Matthew 16:13-20, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time In the Gospel today, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Then, a few lines later he asks again, “But who do you say that I am?” Don’t you find two successive questions about “who I am?” a bit narcissistic? Too…
Category: Season: Ordinary Time
Keyholder – Jett Villarin, SJ
Matthew 16;13-20, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time The person who has keys is someone who can open many doors. Keys signify power, the power to open and close doors, the power to give or deny access to what lies inside. We keep valuable things under lock and key. We sometimes think of heaven as a…
It is More – Nemy Que SJ
Matthew 20:1-16, Wednesday of Week 20 in Ordinary Time Something in today’s Gospel of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard bothers me and it has always disturbed me. Perhaps, this is true for many of you as well. The laborers who came early worked the whole day. They endured the heat. They did…
Outside Looking In – Rogel Abais, SJ
Matthew 15:21-28, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time The Gospel reading today gives rise tot a fundamental question regarding the mission of Jesus. To whom was Jesus proclaiming the Good News? If we paid attention to the Gospel, the asnwer seems straightforward. Jesus understood his mission as being exclusively to the Jews, “the lost sheep of…
Changing His Mind – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 15:21-28, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Whenever we get around to this story, we often focus on the Gentile woman’s faith. It is, after all, a story of faith. But I invite you to look at the story from a slightly different angle; this time, from the angle of what could have actually happened…
Priceless – Jett Villarin, SJ
Matthew 13:44-46, 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time When I was small, I once wanted a bicycle so much I hounded my parents for it. Understandably my parents did not grant my dearest wish right away, not wanting perhaps to spoil me, perhaps also out of concern for safety. Anyhow, finally, my father told me, if…
Misled – Munching de Guzman, SJ
Mark 12:18-27, Wednesday after Trinity Sunday How is it that so many people today can be highly educated and still fail to see the truth? How many leaders can know the law by heart and still fail to serve justice? How many politicians can speak about the nation every day and yet forget the people…
Harmony, Wholeness, Integrity – Bros Flores, SJ
Matthew 23:1-12, Tuesday of the 2nd week of Lent We have friends who are almost invisible in gatherings. When asked for an opinion, they would smile politely and say very little. Even when gently nudged, they shrug and pass. They are softspoken, non-confrontational, and harmless. But online? They are entirely different persons. Their posts trigger…
Breaking the Rules – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 5:20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37; Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Imagine that we’re the bunch of slaves God has rescued from Egypt. After 430 years of slavery, we’re free! From our great-grandparents down to our apos, we knew no other life except the life of a slave. The Egyptians cursed and swore at us with…
The Real Influencers – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 5:13-16, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time “You are the salt of the earth…you are the light of the world.” When Jesus said thesewords, I imagine, he must’ve been gazing at his friends for a while and felt very proud of them.Like the way, you parents, sometimes find yourselves just looking at your kids and…
Blessed – Jett Villarin, SJ
Matthew 5:1-12a, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time To be alive is to be fed at varying frequencies. Take breathing. We need to bring in fresh air every few seconds or so. We cannot skip breathing for longer than several minutes. After an hour or so, we need to drink water. After a quarter of a…
Galilee – Jett Villarin, SJ
Matthew 4:12-17, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time The first time I went to Disneyland, I was a young adult. This was in the mid-80s. There were the usual rides but the one that has been memorable is the refrain of the song, “It’s a small world after all”. It’s a world of laughter, a world…
One Lost Sheep 