Matthew 13:47-53, Thursday in Week 17 of Ordinary Time My dear friends, most of us would surely be familiar with Padre Faura Street in downtown Manila. But not too many of us may likely be familiar with Padre Faura, the man and the Jesuit priest. Fr Federico Faura SJ was an excellent scientist. In 1878, he…
Month: July 2020
Discipleship in Times of Fear and Uncertainty – Lito Ocon, SJ
Delivered on 26th July 2020, at the St Ignatius Feast Day mass of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus Happy Feast Day to all, sons and daughters of Ignatius: our lay partners- collaborators, alumni and students of different Jesuit schools, our parishioners in the different mission areas, our partners and co-workers in social…
Of Hearts and Desires – Fr Harold Parilla
Matthew 13:44-52, 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Reflecting on the Readings for today, I think we can bring them together under the word “desire”. The First Reading, for instance, talks about God asking Solomon what it is that he wants, and Solomon responding that he desires an understanding heart. The story ends with God granting…
Patient Trust – Karel San Juan, SJ
Matthew 13:24-43, 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time The message of the Gospel today seems difficult and demanding. We need to live with the “weeds” in our lives. In the so-called “fields” of our hearts, and of our lives, God has sown good seeds, and they grow to be good, productive wheat. But in these same…
Kingdom of God – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 13:24-43, 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Many years ago, I asked my maternal grandfather what it was like during the Japanese occupation. I don’t remember now what he said. I do remember, though, what I felt after he said it. He was very brief but very resentful, enough to stop me from ever asking…
Three Echoes of Mary – Jomari Manzano, SJ
Matthew 11:28-30, Thursday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time or Our Lady of Mount Carmel While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply…
The Word Does Not Return Empty – Fr Harold Parilla
Matthew 13:1-23, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time A story is told about two Italian boys who were altar servers in their parish. Their names were Annibale della Genga and Francesco Castiglioni. In the year 1770, during a benediction, these two boys started quarreling, and the altercation escalated into a physical fight with Francisco hitting the…
God’s Word and (Slow)Word – Pat Nogoy, SJ
Matthew 13:1-23, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time God’s word is life and brings about life. In the first reading, God’s word is associated with rain and snow—droplets full of life—and their efficacy in causing life through their watering of the earth. In the Gospel, Jesus uses a seed as analogy to God’s word. Seeds contain…
The Love of the Sower – Ro Atilano, SJ
Matthew 13:1-23, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Most of us are quite familiar with this parable. We have heard it many times. We have heard that a sower went out to sow; that some seed fell on the path and birds came and ate it up; that some fell on rocky ground, sprang up at…
Rest – Pat Nogoy, SJ
Matthew 11:25-30, 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time I wonder what rest means nowadays. Perhaps, the immediate thought would be relief—having that quiet time to breathe and recharge, away from the maddening ebb and flow of information, virtual meetings, and various stimuli that incite intense emotions that range from sadness to anger to frustration to tiredness….
Pamplona – Jett Villarin, SJ
Matthew 8:28-34, Wednesday of Week 13 in Ordinary Time “Living with one foot raised” is the theme of our Ignatian Festival this year. The image suggests movement, mobility, drive, freedom. There is a statue of Ignatius Loyola on campus, on bended knee, offering his sword to heaven. It is an image of his all-night vigil…
One Lost Sheep 