Reflection Date: February 04, 2026 Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: 2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17; Mark 6:1-6
Children of God: Recently, the bishop of Iba, Zambales ordered the temporary closure of a chapel in Subic following an act of desecration.
Bishop Bartolome Santos Jr. said the San Roque Chapel and its adoration chapel were vandalized on Jan. 18, causing shock and sorrow among the faithful.
The Sacred Host was left in pieces on the floor. The monstrance and sacred images were also destroyed. The bishop said the acts “gravely offended the sanctity of the sacred place” and made it impossible to continue public worship without proper reparation.
The incident shocked many Catholics in the area. It also raised questions about how faith is treated in everyday life.
In the gospel story where Jesus returns to his hometown, teaches in the synagogue, and is met with doubt. With this clear story of rejection, what are our inspirations for today?
First, what is sacred can be rejected when people refuse to see beyond the ordinary.
The people of Nazareth focus on Jesus’ background rather than his message, asking where his wisdom comes from (Mark 6:2-3). They see only the carpenter, not the one sent by God. Indeed, familiarity bridges contempt.
This rejection limits what Jesus can do among them. The gospel says he was not able to perform many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith (Mark 6:5).
Disbelief becomes a barrier to healing.
Second, unbelief wounds not only God’s work but the community itself.
Jesus is amazed at their unbelief, not because they question, but because they close themselves completely (Mark 6:6). Their refusal affects not just Jesus, but their own healing.
In Nazareth, the community missed an opportunity for transformation. The rejection of Jesus becomes a shared loss.
When a chapel is desecrated, the wound is communal. The temporary closure of the chapel in the Diocese of Iba, Zambales invites repentance and healing.
It reminds believers that faith must be guarded, taught, and lived with responsibility.
Children of God: The gospel challenges us to examine how we treat what is sacred. Familiarity can deepen faith, but it can also dull reverence.
Sacred spaces reflect sacred attitudes. When faith is taken lightly, disbelief quietly grows.
May our faith move us from mere habit into conviction.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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