To your promise, be true

The story is told about a patient who went back to his doctor and said: “Well doctor, you sure kept your promise, that I will be walking after a month. Yes, I am walking now because I had to sell my car, to pay for my medical bill!”

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In today’s Gospel (Matthew 21: 28-32) we hear the story about a son who broke his promise to his father. It would be good for all of us to renew the promises we have made to God, to others, and to ourselves. If we have been faithful to those promises, then let us praise God for his grace. If we have broken our promises, then let us turn to God in sorrow, and renew them. Let not our broken promises break us.

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Our government officials and our elected leaders made a promise when they were put in office—that they will serve the public and that they will do their very best to serve the common good. Today, we enjoin them to remember and make true their promise to God and to our people.

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Likewise, we church and religious people made a solemn vow to God to serve Him and His people. We, too, beat our breasts today and say “mea culpa” for the many times we have been so untrue, and for the times we gave in to personal comfort and agenda.

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Husbands and wives likewise must remember and renew today their marriage vows. Remember, the Lord said: “Love one another,” not “love another one”! And remember that you promised to love each other “for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.”

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Reminds me of a story about a little boy from China whose family settled in America. One day, in exasperation, he said: “I am so confused with the English language: they point to electrical gadget, they say ‘plug,’ they point to a croaking animal, they say ‘plug,’ they point to a cloth on top of a pole, they say ‘plug’!” This story should remind us adults to stop confusing the children with our dishonesty, lies, and inconsistencies. What are we leaving behind for the next generation? How will they remember us and our generation?

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He who pretends is tense. He who lies, in the end, cries. There is no greater peace than in being honest to God, to the world, and to oneself. He who is honest is free. He who is truthful is peaceful.

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The good news is that it is possible for us to change our minds for the better at any moment of our lives. The first son initially refused, but eventually went to the vineyard and was praised by Jesus. This gives us hope. God always accepts us whoever we are, whatever we have done. He does not keep a record of the wrongs we have done in the past. He looks at us with love in the present and He sees our potential to be better in the future. Yes, it is possible to change. It is possible to leave behind our lying ways and schemes. And the beautiful thing is that God believes and keeps on believing in us. Talaga! Really!

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All too often we are so focused in our life on “komisyon” (money) and “konsomisyon” (problems) that we forget our “misyon” (mission) for God and His people. Please don’t forget, don’t belittle God’s call to live not only a successful and comfortable life., but more so, a meaningful life filled with God, goodness, service, sharing, and love.

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Today is National Migrants’ Sunday. We all are migrants in this world. May we learn to treat foreigners, “outsiders,” and those who are “different” from us with respect, understanding, compassion, and love. This is our sincere prayer, too, for all of our Filipino migrants all over the world. We salute them for being missionaries of hope and faith whenever they go.

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Inviting you to join our Walk with God to Manaoag on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, starting at 5 a.m. in Urdaneta, Pangasinan Cathedral, ending with 9 a.m. mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag. This is a 13-kilometer walk we do with sacrifice and thanksgiving, and petition for peace and unity in our country.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help us to be true to the promises we made to others and to You. Amen.

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momentswithfrjerry@gmail.com