At that time, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him…” (Mark 9:38). Why did John attempt to stop this other exorcist he chanced upon? John’s answer: “Because he does not follow us.” Because the other exorcist was not one of them. Because he…
Month: October 2016
Signs – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 11:29-32, Monday of 28th Week in Ordinary Time I have a few good friends who at some point in their lives prayed a particular novena. And while they did, they hoped to be given a sign at the end of nine days whether God’s answer to their petition was a “yes” or a “no”….
No Such Thing as Too Much Thanks – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 17:11-19, 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time In the time of Jesus, when a so-called leper claimed to have been healed, religious law required him to submit himself to the examination of a priest. The priest would start observing the person’s sores, note their size, shape, and color. Through many weeks, months sometimes, the patient made…
Sunday Obligation – Rudolf Horst, SVD
Luke 17:11-19, 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Leprosy was and is a awful thing anywhere, anytime. But in the ancient Near East, it was a particularly heavy burden to bear since it meant complete social isolation. You could, of course, hang out with other lepers. But you were bound to stay as far away from…
Our Father – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 11:1-4, Wednesday of 27th Week in Ordinary Time I hadn’t picked up the rosary for many, many years since I was ordained. Mom pretty much forced us to pray it with her every October and May; even as a child, I had already found it too repetitive for me to really mean what I…
When God seems Absent – Mark Aloysius, SJ
Luke 17 5:10, 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time I. Perhaps as we begin a new academic year after our summer holidays, we do well to spend some time reflecting on all the experiences we have had during our break. You might have had the grace of rest, the pleasure of being in the midst of…
Losing Faith – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 17:5-10, 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time People who know me well also know that there was a particular stretch in my life when I served as my parent’s quote-unquote “marriage counselor”. Even as a little child, I’d know dad and mom fought again because they’d be killing each other with silence. So when I…
Increase our Faith – Rudolf Horst, SVD
Luke 17 5:10, 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time We all admire the heroes of faith like St. Francis whose feast we will celebrate on Tuesday. Absolutely nothing stopped him in his pursuit of God’s glory. When, during the Crusades, he was captured by the Saracens, St. Francis challenged the imams to a duel to prove…
wru – Jett Villarin, SJ
Luke 17 5:10, 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time When our date does not arrive at the appointed time, we text or call. Before cellphones, what did we do? We waited. Now that email connects us almost instantaneously, we are pressured to respond just as instantaneously. What did we do before email, when we had to…
One Lost Sheep 