15 January 2009. Thursday of the 1st Week of Ordinary TimeHebrew 3, 7-14; Psalm 95; Mark 1, 40-45 What strikes me today in the Gospel reading is that the leper said that he wanted to be cured IF Jesus would will it. And thus, Jesus declared that He did will it. So the leper wasContinue reading “Afraid of What God Wills”
Tag Archives: Parish Holy Sacrifice
After the Amazement, What’s Next?
12 January 2009. Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary TimeHebrew 2, 5-12; Psalm 8; Mark 1, 21-28 I would like to say something about the Ordinary Season. The liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter focus on a specific aspect of the life of Jesus. Ordinary Time is that season of the liturgicalContinue reading “After the Amazement, What’s Next?”
Baptism Is About Identity
11 January 2009 Feast of the Baptism of Our LordIsaiah 42, 1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 10, 34-38; Mark 1, 7-11 The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is about an inauguration to a new identity. The Gospel of Mark introduces Jesus to us. Having established John the Baptist in the previous passages, the GospelContinue reading “Baptism Is About Identity”
An Issue of Loyalty
10 January 2009. Saturday after the Epiphany1 John 5, 14-21; Psalm 149; John 3, 22-30 The issue in the Gospel today is loyalty. Jesus had been baptized and He was drawing larger crowds to his baptism. John’s disciples were jealous that their former followers had moved to Jesus. And so John reiterated what he saidContinue reading “An Issue of Loyalty”
Giving What We’ve Got
6 January 2009. Tuesday after the Epiphany1 John 4, 7-10; Psalm 72; Mark 6, 34-44 In the Gospel today, the Lord trusts in our capacity to help. He fed their spiritual thirst with His teaching; and their physical hunger with the multiplication of the loaves and fish. The feeding of the five thousand begins withContinue reading “Giving What We’ve Got”
About God Wanting Us To Find Him
4 January 2009. The Epiphany of Our Lord JesusIsaiah 60, 1-6; Psalm 72; Eph 3, 2-6; Matthew 2, 1-12 As the Church continues to discern its life in the present age, she also modifies and changes certain things, hoping that the change will deepen and correct certain practices of the faith. Today is an example.Continue reading “About God Wanting Us To Find Him”
A Reflection on our Name
1 January 2008. A New Year’s HomilyLuke 2, 16-21 The Holy Name of Jesus; The Circumcision of Jesus; the Holy Mother of God; World Day of Peace On the first day of the year, the Catholic Church does not celebrate the ‘new year’ since her calendar begins on the first Sunday of Advent. However, thisContinue reading “A Reflection on our Name”
Proof that God’s Way is Not our Way
25 December 2008. Solemnity of the Nativity of Our LordIsaiah 9, 1-6; Psalm 96; Titus 2, 11-14; Luke 2, 10-11 When God said that His ways are different from us, the best proof is Christmas. First, we celebrate God’s unusual way of choosing people. She chose an ordinary woman to be the Mother of HisContinue reading “Proof that God’s Way is Not our Way”
What Face Do You Have?
21 December 2008 Fourth Sunday of Advent2 Samuel 7, 1-16, Psalm 89, Rom 16, 25-27 and Luke 1, 26-38: The Annunciation Note: The Gospel is the same for both the 20th and 21st December 2008. This homily can be used for both the dawn masses and the 4th Sunday of Advent. The internet uses emoticonsContinue reading “What Face Do You Have?”
Celebrate the Possibility
19 December 2008 Simbanggabi/ Friday of the 3rd Week of AdventJudges 13, 2-7, 24-25; Psalm 71; Luke 1, 5-25 In the Seasons of Advent and Christmas, we celebrate possibilities. The readings today are stories of the impossible becoming possible. Two barren women, the wife of Manoah (we do not know her name) and Elizabeth, theContinue reading “Celebrate the Possibility”
The Three Names of Jesus
18 December 2008 Thursday of the 3rd Week of AdventJeremiah 23, 5-8; Psalm 72, 1-19; Matthew 1, 18-25 There are three names of Jesus that are important in this angle of the story of His birth. First, Jesus is “Son of David.” As an extension of the genealogy of Jesus, the story is about JesusContinue reading “The Three Names of Jesus”
Tatlong Pangalan ni Hesus
18 Disyembre 2008 Thursday of the 3rd Week of AdventJeremiah 23, 5-8; Psalm 72, 1-19; Matthew 1, 18-25 Note: This appears in Sambuhay, a publication of the Society of St. Paul. Tatlong pangalan ang mahalagang maunawaan sa kuwento ng pagkapanganak kay Hesus. Una, ang “Anak ni Dabid”. Bilang kakabit ng kaangkanan ni Hesus, kinukuwento ngContinue reading “Tatlong Pangalan ni Hesus”
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 generalContinue reading “At the End of UP’s Centennial Celebrations”
In God’s Hands
15 December 2008. Monday of the 3rd Week of AdventNumbers 24, 2-17; Psalm 25, 4-9; Matthew 21, 23-27 The debate about Jesus’ authority in the Gospel today is part of a series of controversies that would put Jesus to death. In this debate, the chief priests and elders are the opponents. Eventually, they would beContinue reading “In God’s Hands”
Joy in the Season of Advent
14 December 2008. 3rd Sunday of AdventIsaiah 61, 1-11; Luke 1, 46-54; 1 Thes 5, 16-24; John 1, 6-8.19-28Many people have the impression that the core of Christian life is suffering, especially when Catholic popular piety have influenced a large part of their culture. But the readings today remind us that the center of ourContinue reading “Joy in the Season of Advent”
As Kingfishers Catch Fire 