REFLECTIONS TODAY The Annunciation is celebrated as the First Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary. But, is it really joyful? On the surface, Archangel Gabriel’s greeting appears joyful—he proclaims Mary will bear a son, the long-awaited Messiah. Yet underlying this news lies the potential for...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The word “to please” comes from the Latin word placere, which means “to be acceptable” or “to give delight.” Having a “pleasing personality,” therefore, transcends physical beauty as it reflects an inner disposition that brings joy to others. One might possess...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The devil wants nothing but to divide and scatter us. The Lord, on the other hand, yearns to gather us to himself. The word “devil” comes from the Greek word diabellein which means to “scatter” or “separate.” When there is unity, collaboration, or solidarity in our...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Romans have a grim reminder for us, “Memento mori,” which literally means, “Remember you shall die.” It sounds rather morbid, but contemplating death leads us to live our life to the fullest. While death remains a scary reality, it leads us to put our earthly concerns...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The essence of prayer is petitioning to God to grant us something from his bountiful graces. But before asking, it is important to recognize the Giver: “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near” (Is 55:6). So, the petitioner simply has to ask. And...
The Lenten practice of “almsgiving” is best expressed in the corporal works of mercy: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, giving shelter to travelers, visiting the sick and those imprisoned, and burying the dead. Mercy is not an abstract word; it is a lifestyle...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Gospel • Matthew 4:1-11 At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The cross (Greek stauros) is an ancient instrument of execution, probably originated by the Persians and often employed by the Greeks and the Romans for its deterrent value, especially against rebellious slaves and seditious provincials. The condemned, with a placard proclaiming...
The Gospel underlines a twofold healing: Physical healing from deafness, and healing from fear. Just as “hearing” and “speaking” are intimately connected to each other (a person replicates in speech the sound that he or she hears), so also experiencing compassion frees us from fear. Mark...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Two figures stand out from today’s readings: Solomon and the Syrophoenician woman. They represent two opposing paths: Solomon’s journey from the living God to idolatry, and the Syrophoenician woman’s journey from paganism and idolatry to the living God. In explaining the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Leaving Nazareth, Jesus goes around the towns and villages of Galilee to proclaim the reign of God. He then summons the Twelve disciples and sends them out two by two. In being sent, the disciples become “apostles” (from Greek apostelein = to send). They take nothing for the...
The disciples are caught in the middle of nowhere, covered by darkness. Their boat is being battered by strong waves and howling wind. They are also dismayed that Jesus is asleep in the stern and does not seem to care about them at all. We cannot discount the possibility that Jesus is testing his...
