Mark 12: 1-12

In today’s context, the Gospel could be retold as Mr. Juan de la Cruz, out of compassion and kindness, allowed a family to stay in his property. Many years after, the children grew up and got married. They built their houses at said property. Throughout the years, relatives from the province came over to the city to fulfill their dreams and, again, built their houses on that same property. After one generation, the children of Juan de la Cruz needed the property but could not have it. The tenants complained that this is their land as they had been staying there for many years.

This is one of the many stories that would make us say in Tagalog, “baliktad na ang mundo.”

• There are mothers who abort their children;
• It is accepted to kill the menace in society without due process;
• It does not matter how you get your money as long as you have it;

Indeed, “baliktad na ang mundo.”

Hence how appropriate is the saying, “All it takes for evil to prevail is for the good people to keep quiet.”

Especially these times, now more than ever. We need people of COURAGE, but this courage should be hinged on three things:

1. First, righteousness and truth must be on our side. We know to stand up for the truth is not easy. But with the truth on your side, one will always be at peace against all the turmoil. You can face everyone if the truth is on your side.
2. Love of God, Love of Neighbor. One of the things that got Jesus mad when he saw injustice. “Kung sino pa ang mahirap, yun pa ang iniisahan.” We are courageous because God is on our side. And if God is with us, who can be against us?
3. Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr
   • God grant me the serenity
     to accept the things I cannot change;
     courage to change the things I can;
     and wisdom to know the difference.
     
     Living one day at a time;
     enjoying one moment at a time;
     accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
     taking, as He did, this sinful world;
     as it is, not as I would have it;
     trusting that He will make all things right.
     
     If I surrender to His Will;
     that I may be reasonably happy in this life;
     and supremely happy with Him,
     forever in the next.
     
     Amen.