REFLECTIONS TODAY On Dec. 8, 1854, with the apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus, Pope Pius IX officially pronounced the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception that states that even at the first moment of her existence, Mary was free of the condition of original sin, which is the inheritance of...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Both the Matthean “Sermon on the Mount” and Luke’s “Sermon on the Plain” end with a “demonstration story” of two foundations. Matthew has “rock” and “sand” while Luke has “rock” and “without foundation.” “Rock” stands for a solid foundation while...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus multiplies bread and feeds the hungry multitude “on the mountain.” There are no mountains around the Sea of Galilee, high places like Mt. Sinai, the mountain of God, or Mt. Tabor, the mountain of the transfiguration. The high places are rather hills. The place of the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus praises the heavenly Father for hiding the mysteries of his Kingdom from the wise and the clever and revealing them to the childlike: simple folks who do not show off their importance. Jesus imitates God on this matter. As the Son, he alone truly and completely knows God. He...
REFLECTIONS TODAY A centurion was a Roman officer commanding around 100 soldiers (Latin centum is one hundred). The centurion in the Gospel is probably an adviser of the Jewish ruler of Galilee, Herod Antipas. As an official representing Rome, he would “broker” imperial resources for the local...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Today, we are ushered into the season of Advent. “Advent” means “coming,” and this season reminds us of the “already” and the “not yet.” Jesus has “already” come in his incarnation, and with the second Sunday, we recall the events of Jesus’ historical coming...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus’ glorious coming as the Son of Man recalls the vision of Daniel: “I saw coming with the clouds of heaven one like a son of man” (Dn 7:13). This figure stands for Israel, the people of God taken collectively. Just as the vision of the son of man in Daniel was meant to...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In countries where there are four seasons, the change of season is clearly seen in vegetation. In Israel, the budding of the fig tree is the harbinger of summer. Luke adds “all the other trees” (v 29) to connect with the believers who live in other places. The fig tree...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Simon and Andrew, the sons of John or Jonah (Mt 16:17), are the first to be called by Jesus to be “fishers of men” (v 19). They are soon joined by their partners in fishing, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Their response is quick, which becomes the model for those who are...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The intermediate time between the fall of Jerusalem and the Second Coming of the Son of Man can be considered as the time of the Church. Luke records that in the formation of the early Church, the disciples of Jesus undergo persecutions and trials. The Christians’...
REFLECTIONS TODAY After Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple, the people anxiously ask when this will happen. Will this also signal the end times? Jesus speaks of other terrible things to happen, but these do not mark the end, which is only known to God. However, he forewarns them to be...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Gospel account shows a contrast between the wealthy people who give out of their surplus abundance to fulfill their religious duty and the poor widow who gives “till it hurts” in offering her two small coins. Among the Jews and the early Christians, widows were recipients...
