Matthew 16:13-20, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time In the Gospel today, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Then, a few lines later he asks again, “But who do you say that I am?” Don’t you find two successive questions about “who I am?” a bit narcissistic? Too…
Category: Evangelist: Matthew
Keyholder – Jett Villarin, SJ
Matthew 16;13-20, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time The person who has keys is someone who can open many doors. Keys signify power, the power to open and close doors, the power to give or deny access to what lies inside. We keep valuable things under lock and key. We sometimes think of heaven as a…
It is More – Nemy Que SJ
Matthew 20:1-16, Wednesday of Week 20 in Ordinary Time Something in today’s Gospel of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard bothers me and it has always disturbed me. Perhaps, this is true for many of you as well. The laborers who came early worked the whole day. They endured the heat. They did…
Outside Looking In – Rogel Abais, SJ
Matthew 15:21-28, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time The Gospel reading today gives rise tot a fundamental question regarding the mission of Jesus. To whom was Jesus proclaiming the Good News? If we paid attention to the Gospel, the asnwer seems straightforward. Jesus understood his mission as being exclusively to the Jews, “the lost sheep of…
Changing His Mind – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 15:21-28, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Whenever we get around to this story, we often focus on the Gentile woman’s faith. It is, after all, a story of faith. But I invite you to look at the story from a slightly different angle; this time, from the angle of what could have actually happened…
Priceless – Jett Villarin, SJ
Matthew 13:44-46, 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time When I was small, I once wanted a bicycle so much I hounded my parents for it. Understandably my parents did not grant my dearest wish right away, not wanting perhaps to spoil me, perhaps also out of concern for safety. Anyhow, finally, my father told me, if…
Go – Mamert Manus, SJ
Matthew 28:16-20, The Solemnity of the Ascencion of our Lord The Feast of the Ascension always feels a little strange. The disciples gather on a mountain with Jesus, and thensuddenly, before their eyes, He is taken up into heaven. One would imagine that this moment would fill themwith sadness or fear. After all, the One…
Absence – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 28: 16-20, The Solemnity of the Ascencion of the Lord Once upon a time, true story, there was a very dutiful mom who, with her husband, raised their children in the best way they could: put them through a good school, instilled faith in them, taught them the ropes of life, coached them through…
Roll Back the Stone – Nemy Que, SJ
Matthew 28:1-10, Easter Sunday I have always wondered how we would be if Jesus had not risen from the dead. I imagine that the disciples of our Lord would have gone back to their old way of life. All the excitement would have faded after a few days. They would have continued waiting for the…
Power that Redeems – Chester Yacub, SJ
Matthew 20:17-28; Wednesday in the second week of Lent Let me begin this homily with something I have been teaching at the Ateneo college. And no, it is not theology or philosophy. Since the first semester, I have been teaching Global Politics. This semester, I am teaching International Political Economy. Our classes examine how power…
Harmony, Wholeness, Integrity – Bros Flores, SJ
Matthew 23:1-12, Tuesday of the 2nd week of Lent We have friends who are almost invisible in gatherings. When asked for an opinion, they would smile politely and say very little. Even when gently nudged, they shrug and pass. They are softspoken, non-confrontational, and harmless. But online? They are entirely different persons. Their posts trigger…
Gardens – Mark Aloysius, SJ
Matthew 4:1-11; First Sunday of Lent Much of Manila has changed since I left more than a decade ago. Along Katipunan there are far more high rise buildings. The site where a former school used to stand is now a sosyal (fancy) shopping mall. We also have the second largest parking lot in Manila, otherwise…
One Lost Sheep 