Sunday Gospel Reflection
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time | 24 September 2023
Isaiah 55:6-9 | Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a | Matthew 20:1-16a
NAGTATAMPO AKO SA‘YO, LORD
Gabb’z Gabriel, Parish Youth Ministry
Naramdaman mo na ba minsan na parang ang unfair ni Lord? Yung tipong nakakatampo na? You are not alone.
Sometimes we have this tendency to bargain with the Lord. Yun bang, “Lord, naging mabait naman ako, baka pwede mo na ibigay yung hinihiling ko?” Then kapag di binigay, ok lang naman. Baka nga naman kasi hindi pa oras or baka may mas magandang plano si Lord sa atin. Ang kaso, makikita natin yung ibang tao sa paligid natin who get “more than what they deserve.” That’s where everything starts. That’s what make things harder. Being a practicing Christian makes it more difficult. We attend formation programs and give our service to the Lord and we strive as much as we can to live our lives the way a good Christian should, putting into practice what we have learned. Nakakaguilty kapag alam mong mali pero nararamdaman mo siya. And jealousy is one of them.
I have served the Church for quite some time. I have attended lots of formation programs. But there are times I get a little bit jealous of the people that get the attention…the privilege…the special treatment. Sometimes I seem to ask myself, “Kulang pa ba Lord? Have I not given enough of myself to be given such blessing as those who don’t seem to deserve it? Naging faithful naman ako sa ‘yo. I tried my very best to follow your teachings. Pero bakit yung mga taong ganid…yung mga mapanlamang…yung mga hindi naman yata naniniwala sa Iyo, sila yung nakakaangat? Paano naman kami? May favorites ka ba Lord?” I have asked this more than once.
But God moves in ways we cannot fully understand, and He gives us the answers we seek. He only wants us to really seek Him in our lives. Looking back at my childhood, di kami nagutom. Nakapag-aral kami. Nakapaglaro in a safe environment. May bahay na maayos at kumpletong pamilya. At ngayon, may maayos na trabaho at maraming oportunidad sa paglilingkod sa komunidad at sa Simbahan. I am blessed.
Negative thoughts start infiltrating our hearts once we start to focus on what others have that we don’t, instead of being grateful for what we receive. We start to forget that God’s blessing is for all. He lets it rain for both the evil and the good. He lets the sun shine and set on everyone, not just the righteous. We often forget that all of us are children of God. And as brothers and sisters, we should be happy for each other. We are all blessed.
I still feel jealous from time to time. Nagtatampo pa rin naman ako sa Diyos minsan. But everytime I feel it, I look back at the multitude and countless mercies and blessings that God has bestowed upon me…and I feel alright.
