Ross Dizon

Happy and Glad Followers of Jesus

Jesus shows us by words and deeds what true happiness is.  That is because he wants us to be happy and glad to the fullest. Jesus proclaims happy the wretched in the eyes of the world.  That is to say, he breaks the mold:  he announces a counterculture; he fosters...

Deeds, Indeed, and Not Just Words

Jesus embodies the truth that good deeds are love and not good words and reasons.  Do we really live up to this truth? We are often encouraged to love God (SV.EN XI:32).  “But let it be with the strength of our arms and the sweat of our brows.”  That is to say, love...

Trap Is All It Is, There Is No Doubt

Jesus probes the heart and searches the mind.  That is why those who seek to catch him and set a trap for him fall into it themselves. The Pharisees and their followers are against the payment of taxes to Caesar.  The Herodians, on the other hand, are for it.  But it...

Guests at the Kingly Wedding Feast

Jesus is the fullness of God’s revelation.  And so through him, we get to know fully that God wants us all to be his pleasing guests. As it turns out, those who are to be the guests at the start are not worthy.  And that is why the king thinks it fit to turn into...
Delight Others, and Not Ourselves

Blessing for those who believe in Jesus

Jesus is the only blessing we need. He becomes our blessing, our consecration, by doing God’s will to the end. Elizabeth blesses Mary. For this, she does not depend on either Zechariah’s priesthood or his maleness. He hardly figures in the scene dominated by two women...

Delight Others, and Not Ourselves

Expectation that’s joyful and comforting

Rejoice in the Lord always (Phil 4, 4) Jesus is the Good News announced by his forerunner. Do we announce what John does? It is not himself that he preaches. He proclaims what Jesus will proclaim later: “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.” Such proclamation...

Delight Others, and Not Ourselves

Word that is astounding and fruitful

Second Sunday of Advent (C), December 6, 2015 – Bar 5, 1-9; Phil 1, 4-6. 8-11; Lk 3, 1-6 Filled with the fruit of righteousness (Phil 1, 11) The Word of God is not chained. No one, nothing, hinders it. It is astoundingly effective. The word of God comes to John while...

Delight Others, and Not Ourselves

Remembrance of Jesus

First Sunday of Advent (C), November 29, 2015 – Jer 33, 14-16; 1 Thes 3, 12 – 4, 2; Lk 21, 25-28. 34-36 Holy before our God and Father (1 Thes 3, 13) Our Savior is nearer to us than when we were baptized. He expects to find us watching with unbreakable faith. With...

Delight Others, and Not Ourselves

Handling joys and griefs

Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (B), November 15, 2015 – Dan 12, 1-3; Heb 10, 11-14. 18; Mk 13, 24-32 He took his seat at the right hand of God (Heb 10, 12) Jesus is our hope. In difficult, painful and failed times, we are tempted to despair even of humanity’s...

Delight Others, and Not Ourselves

Wide open

Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (B), November 8, 2015 – 1 Kgs 17, 10-16; Heb 9, 24-28; Mk 12, 38-44 Not a sanctuary made by hands but heaven itself (Heb 9, 24) Jesus urges us to see to it that our surrender be like his. He wishes us divine fullness. Everything...

Wholeness

All Saints, November 1, 2015 – Rev 7, 2-4. 9-14; 1 Jn 3, 1-3; Mt 5, 1-12a We shall be like him (1 Jn 3, 2) Jesus, righteous and merciful, is the image of the most holy God. Those who see him and become like him see God and become saints. Jesus goes about doing good...

Bridge, not roadblock

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B), October 25, 2015 – Jer 31, 7-9; Heb 5, 1-6; Mk 10, 46-52 You are a priest forever (Heb 5, 6) Jesus is our High Priest, the only Supreme Pontiff really, the bridge-builder that gives us human beings access to God. Tested in every...