REFLECTIONS TODAY So begins our Gospel reading. We come to Bethany for a dinner. Martha is serving. Lazarus is at table. Mary comes and anoints Jesus’ feet with expensive nard perfume which, according to Judas, could be sold for 300 denarii. If the denarius was worth about a day’s wage, then...
BETTER DAYS As we celebrate National Women’s Month, we look back to the accomplishments of Filipinas and the issues that are relevant to them as part of the continuous effort to promote women empowerment and gender equality. In the past year we were witness to several milestones for some...
REFLECTIONS TODAY As we begin the Holy Week, we look back to Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. We received ashes from what we have burned of the palms of the previous year. Today we have fresh palms in our hands—a reminder of the new life that we have after the Lenten journey. We have...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Once, two boys who were up for expulsion had committed a serious offense. They put the blame on a classmate, Dominic. The teacher severely scolded the boy who just bowed his head in silence. The next day, the truth came out, and the teacher, regretting his reproof of Dominic,...
REFLECTIONS TODAY There is an important detail in our Gospel: “He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized” (v 40). This brings us back to the beginning of the Gospel of John where we first saw Jesus in the same place where John was baptizing. The ministry of...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus says, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (vv 31-32). The antidote for fake news or falsehood or the post [1] truth is the word of Jesus, for he is trustworthy. Truth is thus based on a...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Joseph is described as a righteous man who is faithful to the Law of Moses. This is why he wants to sever his union with Mary, so as not to be married to one who has transgressed the Law. However, Joseph is not only just; he is merciful. He does not want to expose Mary to shame,...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus is silent. He bends down and writes on the ground. At the insistence of the scribes and the Pharisees, he answers them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (v 7). Then he bends down again and writes. What is Jesus writing?...
BETTER DAYS Since the economy opened up after the Covid-19 pandemic, tourism has been a key contributor to the growth of the Philippine economy. Based on official data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, tourism made up 6.2 percent of the economy as measured by gross domestic product. The...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Gospel • John 12:20-33 Some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Who is Jesus? This question that we ask to this day was the same question that the people were asking when they heard Jesus speak. Some may have sincerely asked to be certain whether he was truly the Messiah. Their honest queries were valid because they have sought the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Origins are important. We are always interested where a person is from. In the Philippines, the question “Where are you coming from?” is a cliché when we greet people. Non-Filipinos may find it nosy, but it is really an informal way of asking “How are you?” When...
