This is a an annual repost of a bonus Lenten Special: My personal thoughts on taking on some measure of asceticism during Lent, Deb, is that all throughout the year, we protect ourselves from being vulnerable. And rightly so because we don’t wish to be made doormats by the forces of life. The downside of…
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Pitchfork – Nono Levosada, SJ
I remember a story narrated by Fr Danny Huang. A person went to hell and he was given a tour of the various rooms and one of them was the torture chamber/room. Here, he saw many pitchforks but one had the most blood. He asked, “What is this pitchfork for? What was it used to…
God our Father, God our Mother – Nemy Que, SJ
Matthew 6:24-34, Saturday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time In our first reading, God, our Father and Mother, assures us: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Let’s provide a little context for these very consoling words. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul is addressing a situation…
Self-less – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 5:12a; Corpus Christi Sunday One time, I walked into the classroom where the graduating class for that year was waiting. Their biggest oral exam was coming up and their teachers took turns reviewing them for the different subjects. My topic was the Holy Spirit and Grace. So, I asked: “Okay, for starters, tell me:…
Field – Jett Villarin, SJ
John 15:26-27; 16:12-15, Pentecost Sunday He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit…” Action-at-a-distance is a mysterious thing. In science, we explain how objects act on each other at a distance by postulating a medium that contains and connects them, a field which undulates and carries the action of one on…
What Drives You? – Ro Atilano, SJ
Luke 7:36-50, Thursday in Week 24 of Ordinary Time What drives you? Why do you do the things that you do? What keeps you going? It has been six months since the start of the lockdown here in our country. At the beginning, we never thought that it would last this long; at least, we…
Keeping Easter Alive – Pedro Walpole, SJ
John 20:19-31 How has the week gone for you? Last Sunday, for a time, we emerged from the Gospel passion narrative, from the suffering in life around us into deep desires and hopes, sharing in the resurrection, the loving mercy of God. Yet the world in the last week has not changed. How am I…
The Truth of Easter – Mon Bautista, SJ
Easter Sunday 2020 My dear friends – in the world of art (particularly, in the world of paintings), art experts would tell us that there are a lot of forgeries – a lot of imitations, mere copies of original, priceless masterpieces. Thus, in the international art market today, we can find so many fake masterpieces…
How Do You Want To Die? – Francis Alvarez, SJ
In our Gospel today, rulers sneer and soldiers jeer at Jesus on the cross. They mock him, “Save yourself – if you are the chosen one, if you are the King of the Jews!” Right after reporting this, in what can be considered a brilliantly placed editorial comment, Luke highlights the detail of the inscription above Jesus: “This is the…
Do You Stand Apart From Or A Part Of? – Francis Alvarez, SJ
In our Gospel today, Jesus tells us, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” This is not the first time Jesus says this in the Gospel of Luke. Almost two months ago, on September 1, we heard our Lord deliver the same message in Luke 14:11. The…
What Will You Do With Your Dishonest Wealth? – Francis Alvarez, SJ
In the parable Christ offers us today, a dishonest steward is praised. Is Jesus encouraging us to be dishonest also? But when our Lord is asked what must be done to inherit eternal life, one of the commandments he cites is “You shall not steal” (Luke 18:20). Moreover, to emphasize just how much effort we…
Why Is Faith Hard? – Francis Alvarez, SJ
In our Gospel today, someone asks Jesus, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answers, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” Why does the gate have to be narrow? If God’s arms are always wide open and…
One Lost Sheep 