REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today The simile of mustard seed and yeast shows that the Kingdom of God starts small and quiet. Nonetheless, it has creative power that propels growth and renews all of life. Jesus’ ministry was contained in the small region of Palestine, among men and women of no...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The synagogue leader is designated by the community to gather the people for prayer, for the reading of the Torah and the Prophets, and for tackling community concerns. As keeper of the sacred scrolls, he is a prominent person who is familiar with the Law’s rules and precepts,...
REFLECTIONS TODAY MARK 10:46-52 As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” And many...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today In this digital world, it is so easy to share reports of disasters, complete with photos. Life can seem so cheap in case of killings, and so precarious in case of accidents. In the Gospel, some people tell Jesus that Pilate had some Galilean pilgrims massacred...
REFLECTIONS TODAY It is a fact that certain animals have instinct to know the weather in advance; they retire to the safety of their holes before the inclement weather strikes. Human beings who live close to nature can also predict the weather, like people in Jesus’ time who knew how to interpret...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today Jesus’ mission has twofold effects: like fire, it purifies and ignites to action. Scripture uses several images of fire: as a symbol of God’s holy presence, as in the burning bush (Ex 3:1-17); as God’s word that cleanses the heart (Jer 5:14); as God’s...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In the time of haciendas in the Philippines, the rich owners had mayordomos whose functions were similar to those of the steward in the parable. In the absence of the master, the faithful and prudent steward provides for the needs of the servants and manages his master’s...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today The Palestinian wedding celebration could last for several days and the deep into the night. The master in the parable is a man of means attending the wedding of the well-to-do and so may return late and in stupor. It is important that the servant be ready to...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The appointment of the 72 others, given the same mission of the Twelve (apostles), is reminiscent of the appointment of 70 elders to assist Moses in leading and guiding the Israelites: “Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses, he bestowed it on the seventy elders; and as the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today MARK 10:35-45 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 your glory we may sit one at...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus repeatedly speaks of his power to forgive sins: “The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Lk 5:24; Mt 9:6-8). He has also entrusted the same power to his disciples/apostles: “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Reflections today The leaven of the Pharisees — their hypocrisy — will not remain hidden; it will be uncovered someday. On the other hand, the truth about Jesus and his message will be proclaimed “on the housetops.” Nothing is hidden from God; there is no hiding from him....
