REFLECTIONS TODAY The world (Greek kosmos) means the totality of God’s creation, including the whole of humanity. God saw that it was “very good” (Gn 1:31). In John, the world may also stand for those who oppose God’s will and purpose. This world, though created through the Word, is ruled...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Mt 28:16-20 The Eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The figure of a woman in labor is a traditional biblical metaphor used for the sufferings that will herald a new age. God says to the first woman, Eve, “In pain you shall bring forth children” (Gn 3:16). Speaking of the great tribulation at the end of the age, Jesus refers not...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Greek mikron (“a little while”) refers to a brief period of time. This expression of Jesus, which appears only in John’s Gospel, is a veiled reference to his approaching death and resurrection. He would be quickly taken from the disciples by death. This event would...
REFLECTIONS TODAY When he comes, the Spirit of truth will reveal to the disciples “the things that are coming” (v 13)—not new revelations but the “new order of things” that will come with Jesus’ death and resurrection. The mystery of God has already been revealed by Jesus. The Holy...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In John, “sin” refers to the unbelief that Jesus encounters among the Jews; they do not believe in him. They reject his mission of “righteousness,” that is, of proclaiming God’s saving plan for men and women. This message includes judgment or “condemnation” of the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY First Reading • Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In his apostolic letter Patris Corde, Pope Francis presents St. Joseph as a working father: “St. Joseph was a carpenter who earned an honest living to provide for his family. From him, Jesus learned the value, the dignity and the joy of what it means to eat bread that is the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The three most important agricultural plants in Israel are the wheat or barley (for grain), the vine (for wine), and olive trees (for oil). Metaphorically, Israel is compared to the vine (Ps 80:9). It was brought out of Egypt (the Exodus story) and planted in the promised land. It...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Discipleship is a union of intimate love with Jesus, but love is not to be interpreted merely as emotion. It is also a matter of human decision and action. The one who truly loves Jesus is he who keeps his commandments, or better, the “new commandment” of love, and this is to...
REFLECTIONS TODAY John 14:1-12 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Here, Philip’s request to Jesus reflects a misunderstanding. Jesus has just stated that knowing him means knowing and seeing also the Father, presupposing intimate communion between Jesus and the Father and the designation of Jesus as the supreme revealer of God. Now, Philip...
