John 15:9-17, Sixth Sunday of Easter Have you ever heard of people who, months, even years after the death of their loved ones, have not been able to resume with their normal lives and regular routines? They leave the rooms of their dearly departed unchanged, put a space on the dining table complete with the…
Category: Evangelist
Moving – Jett Villarin, SJ
John 24:23-29, Sixth Sunday of Easter Nothing in this world is ever still. Everything is moving all the time. When something moves, we say it is alive. When it is motionless, we say it is lifeless. Motion is life. Life is motion. Even things that seem dead to us are not without motion. The…
Default – Arnel Aquino, SJ
John 10:27-30, 4th Sunday of Easter “No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.” Last time I checked, that’s not been changed, sisters and brothers. I don’t think anyone can change…
The Shadow, The Stone, The Scroll and The Scar – Noel Bava, SJ
John 20:19-31, Divine Mercy Sunday Brothers and sisters,Every year, the Catholic Church gives us this Sunday—the Second Sunday of Easter—as Divine Mercy Sunday. And it is befitting that it comes immediately after the First Sunday of Easter because the Gospel today—and all the readings—reveal a Risen Christ who chooses mercy, again and again. While praying…
Credo – Jett Villarin, SJ
John 20:19-31, Divine Mercy Sunday “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed. (Jn 20:29)” If I told you that I have seen the Lord, would you believe me? Thomas wouldn’t. The doubters would say, fake news, hallucination, cultural conditioning, psychological projection, superstition,…
Pockets of Easter – Arnel Aquino, SJ
John 20:19-31, Divine Mercy Sunday If Jesus simply showed himself to his friends in his Resurrection and then ascended into heaven before their eyes, Christianity would still have been born. I mean, Jesus did not have to do all the other things; like ask for something to eat, catch up with his friends walking to…
Where does Easter Begin? – Jordy Orbe, SJ
Luke 24:1-12; Easter Vigil Where does Easter begin? I remember a video I once saw on Facebook of an Easter Vigil Mass. There was this impressive setup— there was a cave in the sanctuary, and at the climactic moment during the Gloria, the cardboard stone split open. The Risen Christ emerged, accompanied by flashing, fireworks,…
The Seven Cries of Jesus – Noel Bava, SJ
Isaiah 52:13—53:12; Psalm 31; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1—19:42, Good Friday 1. Opening: The Cry That Pierced Filipino Memory We lost an icon yesterday, the one and only superstar of Philippine television, movies, theater and music—Nora Aunor. No other artist, living or dead could equal her depth of emotion when playing iconic roles. And when…
The Last Supper according to “Sharonians” – Noel Bava, SJ
Exodus 12:1–8, 11–14; Psalm 116:12–13, 15–18; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; John 13:1–15, Holy Thursday of Our Lord’s Passion 1. Introduction: Everyone’s Guilty of a Little ‘Sharon’ Let’s admit it—almost all of us have done a Sharon at least once. After a party, a wedding, or a town fiesta, someone inevitably brings out the Tupperware or plastic bags and starts packing leftovers….
When Love and Hate Collide – Noel Bava, SJ
John 8:1-11; 5th Sunday of Lent I have always been intrigued by the lyrics and melody of the song by Def Leppard and how it easily lends itself to our deeper understanding of God’s mercy and compassion. It begins with this line: “You could have a change of heart, if you would only change your…
When the Manna Stops – Jordy Orbe, SJ
Joshua 5:9a, 10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 In today’s first reading, there’s a detail that’s easy to overlook: “The manna ceased.” For 40 years, God fed the Israelites in the wilderness with manna—daily bread from heaven. It was how they survived. But once they enter the Promised Land and eat the produce of…
Chance – Jett Villarin, SJ
Luke 13:1-9, Third Sunday of Lent I once missed the last bus to Davao from CDO that was scheduled to leave 12midnight. Arriving about 15 minutes past departure, there I was trying to figure out how on earth I was going to get to Davao where I was supposed to speak the next morning. Along…
One Lost Sheep 