Browsing the 2017 archive of Fr. Reggie's Reflections
JESUS, THE PARTY LOVER
Posted by John Sage on 10/15/17
Some people love parties, and if you do, be happy of this fact; Jesus is a party lover, too. The Gospel today starts another parable from the Lord Jesus; this time, involving a man who threw a wedding banquet, a party, and invited many people to come. Feasts, banquets, ... Read More »
THE TIME TO CHANGE IS NOW
Posted by John Sage on 10/07/17
Jesus tells a simple parable in this Sunday’s gospel but, in fact, it is a summary of the whole Old Testament. First of all, when we read the Old Testament, we notice that there is a cycle. When the people lived a good life, God blessed them. But unfortunately, ... Read More »
OBEDIENCE AS A MORAL VIRTUE ...
Posted by John Sage on 9/30/17
Today’s Gospel story is one interesting parable from which we can draw two lessons. The first speaks about obedience not as a moral obligation but as a Christian moral virtue. Obedience as a moral obligation looks at commandments and errands as burdens and an opposition from external authority. Obedience ... Read More »
“TO ERR IS HUMAN, TO FORGIVE DIVINE!”
Posted by John Sage on 9/16/17
It has been a year since the Catholic Church celebrated the Special Jubilee Year of Mercy. For some, it was just an event that came and went. But for many, it would have been a period of grace. The Year of Mercy was an invitation to experience God’s infinite ... Read More »
LOVING IS DISAGREEING TOO...
Posted by John Sage on 9/09/17
There was once a manager in an office who had been drinking heavily. Everybody was talking, even snickering, behind his back. Because he was the boss, nobody would dare broach the problem to his attention. He was heading over the precipice. Until one day a guy mustered enough courage ... Read More »
JESUS REBUKES PETER
Posted by John Sage on 9/02/17
It is but normal to run away from pain and suffering, right? In Psychology, there are two disorders with regard to pain: sadism and masochism. Sadism is the tendency to derive pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering and harm on someone. Masochism is getting pleasure from pain that is self-imposed ... Read More »
THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
Posted by John Sage on 8/26/17
As we get older, you begin to forget certain things. Where did I put my eyeglasses? Where did I put my cell phone and my watch? In my case, I forgot my keys in the sacristy after the Sunday Mass and I couldn’t get into the office for my ... Read More »
PERSEVERING PRAYER
Posted by John Sage on 8/19/17
An old, familiar saying goes, “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.” (Joking aside, this doesn’t apply to committing suicide.) That was just what the Canaanite woman did in this Sunday’s gospel episode. She tried and tried again – in local parlance, TH (Trying Hard). Pestering ... Read More »
SHORT PRAYERS
Posted by John Sage on 8/12/17
A priest was spending a part of summer vacation with his brother and family in Illinois. One hot, muggy night they decided to go swimming in a nearby lake. Some other groups had the same idea, among them were several adults who had too much beer. The priest and ... Read More »
“ YOUR CHARCTER IS YOUR FATE ”
Posted by John Sage on 8/06/17
In his book ‘SONG OF THE BIRDS’ Fr. Anthony de Mello, SJ writes about a wise man who once reflected about himself: “I was a revolutionary when I was young and all my prayer to God was ‘Lord, give me energy to change the WORLD.’ “As I approached middle ... Read More »