REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today Matthew begins his infancy narratives with “the book of the genealogy” of Jesus Christ. Biblical genealogies serve to identify the tribe to which an Israelite belongs at a time when being a member of a tribe or clan is important to survival. Genealogies are...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Considering that John is Jesus’ “cousin” and “recognizes” him even while inside the womb (Lk 1:44), it is strange that John in prison would send messengers to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Let us remember, however, that...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today The Gospel continues to focus on the person and role of John the Baptist, sent to prepare the way of the Messiah. The parable of the Two Sons describes two kinds of responses to the will of God as manifested in the ministry of John the Baptist and of Jesus....
THE LEGAL FRONT Justice Art D. Brion (ret.) People, particularly candidates, find words cheap during election time. They freely invoke democracy, the rule of law, and other high-sounding ideals to draw attention and attract voters to their cause. They make promises without considering their...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today With the appearance of John the Baptist by the second week of Advent, the Gospel readings often focus on the person and role of this son of Zechariah who preaches in the desert as a prophet instead of serving in the Temple like his father, they being of the tribe...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today In Jesus’ transfiguration up a high mountain, the disciples saw Moses and Elijah conversing with Jesus. These are the two “messengers” attested in Scriptures who would prepare the way of the Lord and of the people (Ex 23:20; Mal 3:1). Malachi in particular...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today There is a saying in Filipino language which runs like this: For one who really wants to do something, there are many ways to attain it. But for one who does not want, there are many excuses. Both John and Jesus have detractors who have closed their minds to...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today In his testimony of John, Jesus says that John fulfills the figure of the one about whom it is written, “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you” (Mt 11:10). The first reference speaks of mal-ak (“angel” or...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today Chapter 18 of Matthew is often referred to as Jesus’ Community Discourse. This is the collection of Jesus’ teaching on how the community of believers should put his teaching into action and on how to deal with one another. First, they should humble themselves...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today Today’s Gospel reading presents Jesus surrounded not just by a Galilean crowd but also by those coming from Judea and Jerusalem. As people are drawn to healers today, people in Jesus’ time flocked to him as they saw in Jesus a thaumatorgos, a worker of...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today The compassion of Jesus for the people — indeed his whole public ministry — is summarized by Matthew thus: Jesus went around to all towns and villages, teaching in the synagogues, proclaiming the Kingdom of God, and curing every disease and illness. Peter, in...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today In the original setting, we wonder what the two blind men really thought of Jesus. They called him “Son of David,” that is, the Messiah. Did they think that the Messiah had the power to bring healing? Most probably, the faith of the blind men consisted mainly...
