Ross Dizon

Followers of Jesus, Thinking, Wise

Jesus embodies what he teaches on being thoughtful and purposeful.  He asks all his followers to be so, and thus the success of the cross will be theirs. Great crowds go with Jesus on the way to Jerusalem (see Lk 9, 51; 13, 22).  He turns and tells them that to be his...

Lowliness, Simplicity, Truth and Freedom

Jesus is the poorest of the poor on whom God looks with favor due to the simplicity, lowliness and awe of him that they show. Does it bother Jesus that his fellow guests, leading Pharisees, and maybe the host, too, watch him closely?  If he shows that it does, it may...

Meal of Salvation, Meal of Judgment

Jesus is the meal to which we are all invited, so that we may not perish but have eternal life.  Do we come to it wearing the proper attire? To enter God’s kingdom, it is not enough to be in a meal with Jesus, once, twice or more.  He says so as he answers one who...

Burn with Zeal for the Kingdom of God

Jesus cannot but burn with zeal for God’s kingdom.  For he has come to proclaim it, to bring it in, and to bring it about to the full. In many places, trees, houses and other things burn in fires.  We are sorry, of course, for the deaths, losses and harm that fires...
Touch and Lift Up Those Who Are Afraid

Touch and Lift Up Those Who Are Afraid

Jesus is close to those who are afraid. So, he can readily touch them to set them free from all their fears and worries. Jesus takes with him Peter, James and John to go to a high mountain by themselves. And it is not that their works touch or move him to choose them....

Touch and Lift Up Those Who Are Afraid

Communion among Ourselves and with Others

Jesus does not look out for his interests, but for those of others. To follow him we need to be in communion among ourselves and with others. The devil seeks to break up Jesus’ communion with others. For what he is after is for Jesus to turn his back on his calling...

Touch and Lift Up Those Who Are Afraid

Overflowing and Unfathomable Fullness

Jesus Christ embodies the overflowing fullness of God. He eagerly wishes to share with us this fullness. Jesus goes on showing what to fulfill the commandments and go beyond the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees means. He wants to see in us overflowing...

Touch and Lift Up Those Who Are Afraid

Brothers and Sisters to One Another

Jesus, giving his body up and pouring out his blood for us, shows us the love God has for us (1 Jn 3, 16; Rom 5, 8). So, we also ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. Benedict cannot believe it when his sister, Scholastica, asks him to stay with...

Touch and Lift Up Those Who Are Afraid

Meaning and Quality of Human Life

Jesus is the salt of the earth and the light of the world. He gives meaning to our lives. And he wants his followers to be and do the same. Seeing the crowds, Jesus pities them because they are troubled and left behind, like sheep without a shepherd (Mt 9, 36). There...

Touch and Lift Up Those Who Are Afraid

Meeting between Jesus and His People

Jesus is the fullness of revelation. Meeting him, we meet God. We also meet ourselves, for he lays bare the thoughts of our hearts. But we must welcome him first. The presentation of Jesus in the temple means the meeting of God’s Anointed with his people. And his...

Touch and Lift Up Those Who Are Afraid

Following Jesus Christ Genuinely

Jesus opens our minds so that we may understand Scriptures. This understanding is crucial to our knowing and following Jesus. God calls us out of pure mercy though we are weak and fall down easily (SV.EN IX:284). And it is on God’s infinite goodness that we rely to...

Touch and Lift Up Those Who Are Afraid

Point and Witness to God’s Son and Lamb

Jesus is the Son of God and also the Lamb of God. We Christians believe and proclaim him so. We also point and witness to him. John’s reason for being is to point and witness to Jesus. For he baptizes with water so that he may reveal the one who will baptize with the...

Touch and Lift Up Those Who Are Afraid

Share in Jesus’ Anointing and Mission

Jesus is the one anointed with the Spirit. God has sent him to bring the Good News to the poor. To belong to him is to share in his anointing and sending. The baptism of Jesus identifies him as God’s beloved Son, with a share in divinity. But it also suggests that he...