Reflections Archive

At the beginning of the Gospel, Jesus already predicts His upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection in Jerusalem. He also reveals his identity as the Messiah who will endure the suffering, while redefining true discipleship. Isn’t it that this is the will of the...

During his seminary years, a seminarian always believed it was entirely up to him, through his own efforts, to seek and find the Lord in his life. To him, his studies and all formation classes in seminary were simply his ways of searching for God. There came a time,...

The encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28 is one of the most challenging and most beautiful stories in the Gospels. At first it sounds harsh. Jesus withdraws to the region of Tyre and Sidon, Gentile territory, and a woman cries out,...

Matthew 14:22–33 presents one of the most profound moments in the Gospel, revealing Jesus not only as Lord over creation but also as the One who strengthens faith amid life’s storms. After feeding the five thousand, Jesus sends His disciples ahead while He withdraws...

When we need something badly, we kneel down before God and ask Him to give us what we urgently need. Generous as He is, He always gives us our daily bread and He gives it enough for us to share it and be answers to the prayers of those in need. The Gospel for today...

"We leave something or someone good in order to possess someone better: Christ Himself, the pearl of great price." The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 13, features Jesus using everyday imagery to reveal the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven, emphasizing a critical moment of...

In Jesus’ ministry, apart from healing and exorcism, preaching is primarily the highlight of his proclamation of the coming of the Kingdom of God. Unlike the Pharisees and the Scribes who usually explain the words of God from the Law of Moses in a way that is in the...

Matthew 13 marks a major structural shift in the gospel. Facing growing hostility from religious leaders, Jesus transitions from open public preaching to teaching in parables. Sitting in a boat off the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus uses a familiar agrarian...

The world encourages everyone to be independent. For they say, it is by being by yourself and for yourself that eventually make you succeed and become who you really are. That there is no need for others or even of God for you to be able to reach your potentials or...

At first glance, the opening verses of the Gospel seem to narrate Jesus as being too much demanding. It would then be easy to hastily conclude that such words would discourage those who are still unsure, considering the fact that Jesus gives both a warning and an...

The theme of today’s readings “Be not afraid”. These are also the words of Encouragement of Jesus to the twelve (12) disciples as part of their mission (spreading the Word and kingdom of God). Jesus prepares them as they will encounter persecution, difficulties and...