Matthew 4:1-11, First Sunday of Lent A pilgrimage to the Holy Land brings us always to Jericho. The busses stop at the foot of a high mountain with a Greek Orthodox Monastery halfway up carved in the rock. But the people leaving the busses usually don’t look up to the monastery and the mountain but…
Author: ninangdeb
Anti-Power – Jett Villarin, SJ
Matthew 4:1-11, First Sunday of Lent The temptations in the desert reveal to us three very big powers at play in our lives and in the world today. As with many things diabolical, their pull to the dark side is quite subtle and surreptitious. On the surface, the promises offered by these temptations are not…
More! – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 4:1-11, First Sunday of Lent Many, many Roman-Catholics still take it for granted that the Adam and Eve story literally happened as it is narrated in Genesis. But if that were the case, we would run into many problems. First, if the whole human race issued from only two parents, then we would have…
The Length of Lent – Remmon Barbaza, PhD
With their foreheads marked with an ash cross, many Filipinos entered into the season of Lent. It is a long season. Indeed, we are told that the word “Lent” has its roots in “long,” with the Old English “lencten” meaning spring. We can make a guess and say that perhaps it has to do with…
Do Good for Lent
This daily calendar of good deeds to do for Lent may help you to celebrate the Lenten season more appropriately. Instead of just giving up something, let’s do something instead. From I am a Catholic by Heart FB page
My Private Room – Willy Samson, SJ
Matthew 6:1-6; 16-18, Ash Wednesday A confused disciple went to his master and begged for enlightenment. And the master said, “Go and sit in your room, and your room will teach you everything.” Today we officially begin the Season of Lent. For most of us, Lent is a time TO REMEMBER how Jesus, the Son…
Why do we sacrifice for Lent – Arnel Aquino, SJ
This is a bonus Lenten Special. Just want to share what my SD sent me on understanding why we sacrifice during Lent : My personal thoughts on taking on some measure of asceticism during Lent, Deb, is that all throughout the year, we protect ourselves from being vulnerable. And rightly so because we don’t wish…
Stop Worrying (for Lent and beyond) – Mark Aloysius, SJ
Matthew 6:24-34, Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time I. In just a few days time, we will enter the season of Lent. I’m sure that some of you, if not many, have given thought to what it is you will fast from this Lent. Perhaps some of you will give up some kind of food, kick…
Do you Catastrophize? – Johnny Go, SJ
Matthew 6:24-34, Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time In today’s Gospel reading, our Lord Jesus repeats what is probably God’s favorite message in the Bible: “Do not be afraid!” Think of the times when God showed up for the first time before his prophets–or when He sent His angel Gabriel to Mary at the Annunciation, or…
Seek his Kingdom first – Rudolf Horst, SVD
Matthew 6:24-34, Eight Sunday in Ordinary Time Today’s readings are so rich that we could reflect on nearly every sentence. Especially the gospel offers so many thoughts to spend a long time with them. What the three readings have in common is that they remind us that God has not only created us, but that…
Who is my Enemy – Johnny Go, SJ
Matthew 5:38-48, Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Did you flinch when you just heard the Lord say, “Love your enemies”? My theory is that, if you didn’t, it’s probably because you didn’t hear what he’s trying to tell us today. Or, you didn’t really think of your enemies. “Who is my enemy?” you might ask….
A Higher Law – Manoling Francisco, SJ
Matthew 5:38-42b, Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time In our Gospel today, Jesus cites the Old Testament law of retaliation, “an eye for an eye….” (Ex. 21:24, Dt. 19:21 and Lev. 24:20) which was meant to deter violence and put an end to the spiral of vengeance. According to the Old Testament justice was served by…
One Lost Sheep 