Editorial Disclaimer: This spiritual reflection, homily digest, and pastoral insight summarizes the message delivered by Rev. Fr. Marvin G. Riquez, Shrine Rector and Parish Priest of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Urduja, Caloocan. Preached on Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time and the 9th day of the Novena in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this piece incorporates the official “Gabay Aral by Fr. Marvin” quote card, examining why doing what is right often provokes resistance, and how Christians must persevere in integrity regardless of opposition.

There is a comfortable myth in modern life that if you simply mind your own business, act with kindness, and do what is right, everyone will love, respect, and applaud you.

Scripture and human history tell a vastly different story.

Delivering his homily for Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time—marking the 9th and final Novena Mass leading to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Rev. Fr. Marvin G. Riquez cut straight through this illusion. Reflecting on Christ healing the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath, Fr. Marvin posed a sobering reality: sometimes, the loudest anger you will ever face will come not from your sins, but from your courage to do what is good.

1. Gabay Aral: Ang Sentro ng Pagninilay

“Minsan may mga taong nagagalit sa ’yo hindi dahil may ginawa kang mali, kundi dahil may ginawa kang tama.”

— Gabay Aral by Fr. Marvin

Ito ang katotohanang bumasag sa karaniwang akala ng marami. Sa mundong sanay sa kompromiso, pananahimik, at pansariling kapakanan, ang paggawa ng mabuti ay madalas nagiging banta sa mga taong nabubuhay sa mali.

2. Quick Summary Dashboard: Core Insights from the Pulpit

3. Malalimang Pagsusuri: When Doing Good Disrupts the Status Quo (Deep Dive)

• 1. The Story of the Reformer Priest:

  • Fr. Marvin recalled a fellow priest in the provinces who received permission to leave his active ministry to enter politics because local government corruption had become unbearable.

  • Winning his election through the people’s longing for change, the priest immediately targeted illegal vices, cleared crooked systems, and rejected massive under-the-table bribery (“under the table na pera”).

  • His vision was clear: to protect the poor and govern with genuine accountability.

• 2. The Retaliation of Threatened Systems:

  • But doing what was right did not bring peace; it brought war. The corrupt political machine, enraged that their illicit income was cut off, threw every piece of dirt they could manufacture at him (“pinagtulung-tulungan siya”).

  • Eventually, political maneuvers removed him from office. Fr. Marvin highlighted this to illustrate a hard truth of human nature: people who profit from injustice will violently defend their turf against anyone who tries to shine a light on it.

• 3. Christ, the Sabbath, and the Fury of the Pharisees:

  • Connecting this directly to the Gospel, Jesus entered the synagogue and saw a man with a withered, paralyzed right hand.

  • In the presence of religious scribes and Pharisees waiting to trap Him, the Lord healed the man right then and there. Christ chose compassion over rigid ritual loopholes.

  • Instead of celebrating a miraculous restoration of human dignity, the religious elite were consumed with rage (“nanlilisik ang mga mata sa galit”). Why? Because Christ’s goodness stripped away their legalistic control.

• 4. Clarifying Where Hostility Comes From:

  • As encapsulated in his Gabay Aral, Fr. Marvin emphasized: “Hindi lahat ng nagagalit sa iyo ay dahil may nagawa kang mali. Kung minsan, nagagalit sila dahil ginawa mo kung ano ang tama at kung ano ang mabuti.”

  • If you face gossip, ostracization, or workplace politics simply because you refused to cheat, lie, or join corrupt shortcuts, do not despair. You are walking in the exact footsteps of Christ.

4. Tatlong Pagninilay sa Pagsasabuhay ng Integridad

1. Expect Resistance When Living Righteously: If your life never challenges the status quo, check which direction you are walking. Living out authentic Gospel values will inevitably create friction with dishonest compromises.

2. Do Not Measure Your Worth by Public Approval: Jesus healed with pure love, yet was plotted against for murder. If even the Son of God faced hostility for doing good, do not expect corrupt systems to hand you an award for your honesty.

3. Persist in the Good Regardless of the Price: The easy road is silence and going along with the crowd; the Christian road is faithfulness to truth. Stand firm in your principles, protect your conscience, and leave the vindication in God’s hands.

As we honor the birth of our Blessed Mother Mary—whose quiet, fearless “Yes” defied the expectations of the world—may we receive the courage to do what is right, speak what is true, and remain steadfast in goodness no matter who pushes back.

Have you ever experienced backlash or isolation at work or in your personal circles simply because you chose to do what is right and refused to compromise? How did you navigate that trial with faith? Share your stories and reflections in the comments below!