John 9:1-41, 4th Sunday of Lent Our Gospel today is bursting with ironies. Maybe it’s just fitting for Laetare Sunday. Because when you look at the story in a more light-hearted way, its ironies can actually bring a faint smile to your face. The man was born blind, so people presumed either he or his…
Category: Evangelist: John
Why Is This Pandemic Happening? Francis Alvarez, SJ
“As Jesus went along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, for him to have been born blind?’ ‘Neither he nor his parents sinned,’ Jesus answered, ‘he was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in…
Miraculous Pool – Johnny Go, SJ
John 9:1-41, 4th Sunday of Lent The healing stories in the Gospel take on new meaning in times like this! Our Lord’s healing of the blind man in today’s Gospel story offers us a much-needed message. This healing miracle, unlike others, did not happen instantaneously. While the other healings of our Lord were achieved with…
Social Distancing – Ernald Andal SJ
John 4:5-42, 3rd Sunday of Lent Today’s homily is “live”. Please click on the link to access: JESUS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING (Sundays for Skeptics)
Here I Am, Lord – Ro Atilano, SJ
John 1:29-34, 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time “Here I am, Lord; I come to do Your will.” I used to work for the biggest auditing firm in the country. They say it is the dream of every new certified public accountant. For the experience, as the veterans would say. I applied and got accepted and…
Gazing on the Cross – Peter Pojol, SJ
John 3:13-17, Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross I think it may be safe to say that everyone has had an experience of recoiling at something horrible, of being so distressed by something that it makes us turn away in order to, momentarily at least, block out whatever evil confronts us. It could be…
What Is Fullness? – Francis Alvarez, SJ
When Jesus tells us today, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you,” I think he wishes us more than just an absence of conflict. Peace here is not just a space of quiet and calm, a break in the fighting, nor a cessation of hostilities. What Jesus wants to bless us…
Choose Well – Arnel Aquino, SJ
John 10:27-30; Fourth Sunday of Easter On the same week, just days apart, I watched the movie “Avengers Endgame” and episode 3 of Game of Thrones. That’s like asking for a heart attack. That’s two major battles that take your breath away. Producers these days really know how to get into your head. They don’t…
Unless – Arnel Aquino, SJ
John 21:15-19, Third Sunday of Easter In ancient Greek, three words for love are commonly used. Eros means a physical, carnal kind of love, hence the word “erotic”. It’s the lowest kind of love. Secondly, philia, is most frequently used. Philia means warmth, affection. It implies deep friendship that goes beyond the merely physical. An English counterpart for philia would be “to cherish”, “affectionate tenderness,” “virtuous loving,” the love between best friends. Agape is a third word for love. It is…
Mysteries – Jett Villarin, SJ
John 21:15-19, Third Sunday of Easter At the heart of a happy Easter is the Resurrection, which is a glorious mystery. What is glorious is not always obvious or readily recognizable. Yes, the shining white of angels or the transfigured face of Jesus on the mountain can be a glorious sight to behold. For most…
50 Days of Easter – Arnel Aquino, SJ
John 20:19-31, Divine Mercy Sunday How many days is the Advent season? 23 days. How many days is the Christmas Season? 12. What about the Lenten Season? 40 days. And Easter, which, by the way, many Catholics forget is a Season, too, like Advent, Christmas, and Lent? How long is Easter? 50 days! Easter is the longest…
Isn’t Doubt Good? – Francis Alvarez, SJ
“I have doubts about my faith.” More than a few times, I have been approached with this concern. My usual reply: “What do you mean by having doubts? If you mean you have questions about your faith, then congratulations! It is good that you have questions about your faith. This is a sign that you…
One Lost Sheep 