REFLECTIONS TODAY Besides Jesus and Mary, John the Baptist is the only other person whose birthday and day of death are liturgically marked by the Church. Today we read the account of his martyrdom in Mark’s Gospel. Along with the other evangelists, the first-century Jewish historian Josephus...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The “woe” phrases in the Bible are often uttered in prophetic and apocalyptic literature. They denounce sin and caution those who commit it of future punishment. Jesus’ woe pronouncements criticize the Pharisees for hypocrisy and falsehood. He describes their piety as...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Mt 16:13-20 Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus warns the people and his followers about the scribes and the Pharisees who are guilty of insincerity. The Jewish religious leaders advertise their righteous deeds and dress themselves in clothes and ornaments to look spiritual. They love public recognition and aim for the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Gospels often refer to the Sadducees and the Pharisees having conflict with and testing Jesus. Both were religious sects within Judaism during Jesus’ time. Both groups honored Moses and the Law. Both had a measure of political power. The importance of the commandments...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Can we allow God to be so good to everyone? The parable of the Workers in the Vineyard highlights that we do not earn God’s graciousness and generosity. It is a pure act of benevolence on God’s part. God’s love is unconditional; it depends on him, not on our good works. When...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Today’s feast of the Queenship of Mary is celebrated on the octave of the feast of the Assumption and a logical consequence of it. Pope Pius XII who established the feast in 1954 points out that Mary deserves the title because of her close association with Jesus’ redemptive...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Possessions are not bad in themselves. A person needs them to survive. But when one makes them the center of everything, a threat arises to hinder us from achieving a meaningful sense of happiness. The young man certainly looks for something more than having wealth and following...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Mt 15:21-28 At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. His...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus rebukes his own disciples for preventing those who bring children to him. He receives those who are humble and weak but rejects the arrogant and the proud. In poor communities in Jesus’ time, many children did not make it to their 12th birthday. Parents loved...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Pharisees raise the age-old question about divorce to test Jesus. The phrase “for any cause whatever” (v 3) refers to the debate between the famous teachers Hillel and Shammai and their disciples. Both schools permitted divorce, but for different reasons. Both based their...
REFLECTIONS TODAY One of the things that plague most communities is the inability to handle confrontation, disagreement, and the mutual accountability when it comes to sin. Community living is very much part of human existence. A Christian formed in the ways of Jesus acknowledges his responsibility...
