Reflections Archive

The Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Maidens is the first of three parables that conclude the Olivet Discourse of Jesus in Matthew 24-25. The discourse was triggered when the disciples of Jesus asked regarding on the destruction of the temple and on the signs of...

The English word “saint” has assumed a very precise, technical meaning. We used it to describe a man, woman, or child – always deceased and usually long deceased – who has undergone the Church’s approval process known as canonization. We used it to describe someone...

A scholar of the Law tests Jesus by asking which commandment is the greatest. Jesus answers by uniting two Old Testament commandments: Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and Leviticus...

Matthew 22:15-21 presents Jesus’ encounter with the Pharisees and the Herodians, who attempt to trap Him with a politically sensitive question: “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” (Mt 22:17). During Jesus’ time, the Roman Empire ruled over Judea,...

There is a need to respond in a positive way to Jesus in order to participate fully in the new life he brings. This is illustrated in the gospel for this Sunday through a story about a wedding feast. The King invites many people. But many find excuses not to come....

Matthew 21:33–43, commonly known as the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, is a pivotal allegory delivered by Jesus in the Temple during Holy Week. Delivered directly to the chief priests and elders, the passage addresses covenant betrayal, rejection, and divine judgment....

The Parable of the Two Sons is directly addressed by the Lord Jesus to those who questioned his authority, the chief priests and elders. Rather than answering them directly, the Lord tells a short story about a father who asks his two sons to work in his vineyard. The...

As mentioned by the Lord Jesus in today's Gospel, a denarius was a fair, standard day's wage for an agricultural laborer during his time. Therefore, the laborers who worked all day long were paid justly. The generosity of the landowner of the vineyard for those who...

The dialogue between Jesus and Peter in Matthew 18:21-35 establishes divine mercy not as an exceptional concession, but as the foundational law of the Kingdom of God. When Peter offers to forgive seven times—a number already considered generous under rabbinic...

In the Gospel, the Lord Jesus provides a communal way of addressing conflict and reconciliation. This way of the Lord balances the dignity of the persons involved, accountability, and restoration. The process initiates privately to secure the offender's honor and...

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...