28 October 2008 Feasts of Sts. Simon and JudeEphesians 2, 19-22; Psalm 19; Luke 6, 12-16 The Gospel today begins by telling us that Jesus ‘went to the mountain to pray and he spent the night in prayer to God’. After praying, he called his disciples, and from them, He chose Twelve, whom he calledContinue reading “Up to the Mountain”
Tag Archives: 100
Climbing the Corporate Ladder
22 October 2008 Wednesday of the 29th Year in Ordinary TimeEphesians 3, 2-12; Isaiah 12; Luke 12, 39-48 Central to the test of our faith is the challenge to be constantly ready for the Master’s return. In the parable today, Jesus emphasizes that His return is guaranteed, but the timing is not. His return isContinue reading “Climbing the Corporate Ladder”
God and Taxes
19 October 2008 29th Sunday in Ordinary TimeIsaiah 45, 1-6; Psalm 96; 1 Thes 1, 1-5; Matthew 22, 15-21 Jesus, in the Gospel today, is in the middle of a controversy. The opponents are the Pharisees and the Herodians. The Pharisees resent paying taxes to the emperor, while the Herodians administer the tax system inContinue reading “God and Taxes”
Legitimate Pretension
14 October 2008 Tuesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary TimeGalatians 5, 1-6; Psalm 119; Luke 11, 37-41In the Gospel today, the host of the party was surprised that Jesus did not perform the ritual ablutions. The washing before meals was a Pharisaic practice not required by law. His puzzlement provoked a reply from JesusContinue reading “Legitimate Pretension”
Updating for Faith
13 October 2008. Monday of the 28th Week in Ordinary TimeGalatians 4, 22-31 – 5,1; Psalm 113; Luke 11, 29-32Allow me to explain the Gospel today. We always want to have tangible evidence to establish the fact of a claim or a statement. But if the claim is fantastic, we demand spectacular proof. We wantContinue reading “Updating for Faith”
Why I Pray the Rosary
7 October 2008. Memorial of Our Lady of the RosaryGalatians 1, 13-24; Psalm 139; Luke 10, 38-42As we celebrate the memorial of our Lady of the Rosary, allow me to talk about the rosary personally. If you were to ask me why I pray the rosary, I would probably answer you this way. First, theContinue reading “Why I Pray the Rosary”
The Lord’s Way
28 September 2008 26th Sunday in Ordinary TimeEzekiel 18, 25-28; Psalm 25; Phil 2, 1-11; Matthew 21, 28-32The phrase, the ‘Lord’s way,’ repeats itself in the readings today. In the first reading, the people who were exiled in Babylon complained that the “Lord’s way” is unfair. They thought that their banishment from their land wasContinue reading “The Lord’s Way”
Seek the Lord
21 September 2008 25th Sunday in Ordinary TimeIsaiah 55, 6-9; Psalm 145; Phil 1, 20-27; Matthew 20, 1-16 The Book of Isaiah is divided into three parts: that of the Prophet Isaiah (742 BC, prophetic ministry in Jerusalem); Deutero-Isaiah (Babylonian Exile, Jerusalem is now destroyed); and Trito-Isaiah (Return to Jerusalem). Isaiah covers Chapter 1-39; Deutero-IsaiahContinue reading “Seek the Lord”
Against Egocentric Competitiveness
16 September 2008 Memorial of Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian1 Corinthians 12, 12-14, 27-31 Against Egocentric Competitiveness We are one body. This is one of the famous quotes of St. Paul taken from the first reading today. But Paul was unlikely to be the source of this concept. The idea of a society as one bodyContinue reading “Against Egocentric Competitiveness”
Why We Exalt the Cross
14 September 2008 Feast of the Exaltation of the CrossNumbers 21, 4b-9; Psalm 78; Phil 2, 6-11; John 3, 13-17 Nicodemus is identified as an archon, a leader of the Jews, probably a member of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin is the civil ‘court’ of the Jewish community in Jerusalem. Previous to the Gospel readings, NicodemusContinue reading “Why We Exalt the Cross”
To Recreate the World
9 September 2008 Memorial of Peter Claver1 Cor 6, 1-11 and Luke 6, 12-19 To Recreate the World The Gospel tells us about Jesus choosing his disciples after he went to the mountain to pray. The reading mentioned that Jesus chose His Twelve among all other disciples. To these closest company, He had given aContinue reading “To Recreate the World”
Without Rewards
20 August 2008 Wednesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary TimeMatthew 20, 1-16 Love Without Rewards The Gospel is in contrast with our notion of justice. Salaries are paid to according to the labor rendered, and the time we spent at work. In the parable, the vineyard owner hires laborers— idle men chosen from theContinue reading “Without Rewards”
Faith: Fruit of Persistent Love
17 August 2008. 20th Sunday in Ordinary TimeMatthew 15, 21-28 Faith: The Fruit of Persistent Love Note: This homily appears at this Sunday’s Sambuhay of the Society of St. Paul. (Sorry for posting this earlier, August 10.) At the end of the Gospel, Jesus tells the woman, “O woman, great is your faith! Let itContinue reading “Faith: Fruit of Persistent Love”
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
15 August 2008 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MaryRev 11, 19a; 12:1-6; 10ab; Psalm 45; 1 Cor 15, 20-27; Luke 1, 39-56 The Eastern, Oriental and Coptic Orthodox and the Catholic Churches teach and celebrate the Assumption of Mary. For Catholics, this belief was solemnly declared by Pope Pius XII on NovemberContinue reading “Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
Why Jesus’ Yoke is Easy
6 July 2008 14th Sunday in Ordinary TimeZechariah 9, 9-10; Psalm 145; Romans 8, 9-13; Matthew 11, 2-30Let us relate the readings today. The reading from Zechariah tells us of the coming of an earthly king who establishes peace among his people after a divine victory. He is described as riding in an ‘ass’ (andContinue reading “Why Jesus’ Yoke is Easy”
As Kingfishers Catch Fire 