Monday. September 21, 2026. Monday. September 21, 2026. Word Today. Saint Matthew: Apostle & Evangelist. Little is known about St. Matthew, except that he was the son of Alpheus and likely born in Galilee. He worked as a tax collector, which was a hated profession during the time of Christ. One day, while seated at his table of books and money, Jesus looked at Matthew and said two words: “Follow me.” This was all that was needed to make Matthew rise, leaving his pieces of silver to follow Christ. His original name, “Levi,” in Hebrew signifies “Adhesion,” while his new name in Christ, Matthew, means “Gift of God.” The only other outstanding mention of Matthew in the Gospels is the dinner party for Christ and His companions to which he invited his fellow tax-collectors. The Jews were surprised to see Jesus with a publican, but Jesus explained that he had come “not to call the just, but sinners. Many years following the death of Christ, around 50 AD, Matthew wrote his gospel account. He wrote the book in Aramaic in the hope that his account would convince his fellow people that Jesus was the Messiah and that His kingdom had been fulfilled spiritually. It was an important message at a time when almost everyone was expecting the return of a militant messiah brandishing a sword. St. Matthew is known to us principally as an Evangelist, with his Gospel being the first in the New Testament. From Matthew we know of the many doings of Christ and the message Christ spread of salvation for all people who come to God through Him. The Gospel account of Matthew tells the same story as that found in the other three Gospels, so scholars are certain of its authenticity. According to tradition, he preached in Egypt and Ethiopia and further places East. Some legends say he lived until his nineties, dying a peaceful death; others say he died a martyr’s death. The symbol for Matthew’s Gospel is a man with wings. He wrote about Jesus’ Incarnation, and his Gospel makes clear that Jesus was true God and true man. Reading Matthew’s Gospel helps us to remember that faith in Jesus makes us truly Christian-rich! (Maridol: My Morning Prayer)
Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) Dear Jesus, I have sinned against God and you. I have gone against you and hurt you with every sin I have committed. I am not worthy of your love, but you are my only hope. Please save me, and please forgive me, for I am lost without you. Saint Matthew, as you were one of the lucky twelve who walked the Earth with Jesus by your side, you were continually made aware of your own nothingness before his greatness and saw many evidences of God’s immense grace. Help me to be so poor in spirit that I acknowledge my own nothingness before God on a moment-by-moment basis – From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48). The sin of the rich man was not that he did wrong things, but that he did nothing (William Barclay, in A. G. Cumagun Autobiography Song of Myself Looking Back at Serendipity). STATE YOUR REQUEST.
Saint Matthew. Please intercede with Jesus in asking Him to grant Ester and my desperate request: for our children to wholeheartedly support the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.” (Shakespeare). Business Enterprises are not Legacy: It is the wake you leave. Let the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation’s Good Work speak, not our family name.
We (Ester and I, as our Living Will and Holographic Will) Hereby Certify:
Matthew 9:13– But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Dearest Father Almighty, thank You for calling me, even when I’m unworthy or imperfect. Like Saint Matthew, may I have the courage to leave behind what keeps me from You and simply follow when You call. Let me not judge others but see them with the same mercy and compassion You have shown me. Lord, heal my heart, help me to remember that You came for me because I need You. May I be understanding, forgiving, and welcoming with empathy. Jesus, have mercy and make our hearts more like Yours. Amen.
WORD Today. Matthew 9:9-13. As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Reflection. The words of the Popes. “I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings” (Hos 6: 6). It is a key word, one of those that bring us into the heart of Sacred Scripture. The context in which Jesus makes it his own is the calling of Matthew, a “publican” by profession, in other words a tax collector for the Roman imperial authority: for this reason the Jews considered him a public sinner. Having called Matthew precisely when he was sitting at his tax counter – this scene is vividly depicted in a very famous painting by Caravaggio -, Jesus took his disciples to Matthew’s home and sat at the table together with other publicans. To the scandalized Pharisees he answered: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick…. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mt 9: 12-13). Here, the Evangelist Matthew, ever attentive to the link between the Old and New Testaments, puts Hosea’s prophecy on Jesus’ lips: “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice’”. (…) God’s words have come down to us, through the Gospels, as a synthesis of the entire Christian message: true religion consists in love of God and neighbour. This is what gives value to worship and to the practice of the precepts. (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, 8 giugno 2008)
Dearest Father Almighty,
Thank You for calling me, even when I’m unworthy or imperfect. Like Saint Matthew, may I have the courage to leave behind what keeps me from You and simply follow when You call.
Let me not judge others but see them with the same mercy and compassion You have shown me.
Lord, heal my heart, help me to remember that You came for me because I need You.
May I be more understanding, more forgiving, and more willing to welcome others with love. Jesus, have mercy on us and make our hearts more like Yours. Amen.
“The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.” (Shakespeare). Business Enterprises are not a legacy. Let the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation Legacy’s Good Work Speak, Not the Family Name.
Our Lady of the Impossible, grace those late in life but had more in life who tried to be their brothers’ keepers for those who have less in life – “Ester and I pray for your blessings to grace our children, and their children’s children, to wholeheartedly support The MCC FOUNDATION – The MONTINOLA-CUMAGUN CARE FOUNDATION OBJECTIVES: (1.) Special Children SPED, “A child’s mind is the most precious thing to waste.” (The motto of the American Negro College), and the Handicapped Senior Citizens – Physical Therapy. (2.) Financial Support for Diocesan priests and Grade School Teachers for the rural areas. (3.) Computer Start-up Education Tools for selected public schools and (4.) Selected Start-up Management and Financial Support for Small Businesses. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48. “The sin of the rich man was not that he did wrong things, but that he did nothing.” (William Barclay, in Antonio G. Cumagun Autobiography Song of Myself Memoirs, Looking Back at Serendipity, 2002) Our Lady of the Impossible, “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection was left unaided. . .” the good news of peace and justice through Ester and my founding the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation. Business Enterprises are not Legacy: It is the fruits of the wake you leave, and who you leave it to, and what you leave. Let your wake speak, not your name.
Ester and my state of health – vital stats are recorded by Ester’s everyday, 24 hr. PDNs.
Ester’s morning BP was 120 /80 . Hr. 77 O2sat 97%. Temp 36. 4
Last Night’s BP 110/70. HR 86. O2sat 96%. Temp 36.3 98%.
Tony’s morning BP was Tony BP 130 /80 . HR.64. O2sat 97% Temp. 36.7
Last Night’s BP 110/70. HR 85. O2sat 98%. Temp 36.5
Beata John Paul 1, watch over Cristina C, Justice Jun’s state of health, Ester’s recovery, and our autistic son John Paul’s emotional/emotional stability 57 (baptized John Paul a decade before Cardinal Luciano of Milan took the regnal name of John Paul), whom we met, promised to pray for him that John Paul II continued with Christmas greetings, and my weakening 89-year-old body.
FOR THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED AND SOULS IN PURGATORY
In Memory of all those who left us. We remember you in the morning and at night. You are always with us. We pray for the souls in Purgatory.
Blessed Mother Mary, I bring to you for your intercession the souls of Amb. Manuel R. and Dolores G. Cumagun, Juana Cumagun, Annette Cumagun, Lina Beltran, Judge and Mrs. Dolores Cumagun, Gov. Primo & Magdalena H. Gaffud, Dr. Trino, Sr. & Angeles Montinola, Betty, Luie, Trino, Jr. Montinola, Bernardino, and Isabel Jalandoni. Dr. Terry Lirio-Montinola, Dr. & Mrs. Tomacruz, Akira Tsusaka, Boy Eugenio, Jesus Ibañez, Sen. Nene Pimentel, Santiago Ranada 111, Boysie Villavicensio, Patria Manuel, Dr. Mariano Laurel, Rene Datu, (Ateneo ’54 – Jimmy Ongpin, Atty. Ato Gonzales, Buddy Joaquin, Fr. Unson, Msgr. Tantoco, Atty. Art Alafriz, Robert Arevalo Ylagan, Maximo Abesamis, Jr., Jesse Paredes), Atty. C. Platon, Araceli Rivera, Rey Castañeda, Col. Tanseco, Dr. E Fores, Dr. J. Caedo, Christine Syjuco, Leni Panganiban, Raul Boncan, Atty. Spanky and Dolly Perez, Amb. Albert del Rosario, Nellie Valdez, Toti Herbosa, Tec Syjuco, AL, Umberto (Beck) Gonzales, and Rufo Colayco. Pray 7 Our Father and The Credo
Physical Therapy
