REFLECTIONS TODAY To be a Christian is to be an alter Christus, another Christ. It means to share Jesus’ life and destiny. Here at the Last Supper, Jesus forewarns his disciples of the persecution that awaits them. Jesus is hated by the world because his values are anathema to those who...
REFLECTIONS TODAY At the Last Supper, Jesus comforts his disciples in view of his impending departure. It will involve his passion and death, but ultimately it will mean his ascension to the Father in heaven where he will prepare dwelling places (Greek monai) for his disciples. Jesus’ constant...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus’ relationship with God the Father is the yardstick of his relationship with his disciples. The relationship between Jesus and his disciples must reflect the intimate union of Jesus and the Father. Jesus charges his disciples to remain in his love, the love he enjoys with...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Peace is usually understood as freedom from war or public disturbance. On the level of the individual person, peace means absence of mental conflict. But the Hebrew shalom (peace) is more encompassing. Its fundamental idea is well-being in its totality. Shalom is also related to...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In Jesus, God reveals himself to all believers. Without excluding the glorious experience at the end of time (Parousia), the Christian experience takes place within the depths of the person, in an intimate, spiritual way. God speaks as a gentle breeze, as Elijah experienced in...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Gospel • John 15:1-8 Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I...
REFLECTIONS TODAY At the Last Supper, Jesus continues to speak of his unique relationship with the Father. He is interrupted by the interjection of Philip, “Master, show us the Father” — a remark which reflects his deep desire for God and which also shows how far he is from understanding...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Greek term monai (singular, mone) here rendered as “dwelling places,” is related to the verb menein which means “to stay, remain, or abide with.” By mone, John refers to the place (state or situation) where the disciples can abide with the Father and with Jesus....
REFLECTIONS TODAY In the Hebrew Scriptures, especially in the prophet Isaiah, “gospel” or “good tidings” concerns the announcement of the future salvation, or the time of salvation. In turn, Jesus uses “gospel” for the message that he preaches. He brings a living word of hope; he...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Light and darkness are the primordial actors on the cosmic scene, as in the creation account (Gn 1:1-3). In the parallel prologue of John’s Gospel, light and darkness are locked in struggle. Light stands for good, and darkness for evil. Jesus, the Wordmade-flesh, comes into the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus’ revelation of himself as the Good Shepherd was done during the feast of Tabernacles (Succoth), a movable feast celebrated in September or October. The evangelist joins it to the revelation of Jesus’ pronouncement on the feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) celebrated in the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In rocky Palestine and its neighboring countries where Jesus lived and preached, shepherds hold three things dearly: water, their tents, and their sheep. The shepherd not only guides the sheep, he is almost a “father” to the flock. He gives a name to each one; he allows them...
