Reflections

Reflection on the 4th Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

By Fray Hubert Dunstan Decena, OAR / March 16, 2020 / Comments Off on Reflection on the 4th Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

1 Sm 16:1b,6-7,10-13a; Eph 5:8-14; Jn 9:1-41. After smearing the clay on the eyes of the blind man, Jesus commanded him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. In many occasions Jesus simply said the word and the person was healed. To the daughter of Jairus, Jesus took her hand and commanded, “Little…

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Reflection on the 2nd Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

By Fray Hubert Dunstan Decena, OAR / March 8, 2020 / Comments Off on Reflection on the 2nd Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

This mystery in the life of Christ is so important that we read this gospel two times a year: on the 2ndSunday of Lent and on August 6th. While Jesus was still walking among them, the apostles tended to take him as simply human with extraordinary powers. The transfiguration was intended to help them see…

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Reflection on the 1st Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

By Fray Hubert Dunstan Decena, OAR / February 29, 2020 / Comments Off on Reflection on the 1st Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

Gen 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-19; Mt. 4:1-11.  On this first Sunday of Lent, we are presented with the temptations of Jesus. We saw that the Father affirmed Jesus as His Son after the Baptism at the Jordan. Is the Messiah Son of God? Then he must be powerful. Let us see because he is very hungry…

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Ash Wednesday: A Reflection on Repentance

By Fray Hubert Dunstan Decena, OAR / February 26, 2020 / Comments Off on Ash Wednesday: A Reflection on Repentance

For “repentance”, we need to review the parable of the Prodigal Son in Lk 15. “v.18: I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. v.19: I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of…

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Reflection on the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

By Fray Hubert Dunstan Decena, OAR / February 19, 2020 / Comments Off on Reflection on the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Lev 19:1-2, 17-18; 1 Cor. 3:16-23; Mt 5:38-48 In the world, vengeance is the rule of human retaliation. When someone throws an insulting word at me, I usually answer back not with one word, but a barrage of insulting words. If someone punches me once, I take it my right to throw many more punches…

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Reflection on the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

By Fray Hubert Dunstan Decena, OAR / February 16, 2020 / Comments Off on Reflection on the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Sir. 15:15-20; 1 Cor. 2:6-10; Mt. 5:17-37. Two Sundays ago on the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, our Lord gave us the Beatitudes which paint the ideal perfection of Christian life. He calls blessed the poor in spirit, the meek, one who hungers and thirsts for righteousness; blessed are the clean of heart, the merciful and…

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Reflection on the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

By Fray Hubert Dunstan Decena, OAR / February 6, 2020 / Comments Off on Reflection on the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Is 58:7-10; 1 Cor 2:1-5; Mt 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth.” The salt gives flavor to food and is also a food preservative. Do I give flavor to the life of my brothers and sisters? Or do I make life distasteful, or even bitter for others? Do I make life enjoyable for…

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Reflection on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

By Fray Hubert Dunstan Decena, OAR / January 28, 2020 / Comments Off on Reflection on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Mal.3:1-4; Heb. 2:14-18; Lk. 2:22-40 Concerning the first-born son, in Ex. 13:2 it is written: v.2 “Consecrate to me every first-born that opens the womb among the Israelites, both of man and beast, for it belongs to me….v. 12 “You shall dedicate to the Lord every son that opens the womb, and all the male…

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3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

By Fray Hubert Dunstan Decena, OAR / January 24, 2020 / Comments Off on 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Is. 8:33-9:3; 1 Cor.1:10-13,17; Mt. 4:12-23 Our Gospel passage today opens with the note that John the Baptist had already been arrested. Jesus took that as the sign the he was now to go out and begin his public ministry. He was now to make Capernaum his headquarters in the house of Simon Peter. (Many…

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Feast of Sto. Niño

By Fray Hubert Dunstan Decena, OAR / January 16, 2020 / Comments Off on Feast of Sto. Niño

Is. 9:1-6; Eph. 1:3-6, 15-18; Mt. 18:1-5, 10 A Jewish child was not considered mature until he reaches twelve years of age when he was given permission to read and study the Law or Torah. Before that age the child did not possess knowledge of the Law which rabbinic teaching held indispensable for salvation. It…

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