Manila Archbishop Jose F. Cardinal Advincula D.D., called the faithful to surrender spiritual entitlement, reject human comparison and embrace daily service in his homily at the Chapel of St. Padre Pio, Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City on September 20, 2026.
Opening with a story associated with St. Padre Pio, Cardinal Advincula recalled a wealthy man who traveled from Rome to San Giovanni Rotondo to test the saint in confession. The man deliberately concealed his most serious sins, illustrating the temptation to hide one’s brokenness before God, who already knows and loves what is hidden.
Reflecting on the Gospel, Cardinal Advincula explained that the workers hired at different hours received the same wage, revealing God’s generosity.
He called the faithful to surrender spiritual entitlement, warning against treating God like a vending machine whose blessings are earned by good behavior, and pointing to Isaiah’s reminder that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than human thoughts.
He also urged the faithful to reject human comparison, noting that the first-hour workers became dissatisfied when they compared their wage with what others received.
The Cardinal called Christians to rejoice in another person’s breakthrough and conversion, blessing or late-life spiritual turning point, stressing that “God’s mercy is an infinite ocean, not a limited pie.”
Cardinal Advincula then called the faithful to embrace daily duty, reflecting on St. Paul’s desire to be with Christ while remaining in this life to bear fruit for others. He connected this with Padre Pio, who endured the suffering of the stigmata for decades while continuing his ministry and spending long hours in the confessional accompanying people seeking reconciliation.
The Cardinal also contrasted the serene chapel with the fast-paced mall outside, where people shop, rush to appointments, compare prices and look for the next best deal.
He invited the faithful to move from this transactional mindset toward what he described as the “radical economy of God’s grace.”
As they return to their daily routines, Cardinal Advincula urged the faithful to carry the peace of the chapel with them.
He reminded those who have remained faithful for a long time to guard against spiritual pride and to rejoice in the Master’s generosity, while encouraging those burdened by wasted time or a difficult past not to fear.
Addressing these “eleventh-hour” souls, Cardinal Advincula reminded them that God’s invitation remains open: “Come into my vineyard; it is not too late.”
(File Photo of RCAM Media)
