REFLECTIONS TODAY In John, “sin” refers to the unbelief that Jesus encounters among the Jews; they do not believe in him. They reject his mission of “righteousness,” that is, of proclaiming God’s saving plan for men and women. This message includes judgment or “condemnation” of the...
BETTER DAYS On March 26, 2010, Republic Act 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act was enacted to boost our country’s efforts in preserving our cultural treasures. My father, the former Senate President Ed Angara, who was the principal author of the law in the Senate, said the law was not...
REFLECTIONS TODAY First Reading • Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In his apostolic letter Patris Corde, Pope Francis presents St. Joseph as a working father: “St. Joseph was a carpenter who earned an honest living to provide for his family. From him, Jesus learned the value, the dignity and the joy of what it means to eat bread that is the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The three most important agricultural plants in Israel are the wheat or barley (for grain), the vine (for wine), and olive trees (for oil). Metaphorically, Israel is compared to the vine (Ps 80:9). It was brought out of Egypt (the Exodus story) and planted in the promised land. It...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Discipleship is a union of intimate love with Jesus, but love is not to be interpreted merely as emotion. It is also a matter of human decision and action. The one who truly loves Jesus is he who keeps his commandments, or better, the “new commandment” of love, and this is to...
REFLECTIONS TODAY John 14:1-12 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go...
BETTER DAYS Before Congress adjourned its sessions last March, we filed a counterpart measure to the bill of Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo institutionalizing the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). This measure...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Here, Philip’s request to Jesus reflects a misunderstanding. Jesus has just stated that knowing him means knowing and seeing also the Father, presupposing intimate communion between Jesus and the Father and the designation of Jesus as the supreme revealer of God. Now, Philip...
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 The Synoptic Gospels tell us nothing of Philip, except that he is one of the Twelve. In John, however, he is given more prominence. Here, in the midst of Jesus’ solemn pronouncements during the Last Supper, he interrupts with the remark, “Master, show us the Father, and that...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The people cannot grasp the meaning of Jesus’ miracle in feeding the multitude because of their overly materialistic concern. Here they are after food which Jesus can give; they expect another multiplication of bread. He tries to raise their thoughts to a higher level by telling...
