Who is the boss?

The story is told about two men having an animated conversation. Their topic: Who is the boss in the house? The first one boasted: “In our house, anything that my wife doesn’t want to do, I do it! If she does not want to cook, I cook. If she does not want to do the laundry, I do it!” The second one said: “In our house, whenever my wife and I have a quarrel, she kneels down… to get me out from hiding under our bed!”

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In today’s Gospel (Mk. 10, 42-45), Jesus teaches us what true power and greatness are all about. Great are not those who lord it over others. Powerful are those who really serve. “Rather whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you must be the slave of all.” Who is the greatest? Who is powerful? The one who truly and humbly serves.

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Humility is the key to true greatness. Pride makes us believe that we are better and greater than others. Sad to say, there are people who spend a whole lifetime living in this futile illusion. And so it is that some people live every single day “keeping up with Jesus,” so caught up in that “better than thou,” or worse, “holier than thou,” attitude. What a waste of time and effort! If you cannot be humble toward someone or something, you are living in a world of make-believe—so insecure, so full of selfishness, vanity and foolish pride.

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The race is on for about 18,000 elective positions in our country in the May 2016 elections—from the presidency down to the municipal councilorships. Why is there such a frenzy to become a “public servant”? Why is there so much effort, and so much money to be spent, to win by any and all means?! May the winners not be like the rulers of the Gentiles who lorded it over them, and who made their authority felt over their subjects. Spare us, Lord, from those who cheat, and from arrogant so-called “public servants”!

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Today is World Mission Sunday. The Lord has given us the mandate to “go into the whole world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mk. 15, 16). Let us do our part to share the good news with all people, with respect and understanding. Even the way of doing missions nowadays is no longer about “lording it over” anyone, but dialoguing with people of different races, cultures, creeds and religions.

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We pray for, and pay tribute to, many of our countrymen and anonymous overseas Filipino workers who bring the richness of our culture and our faith to many other countries all over the world. We acknowledge our Filipino missionaries “out there,” braving deprivations, loneliness, and even persecution, for the sake of the Gospel. We who are “in here” must also do our part. Mission is where you are, wherever you are.

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Fr. Victor Leones, SVD, from Tayum, Abra, has spent 42 years of his life in Ghana, Africa, as a missionary. It is so inspiring and edifying to meet again the humble and unassuming person who doesn’t say much. Yes, they say little who love much! Let us continue to pray for and support him and all our other missionaries “out there.” (Please contact our SVD

Mission Office in Christ the King Mission Seminary, E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City, tel. 721-7457, for whatever support you may want to give to our Filipino missionaries.)

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The month of October is the month of the Holy Rosary. It is a very simple and often belittled prayer, but so powerful and liberating. Like Mary who was so simple, humble and hidden, may we learn to be obedient and humble to God. Mama Mary always chose the humble and hidden way. She was not one who grabbed the limelight, wanting to be seen, appreciated, or praised. We still have a long way to go in our journey to God’s heart if we have not yet taken the road of prayer, humility and kindness.

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The message of Our Lady of Medjugorje is to pray, pray and pray with the heart. We must learn to pray much, pray often, and pray with love and devotion. In one of the messages of our Blessed Mother, she said that one “Hail Mary” said slowly and with much love is better than 60 that were just rushed.

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Think about this: For those who deny or even hate the Blessed Mother, supposedly in defense of her Son, Jesus Christ, what if you went to heaven and you met the Blessed Mother there? What will you tell her?

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We pray especially for our farmers at this time of the year when rice is finally ready for the harvest. May we be spared from natural calamities so that there will be a bountiful harvest for our people who don’t have much. May our people, too, be spared from political calamities so that we will have a good harvest of good and able public servants come Election Day 2016.

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Bantay Matanda invites you to a lay forum on “Sleep Disorders in the Elderly” at Tuklong San Jose in Christ the King Seminary, Quezon City, on Oct. 24, 9 a.m.-12 noon. For inquiries, please call 373-2262/998-2548 or 0917-4167849.

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A moment with the Lord: Lord, remind us that You, not we, are the Boss. Amen.