Browsing Fr. Reggie's Reflections
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 »
FAITH IS OUR TREASURE IN CHRIST
Posted by John Sage on 7/27/17
An old lady in Scotland is so poor that the community had to support her, even though her son had come to America and had become very rich. “Why doesn’t Johnny help her mother?” the neighbors often whispered. One day a neighbor dropped in and suggested that her son ... Read More »
RELEVANT PARABLES AND STORIES
Posted by John Sage on 7/22/17
When Jesus wanted to teach people and his followers, he did it with stories and parables. When He preached to a group of fishermen, he used examples and stories relevant to fishing. To a group of shepherds, he used stories in the context of shepherding. And to a group ... Read More »
WHICH SOIL ARE YOU?
Posted by John Sage on 7/15/17
A professor in a college English class said to his students, “If you will just take a new word and use it 10 times, it will be yours forever.” Whereupon, a young woman in the class looked dreamily out of the window and sighed, “Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Oh! ... Read More »
WHAT A RELIEF!
Posted by John Sage on 7/08/17
The past Sunday solemn feasts have not been very easy celebrations. For one, these feasts celebrated, although forming the core of our Catholic Christian faith, have been anchored on great mysteries that are not easily understood by all. Yes, we can experience the new Pentecost, we encounter the Most ... Read More »
HOSPITALITY
Posted by John Sage on 7/02/17
This virtue is one of the well-known good traits of Filipino families. In ordinary situations, hospitality is shown, when friends and relatives are welcome to stay in Filipino houses. I recall how the head of the family had to give up his room for a guest. Since there wasn’t ... Read More »