Mary Mediatrix Ladies' Dormitory

26/07/2026

MOMENTS by Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD

True riches

An old man lay dying. In between his labored breathing, he would call out the names of his loved ones. One by one, they came to his side to whisper a tearful goodbye. Finally, when he finished his roll call, he opened his eyes, looked at all the people gathered around his deathbed and shouted “My gosh! You are all here! Who is minding the store below?”
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The search for a “treasure buried in the field” and for a “pearl of great price” (Matthew 13:44-52) has led many a soul to go astray. How many persons, how many homes, how many relationships have been shattered because of money and greed? How many people have sold their principles, their bodies, and their very souls for money? Ask yourself for once: All this effort, all this frenzy in search of money and more money, where has it brought me? Where is it leading me? Is it really worth it all?
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If we neglect the spiritual in our search for the material, we end up with what Mahatma Gandhi calls “sins of the world”: wealth without work; knowledge without character; science without humanity; worship without sacrifice; politics without principles.
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The Gospel today speaks of final selection and separation of who is good and who is bad. Money can make us good or bad. Before that, let us all do our homework of separating what is good and what is bad within each one of us, with the purpose of selecting and deciding for the good. For example, money in itself is not bad, but how we acquire it and how we use it can make it good or bad. We have said it before and we say it again: Use your money for your salvation, not for your damnation. Do not become a slave to money. Do not become a prisoner of money. Do not become a victim of money. Don’t make money your god.
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All this holding on to whatever or to whoever, is it really worth it all? The secret to real peace is letting go and letting God. Why lose sleep, why lose your goodness, why lose your name, why indeed lose your very soul for the sake of earthly riches, power, and pleasures? Let us all pray that we be lifted up by God’s love and divine will so that we will be able to let go of anything or anyone in this world that imprisons us. I dread the day when I come face to face with God and He tells me: “Why did you not treasure my love over your earthly desires and loves?”
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Think about it: We spend so much time and effort, even a whole lifetime going after things that we don’t really need, which will always elude us, and which we cannot bring along with us. Detachment is a lonely road, but it is the only road that leads to peace. It is not an easy road that leads to God’s heart. If things go wrong and troublesome, it is time to consider the invitation to take the “road less traveled.”
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Papa and Mama taught us not to be business minded, but to be goodness minded, not to search for worldly gems that fade, but for real gems (God Encounter Moments) that we carry with us through life to eternity. May we not be so focused on our career, financial, and popularity journey, so as to neglect our journey to God’s heart, and to other people’s hearts.
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Last July 22, 2026 was a very sad day for the Orbos family. A fire burned down our century-old wooden ancestral home in Bani, Pangasinan. It was a simple house, with so many happy memories. It has survived natural calamities, as well as World War II. It has been a service house, half-way house, a welcome house to so many, and from it came so many public servants. We let go. We let God. Thank God there were no casualties. Life goes on. The mission to serve as instilled by our elders by their words and examples goes on.
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“The Lord has given; the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord!” (Job 1:21) BTS! Believe, Trust, Surrender! In any misfortune that comes along, let us not forget the UPLOOK (to pray to God), the IN LOOK (for lessons learned); and the OUTLOOK (for mission still to be done).
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I have said it before, and I say it again: What matters in the end is not what we hold in our hands, but what we carry in our hearts. May we have no or little regrets in the end that we loved too little, too late, just because we loved ourselves too much.
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, help us to seek not the riches that fade and flee. Amen

~ Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD

25/07/2026

How would you describe and paint a picture of your weekend?

19/07/2026

MOMENTS by Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD

Wheat and w**ds = “wheeds”

The story is told about a man who said to his wife: “You know, you are beautiful but stupid at the same time.” The wife responded: “Yes. God made me beautiful, that’s why you got attracted to me. And God made me stupid, that’s why I got attracted to you.”
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The parable of the wheat and the w**ds (Matthew 13:24-30) best describes the situation our country is now in. It seems like we are in a no-win situation right now, with different factions standing their ground, with no prospect of unity and peace in sight. One even gets the feeling that the evildoers seem to get the upper hand and to get away with all their dirty tricks. One might even ask: Where is God? Is He sleeping? Why does He allow the evildoers to prosper and the good to suffer? The Good News is that God does not sleep. He knows everything, and He will make all things beautiful, in His time. Like the parable of the wheat and the w**ds, the good and the righteous, not the liars and the evildoers will triumph.
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There are wheats, and there are w**ds in us and among us. The battle rages on. And then, there are people who vacillate between being wheat and w**d, “wheeds,” let us call them. They are the fence-sitters who do not take a stand, who evaluate and assess the situation, and eventually come out only when it is already safe and profitable to do so. Wheeds are neither hot nor cold, neither here nor there. Wheeds, you may survive and thrive in life, but in the end, wheeds, be warned: “Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spew you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16)
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“Why do evildoers seem to prosper and good people seem to suffer in this world?” This is a question that has been raised, and continues to be raised in our age and time. Perhaps you yourself are raising the question in frustration right now. Perhaps today’s parable of the wheat and the w**ds and the ensuing parable of the yeast and the mustard seed can provide us the answer: For a reason, for a mission, for now.
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For a reason: the presence of w**ds in our life can help us grow and bear fruit. Sin and suffering make us stronger, more resilient, and more trusting. Without w**ds, we may become complacent, indulgent, and end up fruitless. The w**ds we encounter in life not only make us stronger but also more fruitful.
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For a mission: We are to participate in spreading goodness and help pull out the w**ds in God’s kingdom. While we cannot on our own win over the enemy, all of us must do our share in w**ding out the enemy. We are warned that we are dealing with a formidable and cunning enemy, but this is not a losing battle for us.
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For now, the seeming victory of the enemy is temporary. Final victory is ours. “Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, ‘first collect the w**ds and tie them in bundles for burning, but gather the wheat in my barn.’” We must not be impatient. We must trust, believe, and keep on believing that goodness will triumph over evil in the end.
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In everything that happens in our life, there is a reason, there is a mission, and there is a transition. Faith helps us believe that there is a reason. Love urges us to do our mission. Hope moves us to believe that everything is for now, and so we move on. If everything happens for a reason, then we must not be impatient. If everything happens for a mission, then we must not be complacent. If everything happens for now, then we must not be faint-hearted.
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Let us not be dismayed when we experience the battle between good and evil in this world. Let us continue to believe that goodness triumphs in the end. And let us not be discouraged when we experience the battle between good and evil within ourselves. Today, allow the Lord to tell you: “My child, you are not that good, but, you are not that bad either.” If you agree, and smile with this thought, you are free, and you are fine. One with you in humbly accepting our w**ds within, but also acknowledging humbly our wheat that is slowly but surely growing.
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, thank you for reminding us that we are not that good, but, that we are not that bad either. Amen.

~ Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD

18/07/2026

NOW is the right time. Start!

07/07/2026

💙

24/06/2026

21/06/2026

MOMENTS by Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD

‘Truth decay’ and ‘truth control’

A dentist friend of mine said to me that the greatest problem in our country today is “truth decay.” And an engineer friend of mine added “truth control!”
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In today’s Gospel (Matthew 10:26-33) Jesus tells His disciples not to be afraid for “nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, no secret that will not known.” More than ever, let these words of Jesus ring out loud and clear to the Filipino people that truth shall prevail in the end. On the other hand, let Jesus’ words be a warning to those who hide, manipulate, or block truth for their own interest and agenda in order that their wickedness will not be made known.
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Someone once said that truth is tough. It can be kicked, slammed, hidden or beaten black and blue, but it cannot be broken. It will stay. It will surface. A lie, on the other hand, is fragile, for it has to sustain its previous lies. It has to remember, and it has to be always on guard. Consequently, he or she who holds the truth is at peace. He or she may have to suffer for it, because truth hurts, but he or she is free. But he or she who lies suffers more, because he or she is never at peace and is imprisoned by the very lies he or she has woven.

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It is scary to stand for the truth, and to stand by the truthful, but the assurance is that God is on the side of the truth and of the truthful. Unfortunately, the truthful side is not a comfortable side because it is often laden with persecution, harassment, intimidation, and even death. But the bottom line is: Did I stand for the truth? Did I stand by the truthful? Ultimately, did I stand for Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life?
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In these very uncertain times, anything can happen. Anyone of us who stands for the truth can be persecuted by those who are desperately trying to preserve their lies. We take courage in Jesus’ words: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. “ So be it. Let it play. Thy will be done, Lord. Our only consolation is that we stood for the truth, we stood by the truthful, and we did not deny Jesus Himself who is the way, the truth, and the life!
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The words “Be not afraid” occur in the Bible more than 365 times. Jesus addresses the three basic fears we face as adults: fear of truth, fear of death, and fear of our unworthiness. On all counts, Jesus is telling us: Do not be afraid to face and tell the truth for I am with you; do not be afraid to face death, for I am with you; do not be afraid of your unworthiness, because I love you. It is His presence then that casts away all our fears. I was right then when, as a little boy, I ran to His presence whenever I was afraid.
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I’ve quoted it before, and I quote it again: “Face the light, and the shadow is behind you. Turn your back to the light, and the shadow is in front of you.” Do you have any fear lurking in your life right now? Face it, and 50 percent of the problem will already be solved. As long as you continue to deny, postpone and procrastinate in facing your fears and shadows, you will always be anxious and fearful.
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Happy Father’s Day! I remember our Papa. He was a simple man. He did not have the three G’s of guns, goons, and gold, but he taught us by his words and life example, the three G’s of God, goodness, and guts. He always told us that if we have God and goodness, we will have the guts to face the world and whatever lies ahead. Parents, teach your children not to lean on worldly powers and riches, but to hold on to God and goodness. They will be okay long after you are gone if you teach them to hold on to God.
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Remember this song? “Be brave little one, make a wish for each sad little tear. Hold your head up, though no one is near, someone’s waiting for you. Don’t cry little one, there’ll be a smile where a frown used to be. You’ll be part of that life that you see, someone’s waiting for you. Always keep a little prayer in your pocket and you’re sure to see the light, soon there’ll be joy and happiness, and your little world will be brighter. Have faith little one, till your hopes and your wishes come true. You must try to be brave little one, someone’s waiting for you.” (“Someone’s Waiting for You” by Shelby Flint) Sing it to yourself, sing it to your loved ones, and let God sing this song to you today to cast away your shadows and fears.
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As a priest, I have been at the deathbed of so many people through the years, and I have seen fear written in the faces of each one of them. Some more, some less. More for those who lived a sinful life. Less for those who lived a simple life. Minimize your greed, and you minimize your fears.
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Think about it: “The earth weighs 6.6 septillion tons. Don’t make it heavier by carrying a heavier heart!” Today, please find time to surrender and unload to God the burdens, especially the fears in your heart. It is time to “delete” all the negatives from your “inbox.” Pray. It helps. It works.
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, help me not to be involved in “truth decay,” and “truth control.” Amen.

~ Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD

20/06/2026

You are beautiful.
You are worthy.
You are amazing.
You are love.

Never forget that your value doesn't come from others' opinions—it comes from simply being you. 💕🌸