REFLECTIONS TODAY The Law and the Prophets are two of the three major parts of the Hebrew Bible. These two parts were already established in Jesus’ time and in the time when the New Testament was written. Jesus knew very well the beautiful teachings found in the Law and the Prophets. He practiced...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Gospel • Matthew 18:21-35 Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but 77 times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a...
REFLECTIONS TODAY John 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42 [or 4:5-42] Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon. A woman of Samaria came...
REFLECTIONS TODAY True greatness is not measured by worldly power but by humble service. Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew has two parts: the third prediction of Jesus’ passion (vv 17-19) and the request of James and John (vv 20-28), also found in Mark (10:32-34; 35-45). The Matthean account...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Gospel • Mark 7:1-13 When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully...
REFLECTIONS TODAY New Testament references to the prophet Jonah are found in Matthew (12:39-41) and Luke (11:29-30). The one in Matthew prefigures Jesus’ death and, implicitly, Jesus’ resurrection. The one in Luke is part of today’s Gospel reading. It conveys the message that as Jonah became...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Fasting is the inevitable response to a grievous sacred moment in life, such as death, sin, and tragedy. When one is moved to tears by grief, one loses the urge to eat. Fasting helps people to express grief over their sins and their seriousness in returning to the path of godly...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Authentic piety is the springboard of righteousness. For the Jews, “righteous deeds” are expressed in the three pillars of piety: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In many ways, piety and morality go hand in hand. The angel Raphael declares to Tobit and his household, “Prayer...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Discipleship is essentially diakonia or service down to the lowliest ones: the children. The stance of genuine service comes from treating each one as equal. In the Jewish society where children are considered as having no social status until they reach adulthood, Jesus shows his...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In an earlier episode, the Twelve were given authority over unclean spirits as they were sent on a mission (Mk 6:7) and on their return they reported to Jesus what they had done. The Lucan version—the sending of the Seventy—has them reporting to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Mt 5:38-48 Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Mark’s account of the transfiguration of Jesus has elements similar to Moses’ encounter with God: the mountain, the cloud covering the mountain, God speaking to Moses (Ex 24:12-18; 25:1). In one instance, Moses was accompanied by Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the 70 elders of...
