In our modern (some would say post-modern, or even post-post-modern) world, when monarchy is mainly for ceremony, does the Feast of Christ the King still have meaning? As we let this and then that fad lord it over our lives, as we bow to fleeting trifles, maybe there is an even greater need to remind…
Category: Author
The End of the World – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Mark 13:24-32, 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time When I was growing up in Davao, it took very little for elders to start talking about the end of the world. When there was an earthquake, a typhoon, a plane crash, war, flood—very soon, mom or lola or manang would sit up anxiously share what they “heard”…
Undivided – Jett Villarin, SJ
Mark 12:28-34, 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time First there were ten commandments. Then over time these multiplied to 600+ laws plus heaven knows how many more implementing rules and regulations and rituals. Just like the mess of information on the internet, these directives often took a life of their own and were confusing. If you…
What Do You Really Want? – Francis Alvarez, SJ
Bartimaeus did not have sight in both of his eyes, but this did not prevent him from seeing the answer to three of life’s most important questions. The first question: What do you want? Some of us drift from one thing to another. Sometimes, this is because we do not know what we really want….
Pari-seo – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 11:42-46, Wednesday of Week 28 in Ordinary Time Jesus was much kinder to prostitutes and tax collectors than to Pharisees and teachers of the law. Oh, Jesus didn’t condone prostitutes and tax collectors. He socialized with them, yes, but with the intention of turning them around. He couldn’t turn Pharisees around, though. They were…
Fractions – Jett Villarin, SJ
Mark 10:2-16, 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Fractions are not easy to learn. In kindergarten, we begin with adding numbers that are whole like one, two, three. When we learn subtraction, we learn about negatives and that mysterious number zero. Then on to division, and life becomes complicated with fractions. Like fractions, love is not…
Reasons – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Mark 10:2-16, 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Only a few Catholics are aware that you actually need only a minimum of five people for a wedding: a priest, the bride and the groom, and 2 valid witnesses. I’ve not officiated in a wedding of five though, because thankfully, weddings for us are a community celebration of family and friends. And that’s what a sacrament…
That I May Smile All My Life – Johnny Go, SJ
Mark 8:38-48, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time This reflection was written in 2015. I am reposting this because Pope Francis needs our prayers as he faces vicious attacks even from within the Church. I’m reading the new book from Filipino priest-poet, Fr. Albert Alejo, SJ, Nabighani. It’s a lovely book of religious poetry translated into Filipino and guaranteed to…
Patterns – Willy Samson, SJ
Mark 9:37-43, 45, 47-48, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time We are living and surrounded by people. But it takes a while for us to know their real colours and intentions. This is also true in our spiritual life, sometimes, we are not sure whether something in front of us is good or bad. Is it…
The Inside Story – John Foley, SJ
Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time We have an interior and an exterior, you and I. This seems to be the key to Sunday’s Gospel. We can find clues to our “interior” in the calm we find at a quiet lake or at the sight of a budding tree or in the…
“Mana” – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Mark 9:30-37, 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time “O,ano ba ‘yung pinagtatalunan ninyo kanina habang naglalakad tayo?” Jesus asked his friends. Now don’t you think a pagtatalowould have been loud enough for Jesus to hear it? But he had to ask: “What were you arguing about on the way?” Well, this could mean only one thing:…
God as Love – Arnel Aquino, SJ
1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13/Luke 7:31-35, Wednesday of Week 24 in Ordinary Time Last week, I thought a lot about the sexual abuse scandals in Pennsylvania, more than 1000 children victims, 300 priests. I wanted to see what the priests looked like so, I Googled. All of them are over 70 years old by now, several already…
