Luke 9:28b-36, Second Sunday of Lent When I was a novice in Novaliches, I happily looked forward to life in Loyola House. Then when I was in Loyola House, I did my best even if I wasn’t enjoying Philosophy because I was looking forward to regency. I loved regency and wish it lasted longer. But…
Category: Author: Arnel Aquino, SJ
More – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 4:1-13, First Sunday of Lent Mang Rod, our gardener, told me a story about his former boss—a tremendously wealthy and single matron who went to daily mass and was active in the parish. “Pero wala pong nagtatagal na kasambahay o driver kay senyora,” Mang Rod said. “Walang kasing talim ang dila, Father.” He remembered…
Nothing Without God – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 6:1-6; 16-18, Ash Wednesday 2016 For most of her life, my mom used to run a small botica in a marketplace. It was our bread and butter for many years. One morning, I woke up to the scariest sound I ever heard in my life: the sound of mom wailing. Our botica had burned…
Love knows No Bounds – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 4:21-30, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Remember the first time Pope Francis celebrated Holy Thursday mass as pope? He went to a juvenile detention center in Rebibbia, outside Rome, and washed the feet of 12 people, two of whom were women—one of whom was a Muslim. Many of us Filipinos were touched by the…
Invisible Jars – Arnel Aquino SJ
John 2:1-11, Feast of the Sto Nino I’ve prayed over this gospel many times, over many years. But only recently did I seriously realize that the water Jesus turned into wine was not drinking water. It was water for ceremonial washing. Now, in a gospel like John which is exceedingly symbolic, the word “water” typically…
God of Things – Arnel Aquino, SJ
John 6:24-35, 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time I received this text from a friend yesterday. “Good afternoon, Father. I’m presently preparing kids for first communion. But I have a SpEd kid (special education) in the group who can’t follow what’s happening. P’ano ‘yan, Father?” Now, this is a very kind person and a dear friend….
Good Shepherd, Bad Shepherd – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Mark 6:30-34, 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Very often, our desires lead us like shepherds lead sheep. Whether we’re immediately aware of it or not, in many, many ways, we are shepherded by what we think fulfills our desires. We who go to Church will readily say,“My shepherd is Jesus Christ.” And we’re not being…
Soul and Body – Arnel Aquino. SJ
Luke 24:35-48, Third Sunday of Easter 2015 Napansin po ba ninyo na nauso ang mga pelikula at tv show tungkol sa zombie at sa bampira? Dati-rati, uso ang multo. Pero ngayon, mas uso na yata ang zombie at bampira. Sa tv ngayon, halimbawa, limang seasons na ang The Walking Dead. Sa pelikula naman, hindi ba…
Three in One – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 28:16-20, Trinity Sunday When I came back from graduate studies in 2011, I begged my dean to give me any subject at Loyola School of Theology…just not Trinity. Trinity is as tough to teach as it is to learn. It is a very “heady” subject, abstruse, highly speculative, and hair-splitting. When I was a…
O Holy Night, the Star Brightly Shining – Arnel Aquino SJ
Luke 16:10-13, 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time I was having a bad week when September began. I had two recollections coming that weekend, but I hadn’t prepared a word of it, because of my teaching load. Exam week was coming and I was still two quizzes short. I had two stacks of papers to…
One Lost Sheep 