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...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus embarks on the second phase of his ministry. In stark contrast to previous hostility of the Jewish religious authorities, Jesus is described as popular among the general populace by his healing touch and power over the demonic forces. The frenzy of the crowd pressing...
REFLECTIONS TODAY First Reading • 1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19 Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was. The Lord called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Herod was a bloody despot who ordered the killing of his own sons at a mere suspicion of wanting his throne. Emperor Caesar Augustus remarked that it was better to be Herod’s pigs [animals he would not touch because these were considered “unclean” by the Jews] than his own...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In a style called diptych or narratives in “two frames,” Luke narrates the conception and birth both of John the Baptist and Jesus. The parallelism also serves to bring out that Jesus is the greater one. Although wondrous signs accompany the conception and birth of John, he is...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Both the Matthean “Sermon on the Mount” and Luke’s “Sermon on the Plain” end with a “demonstration story” of two foundations. Matthew has “rock” and “sand” while Luke has “rock” and “without foundation.” “Rock” stands for a solid foundation while...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Simon and Andrew, the sons of John or Jonah (Mt 16:17), are the first to be called by Jesus to be “fishers of men” (v 19). They are soon joined by their partners in fishing, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Their response is quick, which becomes the model for those who are...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jerusalem, the city of peace (Hebrew shalom) is a prominent place, for here stands the Temple: the place of God’s presence among his people. Jesus weeps over this city where his destiny will be accomplished. He comes as a meek king to offer the way of peace, but people, moved by...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The blind beggar hears that Jesus is passing by. The crowd recognizes only the historical Jesus, a popular rabbi from Nazareth. The blind man’s exclamation, “Jesus, Son of David” (v 38), alludes to his and Israel’s expectation of the Messiah who has been sent by God...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Matthew 25:14-30 [or 25:14-15, 19-21] Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The parable of the Widow and the Dishonest Judge pays attention to widows as a class often neglected in Israel. And so the Lord often gave warnings against maltreatment of widows. In the early Church, the believers took care of widows, and when there was a complaint that...
