http://www.youtube.com/c/TheAdvocatesTotoyToldo

The ADVOCATEs, Hilongos (2026)

27/08/2026

Today's Gospel(August 28, 2026)
Matthew 25:1-13
ST AUGUSTINE, BISHOP AND DOCTOR (MEMORIAL)

At that time: Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. “As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ “Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves. ’ “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ “But he replied, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

TODAY’S REFLECTION:
The difference between the wise and the foolish lies in the fact that the wise person is always prepared for crisis situations and eventualities. The wise person thinks beyond the moment and equips himself or herself for unplanned occurrences. The wise Christian also is always ready and does not rely on the virtues or good works of others. He or she deepens his or her sense of virtue as the instrument necessary for life on earth. Immediately after his conversion, St Augustine began a spiritual journey which took him to the heights of sanctity. His love for God was total. It is necessary that we take constant care of our spiritual growth and not wait for the last minute.

TODAY’S SAINT AND QUOTE:
St Augustine of Hippo – August 28th

-You aspire to great things? Begin with little ones.
-This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfections.
-Our hearts were made for You, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you.
-Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation.
-Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.
-And He departed from our sight that we might return to our heart, and there find Him. For He departed, and behold, He is here.
-If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself
-Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature.
-The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.
-Patience is the companion of wisdom.

Let us pray:
Renew in your Church, we pray, O Lord, the spirit with which you endowed your Bishop Saint Augustine that, filled with the same spirit, we may thirst for you, the sole fount of true wisdom, and seek you, the author of heavenly love. Amen.

Have a good day and God bless!

26/08/2026

Today's Gospel(August 27, 2026)
Matthew 24:42-51
SAINT MONICA (MEMORIAL)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Watch, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect. “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunken; the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the hypocrites; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.”

TODAY’S REFLECTION:
God has made you the caretaker of his household, the dispenser of all his goods. As caretaker, God has enriched you with every grace and knowledge so that you are not lacking in any good work. If you have this sense of mission, try your best to be diligent at it. God will certainly reward your faithfulness. St Monica is one such faithful servant who spent a lifetime of prayer and sacrifice for the conversion of her Son, Augustine. Unless we treasure something, we might not find reason to protect and preserve it.

Today’s Saint and Quote:
St Monica – August 27th
-Nothing is far from God.

Let Us Pray:
God, grant me the wisdom that would make me focused and firm-minded. It is only in this that I can have clear understanding of your plan and enter into the fullness of your purpose for my life. Grant me the grace not to go about trying to think out the formula for situations facing me. But help me to always ASK in FAITH in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Have a good day and God bless!

25/08/2026

Today's Gospel(August 26, 2026)
Matthew 23:27-32

At that time: Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Thus you witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.”

TODAY’S REFLECTION:
Jesus is very critical of people who appear to be very good Christians but who have very little or nothing of the Christian spirit. Such people are often a danger to others who might be deceived into following them. The Psalmist affirms that those who truly fear the Lord walk in his ways. The Christian way of life is transmitted from generation to generation. Every generation of Christians has a record of heroic men and women who are models of the way of life taught by Jesus Christ. Such people encourages us to continue steadfast on the right way without being deceived by false and pretentious guides.

Let Us Pray:
God, grant me the wisdom that would make me focused and firm-minded. It is only in this that I can have clear understanding of your plan and enter into the fullness of your purpose for my life. Grant me the grace not to go about trying to think out the formula for situations facing me. But help me to always ASK in FAITH in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Have a good day and God bless!

24/08/2026

Today's Gospel(August 25, 2026)
Matthew 23:23-26

At that time: Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cu**in, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and rapacity. You blind Pharisee! First cleanse the inside of the cup and of the plate, that the outside also may be clean.”

TODAY’S REFLECTION:
There are matters which strike at the heart our relationship with God. These matters are certainly not the external features of religion. Our society has much regard for church goers, those who strictly adhere to religious practices, who contribute their tithes, who spend quality time in adoration, and even those who work miracles. We hold these ‘religious people’ in great esteem because of their diligence and adherence to prescribed religious practices. However, Jesus’ critique of Scribes and Pharisees encourages us to redefine our understanding of what God expects from us. The most essential matter of religion is not sacrifice but justice and mercy, which are possible only when we understand that this is what God expects from us.

Let Us Pray:
O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me. Tell me what I should do; give me your orders. I promise to submit myself to all that you desire of me and to accept all that you permit to happen to me. Let me only know your will. Amen.

Have a good day and God bless!

23/08/2026

Today's Gospel(August 24, 2026)
John 1:45-51
SAINT BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE (FEAST)

At that time: Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

TODAY’S REFLECTION:
When Jesus calls us to follow him, we should know that this call entails other responsibilities. Being called opens us up to the mission to bring other to Jesus. Jesus brings those who follow him not only to recognize him as the expected Messiah; he also promises to lead them to admire the full radiance of God’s kingdom. The grace of God leads us to this unexpected encounter with Jesus. How good it is to be gazed upon by Jesus, as he did with Nathaniel, and to be told that he would lead us to understand deeper the mysteries of the kingdom of God.

Let us pray:
Strengthen in us, O Lord, the faith by which the blessed Apostle Bartholomew clung whole heartedly to your Son, and grant that through the help of his prayers your Church may become for all the nations the sacrament of salvation. Amen.

Have a good day and God bless!

22/08/2026

Today's Gospel(August 23, 2026)
Matthew 16:13-20

At that time: When Jesus came into the district of Caesare a Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

TODAY’S REFLECTION:
Jesus cannot be known according to the categories of the world. True knowledge of Jesus comes only to those whose minds are open to the spirit. Jesus promised to build his church on the strong foundation of Peter’s faith. It is the faith that dispenses the mysteries of the kingdom according to God’s plan. Have you ever wondered what you would do if you were given the opportunity to be God for a day? What would you use the powers and authority of God to do: to support the life of others or to frustrate it? Whoever has been given such and similar tasks must pray to have a heart that is open to mystery. As Jesus told Peter, the mysteries of the kingdom of God are not matters relating to flesh and blood; they are revealed to us only through the spirit of God.

Let Us Pray:
Lord, may we at all times keep our focus on you so that, like Stephen, we can be inspired and have the power to stand faithfully to share the good news of your salvation. We pray in the name of the risen Lord. Amen.

Have a wonderful Sunday ahead and God bless!

21/08/2026

Today's Gospel(August 22, 2026)
Matthew 23:1-12
QUEENSHIP OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (MEMORIAL)

At that time: Jesus said to the ‘crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honour at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

TODAY’S REFLECTION:
One week after we have celebrated the Assumption our Blessed Mother, today we are transported to the heavenly realm to witness her being crowned as the Queen of heaven and earth. She is the Mother of the Son of God, the king of the universe. She is the obedient daughter of the Father who surrendered herself fully to his will. She is the spouse of the Holy Spirit who overshadowed her and brought forth the Son of God into our world. She is the sinless virgin, full of grace and love. She is the co-redemptrix and the Mother of the church. She is the sure hope and a channel of grace for us. Her royal crowning indicates that we, her children, also are called to share in her glory. We attain our crown of glory if we choose to follow her Son and surrender our lives to the will of the Father under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Let Us Pray:
O Father, God of mercy and power, wash me clean and grant me the grace to be a source of joy of people around me. May my life bring honour to your holy name at all times. Give me the grace, O Lord, to avoid sin and all occasions of sin. Make me thirst for holiness of life through the study of your word and practice of generosity to the church and the less privileged. Like the deer thirsts for water, so my soul thirsts for you O Lord. Amen.

Have a good day and God bless!

20/08/2026

Today's Gospel(August 21, 2026)
Matthew 22:34-40
POPE ST. PIUS X (MEMORIAL)

At that time: When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”

TODAY’S REFLECTION:
As human beings, there are certain things we cannot attain for ourselves. Salvation is more of what God will give us than what we can attain for ourselves. Our life, death and salvation are all God’s gifts. Therefore, when life’s experience drag us to the depths of despair or even to the grave, God is capable of lifting us from there and restoring us back to life. Just as sin is described as consequences of our hardness of heart, God promises to revive us by giving us a new heart that is capable of obedience and genuine love for God. In gratitude to God’s immeasurable love for us, we ought to pray that God may purify our heart and that he brings us to love him as he deserves.

Today’s Saint and Quote:
Pope St. Pius X – August 21st

-Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to Heaven.

Let Us Pray:
Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labour and not ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do your will. Amen.

Have a good day and God bless!

The ADVOCATEs

27/08/2026

26/08/2026

25/08/2026

24/08/2026

23/08/2026

22/08/2026

21/08/2026

20/08/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request