Mark 16:15-20, Solemnity of the Ascension of The Lord At the end of each school year, in American schools such as Saint Louis University, the students, along with their networks of friends, scatter. And fly away. As a presider at a recent mass admitted with beautiful poignancy, how much we miss them when the school…
Category: Season: Easter
Gone for Good – John Foley, SJ
John 15:9-17, Sixth Sunday in Easter Imagine the emotional turmoil inside the disciples. • First he was here then he was gone. They had lived with Jesus in his public life and they had loved it. Surely they thought it would last forever. But abruptly he was gone. They were not at all prepared for…
We Do – Arnel Aquino, SJ
John 15:9-17, Sixth Sunday in Easter Last year, when I was at the airport, there was this very rowdy kid, maybe 9 or 10 years old. He was running around, getting up and stepping on the seats. He even mindlessly stepped over a seated lady as he jumped from one seat to the next. Beside…
Ubi – Jett Villarin, SJ
John 15:9-17, Sixth Sunday of Easter That’s Latin for “where” as ubique is Latin for “everywhere”. I must confess that there are times when the evening sky makes me wonder about the where-ness of us and the where-ness of God. The universe seems to be everywhere and we, well, nowhere. Even on my lap, in…
Branches – Johnny Go, SJ
John 15:1-8, Fifth Sunday of Lent Branches have stories to tell and lots of lessons to teach. The one year I lived in London, there was a tree outside my room window that I got to know pretty well. I used to sit before that tree, prayer book or coffee mug in hand. In the…
Connecting Home – Jonjee Sumpaico, SJ
John 15:1-8, Fifth Sunday of Easter It has been nearly a year since I have been assigned to further studies in San Francisco. And there has not been a day that I am not reminded of home. I remember friends and family. I pray for my country. And even during this moment in time when…
Cutting Back – John Foley, SJ
John 15:1-8, Fifth Sunday of Easter The Gospel for this coming Sunday of Easter has a familiar story. Jesus, the vine, is rooted and stable and will always bring us all the nourishment we need. We are the dependent branches. Maybe you would like to stop there and contemplate such a rich image. Do so…
Putol – Arnel Aquino, SJ
John 10:11-18, Fourth Sunday of Easter Have you ever been to our novitiate in Novaliches? We have a small flock of sheep over there. They’re let out in the morning then herded back into the pen after lunch. Sacred Heart Novitiate doubles up as a retreat facility, so you can imagine how a small flock…
Handles – John Foley, SJ
John 10:11-18, Fourth Sunday of Easter In Sunday’s Gospel Jesus makes a wonderful comparison, of the good shepherd to the mere hired hand. The good shepherd cares about the sheep. The hired one is mainly interested in getting paid. When wolves come, he simply runs away. To discern the difference, take a poetic example.* First,…
Easter Jesus – Johnny Go, SJ
Luke 24:35-48, Third Sunday of Easter Today we have yet another Easter appearance. From the different appearances the Risen Lord makes to his disciples, a pattern emerges. It is the same person, but somehow he looks different because all who have seen him don’t recognize him immediately–from Mary Magdalene outside the empty tomb to the…
The Rest of the Story – John Foley, SJ
Luke 24:35-48, Third Sunday of Easter Folks of a certain age will remember the Paul Harvey radio show called “The Rest of the Story.” Harvey always reserved until the last thing in his show a surprise ending to the story he had been reporting that week. Well, Sunday’s Gospel contains the surprise ending to a…
Beyond Body and Soul – Danny Pilario, CM
Luke 24:35-48, Third Sunday of Easter “Shall we eat and drink in heaven?” I often ask this question in some of my theology classes. And the almost ready response is “No”. Souls and spirits no longer eat and drink. They just sing God’s praises. Di ba sinabi sa kanta: “Sa langit wala ang beer; that’s…
One Lost Sheep 