Luke 19:1-10, 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Whenever I take a plane, I make sure that my carry-on fits under the seat in front of me. Oh, I could bring a larger carry-on and toss it into the overhead stowage bin. But the few times I did that, my bag sat a little too deep…

Luke 11:47-54, Thursday of Week 28 in Ordinary Time Bernice Fitz-Gibbon was an American advertiser in the sixties. She is honored in her field as one of the most influential women of the twentieth century. I was reading an old copy of Reader’s Digest and I came across a quotation from her. “A good ad,”…

Luke 17:11-19b, 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time I love taking the electric jeep in school. The ride is always breezy and quiet, no exhaust fumes, and I get to meet friends along the way. But the best thing about the ride is hearing Ateneans say “thank you” to the driver as they get off. “Salamat…

Luke 17:5-10b, 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Fr. John Iacono is a 78-year-old Italian missionary I met in Cebu when I was assigned there for three years. He doubled up as my spiritual director and confessor. For many years before retirement, Fr. John ran a day-care center for Cebu’s poorest of the poor living in…

Luke 16:19-31, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Noong nakaraang Martes po, sumakay ako ng jeep papuntang LRT station para magpa-renew ng passport sa Cubao. Siksikan na sa jeep, pasado alas-nwebe ng umaga. “Bayad po,” I called out, stretching my arm as far as it could go, since I was seated 6 people away from the driver. Now, sitting 2 people away from the driver was this young teenage guy, Generation Z, senior-high? He was wearing a high school uniform,and. these huge, baby-blue,…

Luke 7:30-33; Thursday of Week 24 in Ordinary Time Here she was, the public sinner, the prostitute, the harlot who worked nights because only darkness was her friend. But here she came, this time in broad daylight, barging into a very civilized home at a very civilized time when civilized people gathered for a meal….

Luke 14:25-33, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time I remember many years ago, a group of OFWs in Saudi Arabia sent us a letter at Jesuit Communications. They asked if we sold any videotape of any Mass. They said they didn’t care if the recording was clear or not. “Basta,” they said, they just wanted a…

Luke 14: 1-14, 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Humble people are teachable, which means they know how to listen. They believe there’s always something to still learn from the wisdom and experiences of others. The proud, however, listen mainly to themselves and to people who agree with them. That’s why proud people in authority rarely…

Luke 13:22-30; 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time In our theology classes in Loyola School of Theology, some of my brightest students are those doing their MA while also teaching theology at Ateneo. I really admire them and their work. I can only imagine how difficult it is to teach theology to college people these days,…

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…