The Scribes were the people who knew how to read and write Hebrew. They copied the scrolls of the Bible and were the experts in the Mosaic Law. Since most of the people did not know how to read or write, the Scribes explained the Law to them and acted as lawyers. Jesus, therefore, recognized…
Read More
Ex. 22:20-26; 1 Thes 1:5c-10; Mt. 22:34-40. The verb “love” does not appear in the Torah until Dt. 6:5 in the great “Shema”: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. Therefore, you shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your…
Read More
Is. 45:1,4-6; 1 Thess. 1:1-5b; Mt. 22:15-21. The first reading from Isaiah 45 is a very revealing prophecy. Isaiah says that Cyrus, a pagan king of Persia was chosen by God, called by name and anointed even though he did not know Yahweh, the God of the Israelites. Yahweh will subdue nations before him and…
Read More
Is 25:6-10a; Phil. 4:12-14, 19-20; Mt. 22:1-14 Similar to the parable of the Owner of the vineyard and the tenants, the parable of today is also allegorical. We can identify the characters and the events referred to. God is the King who prepares a wedding feast for his Son, Jesus. The first to be invited…
Read More
Is 5:1-7; Phil. 4:6-9; Mt. 21:33-43. The first reading and the Gospel of today is not a simple parable, but an allegory. All the characters and the events can be identified. God Yahweh is the owner of the vineyard; the vineyard is the people of Israel. They were the chosen vine because God chose and…
Read More
Ez. 18:25-28; Phil. 2:1-11; Mt. 21:28-32 In the reading from the profit Ezekiel, we are told by God himself that if a man “turns from the wickedness he has committed, and does what is right and just, he shall preserved his life.” Conversion means turning away from sin and turning towards God, a double motion…
Read More
Is. 55:6-9; Phil 1:20-24, 27; Mt. 20:1-16a. This parable speaks of the missionary function of the Church. The earliest to the called into the kingdom of God was Israel. From the supposed era of Abraham in the 1500 B.C. God taught Israel how to work in his vineyard, to serve him as the one true…
Read More
Sir. 27:30-28:9; Rom. 14:7-9; Mt. 18:21-35. We human beings have sinned against God right at the beginning of creation with Adam and Eve in Paradise. But also right in Paradise after the sin, God said He would redeem mankind through a woman whose seed will crush the serpent’s head. God who created this clay into…
Read More
Jer. 20:7-9; Rom. 12:1-2; Mt. 16: 21-27 The first reading from Jeremiah 20 and the second from Rom 12 already tell us that to be a servant of the Lord entails suffering. Jeremiah complained to the Lord: “All day long I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me” (v.7); “the word of the Lord…
Read More
____________ Isa sa napakahalagang pangaral ni San Agustin ay patungkol sa pag-ibig bilang tunay na daan patungo sa kabanalan at ito ang pagtutu-unan ng aking maikling pag ninilay-nilay. __________ Sa isa sa mga kasulatan ni San Agustin, sinabi niyang malalaman natin kung GAANO KABUTI at KABANAL ang tao hindi dahil sa kanyang taimtim na pananampalataya……
Read More