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...
BETTER DAYS For the fifth straight time, the Philippines is taking part in the La Biennale Di Venezia or the Venice Biennale. Now in its 60th year, the Venice Biennale is arguably the most prestigious and famous international art festival. A total of 88 nations will take part in the 2024 festival,...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Gospel • John 10:11-18 The evangelist John introduces the image of the shepherd by describing how the shepherd enters the sheepfold, calls the sheep by name, and leads the flock to pasture. Then Jesus identifies himself as the good shepherd who lays down his life for the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus makes claims that can be understood only in terms of his origin. He is “the bread that came down from heaven” (Jn 6:41), because his origin is the Father, who is from above. His opponents will not consider that as a possibility: they know that his father is Joseph, who...
REFLECTIONS TODAY “For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink.” This is the central solemn affirmation of the discourse on the Bread of Life, and it is the most explicitly eucharistic. The previous declaration of Jesus as Bread of Life refers to his whole person, his words and...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The words of Jesus carry pastoral undertones and refer to his function as the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:14). While “anything” is neuter singular, it is sometimes used in reference to persons. Here it refers to the disciples, those who believe in Jesus. But Jesus has “other...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The discourse on the Bread of Life begins from the citation from the Torah (Law): Moses tells the people of the manna that appeared in the camp of the Israelites, “It is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat” (Ex 16:15). The psalmist looks back to the gift of manna,...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The basic nourishment for the human body is food and drink. People, Jesus says, ask, “What are we to eat?” or “What are we to drink?” (Mt 6:31). These are legitimate concerns, but life is more than food and drink that satisfy the body. Here in the Gospel, Jesus offers to...
BETTER DAYS The Philippine National Police reported a rise in cybercrime cases during the first quarter of 2024. According to the police’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), there were 4,469 cases recorded from January to March of 2024. This was an increase of almost 22 percent from the 3,668 cases...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Gospel • Luke 24:35-48 The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were...
REFLECTIONS TODAY “I am” is how the Lord God refers to himself in the Old Testament, especially when he makes his presence felt by his people to help them overcome fear. When God reveals himself to Moses in the burning bush, he tells him, “I am who I am… This is what you will tell the...
