This was Fr Jojo’s homily from last year so the readings are different (Dt. 30:15-20; Phil. 3:8-14; Lk. 9:18-26). But his reflections and the lessons are timeless. The readings for the Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola speak of discipleship. Even more importantly, they tell us about the radical way in which Ignatius lived this…
Month: July 2016
AM+DG – Jonjee Sumpaico, SJ
Luke 12:13-21, Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola I first saw these four letters during my grade school days at the Ateneo. Most of the students would write the letters, together with a cross, on top of their answer sheets, essays, or even some homework activities. It was an unsaid tradition that was passed on…
Ignacio de Loyola, Builder of Bridges – Johnny Go, SJ
Luke 12:13-21 (Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola) What will you build in your life? That’s the question that our simple but profound parable in today’s Gospel asks us. It’s also the perfect question on the day we honor the saint who spent his life wrestling with that question. In a sense, everything in our…
Snakes and Scorpions – Johnny Go, SJ
Luke 11:1-13, 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time This Sunday’s Gospel has much to teach us about prayer, but it’s our Lord’s explanation of his parable of the desperate friend that struck me: “Knock and the door will be opened to you… What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for…
The Problem of Suffering – Mark Lopez, SJ
Luke 11:1-13, 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time When he was about 12 years old, one of my nephews told me that he found it problematic to believe in God. “Because if God did exist, then why is there so much suffering in the world?” he said. The question got me unsettled, of course, especially coming…
Lord, Teach Us to Pray – Weyms Sanchez, SJ
Luke 11:1-13, 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time We all have had our share of struggles with prayer. Perhaps for many among us, we have often wondered if God really listens to us, if He actually responds to our prayers, or if anything really happens in prayer beyond the silence. Many who have attempted to take…
What do you dare ask from God? – Francis Alvarez, SJ
Luke 11:1-13, 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time At Mass, right before we pray the Our Father, the presider encourages us with the words, “At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say….” And indeed, the Our Father is a daring prayer. That we dare to address God implies that we dare…
God’s Love, First – Arnel Aquino SJ
Luke 10:38-42, 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time My elder brother and I did very well in the Ateneo de Davao while we were growing up. We tried to land in the honor roll every quarter, and join elocution & spelling contests where we thought we excelled. As each school-year came to a close, kuya and I, in…
The Most Important Thing – Noel Y. Bava SJ
Luke 10:38-42 16th Sunday of the Ordinary Time Every time I read or hear this particular Gospel passage, I cringe in protest. There seems to be a monumental injustice happening and Jesus decides to side with the cause of the oppression rather than with the oppressed. Here we hear him chiding Martha who is obviously…
The Good Innkeeper – Johnny Go, SJ
Luke 10:25-37 (15th Sunday in Ordinary Time) We’ve all heard the Parable of the Good Samaritan before, and of course, its message is loud, clear, and timely: Just like the Good Samaritan, we are each called to help those in great need–even and especially strangers, those of a different race, region, or religion. I can’t…
Will You Attempt to Look with the Eyes of the Heart – Errol Fernandes, SJ
Luke 10:25-37 (15th Sunday in Ordinary Time) The Parable of the Good Samaritan has often been interpreted as one which tells the listener that one’s neighbor is anyone in need of help. While that is true, it is only a small part of the meaning and message of the story. The main point of the…
God’s Promise – Mark Lopez, SJ
Luke 10:1-9, 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Towards the end of World War II, my grandparents had to flee from Silay, their hometown on the island of Negros in the Philippines. During the first years of the occupation, Lolo Cardo (my grandfather) was among the few whom the Japanese trusted enough to allow him to…
One Lost Sheep 