At the End of UP’s Centennial Celebrations

17 December 2008. Dawn Mass at the End of UP’s Centennial CelebrationsGenesis 49, 2, 8-10; Psalm 72; Matthew 1, 1-17 Note: This homily is intended for the community of the University of the Philippines at the end of the Centennial Celebrations. President Dr. Emerlinda Roman will be present. But the points apply to a general

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The Zodiac and Revelations

19 November 2008 Wednesday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary TimeRevelations 4, 1-11; Psalm 150; Luke 19, 11-28 Many of us find signs and symbols like horoscopes amusing. We don’t put our faith in it, but we enjoy the ‘classification’ because it somehow gives us a certain handle in understanding people. Many do find some

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Being Lukewarm

18 November 2008 Tuesday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary TimeRev 3, 1-22; Psalm 15; Luke 19, 1-10 Being Lukewarm In the first reading from Revelation, two cities are mentioned: Sardis and Laodicea. Both of these cities were in the earthquake belt. Sardis had been rebuilt after it was devastated by an earthquake in 17

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Pieces of God’s Heart

17 November 2008 Monday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary TimeLuke 18, 35-43 Pieces of God’s Heart The Gospel is about the cure of the blind man. The beggar’s name was given by Mark the Evangelist. His name is Bartimeaus. In this incident, the disciples try to keep an “insignificant person” from bothering Jesus. But

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Want to be Gifted?

16 November 2008 33rd Sunday in Ordinary TimeProv 31, 10-31; Psalm 128, 1-5; 1 Thess 5, 1-6; Matthew 25, 14-21The readings today deal with things of value. In the first reading, the skills of a good wife are to be proclaimed, praised and rewarded at the city gates. In the second reading, our vigilance and

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Excuses, Excuses

4 November 2008 Tuesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary TimePhil 2, 5-11; Psalm 22; Luke 14, 15-24 Excuses The parable of Jesus in the Gospel today is about a man who prepared a great dinner for everyone. During the time of Jesus, one does not prepare a great banquet without sending the invitations beforehand.

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To Pass the Narrow Gate

29 October 2008. Wednesday of the 30th Week in Ordinary TimeEph 6, 1-9; Psalm 145; Luke 13, 22-33 The image of the narrow gate in the Gospel is a powerful image of decision-making. The image Jesus used refers to a real gate in His time. There was a ‘people-only’ gate in the walls of Jerusalem.

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Up to the Mountain

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 called

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Unity through Peace

21 October 2008 Tuesday of the 29th Week in Ordinary TimeEphesians 2, 12-22; Psalm 85 The first reading talks about the relationship between the Jews and the Gentiles. In the past the Gentiles has been excluded by the Jewish community. They had to part of the covenant relationship with God, and so did not share

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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 in

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Following Christ Fearlessly

17 October 2008 Thursday of the 28th Week in Ordinary TimeLuke 12, 1-7 Following Christ FearlesslyJesus points publicly the hypocrisy of the Pharisees: they thought that their outward image of respectability will keep hidden their blemishes from being discovered. But not so. All personal secrets will be revealed — if not during our lifetime, but

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Introducing God

16 October 2008 Thursday of the 28th Week in Ordinary TimeEphesians 1, 1-10 The Knowledge of God Except for the first two verses, the first reading (v. 3-10) is a Jewish-Christian benediction. A benediction is an invocation to the Divine, usually seeking Divine help, blessing and guidance. It comes from the Latin, bene (good) and

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What is True Freedom?

15 October 2008 St. Teresa of JesusGalatians 5, 18-25 Let me take our reflections from the first reading. St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians talk about true freedom. But before we go and understand true freedom, we should define our terms. The common understanding of freedom — the way freedom is talked about in contemporary

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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 Jesus

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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 want

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