REFLECTIONS TODAY Unlike that of the others, the scribe’s attitude in today’s Gospel inspires us to imitate him. He comes to Jesus with an open mind and heart, observing with docility what Jesus is doing and teaching. In the end, both he and Jesus concur on the point that to love God and...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Church of Dominus Flevit (“the Lord wept”) overlooks the old city of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. It offers a splendid view of the city’s mighty walls and the modern golden Dome of the Rock. It is a monument to Jesus’ weeping over the imminent destruction of the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Greek word agōnizomai, used to describe the “striving” to enter the narrow door, evokes a sense of a competition, an image of a crowd pushing against each other in order to make it through a narrow entrance within a short period of time. It is an existential challenge:...
REFLECTIONS TODAY A seed can easily be eaten by birds, but if it grows to a bush or tree, birds can seek shelter on its boughs. As an image of the Kingdom of God, we are reminded of how great things begin from the smallest beginnings. Would we not feel small when we encounter the lives of...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Among the beloved Christian hymns is Amazing Grace, the lyrics of which include the lines, “I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.” We cannot help but connect these lyrics to the story of Bartimaeus who shouts loudly to Jesus and confesses his faith in...
REFLECTIONS TODAY It is shocking to hear Jesus describe himself as source of division. After all, isn’t he the Prince of Peace? (Is 9:5). What division is he talking about? The experience of Christ’s early followers testifies to this external conflict that can arise in following the way...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The expression “gird your loins” (v 35) derives from practical purpose based on the ancients’ clothing. As pants or shorts were not in use in those days, tunics would be cumbersome to walk in or run around. This was resolved by bringing up the garment and tying it so...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In Japanese culture, there are art depictions of hungry ghosts, which are inspired by the Buddhist idea of reincarnation. These ghosts are the souls of human beings who fell into the traps of greediness. They have been punished in reincarnation by being made into creatures that...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Gospel • Mark 10:35-45 [or 10:42-45] James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in...
REFLECTIONS TODAY How can God not forgive a sin? We know him to be merciful, why would he reserve a sin to be unforgivable? The Catechism of the Catholic Church (n 1864) explains what it means to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit concerns this: Unrepentance. We...
REFLECTIONS TODAY There is a great probability that St. Luke accompanied St. Paul in his missionary journeys. St. Paul relates accounts of his mishaps: lashings, beatings, stoning, shipwreck, drifting on sea, all sorts of dangers, toil, hardship, hunger, thirst, and cold, among other things that he...
REFLECTIONS TODAY “Damay-damay tayo” is a Tagalog expression used to describe the attitude of a person who wants everybody else to share in his misfortune. Jesus blames the scholars of the Law for taking away the key of knowledge by their narrow and shallow interpretation of the Law. This...
