the Messiah when she told Jesus that Messiah they were waiting for a long time would tell them everything.
Jesus offered the Samaritan woman a drink that will make in her a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
Jn 4:5-42 (International Women's Day)
The Samaritan Woman was clearly waiting for an opportunity to live a better life when she showed empathic desire to take the life-giving water that Jesus would love to a give to her. The Samaritan woman came out from her encounter with Jesus empowered and dignified. She was the first person to whom Jesus revealed his identity as the Messiah and she became the first witness of Jesus in Samaria.
In celebrating International Women’s Day, we can learn a lot on how Jesus related with women during His time. Jesus empowered women like Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna and valued them as disciples. Jesus challenged social norms by engaging meaningfully with women in public like conversing with a Samaritan Woman. Jesus listened to a sincere request of a poor and widowed mother by healing her son. Jesus showed compassion to a marginalized woman accused of adultery by lifting her spirit and giving her a new life asking her to go and sin no more. Jesus raised the bar of right relationship and opposed the prevailing culture that objectified women by declaring it as a sin for lust comes from one’s heart and mind.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us, when we fail to see and learn how you related with women before.
The Compassionate Father
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
Jesus presented the mercy of the God the Father as the compassionate father in the parable treated his two sons. The repentant son returned and welcomed with compassion by the Father. The father made the elder son realized that all the father has is also of his. God father has different ways of dealing with his sons who also had different temperaments. The bottom line is for God to always offer what is best for his children.
Discipleship is sharing the compassion of God to others!
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us when we take for granted your offer of love in the midst of our waywardness and stubbornness of heart!
Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
The Tenants
“Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”
Jesus considered those who are entrusted to proclaim the Kingdom of God as tenants.
The tenants are expected to be fruitful in the vineyard.
Discipleship is a process of becoming fruitful in the vineyard of the Lord.
Lord, have mercy on us when we neglect our tasks to be fruitful in proclaiming your Kingdom!
Mt 21:33-43, 45-46
Lazaruz
“…And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table.”
Jesus did not give the name of the rich man in contrast to the trend in our society today. Jesus named the poor man as Lazarus. Biblical Meaning: Derived from Elazar (Hebrew) and Lazaros (Greek), it means "God has helped" or "whom God helps".
Most poor have what is needed to get God’s attention which most rich do not have. The poor do not have the power which most rich have in any society. The rich man’s fault is not greediness but indifference. It is a state of lacking interest, concern, or emotional reaction towards someone or something, often characterized by apathy, nonchalance, or a neutral attitude.
Lk 16:19-31
Discipleship is becoming emphatic like Jesus for the opposite of love may not be hate but indifference.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us when we tend to evade and see your face in our poor sisters and brothers and fail to lift a finger when we know you have blessed us with so much to help.
The Master
“Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
We have the tendency to find the easier route of being served than to serve. Jesus taught his disciples that his way is not the easiest route but the necessary path towards salvation.
Discipleship is doing the Master’s way to serve.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us when we choose to do the easiest way rather than what is necessary as you have shown as our master.
Mt 20:17-28