Homily on the 23th Sunday in O.T.; 6 September 2026, FSpIF Chapel, Talamban
We Filipinos have a common trait called hiya. Many of us are mahiyain or manggi-uwawon (in Cebuano). Hiya is a Filipino value that can mean shyness, timidity, or sensitivity to other’s feelings. For example, one morning while taking breakfast I asked our guests if any of them wanted some brewed coffee. And all of them just kept quiet. I heard none of them saying yes. Pero feeling ko, baka nahihiya lang sila. So, I got the kettle, poured the coffee into several cups and served it to them one by one, saying “Ganahan ka ba mag-kape? Would you like some brewed coffee?” And to my surprise none of them said no. Ganahan diay sila mag-brewed coffee. Ganyan ang mahiyaing Pinoy.
You see, hiya for us often means shyness. And we value that. We sometimes prefer not to express what we really want for fear that it may cause someone else’s discomfort. Actually, pwede sad nga dili gyud sila naanad magkape (Puede rin naman na talagang hindi umiinom ng kape yung guests namin, pero dahil si Father ang nagserve ng kape, nahiya na silang tumanggi.) Pero tungod kay si Padre pa gyud ang naghatud sa kape naulaw na silang mobalibad.
Now while this hiya is for us considered a value, it can also be considered a weakness. This is precisely the problem tied up with our Filipino hiya. Dili ta kasulti sa matuod. Hindi natin kayang sabihin ang katotohanan nang harap-harapan.
In the gospel we have heard today Jesus spoke to his disciples about the importance of fraternal correction. Jesus knew very well that his disciples were not perfect. While they made efforts to follow him, they basically remained human, vulnerable to temptations, prone to committing mistakes and likely to hurt one another. Just like typical Asians they have the tendency to just keep quiet in front of a mistake rather than confronting the person concerned. Much like us, they value hiya and pakikisama or smooth interpersonal relationships. They wouldn’t dare to confront the person who have hurt them and express frankly how they feel or point out the wrong he/she has done. I guess the Jewish crowd who were following Jesus were so much like the average Filipino who tends to spread chismis. Often times, we would rather share to a friend the fault or the scandal of our neighbor rather than telling it directly to the person concerned. Madalas mas gusto pa nating makipagchikkahan tungkol sa anumang ating mapapagkatuwaan.
Dear brothers and sisters, today Jesus is telling us what he once said to his disciples “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.” Kamo lang duha… kayo lang dalawa. Don’t resort immediately to spread chismis kahit yon ang mas madali at mas magaang gawin. In other words, do not be a “marites.”
This is also applicable to parents and any person in authority, if you see that your child has done something wrong never correct the person in public; never do that in front of his/her other siblings. That would be so embarrassing, if not humiliating. Go private! Go private! Call the person aside, to a safe and quiet place, ug didto kamo mag-istorya, doon kayo mag-usap nang masinsinan, heart-to-heart. And I tell you, your child, your sister or your friend will have more respect for you. And please before scolding someone sternly, ask first for the reason why he or she has done what should not have been done. If in case the person is sincerely sorry, then, be compassionate as God is compassionate and ready to forgive.
I know of a certain mother who makes a sincere effort to educate her kid to goodness. At night before going to bed she would invite her little boy to express in prayer what he might be grateful for, and then after that, she would also ask him to express what he might be sorry for. This I believe is a very good practice. We need to form the consciences of children and assist them in developing their ability to distinguish between the good and the bad, the righteous deeds and the wrong doings. And then, at the end of the day, we accompany them in humbly recognizing both their goodness and their sinfulness before the infinite mercy of a loving God.
In the Gospel we have heard today, Jesus was well aware that some people would not listen even to fraternal correction, and so he recommended several steps. First, we need to approach the person privately. If this does not work, try it again; in all kindness and with due respect, give him/her a second correction, but this time do it in the presence of someone else as a witness. If unfortunately, the person concerned would still remain stubborn and obstinate, the next step will be to bring it up finally to the church authorities represented by the bishops and priests. If, however, the person would still choose to remain in his sinful ways, the Lord recommends that we should treat him as a gentile or a tax collector. In other words, ayaw na lang pagtagda kaniya. Wag na natin siyang pansinin at pakialaman.
What does Jesus’ advice “Treat him as a gentile or a tax collector” really mean? Is Jesus telling us to simply disregard the person and give up all hopes for that person to change? Oh no, not at all! He in fact told his disciples to bring the matter to the prayer intentions of the community. Above all he assures us that whenever two or three people are gathered in his name, he is there present in their midst. And if Jesus prays with us, certainly God will grant whatever we ask for.
To sum it all up, if all efforts to correct a person have already been done, and that person remains the same, then, all that remains to be done is to lift that person up to God in earnest prayer. In short, just do your best and God will do the rest.
Do you remember the story of a certain mother, named St. Monica? We celebrated her memorial last August 27. She prayed and prayed for the conversion of two important people in her life: one was her husband, Patricius, and the other one was her son, Augustine. She prayed not only for weeks, not only for months but for years. And you know what? The good Lord heard her prayers. Her husband got converted and asked for the sacraments just before passing away. And later on, Augustine also got converted and asked for baptism at thirty years old. And be God’s grace, her son became a priest, and then a bishop, and then a saint. And he is known today as St Augustine.
Do you know what effect your prayers could have on someone who needs it? What more if two or three or all of us will join together in prayer? That is why we encourage you to submit your prayer intentions not only for the healing of somebody or for the repose of the souls in purgatory, but also for the conversion of those living in irregular situations. (Of course you don’t have to mention the sin they have committed, otherwise chismis na yon.) We can pray as a community for those among us who need God’s forgiving and transforming grace. In doing so we are asking God’s ultimate intervention when all our efforts at fraternal correction seem to have failed. And soon we will realize how powerful and effective our community prayer can have on someone we love.
Hindi ba, mayroon tayong kasabihan sa Pilipino: Habang may buhay, may pag-asa? That’s true. Jesus himself affirms that proverb today. Habang may buhay, may pag-asa pang magbagong buhay. GiGsss!