Years ago, a religious community had a made-to-order Belen from Paete, semi-life-sized, kalahati ko. It had an interesting takeaway. The characters were carved to look likereal people. The Magi looked like 3 priests. Two shepherds looked like a cardinal and a major benefactor. They put a midwife there and a married couple, also representing major…
Category: Season: Christmas
Likeness – Jett Villarin, SJ
I was in stitches watching our recent Christmas carol concert here at the Jesuit Residence. Some of us were out of tune, some had facial expressions feel-na-feel to be serious. Most of the time, we tried to be spontaneous but the bloopers tell it all: it is never easy before a camera. People place us…
Quest – Jett Villarin, SJ
Matthew 2:1-12; Solemnity of the Epiphany If you’ve played Star Wars: Squadrons, a space combat game, you might wonder about navigation in the Star Wars universe. GPS will not work. You can waze your way only if your destination is here on earth. If you’re going to some galaxy far, far away, you will need…
By Another Way – Freddie Balinong, SJ
Matthew 2:1-12, The Epiphany of the Lord Epiphany. From the Greek word Epiphaneia – a manifestation, a revelation, a coming-into-view. A coming-into-view of what? Or, better, of whom? Of the God of mercies and unexpected interventions, of God Eternal making his entrance into time, into history, into our lives; breaking all barriers, reaching out far…
Manger – Jett Villarin, SJ
Delivered on 24 December 2019 at the Church of the Gesu, Ateneo de Manila University A little poem I wrote for Christmas is the starting point of our reflections tonight. Let our asking these questions lead us more closely to the Child in the manger. have we lost the wonder, forgotten whose we are, how love…
Staying With – John Foley, SJ
Luke 3:15-16; 21-22, The Baptism of the Lord Today marks the last day of the Church’s Christmas season. Jesus’ birth has now been celebrated. His public life comes next. His baptism begins it. I know, I know, Christmas has been over for ages and we have gone on with life. The American custom is in…
Light – Jett Villarin, SJ
Christmas Eve 2018 I am happy to be here with you, here in the Gesu, in this place of light. These days it has been difficult to sleep. And I know sleep has eluded so many as well. Infants have a way of waking us up, of waking us through the night. This dark episode,…
Like You – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Christmas Eve 2018 It was around this time of night many, many years ago, when I was little—littler—when a very rare electrical storm ripped through Davao City. Lightning and thunder looked and sounded like they were tearing each other apart. They say only thunder makes a sound, lightning doesn’t. But I remember lightning cracking like…
Gifts and Givers – Johnny Go, SJ
Matthew 2:1-12, Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord On this Feast of the Epiphany, we remember the visit of the magi–those astrologers (how many they were, we don’t know) who read the stars and were among the first to lay their eyes on Jesus. They were not exactly kings, but they were certainly wise enough to…
The Most Precious Gift – Rogel Abais, SJ
Matthew 2:1-12; Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord Celebrating the Christmas season has become synonymous with gifts and gift-giving. When this season is fast approaching and as it unfolds, we all get caught up in a frenzy of thinking what to give to whom and what we will receive from whom! Gift-giving has become…
God in the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time – Nono Alfonso, SJ
Matthew 2:1-12, Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord Before the age of the Metro Manila Film Fest, and before the holiday releases of Star Wars or The Avengers, my favorite Christmas movie was and remains to be The Fourth Wise Man. The movie stars the great Martin Sheen and asserts that in fact there…
Into the Hands of Love – John Foley, SJ
Matthew 2:1-12, The Epiphany of the Lord On this Epiphany Sunday we hear a classic story about innocence in the midst of evil, innocence betrayed by those who should have cared. The Gospel begins by referring to the fact that a guiltless child has been born. Angels in their rapture paint the sky with song….
One Lost Sheep 