REFLECTIONS TODAY From Nazareth, Jesus now moves on to Capernaum to continue his mission. This time, we see how he exercises his teaching authority in a very unique way. His word has power to drive away an unclean demon, to wrest control from the evil spirits and truly show that God’s Kingdom has...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The present moment of salvation happens because Jesus fulfills his calling consistently even in the face of trials and opposition. Indeed, in this Gospel, we see how the initial admiration of the hearers later turns into criticism and rejection. The good news of Jesus is just too...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Gospel • Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 The heart is a “tricky master.” It has “reasons which reason knows nothing of” (Blaise Pascal). This saying comes to mind as we reflect on today’s Gospel where Jesus responds to the criticism put forward by the Pharisees and the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Matthew’s eschatological discourse emphasizes that we have to wait because we do not know the time of the Lord’s return. The good news is that the Lord himself has left us with talents that we can use while we await his return. Today’s parable of the Talents narrates...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Today’s Gospel narrates Jesus’ confrontation with the scribes and the Pharisees, with the strong Greek word ouai, an interjection of denunciation that is normally translated in English as “Woe!” We need to understand that this interjection is not expressing a mere dislike...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Conforming our life to that of Jesus is never an easy task. It entails that we live out the Gospel values taught by Jesus. Jesus’ words are too hard to accept because while the Gospel values are difficult to practice, the worldly values remain to be so enticing. Hence, even if...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus’ true disciple exhibits, like St. Bartholomew, no guile. Bartholomew is one of the Twelve Apostles (Mt 10:2-4; Mk 3:16-19; Lk 6:14-16). In John’s Gospel, he is presented as Nathanael. When Philip tells him that they have found the one whom Moses and the prophets...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Working in the Lord’s vineyard is already a great blessing in itself. Today’s Gospel narrates a parable about a landowner who goes out to hire laborers for his vineyard at various hours in the day. At the end of the day, all who worked in the same vineyard receive the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY It is not easy to live up to the challenge of detachment. The values of the world make us believe that to accumulate things without let up is the way to go. Often this attitude of accumulation is exercised at the expense of others. But the Gospel values tell us otherwise. Wealth...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Self-fulfillment does not consist in having material possessions. At times, we might think that we can find fulfillment in material possessions while tending to self-appropriate them selfishly. The fact is, we cannot possess eternal life; we may enter into it. We do not own...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Gospel • John 6:51-58 Jesus said to the crowds: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this...
REFLECTIONS TODAY There could be times when we become a stumbling block through which others are prevented to grow in faith. We are challenged to help each other in getting closer to the Lord. The true disciples of Jesus bring others closer to him. Today’s Gospel narrates how some people...
