John 10:11-18, Fourth Sunday of Easter 2015 I’ve read this beautiful Gospel passage so many times in my life, I thought I would no longer find any new message in it, until I pondered over it again this week. I’m sure you’ve noticed that the phrase Jesus keeps repeating here is “lay down my life”….
Author: ninangdeb
Hungry – Arnel Aquino, SJ
John 21:1-19, Third Sunday of Easter The worst thing about religious life is being far from family. But the best thing about religious is being far from family—because when I visit, they share with me deep-down things that they’d normally keep to themselves if I were with them all the time. I was in Davao…
Heaven is Togetherness – Arnel Aquino, SJ
1 November 2015, All Saints’ Day Thanks to the stampitas that were so popular when I was growing up, for the longest time, my impression of the saints was that they were very solitary people with an uninterrupted line to God. I often envisioned saints on their knees, and their fingers interlocked in prayer, and…
The Gentle Rain of Mercy – Norlan Julia, SJ
John 20:19-31 (Second Sunday of Easter/Feast of Divine Mercy) The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, Scene I This year’s Divine Mercy Sunday takes…
Doubt – Arnel Aquino, SJ
John 20:19-31, Second Sunday of Easter/Feast of Divine Mercy “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Don’t you find that rather rude? I mean, when Thomas’ best friends told him that the Lord…
Unlocked – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Mark 16:1-7, Easter Vigil May binili ako sa Riverbanks nung isang araw. Nung palabas na ako kasama ng medyo makapal na mga tao, napansin ko na naman na isang glass door lang yung nakabukas. Yung kaparis niya, nakasara. Matagal ko na yun gustong itanong sa may-ari. Kung bakit ba magpapalagay ng dalawang swinging glass…
Returning Home – Willy Samson, SJ
6 December 2015 Luke 3:1-6 (Second Sunday of Advent) Durian! Love it or hate it! Durian fruit is well known for its obtrusive odour but heavenly taste. The smell of durian brings out different reactions ranging from deep appreciation to intense disgust. People who dislike durian describe its smell as “a combination of pig-shit, turpentine…
A Theory of Divine Mercy – Johnny Go, SJ
FOR 13 MARCH 2016 John 8:1-11 (Fifth Sunday of Lent) Today we are presented with what I consider one of the defining moments in the public ministry of our Lord. A woman caught in the act of adultery is dragged into the temple square to stand in shame and in full view of a blood-thirsty…
A Different Perspective – Jojo Magadia, SJ
FOR 13 MARCH 2016 John 8:1-11 (Fifth Sunday of Lent) Is the glass half-empty or half-full? A scientist might remind you that the glass is actually completely full, with atoms of both water and air. A philosopher might ask, “But are we sure the glass is real?” And a lawyer might say, “We can agree…
Worth More than Two Cents to Me – 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…
So Who’s the Prodigal One? – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 15:1-32, Fourth Sunday of Lent To Jews, a pig is the dirtiest, most impure animal on the face of the earth; no animal disgusts them more. Many Jews don’t even say chazir, their word for pig. They replace it with davar acher—which literally means, “the other thing.” They don’t want to defile their mouths…
The Gift or Giver – Willy Samson, SJ
Luke 15:1-3; 11-32 (Fourth Sunday of Lent) Which one is more important? The gift or the giver? Imagine this: Pedro was working abroad for twenty years. In his desire to give a stable future for his family, he decided to forgo his annual vacation to save money. Finally Pedro went home after twenty years. He…
One Lost Sheep 