REFLECTIONS TODAY The intermediate time between the fall of Jerusalem and the Second Coming of the Son of Man can be considered as the time of the Church. Luke records that in the formation of the early Church, the disciples of Jesus undergo persecutions and trials. The Christians’...
REFLECTIONS TODAY After Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple, the people anxiously ask when this will happen. Will this also signal the end times? Jesus speaks of other terrible things to happen, but these do not mark the end, which is only known to God. However, he forewarns them to be...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Gospel account shows a contrast between the wealthy people who give out of their surplus abundance to fulfill their religious duty and the poor widow who gives “till it hurts” in offering her two small coins. Among the Jews and the early Christians, widows were recipients...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Church celebrates the solemnity of Christ the King on the closing of the liturgical calendar. Today’s readings present to us the images of Jesus as the Shepherd-King of the Universe. In the First Reading, God presents himself as a shepherd-king who cares for his...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Belief in the resurrection is rather a late development in Israel, partly influenced by the Greek notion of the immortality of the soul. However, this belief is not shared by all Jews. The Sadducees, whom the Jewish historian Josephus associates with the skeptical Epicureans, do...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Jerusalem Temple stands at the center of the Jewish national consciousness. Pilgrimages are done here, especially during the “pilgrim feasts” of Passover, Pentecost, and Booths. It is a “house of prayer” where sacrifices are offered. There are porticoes where rabbis...
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 parable of the Gold Coins suggests that Jesus’ return is not very imminent as some believers believed then. In the intervening time, the servants are given gold coins (“talents” in Matthew) to engage in trade. On the spiritual level, they are entrusted with the care of...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The story of Zacchaeus proves that it is possible for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God. Some Bible commentators opine that Luke makes use of Zacchaeus’ story as an apology for wealthy people who have decided to change their lifestyle and share their wealth with...
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...
