PAN DE LA SEMANA

[BREAKING THE BREAD OF GOD’S WORD] 29 th Sunday in Ordinary Time – B October 18, 2015 HOLDING FAST TO OUR CONFESSION The first reading talks about the patient suffering of the prophesied Messiah, the suffering servant, through whom, “the Lord’s will shall be accomplished.” The second reading, from the letter to the Hebrews is some kind of a pep talk to people ever tempted to give up on what they believed. It was a plea to fellow believers to hold on, “since [they] had a high priest who has passed through the heavens.” The Gospel passage reminds us of a temptation that is every bit as real as the temptation to give up – the ever lurking danger and temptation of asking for what is not due us, looking for something greater than us, and aiming for something that is not meant for us. I know the feeling. Who among us has not at any point in our lives aimed for something that is beyond us? Who among us has not wanted to get something that we really do not deserve, ...

29 th Sunday in Ordinary Time B October 21, 2012 DRINKING THE SAME CUP; DOING THE SAME MISSION! Political dynasty is a big issue from where I come. We never see the end of families and clans being on the same road of what they love to call “public service.” They drink of the same cups that run over with poise, position, and power. If we go on in this strain, soon we might see fathers and sons, first cousins and half-brothers with the same surnames occupying the highest offices of the land, all in the name of “service.” It is so easy for us in this forlorn part of the world to identify with the two sons of Zebedee asking the Lord for a little favor, a seemingly insignificant request. Come on! What harm can two brothers occupying more or less equal places in the kingdom do? Haven’t they served the Lord? Haven’t they given up family, home, and an entrepreneurial job with Zebedee as chairman of the board, and the two as board members in the little fish t...

Catholic Homily / Sunday Reflection 29 th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) October 18, 2009 The world values service a whole lot. People are willing to pay good money provided they are given a full complement of services everywhere they go, whether in a restaurant or a hotel. We just love to be pampered by service even if, deep inside, we know we are really paying dearly for it. Being served somehow makes us feel good about ourselves and gives a boost to our self-image. No wonder cruises, some of which are not called “celebrity cruises” for nothing, all go for the topmost quality in quality services that make one feel, at least for a short period, like celebrities, if not royalty. It is thus also not to be wondered at that two of Jesus’ close-in followers – James and John – who probably felt important enough after being identified with someone whom crowds adored and adulated, as to ask a big - if pretentious - favor from the Lord: “Teacher, we...