Humility: An Act of Loving Truly

Reflection of Rev. Fr. Phillippe Angelo G. Garcia for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Filipinos love to talk about MONEY and RELATIONSHIPS. Many Filipinos believe that common among them is they are worth fighting for!

First, let’s talk about money.

Whether it’s about debts, repayments, income, or inheritance, money often becomes a source of conflict. People argue over it, and sometimes, they even reconcile because of it. Money to be received, money to be given—whether right or wrong, many people are willing to fight for it. Perhaps you know someone who becomes highly interested in the conversation when the topic of money comes up. Unfortunately, some people tend to worship Money. Many people fight because of their attachment to finances.

On the other hand, people fight for their relationship.

These can be legal or illegal, public or secret, painful or exciting, accepted by family or not. Whether it’s with a relative, a friend, or even an enemy, people are willing to argue and the extra mile for relationships.

So now, I ask you to reflect: if people tend to fight and argue over these matters, what are you fighting for in your life? Is it your dreams? Your education? Your rights? Your favorite politician? Your beliefs or opinions?

In our second reading, St. Paul tells us that the Christian life is like a race. It is a competition where we must fight for Jesus in our lives.

So, with all the things we fight for, we must ask ourselves: How do we fight for our love story with God?

In today’s Gospel, we meet two characters: the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee boasts before God, almost dictating to Him, and looks down on others. It appears that his god is himself. He worships himself.

On the other hand, the tax collector offers his sins to God. His God is Jesus, because he knows he needs God’s mercy. Because he humbles himself, his prayer is heard.

I will never forget a priest who often corrected his parishioners. There are many times I felt that he is agitated when he corrects someone because his voice is changing from soft to maximum.  After an experience of this correction parishioners would simply admit mistakes and say, “Father, I’m sorry. I will do better next time.”

He would fall silent and gently remind them, “Alright, next time, do better.”

From this experience, I learned that humility could solve many problems.

Isn’t it the same with your special someone? You can’t always dictate or blame. You can’t respond to anger with more anger. You can’t be the one at fault and still be the one who’s mad. There must be humility.

The person who truly loves knows how to be humble.

If there’s no humility, you are not loving truly.

In this Sunday’s Gospel, God teaches us that loving truly is expressed in humility.

As your priest-servant, I’d like to share to you that these points on HUMILITY:

1. THE GREATEST LOVING RELATIONSHIP OF YOUR LIFE IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. Hence, your greatest love life is your LOVE STORY with GOD.

2. FIGHT FOR YOUR LOVE STORY WITH GOD. Since you consider that your relationship with God is the greatest of all. He becomes your priority. Your relationship with HIM is the basis of all your plans and decisions in your life.

3. When you pray, pray like the tax collector in the Gospel, Lord, be merciful to me a sinner. Continue to do what is GOOD in life as you change to be a better person by letting go of your sins.

4. The secret to powerful prayer is humility before God.

Let us hold on to what the first reading tells us: “The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds; it does not rest until it reaches its goal. It will not desist until the Most High responds, and justice is granted to the righteous.” AMEN

Points for reflection

1. Who are the humble persons surrounding you? How do they express love and humility to you? Include them in your prayers this Sunday.

2. In the past months, from January 2025 to this Sunday 26 October 2025, what was your most humbling experience? Did you tell God about it?

3. What has been the content of your spontaneous prayer to God lately? Just like the tax collector in the Gospel, do you feel that you are in need of God’s mercy? Where do you feel God is leading you from these experiences?