Matthew 6:1-6; 16-18, Ash Wednesday Having a GPS on my smartphone has saved me many a times, especially when traveling to an unfamiliar place. When I said mass for the Maria Auxiliatrice sisters near Meguro, they were surprised that I was able to navigate through the unlabeled streets and snaking alleys of their place. I…
Category: Season
Unselfie – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 6:1-6; 16-18, Ash Wednesday If today’s Gospel were written in 21st-century vernacular, maybe it would say: “When you do righteous deeds…when you give alms…when you pray…when you fast, please…take care not to post it on Facebook, or announce it on your blog, or humble-brag about it. Most of all, take care not to take…
If You Wish – Johnny Go, SJ
Mark 1:40-45, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Today’s reading may be interpreted as yet another healing miracle of our Lord that showcases his compassion for those who are marginalized in society. The worst part about being a leper during Jesus’ time, after all, was not so much the physical affliction as much as the social…
Burn – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Mark 1:40-45, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Have you ever been moved with pity so deeply that you felt it in your guts, na sobra kang awang-awa na parang hinalukay ang bituka mo? The last time I felt very deep pity was last Monday. I was waiting for a cab down in Barangka. I decided…
Eat Up – John Foley, SJ
Mark 1:21-28, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time B A Jesuit friend of mine, who happens to be Polish-American, once invited me to dinner at his mother’s house. This sounded quite agreeable. The only instruction I was given beforehand was, do not refuse second helpings. I was young and skinny and I knew I would even…
Where Does It Come From? – Johnny Go, SJ
Today’s Gospel is about the first–and lasting–impression that our Lord makes on people. And the impression that he makes on the people he interacts with–the lasting impression he leaves them with–is summarized by one recurring word: “Authority.” It’s funny because I would have expected a different kind of first or lasting impression. Perhaps holiness or kindness?…
Voices – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Mark 1:21-28, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time The Jesuits are in charge of chaplaincy in Philippine General Hospital and I had the opportunity to go on a month-long summer exposure there many years ago. I will never forget that day when I was assigned to the children’s ward. Late one afternoon, they rolled a bed…
Listen – John Foley, SJ
Mark 1:21-28, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time The readings this Sunday evoke for me David Haas’ beautiful setting of the psalm for this Sunday. It is entitled, “If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts” (Haas). As a composer, I understand technical devices that make his setting work so well, but I don’t…
Related – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Mark 10:13-16, Feast of the Santo Niño On the first week of the new year, I went home to Davao to visit with my dad for a week. One day, I decided to walk from the Jesuit Residence to San Pedro Cathedral. My mom used to love hearing mass there. The church is a good…
The Who – Arnel Aquino, SJ
John 1:35-42, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Do you know that we have students in Loyola School of Theology who are in their late 40s and 50s? One is even in her early 60s. Lay people. Some of them have retired early. Some are still working part-time. But they’ve all decided to either do an…
The Endangered Art of Listening – Johnny Go, SJ
John 1:35-42, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time In the First Reading today, we have the somewhat charming story of young Samuel who mistakes God’s voice calling to him as coming from his master Eli. After being roused a third time from his sleep, Eli realizes it must be the Lord and directs Samuel to answer, “Speak,…
Called by Name – John Foley, SJ
John 1:35-42, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time We now begin what the Church calls “Ordinary Time.” Christmas season is over, and we begin to see Jesus at work. We begin with a significant story, found in the First Reading for Sunday. A young man named Samuel is sleeping in the temple, as he was allowed…
One Lost Sheep 