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 Servant
“All their works are performed to be seen.”
Jesus warned his disciples not to do things like the Pharisees. The Pharisees wanted to promote themselves in performing their tasks. Their teachings and deeds did not add up. Humility is the key in serving God.
Servants promote the Lord and not themselves.
Discipleship is learning how to be effective in performing the tasks given without promoting oneself.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us when we use our office to promote ourselves and not your mercy and love.
Mt 23:1-12
Mercy
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
God loves us even when we are sinners. Jesus asked his disciples to be merciful like his Father. Judging or condemning others is not part of our business. Forgiving others and giving good gifts are things we are asked to do.
Discipleship is learning how to be merciful and forgiving like our father in heaven.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us when we were quick to judge and condemn others instead of helping people to be closer to you!
Lk 6:36-38
The Transfiguration
“Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Jesus shared to his disciples his impending death. Jesus had to assure his disciples not to be afraid of what will occur. Jesus allowed his disciples to see his glory in the mountain of transfiguration. Jesus knew that it would be hard for others to understand the vision, hence forewarned his disciples not to tell anyone yet.
Discipleship is a lifelong listening to and trusting in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us in our journey of faith when we listen to ourselves more than to you who already assured as of your glory.
Mt 17:1-9
God’s Perfection
“So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Jesus asked his disciples to aim perfection as designed by the Father. The perfection of God is his sovereignty to be good to all, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. Loving one’s enemies is an important ingredient towards perfection. The cycle of violence can only be stopped when we all learn to love our enemies and stop hating one another.
Discipleship is learning deeply the meaning of God’s Love and practice universal love.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us when we harden our hearts and justify our hate and revenge to those who offended us.
Mt 5:43-48
The Good
“…If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him…”
Jesus knew that even wicked people would give something they think is good to their children. Jesus assured his disciples that the Heavenly Father would always give that which is truly good to them. God would not give us anything that would harm us, but the evil one may give us that which is seemingly good we desire but would harm us in the end.
Priesthood is knowing what is truly good to ask that God would give to his people without hesitation.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us when we ask only what we think is good for us temporarily and not the truly good that we need most for our salvation.
Mt 7:7-12
The Evil
“This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.”
Jesus see evil in the hearts of those whose intent is not to believe but to test Him.
Jesus did not co-opt to the crowd whose whims was to demand from him a sign.
Priesthood needs no sign for every vocation is God’s way of letting us know that He is in us.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us when we ask for a sign because of unbelief.
Lk 11:29-32
The Prayer
“This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”
Jesus showed us the importance of our relationship to God in prayer.
Jesus praised God according to who is God to him and to us.
Priesthood is a life of prayer in doing the will of God on earth as it is in heaven.
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us when we think our prayer is about how you should do our will rather than how we should do your will.
Mt 6:7-15