Matthew 4:1-11; First Sunday of Lent In physics, we explain attraction by assigning certain qualities to objects that make them move toward each other. Usually these properties are binary or polar in nature. Thus in electricity, plus attracts minus, and vice versa. In magnetism, north and south. In the nucleus of an atom, protons that…
Category: Author: Jett Villarin, SJ
Passport – Jett Villarin, SJ
Matthew 5:17-37, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:20) If heaven were a country, entering it will take more than just fulfilling all visa requirements. Apparently, the scribes and Pharisees did not get this…
Off-Center – Jett Villarin, SJ
Matthew 4:12-23, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus begins his ministry off-center. Not in his hometown Nazareth nor in the center of religion, Jerusalem. His proclamation of the good news is preceded by bad news. John’s arrest prompts him to move northward to Galilee, “west of the Jordan, the District of the Gentiles”, to a…
Emmaüs- Jett Villarin, SJ
14th January 2023 I was looking for Emmaus on the modern map. There is Abu Gosh, there is Latrun. We don’t know where Emmaus is but it seems to be west of Jerusalem. Our story opens on Sunday, after the heavy events of Good Friday. The two disciples are sad. They are leaving Jerusalem, walking…
Awake – Jett Villarin, SJ
Matthew 24:37-44, First Sunday of Advent “Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left. Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.”…
Found – Jett Villarin, SJ
Luke 15:1-32, 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time There are three fractions in the Gospel today. One out of 99 sheep is lost (one percent); one out of ten coins is missing (ten percent); and one of two sons goes rogue (50%). How much lost, how much found are you? I think no one here in…
Coin – Jett Villarin, SJ
Matthew 26:14-25, Wednesday of Holy Week Thirty pieces of silver. The price of betrayal. This is all it takes to lose our soul. All it takes to lose our hope. To this day, the silver still circulates in our midst. Especially now, as elections draw near. To this day, the fraudsters are still falling over…
Blessings – Jett Villarin, SJ
Luke 6:17, 20-26; 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time It is not only gasoline that is expensive these days. One of the most expensive things is trust. It is expensive because it is in such short supply. This is the age of mistrust. It does not help that one of the cheapest things these days are…
Likeness – Jett Villarin, SJ
I was in stitches watching our recent Christmas carol concert here at the Jesuit Residence. Some of us were out of tune, some had facial expressions feel-na-feel to be serious. Most of the time, we tried to be spontaneous but the bloopers tell it all: it is never easy before a camera. People place us…
Summer – Jett Villarin, SJ
Mark 13:24-32, 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Winter is coming. I know. The egrets are here again on campus. They are here for the warmth and the light, to escape the cold and dark of the north. Their visitation will only be for a few months. Come summer, they will be gone. Winter is coming….
Wisdom – Jett Villarin, SJ
Mark 10:17-30, 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Come to think of it, that question asked of Jesus by the rich man in the Gospel today is something I would ask our aspiring presidential candidates. In campaigns and political debates, people will ask our candidates what…
Who – Jett Villarin, SJ
Mark 8:27-35, 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Of all the questions that begin with what, where, when, who, why, and how, the most difficult are the why ones, the ones children learn to ask early on. Why should I eat my vegetables? Why do we have to stop playing? When I was six, I remember…
One Lost Sheep 