Month: February 2008

“WHY SMEAR OURSELVES WITH ASHES?” (Mt 6:1-6, 16-18):  06 February 2008 (Ash Wednesday)

Today’s Readings

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter—later made into a movie starring Demi Moore—opens with the leading character, Hester, being led to the scaffold where she is to be publicly humiliated for committing the sin of adultery.  There she is forced to wear the letter “A” on her gown at all times as a sign of her sin.  By wearing this letter, she is identified and labeled as a sinner.  By wearing this label of her sin, she is ostracized and excluded from society.

“ARE WE DESPERATE FOR MIRACLES?” (Mk 5:21-43): 05 February 2008 (Tuesday)

Today’s Readings

Today’s Gospel reading is about desperate people—two desperate people:  One a synagogue official named Jairus; another an unnamed woman who has been ill for twelve years.  For each one of them, our Lord performs an extraordinary miracle.

“DOES THE DEVIL REALLY WEAR PRADA?” (Mk 5:1-20): 04 February 2008 (Monday)

Today’s Readings

Once in a while a movie comes along that scares the hell out of you and–at least for a while–changes your sleeping habits.  I saw one such movie back in 1973 when I was only twelve years old.  The movie was “The Exorcist,” a horror classic that usually lands on the top 5 of almost any “Scariest Movies of All Time” list you can find.  You may have seen the Director’s Cut when it was released in 2004. 

“WHICH PILL WILL I CHOOSE?” (Mt 5:1-12):  03 February 2008 (Sunday)

Today’s Readings

Believe it or not, one of the most spiritual movies I’ve seen is “The Matrix,” which came out in 1999.  Written and directed by brothers Larry and Andy Wachowski, this futuristic science fiction film is filled not only with great special effects and some fascinating action sequences, but also with a lot of religious and philosophical symbolisms.  Its two sequels have managed to surpass the special effects and the box office earnings of the original, but when it comes to depth of meaning, in my opinion, they don’t even come close to the first.  

“HAVE MY EYES SEEN YOUR SALVATION?” (Lk 2:22-32):  02 February 2008 (Presentation of the Lord)

Today’s Readings

I first heard Jason Mraz’s “You and I Both” about three years ago.  Nothing beats a catchy tune–which this is–but it’s also a little too wordy.  The best part, however, is that  somehow it works!

It’s a love song, but it may well have been Simeon’s song when he gets to cradle the Christ Child in his arms after waiting for years for some kind of sign of the salvation of Israel.