Matthew 21:28-32, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Two sons were asked, “Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.” The first son said “I will not,” but changed his mind and went. The second son said, “Yes, sir!” but did not go. Today’s Gospel reminds us that our starting point matters less – what…
Category: Evangelist: Matthew
Naysayers – Jett Villarin, SJ
Matthew 21:28-32, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time The first son said no, he won’t go to the vineyard. But he changes his mind and goes instead. The second said yes, but backs out on his word. Our Lord asks, which one did the will of his father? The Gospel today is not about being true…
Timeless – Jett Villarin, SJ
Matthew 20:1-16a; 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Did you know that clocks here in Manila run more slowly than in Baguio or in the mountains? That’s because massive bodies warp space and time. And so GPS satellites that keep time and location have to be tweaked every so often because the time up there is…
90 Seconds – Jordy Orbe, SJ
Matthew 18:21-35; 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Our readings today invite us to reflect on two hot-button themes in Christian spirituality: anger and forgiveness. Perhaps someone we know has anger management issues. Maybe we are bearing the burden of deep-seated, long-standing anger. Certainly, this is something I hear quite often when in confessions. Anger can…
The “F” word – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 18:21-35; 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Peter’s question was a typical question Jews would ask rabbis. Something like the following: “Rabbi, on a Sabbath, how many steps may I do to feed my donkey, so I don’t violate the Sabbath rest? Rabbi, how many days after my wife’s childbirth is she considered impure? If…
Floaters or Gloaters – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 18:15-20, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time When was the last time you received feedback, sisters and brothers? Was it from family or friend, or from officialdom? How did you take it? Was it a bitter pill, but swallow, you did anyway, because it was true and necessary? Or was it so one-sided and unfair,…
Ouch! – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 16:21-27; 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time My friend told me this story when she came for a visit last month. There’s this professor; famous, published, often quoted, but feared. He’s that type who knows he’s good. But he has ways of reminding you that he is, ‘yung ganong klase. And you know how people…
Great – Jett Villarin, SJ
Matthew 15:21-28; 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time At first glance, Jesus is somewhat testy and heartless in the Gospel story today. You can see it right there in the exchange between him and the Canaanite woman, an outsider. When the woman calls out to him, he first gives her the silent treatment. When she continues…
Crumbs – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 15:21-28; 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Many of us, Catholics, take it for granted that because Jesus was (and still is) both human and divine, God must have wired his brain to perfection, right? Every year, I have students who start out their course in Christology thinking that Jesus didn’t have to be taught…
Wheat over Weeds- Arnel Aquino SJ
Matthew 13:24-43, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time In his last two years on earth, Jesus left the life of fixing and building things so he could fix and build people instead. As a skilled carpenter, he could assess a project before even driving the first nail in. So, Jesus must’ve foreseen right from the start,…
Abandoned – Francis Alvarez, SJ
Matthew 26:14 -27:66; Palm Sunday “And about three o’clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli,Iema sabachthani?” which mean “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Did God the father abandon Jesus on the cross? Everything I have been taught about God cries out, “No!” Just four months ago, we were singing…
More! – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 4:1-11, First Sunday of Lent If we still believe that Genesis 3 is a literal story of moment number one of sin number one, how do we account for the following difficulties, like – did snakes really talk in the beginning of time? Why was the snake malicious if God created everything good? If…
One Lost Sheep 