A Jesuit Adventure

Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14—27:66 My dear friends, today we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. Palm Sunday places before us a striking contrast — joyful procession and painful Passion, loud “Hosannas” and the heavy silence of betrayal. As we listen to today’s readings, we are invited to walk closely with Jesus on the path of humble obedience and faithful love. Today’s first reading comes from the Servant Songs of Second Isaiah, written during Israel’s exile in Babylon. The people were tired, discouraged, and burdened by suffering. In this setting, the prophet speaks of the Servant of the Lord — one who listens closely to God, speaks words of hope, and remains faithful even when obedience leads to pain. For Christians, this Servant clearly points to Jesus. The Servant begins by saying that God has given him “the tongue of a teacher,” so that he may sustain the weary with a word. This tells us that his words are not self-made; they come from listening. His ...

 22 Mar Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-11, John 11:1-45 My dear friends, on this Fifth Sunday of Lent in Year A, as we draw closer to Holy Week, today’s readings invite us to reflect on God’s power to restore and renew us. Even when hope feels buried. Even when faith feels fragile. The prophet Ezekiel spoke to the people of Israel during the time of the Babylonian Exile in the 6th century BC. Jerusalem had been destroyed, the Temple was gone, and the people felt abandoned, hopeless, and cut off from God. They described themselves as dry bones. Lifeless. Without a future. In this dark moment, God speaks through Ezekiel words of promise and restoration. In the reading, God promises to open the graves of His people and bring them back to life. This is not about individual resurrection alone, but about the restoration of Israel as a community. God assures them that exile is not the end. By placing His Spirit within them, God will give them new life and bring them back to their own land. ...

1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 My dear friends today we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Lent in Year A also known as Laetare Sunday. The readings challenge us to ask not just what we see, but how we see—others, ourselves, and God at work among us. The first reading taken from the book of 1 Samuel comes at a turning point in Israel’s history. Saul, the first king of Israel, had failed to remain faithful to God. So, the Lord sent the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from the sons of Jesse. At this time, kingship was still new in Israel, and people expected a king to look strong, tall, and impressive—like Saul. When Samuel sees Jesse’s older sons, he assumes that the tallest and strongest must be God’s chosen one. But God corrects him with words that lie at the heart of this reading: “The Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” David, the youngest, one not even considered important ...

Exodus 17:3-7; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8, John 4:5-42 All of us know what it feels like to be thirsty—not just for water, but for reassurance, understanding, and hope. My dear on this Third Sunday of Lent in Year A, the readings speak to our deepest thirst. Through the desert, the cross, and the well, God reveals a love that does not abandon us, even when our faith is weak. The first reading taken from the book of Exodus is set during Israel’s journey through the desert after their liberation from slavery in Egypt. God had already shown His power through miracles, yet the people now face a severe shortage of water at Rephidim. The desert becomes a place of testing—not only of physical endurance, but of faith and trust in God. At first glance, it is easy to judge the Israelites for their constant complaining. They grumble against Moses and even accuse God, asking, “Is the Lord among us or not?” But if we are honest, we must admit that we too have stood in the same place. Though we condemn the I...