REFLECTIONS TODAY The “splinter” denotes any small fault in others while the beam denotes the much greater fault which one overlooks in herself/himself. Jesus uses a graphic hyperbole to express the big inconsistency in correcting others while not seeing one’s own fault. He does not oppose...
REFLECTIONS TODAY MARK 4:35-41 On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Our God is the God of providence. His generosity is never outdone. To point this out, Jesus uses the example of the birds in the sky and the wild flowers. God gave us life. If he gave us life, surely, we can trust him for the lesser things—like food and clothing. To worry about...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Greek word brosis (read here as “decay”) literally means “eating away.” In Jesus’ time, corn and grain may consist somebody’s wealth. Worms, rats, and mice could get into a granary and eat away the grain. The word for “break in” is diorussein. In ancient...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In Matthew, the Our Father is part of the Sermon of the Mount, the opening verse of which states that the main listeners of Jesus are the disciples. In Luke, the Our Father is Jesus’ response to the disciples’ request that he teach them how to pray; it is the prayer of the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY We call the teachings of Jesus that are found in chapters 5-7 of Matthew, Sermon on the Mount. It expresses the essence of Christianity. In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us about purity of intention. Our religious practices like almsgiving, prayer, and fasting must be done...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In today’s Gospel and in the previous readings, Jesus teaches us what living under God’s rule is like. The afflicted are blessed. Enemies are loved. Elsewhere, he also teaches us that leaders who serve and the least are first. Does Jesus teach us something unnatural? It is not...
REFLECTIONS TODAY How do we react when offended, taken advantage of, or forced against our will? Mahatma Gandhi, the “apostle of nonviolence,” is one of the most respected leaders of modern history. He admired Jesus and often quoted from the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount inspired...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is celebrated a day after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This twin celebration points to the close relationship between the mother and the Son. The secret of Mary’s faithful collaboration with Jesus’ work of salvation...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In the history of the Church, there were those who believed and preached that humanity is lost and irreparably damned. The feast dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus promotes that this is not the case. Jesus’ infinite love for us was proven on the cross. He does not wish us...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In yesterday’s Gospel, Jesus says: “Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:19)....
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Law, the Prophets, and the Writings are the three divisions of the Scriptures in the Jewish tradition. Together they are called TaNaK which is actually an acronym for the three: Torah (Law), Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). Many times, though, in the New...
