John 10:1-10, Fourth Sunday of Easter In our novitiate in Novaliches, we take care of a flock of sheep. I counted 27 the last time. They graze on the grounds all morning. After lunch, they’re herded back into their pen. Many years ago, it was cows and turkeys that roamed the place. But because our…
Category: Author: Arnel Aquino, SJ
Free Again! – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 28:1-10, Easter Sunday 2017 Aren’t you glad that the purple linen covers here at the altar are now gone? In the past, churches covered the crucifix and the saints only after Holy Thursday mass. Recently, however, the covers go up much earlier, for some strange reason that probably only liturgists know. Personally, I’ve found…
What About Love? – Arnel Aquino, SJ
John 18:1-19:42, Good Friday 2016 A little over a year ago, ISIS took a video as they incinerated a Jordanian pilot in a cage. My friends said that the footage was all over the net, but I resisted the temptation of watching it. I learned my lesson many years ago when a friend sent me…
Beyond Betrayal, Beyond Death – Arnel Aquino SJ
Matthew 26:14-25, Holy Wednesday Did you ever wonder if Judas is in heaven or in hell? There’s not been a few times when people have asked if I think Judas is in heaven or in hell—like what I think matters in the whole thing. “He betrayed Jesus and then killed himself, so he must be…
How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 26:14-27:66, Palm Sunday Two years ago, when my kuya called from Davao to tell me that our mom was rushed to the ICU, I hurried home. I was used to visiting patients in the ICU—like parents of friends, strangers I had anointed, priests. But nothing really prepared you for when your own mom was…
God’s Freebies – Arnel Aquino, SJ
John 9:1-41, Fourth Sunday of Lent Fr Joe Roche was our professor in the theology of Grace, oh some 500 years ago. Most of you are familiar with the teaching method back then. Straight lecture, exposition of concepts and terms, arguments, counter-arguments. Very informative, if anything, but pretty much cut and dried. But there was…
Look Forward – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 7:1-9, Second Sunday of Lent We have a really nice chapel in the recently completed infirmary at Loyola House. The 6pm daily mass over there is open to anyone who wishes to attend mass with our Lolo Jesuits, as we call them. It can be quite a moving experience. We see the old Jesuits…
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…
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…
Don’t Cross – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 5:38-42b, Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Under normal circumstances, a right-handed person could slap somebody’s right cheek, but only if it’s a back-handed slap. Try and imagine it. Back in the Lord’s day, a back-handed slap was what superiors gave subordinates. Masters backhand-slapped slaves, for instance; commanders slapped centurions that way; and as it…
Our Favorite Uncle – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 5:13-16, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time My family had always lived with my maternal grandparents when I was growing up. Up to now, I still wonder if it was a Batangueño thing, but mamay and nanay—that’s how we call lolo & lola in Batangueño—they were always either angry or on a slow burn. It…
To Hand Over – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 4:12-23, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time I don’t exactly remember how that conversation started. But I will remember for a long time what dad said to me around those days after we laid mom to rest. “Anak, wala kaming gaanong maiiwan sa inyong magkakapatid ha? (Son, we won’t have much to leave you, ok?)”…
One Lost Sheep 