Luke 12:49-53, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time GK Chesterton wrote the following words almost seventy years ago. One of the things that, for him, gave the church credibility is the fact that, invariably, it is surrounded by a halo of hatred! And there shone on them in that dark hour a light that has never…
Author: ninangdeb
Assumptions – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 1:39-56, The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Our Gospel today has two distinct parts. Look how interesting it is. The first part, Elizabeth’s, is filled with second-person pronouns. “Blessed are you among women…and the fruit of your womb. How wonderful that (you,) the mother of my Lord should come to me! When I heard you greet me, my baby leaped in me. Blessed are you who believed what the Lord told you!” Elizabeth showers…
Life’s Key Question – Ron Rolheiser, OMI
Luke 12:32-48, 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Several years ago, at retreat, an elderly monk shared with me about the ups and downs of 50 years of monastic life. At the end of this he said to me: “Give me some hints on how I should prepare to die! What should I do to make…
Ready – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 12:32-48; 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Two dear friends of mine were recently diagnosed with cancer. So, I went to Quiapo Church last Monday. One of three reasons I attend mass there is to bring before God desperate petitions people ask me to help them pray for, like this one. I certainly could’ve just…
The Poor Rich Fool – Vids Gornez, SJ
Luke 12:13-21, 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time In our Gospel reading, we are presented with a parable and in it the picture of a man consumed not by heavenly treasures but worldly ones. This man busies himself gathering treasures and harvests in his barn more than enough to meet his present needs and he is…
Rich – Jett Villarin, SJ
Luke 12:13-21, 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time In the eyes of the world, one becomes rich by getting. In the eyes of God, one gets rich by giving. The question then of our life’s richness depends on whose eye matters to us more: the world’s or God’s? If God does not matter to us, we…
Invest in Things that Last – Rev Fr Harold Parilla
Luke 12:13-21, 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time If you are a pessimist, you will find the First Reading quite affirming. It says, “Vanity of vanities, all things are vanity”. Vanity here does not mean preoccupation for external glamour. It refers to the fleeting quality of everything under the sun. It is to say there is…
Vows – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 13:54-58, on the occasion of the Profession of Perpetual First Vows of Jesuit Novices Jaclay, Masaya, Renier, Paulus, and Giovanni Mang Tino is our longest-staying and most cheerful sikyo. He always says, “Salamat po. Good morning, salamat. Good afternoon, salamat po. Salamat.” Two years ago, on a retreat, I spent some time again with…
Love Language – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 10:38-42, 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time If you haven’t read Gary Chapman’s book, I’m sure you’ve nonetheless heard of his “5 love languages.” Chapman is an 81-year-old pastor and spiritual director. After long years of shepherding his flock and counselling married couples, he concluded that from the many ways we express love, we could distill five chief ways of what he calls, “languages,” of loving,namely: (1) giving gifts, (2) spending quality time, (3) saying words of…
Peace – Jett Villarin, SJ
Luke 10:1-9; 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Boomerang is supposed to be a crazy pose of you that loops your motion on camera. It’s meant to be a fun alternative to the usual static photographs we post on social media. Boomerang is also what happens, Jesus tells us today, when you offer peace to an unpeaceable person….
Accept and Choose – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 9:51-62, 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time There’s one priest from the probinsya who, whenever he arrives in Manila, he takes the airport shuttle to LRT 1, gets off at UN Avenue, and walks to Pius XII Center. Many diocesan priests from outside Manila usually get a room there when they visit. I don’t think…
Embrace – Fr Harold Parilla
Luke 9:11b-17 A story is told about a Jewish boy named Mortakai who refused to go to school. His mother decided to take him there herself. He cried, screamed and protested on the way, and when her mother left, he ran back home. This scene played out over and over again for several days. His…
One Lost Sheep 