Quiot Festival Bisperas Mass Reflection 2023

By: Jacinthe Angelou Peñalosa, 11-GAS

As the festival in Isabel approached, a mass was held in commemoration for

the bisperas of the Quiot Festival last January 14, 2023. The mass readings
centered on God’s love and care for us through Christ. The first reading was taken
from Isaiah 9:1-6. This reading tells us that we rejoice that God came to save us
through Christ as He has paid the penalty of our sins. The responsorial psalm had
the response “Ang tanan katawhan sa kalibutan nakakita sa kadaugan sa atong
Dios.” This ascertains us that we must acknowledge and cherish Him as He has
done everything for us as His children. The second reading was from the Ephesians
1:3-6, 15-18. It reveals to us that God has blessed and cared for us through His son
Jesus since we are His adopted children. It relays the message that we must use the
gifts that God has bestowed us that is in accordance with the working of His great
power. Lastly, the gospel was taken from Matthew 18:1-5,10 that has the message
of to be contented of what we already have while not comparing the aspects we lack
on to others as we only need to treasure our talents and blessings by believing in
God's plan for us as what matters is we connect with Him through our faith.

The homily had the theme of love and sacrifice. Love and sacrifice go
hand-in-hand. Without love, we are not able to sacrifice. Without sacrifice, it means
we are not willing to love. Love is an action where it ignites us to willingly sacrifice. It
makes us go through any lengths just to help and be of aid for the ones we cherish.
Herewith, sacrificing is an act in which we suffer. Despite this condition, we must
smile or in a sense conquer the tragedy and problems of sacrificing out of love with
enthusiasm of God’s love. Thus, love is unconditional since it makes us move for
others without any reservations and conditions as this is what is ought as children
formed out of God’s love.

With all of these in mind, God has been a loving father to us as he gave us
His only Begotten Son to save us from our sins. We are to be grateful for his
sacrifice in giving Jesus for our sakes, and his gifts and blessings like our talents
and the ability to love and sacrifice unconditionally. By these means, we are called to
respond in becoming loving persons through using what he has given in the fullness
of life with others where we follow Jesus Christ, our Savior who dwells within us. It is
our mission to be a living sacrifice of love with every role we have in our lives where
the common good prevails. All of these promises where we will be redeemed,
transformed, and walk in his light.