Ross Dizon

Branches that Remain on the Vine

Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches.  That we remain in him, and he in us, is what makes us bear much fruit. In Ps 80, the Shepherd of Israel is asked to bring back his people.  This people started out as a vine that God brought out of Egypt and transplanted. ...

Lead God’s Flock in the Same Way as Jesus

Jesus shows what God does to lead his flock.  And so, he also gives a model for his shepherds. The crowds longed for someone to lead them out of the mess, a Messiah to guide a people in trouble.  But they ended up disappointed since they did not want a suffering...

Misgivings, Doubts, Questions, Darkness

Jesus was once dead, but now he lives forever and ever (Rev 1, 18).  For God raised him from the dead.  May our misgivings not lead us to deny him. It is hard to get rid of misgivings.  And misgivings can easily arise even in the hearts of the disciples. But...

Joyful to See the Lord in Their Midst

The risen Christ stands in the midst of his disciples and wishes them peace.  He shows them his hands and his side.  And they turn joyful. The disciples are not at all joyful after the death of Jesus.  They are even broken and hopeless. For not only do they miss their...
Fishers of Men and Women, Sinners All

Welcome for the Marginalized and Excluded

As he gives welcome to the marginalized, Jesus reflects the invisible God.  This God listens to the poor, executing justice for the orphan and the widow, and befriending the alien. Jesus is unlike those who walk around with blinders.  As he passes by, he sees a blind...

Fishers of Men and Women, Sinners All

Thirst and Hunger for God, Justice and Love

Meeting his thirst and hunger, Jesus gives us a model to follow, so that we may truly have our fill of water and food. Like us humans, Jesus gets tired and experiences thirst and hunger.  So, he sits down there at Jacob’s well in Sychar during the hottest part of the...

Fishers of Men and Women, Sinners All

Promise of Greatness, Blessing and Glory

Jesus is the perfect, awesome and amazing fulfillment of the promise God has made through the patriarchs and the prophets. From the perspective of human wisdom, the good news is that God makes a hopeful promise to Abraham.  But the bad news is that the Father of all...

Fishers of Men and Women, Sinners All

Tempting but Destructive Suggestion

Jesus is God-Man.  He himself unmasks the deceit in the devil’s tempting suggestion:  it is either God or man. From the perspective of our faith in the Word made flesh, we cannot but reject such tempting suggestion.  It is not true that one must choose either God or...

Fishers of Men and Women, Sinners All

Peace and Reconciliation at All Costs

Christ is our peace.  He breaks down, through his flesh, the wall of hatred that separates us from one another. Justice and peace are what the commandment, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,” seeks.  It forbids vengeance like that of Lamech, who boasts, “I...

Fishers of Men and Women, Sinners All

Salt of the Earth and Light of the World

Jesus is the first to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  He appoints the disciples to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world also. First, salt cleans and preserves food.  It also seasons it, giving it taste.  Hence, to say Jesus is salt...

Fishers of Men and Women, Sinners All

Free from All Sin, All Anxiety and Worries

Jesus is the most eminent among those who, free from sin and anxiety, commit themselves to God and the neighbor. Having Moses as mediator, God announced the commandments on Mount Sinai.  But in these last days, God, speaking to us through his Son, also on a mountain,...

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