In today’s Gospel, Jesus observes how guests at a banquet choose places of honor. He then teaches:
“When you are invited, go and sit at the lowest place.”
This simple advice reveals a deep truth — humility is the foundation of true greatness.
In a world that often rewards pride and self-promotion, Jesus reminds us that the heart pleasing to God is the one that serves quietly and trusts completely.
The Regional Celebration of the 100th Death Anniversary of the Servant of God, Fr. Leo John Dehon, SCJ, founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, was joyfully held on August 26, 2025, at the Sacred Heart Formation House in Cagayan de Oro City. The day was filled with prayer, reflection, fraternity, and thanksgiving—a fitting tribute to a man whose life and mission continue to inspire the Dehonian Family around the world.
Prayer is not just speaking—it is entering into a deep relationship with God. In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus teaches His disciples the “Our Father” and encourages them to ask, seek, and knock. He wants us to pray with confidence, persistence, and boldness.
In the Gospel, Jesus visits the home of Martha and Mary. Martha is busy preparing and serving, while Mary chooses to sit and listen to Jesus. When Martha complains, Jesus gently says, “Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. Mary has chosen the better part.”
In today’s Gospel, a scholar of the law asks Jesus the essential question: “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus points him to the heart of God’s command: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart… and love your neighbor as yourself.” But the man, looking for limits or loopholes, presses further: “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus responds not with a strict definition, but with the Parable of the Good Samaritan. What makes the Samaritan good is not his title or knowledge of the law, but his compassion in action. He stops, sees the suffering, binds wounds, and gives of himself—while the priest and the Levite, respected religious figures, pass by, perhaps out of fear, ritual concerns, or inconvenience.
SCJ Philippines Region 