22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Medalla Milagrosa Parish

Rev. Fr. Mariano Chia, DCM
_____________________________________________

The passage of Matthew 16:21-27 can be pastorally

applied to the recent diocesan concern in strengthening
basic ecclesial communities (BECs) and tithing in the
following ways:

 The importance of unity. Jesus' words to Peter,

"You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my
church," emphasize the importance of unity in
the Church. This unity is essential for the
strength and vitality of the BECs. The BECs
should be places where people come together to support each other in their faith and to
grow in their relationship with Christ.
 The need for leadership. Jesus also tells Peter that he will give him "the keys of the
kingdom of heaven." This means that Peter has been given the authority to lead the
Church. In the same way, the leaders of the BECs need to be people who are able to
lead and guide others in their faith.
 The importance of giving. Jesus' words about tithing, "give to Caesar what is Caesar's
and to God what is God's," remind us of the importance of giving back to God. The BECs
should be places where people are encouraged to give of their time, talents, and
resources to support the work of the Church.
In order to strengthen the BECs and promote tithing, the diocese can do the following:
 Provide training for BEC leaders on how to build unity, provide leadership, and
encourage giving.
 Offer resources to help BECs develop their ministries.
 Create a culture of giving within the diocese by emphasizing the importance of tithing
and providing opportunities for people to give.
 By applying the pastoral message of Matthew 16:21-27 to the recent diocesan concern,
the diocese can help to strengthen the BECs and promote tithing, which will ultimately
benefit the entire Church.
 In addition to the above, the diocese can also encourage the BECs to focus on the
following:
 Evangelization. The BECs should be places where people come to encounter Christ
and learn about his message of love and salvation.
 Discipleship. The BECs should be places where people are encouraged to grow in their
faith and to become disciples of Christ.
 Community building. The BECs should be places where people come together to build
relationships and to support each other in their faith journey.
By focusing on these areas, the BECs can become a powerful force for good in the
diocese and in the world.