The Path to God

“For the love of money is the root of all evils, and through this craving some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” —1 Timothy 6:10 A Nation Betrayed The Philippines, the beloved homeland for many of us, knows the power of water. Each year, floods displace thousands, typhoons devastate farms, and storms sweep away homes. In response, billions of pesos are allocated for climate adaptation projects—our collective lifeline against disaster. But what happens when that lifeline is stolen? Recent investigations  have revealed that more than a  trillion pesos  in climate funds have been siphoned away by a well-organized  syndicate of politicians, contractors, and officials. Money meant to save lives has instead been used to feed greed. This is not just corruption. It is betrayal—of the poor, of the nation, and of God Himself. The Root of the Evil St. Paul’s words in today’s first reading from 1 Timothy 6:2c-12 echo with piercin...

(This reflection is inspired by Fr. Cesar's homily, which beautifully reminds us that the pursuit of elevation—of being lifted up—comes in two ways: one orderly, and one disorderly.) The Call of Today’s Readings The Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time invites us to reflect on the paradox at the heart of the Gospel: the way up is the way down. Sirach counsels us: “Conduct your affairs with humility… Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God” (Sir 3:17-18). Jesus affirms this in the Gospel: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted… For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Lk 14:11, 14). Two Ways of Seeking Elevation There are only two ways to seek greatness: Orderly elevation comes through humility, aligning us with God’s truth. Disorderly elevation comes through pride, which sets us against God. Sacred Scripture warns us: “God resists the proud but gives grace to...