CHRIST’S Kingship

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 823 total views Sir 27:4-7 The proverbs from Sirach emphasize that speech reveals character. Just as shaking a sieve exposes coarse elements (v4), conversation uncovers a person’s flaws. The furnace (v5) similarly reveals imperfections in materials. The quality of speech reflects the upbringing and formation of an individual (v6), as highlighted by Jesus in Matthew 7:20:

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 1,097 total views 1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 The story of David sparing Saul’s life highlights the tension between them. Saul pursues David with a large military force, while David’s smaller group represents the idea that victory comes from the Lord and not the work of human agents (Ps 118:14-16). David strategically infiltrates Saul’s camp,

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 1,476 total views 6th Sunday C Jer 17:5-8 The reading from Jeremiah emphasizes the importance of trusting in Yahweh using three key elements of Hebrew poetry. First, it employs nature imagery, comparing those who trust humans (v5) to a withering bush in the desert, while those who trust Yahweh (vv7-8) are likened to a well-rooted tree

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 1,713 total views 5th Sunday C Is 6:1-2, 3-8 In 742 B.C., the year of King Uzziah’s death, Isaiah experiences a theophany during a temple liturgy, highlighting Yahweh’s transcendence. He sees God enthroned, attended by seraphim who proclaim His holiness (v1-2). The Hebrew word “qadosh” (v3) emphasizes God’s otherness and sinlessness, which is manifest in His

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 2,181 total views 4th Sunday C Jer 1:4-5, 17-19 1 Cor 12:31-13:13 Lk 4:21-30 The call of the prophet often brings difficult and even frightening consequences. Jeremiah’s account (1:4-5, 17-19), highlights some of the psychological challenges associated with this divine call. The prophet was initially reluctant to accept his mission (1:6), primarily because he was aware

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 2,299 total views Neh 8:2-4, 5-6, 8-10 The lay ruler Nehemiah and the priest Ezra played a crucial role in the reconstruction of Jerusalem—socially, physically, and morally—following the exile in Babylon in the fifth century B.C. In the presence of the assembled community in Jerusalem, Ezra read from the Torah. During significant moments in Israel’s history,

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 2,954 total views Filipinos have maintained a long tradition of venerating the Sto Niño. Pope Innocent XIII approved special liturgical texts for a special feast to honor the Child Jesus on the 3rd Sunday of January. Along with Magellan’s Cross, the Sto. Niño de Cebu is the oldest surviving Christian artifact in the Philippines. It was

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 3,029 total views Isa 42:1-4, 6-7 The text discusses the first of four “Servant of the Lord Songs” in Second Isaiah where the servant is introduced by Yahweh as a chosen and favored individual empowered by God’s spirit (ruah, v1b). The servant’s mission involves upholding justice and moral uprightness, extending Yahweh’s teachings to the nations (v1,

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 3,488 total views Christmas (2024) “Your Savior comes” (Isaiah 62:11)! This phrase captures the essence of all the readings from the prophet Isaiah that we hear during today’s celebration of Christmas: Isaiah 9:1-6 at midnight mass, Isaiah 62:11-12 at dawn, and Isaiah 52:7-10 during the day. It symbolizes the dawn of a new era. The second

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 3,950 total views 4th Sunday Advent (C) Mic 5:1-4a The reading highlights the prophet Micah’s condemnation of the sins of Israel and Judah, predicting their downfall. He identifies Bethlehem, the hometown of David, as a place of hope for the future Messiah. While the town is small and insignificant (v1), its importance lies in its connection

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 4,546 total views 3rd Sunday Advent (c) Zeph 3:14-18 The book of Zephaniah, written during the time of King Josiah in the late seventh century B.C. (1:1), consists of three chapters and addresses both severe judgments against Judah, Jerusalem, (ch. 1), and the surrounding nations (ch. 2), followed by a message of deliverance for God’s faithful

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 4,734 total views 2nd Sunday Advent (C) Bar 5:1-9 The Book of Baruch is a short work originally composed in Hebrew but survives primarily in Greek. It is attributed to Jeremiah’s secretary and likely dates from late pre-Christian times, post-200 B.C. Influenced by Isaiah, Baruch focuses on the theme of the exiles’ return from Babylon, relevant

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 5,435 total views Jer 33:14-16 This passage from the prophet is a late addition to the book, absent in the Septuagint, and reflects a reworking of an earlier oracle (cf 23:5-6) Written in the post-exilic period, it focuses on hope for Jerusalem and Judah, with minimal reference to Israel. The passage emphasizes the significance of a

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 4,311 total views 33rd Sunday B Dan 12:1-3 The passage from Daniel concludes the account of final warfare and the downfall of foes (ch. 10-11), presenting the first clear statement on resurrection and eternal life in Hebrew scriptures. It introduces a distinction between the just and the wicked, allowing for a deeper understanding of retribution beyond

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 9,282 total views 32nd Sunday B 1 Kgs 17:10-16 The passage describes a miracle involving the prophet Elijah during a drought in Israel and Phoenicia. The story highlights Yahweh’s providential care for both the prophet and a widow in dire circumstances, emphasizing her willingness to give from her limited resources. Despite her initial hesitation, the widow