Matthew 6:24-34, Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time In today’s Gospel reading, our Lord Jesus repeats what is probably God’s favorite message in the Bible: “Do not be afraid!” Think of the times when God showed up for the first time before his prophets–or when He sent His angel Gabriel to Mary at the Annunciation, or…
Seek his Kingdom first – Rudolf Horst, SVD
Matthew 6:24-34, Eight Sunday in Ordinary Time Today’s readings are so rich that we could reflect on nearly every sentence. Especially the gospel offers so many thoughts to spend a long time with them. What the three readings have in common is that they remind us that God has not only created us, but that…
Who is my Enemy – Johnny Go, SJ
Matthew 5:38-48, Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Did you flinch when you just heard the Lord say, “Love your enemies”? My theory is that, if you didn’t, it’s probably because you didn’t hear what he’s trying to tell us today. Or, you didn’t really think of your enemies. “Who is my enemy?” you might ask….
A Higher Law – Manoling Francisco, SJ
Matthew 5:38-42b, Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time In our Gospel today, Jesus cites the Old Testament law of retaliation, “an eye for an eye….” (Ex. 21:24, Dt. 19:21 and Lev. 24:20) which was meant to deter violence and put an end to the spiral of vengeance. According to the Old Testament justice was served by…
Don’t Cross – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 5:38-42b, Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Under normal circumstances, a right-handed person could slap somebody’s right cheek, but only if it’s a back-handed slap. Try and imagine it. Back in the Lord’s day, a back-handed slap was what superiors gave subordinates. Masters backhand-slapped slaves, for instance; commanders slapped centurions that way; and as it…
Slippery Slope – Johnny Go, SJ
Matthew 5-17:37, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time In today’s Gospel reading, our Lord raises the bar beyond our usual moral comfort zones. It’s not enough that we don’t commit murder, he tells his listeners. Treating others with anger is sin enough. It’s great that we’re not committing adultery, he continues. But the bad news is,…
Thermometer or Thermostat – Rudolf Horst, SVD
Matthew 5:17-37, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time A very long Gospel with many lessons! Each of the lessons taught in today’s Gospel passage could be expanded into an entire book. The core of them all, however, is in the heart. Certainly, our exterior behavior must follow God’s will. This is what Jesus means when he…
Our Favorite Uncle – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 5:13-16, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time My family had always lived with my maternal grandparents when I was growing up. Up to now, I still wonder if it was a Batangueño thing, but mamay and nanay—that’s how we call lolo & lola in Batangueño—they were always either angry or on a slow burn. It…
Are you Going Bland or Dim – Johnny Go, SJ
Matthew 5:13-16, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time In today’s Gospel reading, our Lord offers us two familiar images of how His disciple should make a difference in the world: salt and light. Like salt to water, we are called to change the world by giving it flavor. Like light to night, the good deeds we…
Stay Salty – Willy Samson, SJ
Matthew 5:13-16, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time The Gospel today speaks of discipleship. As baptized Christians, we are called to become the salt of the earth and light of the world. But what’s in the salt and light that Jesus decided to use these things as metaphors of discipleship? Salt has many practical uses. It…
When the Good is Mixed Up with the Bad – Mark Aloysius, SJ
Matthew 5:13-16, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time I. There is a scene in the biopic, Jackie, which I have been thinking about a lot since I last saw it. Jackie is desolate and disorientated after the assassination of JFK, and she speaks with a priest about the memories of her marriage. She speaks of the…
Light – Jett Villarin, SJ
Matthew 5:13-16, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp stand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your…
One Lost Sheep 