REFLECTIONS TODAY The reproaches of Jesus to unrepentant towns follow the sending of the 72 disciples. They will repay “peaceful” people who will receive them with the healing of the sick in their village. But for others who will not receive them, a severe judgment awaits (Lk 10:6-11). A...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Gospel reading is part of Jesus’ Community Discourse (Matthew 18), a collection of Jesus’ sayings for the guidance of the believers in their life in common. And at the core of this teaching “for adults” is to become like little children. The disposition that Jesus asks...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Mt 21:28-32 Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people, 28“What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 29He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus predicts, for the second time, his being handed over to men, the first time being right after Peter’s confession (Lk 9:22). The apostles simply cannot understand why their Master should suffer such a shameful fate. Jesus has just been transfigured. Some of them have seen...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus makes this unusual compliment to Nathanael upon seeing him for the first time. No one has ever made a comment like this. How did Jesus know him? Jesus does not take offense at Nathanael’s question, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (Jn 1:46), when Philip reports...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus calls the Twelve (apostles) and gives them power to exorcise demons and to heal the sick. As he sends them, Jesus asks them to travel light. They should not bring anything extra or superfluous. They are not there to impress people with non-essential things. Jesus...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Like the Gospel yesterday, our passage today must be understood in the context of Jesus’ teaching on the importance of listening to the Word of God. Jesus has just finished teaching about the parables of the Sower and of the Lamp, and his mother as well as his brothers...
REFLECTIONS TODAY This saying can create adverse reactions, if taken out of context. It should be understood in the context of Jesus’ teaching on listening to the Word of God. First, Jesus teaches his listeners as to what happens when they are attentive to his words. They cannot but share...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Matthew 20:1-16a Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The most important activity in the life of the disciples is hearing the Word of God. The parable of the Sower presents Jesus’ effort to sow and spread God’s Word to them. Jesus asks them to be good listeners. They learn better if they are attentive to it. Jesus’...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus is not traveling alone on foot. He is accompanied by the Twelve and some women who benefited from his power when he drove away evil spirits from them. These women accompany Jesus from one place to another, providing for his and the apostles’ needs out of their own...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Pharisees and the scholars of the law are not prepared to accept Jesus in their lives. They will never accept him as the Son of Man, who comes to save sinners, because they have not been baptized by John. These people of their generation, the contemporaries of Jesus, have...
