Luke 15:1-32, 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Today’s Gospel is about the one that got away. We all have such a person in our life: Somebody we used to care for deeply, someone somehow entrusted once to our care, someone who inhabited our universe once upon a time and–for just that brief fairy tale moment–made…
Closer to God – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 14:25-33, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time A few years ago, my younger brother and his family flew over for a visit. They came to San Jose Seminary where I live. So I gave them a tour, which culminated in showing them my room. They entered, and looked up, down, and around in unusual silence. It…
Cost – Jett Villarin, SJ
Luke 14:25-33, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Would you not follow the one who could walk on water, turn water into wine, and multiply five loaves to feed five thousand? There they were, the multitudes, following him to Jerusalem. He knew he was going to end up on Calvary. They thought he was going to…
Between Dusk and Dawn – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 4:38-44, Wednesday of 22nd Week in Ordinary Time Today’s gospel happens during sunset. It is then that that sick and the possessed all hobble towards Jesus. At dusk, the Lord lays his hand on them, cures them, rids them of demons. Kung kelan padilim na, doon sila nagpunta kay Hesus. Siguro kasi mas malamig…
Humble – Mark Lopez, SJ
Luke 14:7-14, 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time For today, just a few stories of humility. I remember today the late Jesuit Bishop whose name was Cisco Claver. He was one of the most respected Filipino Bishops of our time for many reasons. To name a few, he didn’t fear to speak up for victims of…
Not by Pride – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 14:7-14, 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time I’m one of 10 Jesuit formators assigned to San Jose Seminary. Every year, San Jose holds an alumni homecoming, and it’s always well attended by graduates who are now priests and bishops and cardinals. Even alumni who have since left religious life still attend. So it’s a three-day…
On What do you Base your Worth? – Francis Alvarez, SJ
Luke 14:7-14, 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time “When you are invited [to a banquet], go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you, he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position’” (Luke 14:10). Is Jesus in our Gospel today just telling us a clever way to get…
Superlative – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Matthew 23:13-22, Monday of 21st Week in Ordinary Time (Queenship of Mary) We, human beings, are a superlative-seeking species. At home, we heard our elders say, “my favorite son”, “my brightest daughter”, “my naughtiest”. At school, superlatives were rewarded, too: valedictorian, first honor. They even spread the awards around so that differently-abled kids could also…
Deliver Us from Evil – Willy Samson, SJ
Matthew 20:1-16, Wednesday of 20th Week in Ordinary Time One Jesuit priest told us, “If you want to be sad, start comparing.” I agree. For when we start comparing ourselves with others, we discover that others are always better than us. It is here where envy breeds. When envy finds a home in us, we…
Hail Mary – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 1:39-56, Solemnity of the Assumption The feast of the Immaculate Conception and the feast of the Assumption are like book-end celebrations of our Blessed Mother’s life. Mary was born without original sin, the first bookend, and she remained sinless until death, so she was assumed straightaway into heaven, the second bookend, which is today’s feast….
Called to Speak God’s Word – Errol Fernandes, SJ
Luke 12:49-53b, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time To stand up for the truth and justice necessarily entails that one must be willing to undergo every kind of trial and tribulation. This is made amply evident in the first reading and gospel text of today. In the first reading of today, Jeremiah who even if in…
Baptism by Fire – Arnel Aquino, SJ
Luke 12:49-53b, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time We have a bunch of superstitious beliefs our elders have passed on to us regarding baptism, don’t we? “Kumare, pabinyag n’yo agad ang bata para hindi pasukan ng masamang espiritu. Sige ka, magkakasakit ‘yan parati.” “Kumare, pabinyag n’yo agad ang bata. Sige kayo, pag namatay ‘yang walang binyag,…
