Matthew 24:37-44, First Sunday of Advent I. Have you ever heard the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by the Russian composer Rachmaninov? This rhapsody begins with a tune that I am sure all of you have heard, Caprice 24 by Paganini. In this first part of the rhapsody, we hear such a vibrant…
Month: November 2016
Watchful – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 24:37-44, First Sunday of Advent I grew up in Davao with my mom and lola constantly referring to the end of the world. After an earthquake, or news of a typhoon in Manila, or a big fire, they’d sermonize, “Ayan, malapit na ang end of the world. Galit na ang Diyos sa mga kasalanan ng…
Finding Noah’s Ark – Johnny Go, SJ
Matthew 24:37-44, First Sunday of Advent For many of us these days, despair is a real temptation. Some of us have actually sworn to keep away from our newsfeed and just get ourselves inebriated in premature Christmas carols. Can the news in the country, in the US, and in the world get any worse? And…
Who is the God you are waiting for? – Francis Alvarez, SJ
Matthew 24:37-44, First Sunday of Advent Twenty-eight days before Christmas! Some people begin numbering the days to December 25 as soon as the “ber” months arrive. Last year, I chanced upon a website that started a Christmas countdown on December 26. But I wonder: Would people be as excited for Christmas if our Gospel today…
Another Advent – Rudolf Horst, SVD
Matthew 24:37-44, First Sunday of Advent We have entered another Advent Season. Why? Why does the Church lead us along the same path every year, repeating the same seasons, even the same readings? Is it for lack of creativity and imagination? No, the Church is always young, and never runs out of creativity. In every…
Who Is King? – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 23:35-43, Solemnity of Christ the King Neuropsychologist, Dr. James Fallon has studied the neuropathology of dictators. In a brief summary, he says in Psychology Today: “So, what binds dictators across history and geography? What traits do they share? They are usually charming, charismatic, intelligent. They brim with self-confidence and independence, and exude sexual energy….
Solemnity of Christ the King – Rudolf Horst, SVD
Luke 23:35-43, Solemnity of Christ the King Kings have become rare in today’s world. Usually they are only figureheads while a Prime Minister is in charge of the politics of the Kingdom. But even Prime Ministers and Presidents come and go. We have just this year elected a new President, and who still speaks of…
Second Coming – Rudolf Horst, SVD
Luke 21:5-19, 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time As the liturgical year approaches its end, the Church is reminding us today of the meaning behind that small phrase in the Creed that we solemnly profess everySunday: “Jesus will come again in glory tojudge the living and the dead.” At that time, all the injustices…
With Justice and Equity: Playing on God’s Team – Mark Lopez, SJ
Luke 21:5-19a, 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time “Three Days of Darkness.” That’s what it was called. I was in grade six when that doomsday prediction became popular. A solar eclipse was said to be but the beginning of 72 hours without the sun, during which time only blessed candles would emit light. And that, they…
Breathe – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 21:5-19a, 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time This past week was a tough riddle for many of us, Jesuits. The other night, some brothers and I got together. We all wondered: “Are we the ones missing something here? Have we been standing for the wrong principles all this time?” Because no sooner did the Supreme…
Birthday Note
76 countries. 18,649 views. 102 followers. 116 homilies. Those are stats from our homily blog onelostsheep.net which turned a year old today. One year ago when Kat Limcaoco-Alcuaz and I succumbed to the urgings of Chary Mercado to start a blog with “good” homilies. We had been toying with the idea for some time already…
Imagining Resurrections – Mark Lopez, SJ
Luke 20:27-38, 32nd Sunday In Ordinary Time A lot of prayers and thoughts these days go out to our dearly departed, having just celebrated All Saints’ and All Souls’. And since we’re also nearing the end of the liturgical year (Yes, only two Sundays left, before Advent helps us to begin again!) a lot of…
One Lost Sheep 