05/10/2026
๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฆ | ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ก๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ก ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ง๐๐ ๐
๐ช๐๐๐ก ๐ก๐ข ๐ข๐ก๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ช๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ก๐
Here we go again.
Another Sunday. Another story from our Parish Priest, ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐. ๐๐ฟ. ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐. ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ผ๐, that at first makes you wonder:
โFather, saan na naman po kaya papunta ito?โ ๐
This time, it began with something as ordinary as one kilo of rice.
A teenager bought a kilo of rice from a store and walked away. A few steps later, he suddenly remembered:
โAy, hindi pa pala ako nakabayad!โ
His friend quickly told him:
โHuwag mo nang bayaran, pre. Hindi naman niya alam eh.โ
The teenager frowned.
โHuwag mo nga akong igaya sa iyo.โ
So he returned to the store.
You would think he was going back to pay.
But no.
He approached the storekeeper and asked:
โAte, nasaan na nga pala yung sukli ko?โ
Wait... what? ๐
Hindi na nga nagbayad, humingi pa ng sukli! We laughed.
But as often happens with Fr. Rockโs stories, ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง ๐๐ข๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐.
Because suddenly, that kilo of rice was no longer simply about rice.
It became a mirror.
The teenager claimed something that was never his in the first place.
And that, Fr. Rock explained, is what happened in the Gospel.
The tenants were entrusted with a vineyard. They were not its owners. They were its stewards. Yet somewhere along the way, they began behaving as though the vineyard and everything it produced belonged to them.
And perhaps, without realizing it, ๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ข ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐.
Our life. Our time. Our talents. Our intelligence. Our money. Our positions. Our influence. Our opportunities. Even the people God has placed in our care.
๐ง๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฆ ๐๐ก๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐จ๐ฆ.
We are not the owners.
๐ช๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ช๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ.
And when a steward begins thinking like an owner, things can go terribly wrong.
Money entrusted for the good of many becomes personal money.
Power meant for service becomes a means of control.
A position entrusted for the common good becomes an opportunity for personal gain.
This is why Fr. Rock brought the Gospel into the realities we see around us: corruption, abuse of power, scams, fake news, ghost projects, vote buying, and the misuse of resources meant for others.
Different situations, but often the same temptation:
๐ง๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ ๐ข๐ช๐ก ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐ช๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐จ๐ฆ.
It is easy, of course, to hear these words and immediately think of politicians, public officials, corporations, or people in positions of power.
But before we point our fingers at them, the Gospel quietly turns the mirror toward us.
Because stewardship does not begin in Malacaรฑang, Congress, an office boardroom, or some distant institution.
๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ช๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ฆ ๐ช๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐.
Maybe I do not control millions of pesos.
Maybe I do not hold public office.
Maybe I will never have the kind of power that makes headlines.
But every day, something is entrusted to me.
My time. My work. My responsibilities. My talents. The trust of another person. The little authority I may have over someone. The opportunities God places before me.
And so the question becomes much closer to home:
What do I do with the things entrusted to me?
How do I use my time, talents, influence, and opportunities?
Do I take care of another personโs trust?
Do I use whatever little authority I have to serve or to control?
Am I still honest when dishonesty would be easier?
Because perhaps the difference between corruption on a grand scale and the small compromises we make in ordinary life is sometimes only the size of the vineyard.
๐ง๐๐ ๐ค๐จ๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ฆ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐: ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ช๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ก๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐ ๐?
And just when you think you already know where Fatherโs homily is going...
๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก.
A reel.
Fr. Rock recalled a reel featuring the voice of comedian Michael V. And from it came a question so simple, yet so uncomfortable:
๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐ช๐ข๐จ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐๐ก๐๐ช ๐ก๐ข ๐ข๐ก๐ ๐ช๐ข๐จ๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ช?
Think about that for a moment.
If nobody would ever find out, would you still return the money?
Would you still tell the truth?
Would you still refuse to cheat?
Would you still do your work properly?
Would you still keep your promise?
Would you still refuse something you know is wrong?
And when faced with two choices, ๐ช๐ข๐จ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐๐๐ข๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ง?
Suddenly, the kilo of rice, the vineyard, the dishonest tenants, and a seemingly random reel were all speaking about the same thing:
๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฅ.
Because reputation is who people think we are.
But character?
๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฆ ๐ช๐๐ข ๐ช๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ช๐๐๐ก ๐ก๐ข ๐ข๐ก๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ช๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ก๐.
And perhaps this is where todayโs Gospel becomes uncomfortable.
It is easy to do good when people are watching.
It is easy to appear generous when someone will thank us.
It is easy to serve when our contribution will be recognized.
It is easy to follow the rules when we know someone is checking.
But what happens when there is no audience? No recognition? No supervisor? No CCTV? No one to praise us?
๐๐ข ๐ช๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ข๐ก?
As Fr. Rock emphasized:
โ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ. ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฑ. ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐.โ
Integrity means that the person people see and the person God sees are not two different people.
It means choosing what is right, not simply because we are afraid of being caught, but because it is right.
And there is something else we must remember.
Even when nobody else sees...
๐๐ข๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฆ.
Not because God is standing above us waiting to catch us making a mistake, but because He is the true Owner of the vineyard.
Everything we have came first from Him.
And as Fr. Rock reminded us, there will come a time when, like the owner in the Gospel,
๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ช๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ข๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ง produced by what He entrusted to us.
So perhaps the question we should bring home is:
๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ง ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐จ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ก๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐ ๐?
Because each of us has been given a vineyard.
It may be our family, our career, our ministry, our position, our talents, our resources, our influence, or even another personโs trust.
And one day, the Lord may not ask us how impressive our vineyard looked.
He may simply ask:
๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐๐ข ๐ช๐๐ง๐ ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ?
What did you do with the years I gave you?
What did you do with your abilities?
What did you do with the people I placed beside you?
What did you do with the opportunities you once prayed so hard to receive?
Did you use them only for yourself?
Or did something good grow because they passed through your hands?
And maybe that is the eye-opening truth of this Sundayโs Gospel:
๐ช๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ข ๐ ๐จ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฆ ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐๐ค๐จ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ, ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ง ๐จ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ, ๐ช๐ ๐ข๐ช๐ก ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ก๐.
Even this life is entrusted to us. Even Life is borrowed,
We came into this world empty-handed, and one day we will leave it the same way.
So what remains?
The fruit.
The people we loved.
The lives we touched.
The good we chose.
The truth we defended.
The kindness we gave.
The responsibilities we carried faithfully.
And perhaps most quietly of all, the right choices we made when nobody would have known otherwise.
So tomorrow, when nobody is checking...
๐๐๐ข๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ง๐ฌ.
When taking the shortcut would be easier...
๐๐๐ข๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ง.
When you have power over someone...
๐๐๐ข๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐๐.
When something has been entrusted to you...
๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐ง.
When you receive a blessing...
๐๐๐ง ๐ง๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐ข๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐.
Because Christianity is not merely about appearing good when everyone can see us.
It is becoming the kind of person who chooses good ๐๐ฉ๐๐ก ๐ช๐๐๐ก ๐ก๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐๐ฆ.
Not because someone might catch us.
Not because someone might praise us.
Not because people might find out.
But because we know who we are.
And more importantly,
๐ช๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ช ๐ง๐ข ๐ช๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก๐๐ฆ.
So the next time we are tempted to say,
โOkay lang. Wala namang nakakakita, wala namang makakaalam.โ
May we remember the kilo of rice, the vineyard, and that unexpected reel.
Then ask ourselves:
๐๐ ๐ก๐ข ๐ข๐ก๐ ๐ช๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ช๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ก๐, ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐ช๐ข๐จ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ข๐ฆ๐?
May our answer reveal a heart that God can trust.
๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ.
๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐.
๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ต๐ณ๐๐น ๐๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ.
Lord, everything I have comes from You. Teach me to care faithfully for what You have entrusted to me and to use every gift for what is good.
And when no one is watching, Lord, give me the grace to still choose what is right. ๐
๐ช๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฌ
To experience the whole homily and hear the complete reflection of our Parish Priest, ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐. ๐๐ฟ. ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐. ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ผ๐, please watch the video in the ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ก๐ง ๐ฆ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก or click the ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ช.
๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐๐ผ๐น, ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐.
๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ, ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐.
๐๐ฒ๐๐๐, ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฌ๐ผ๐.
