Sermon for the Ascension of the Lord – Year A: I am with you!

ascension“I am with you always” (Mt 28:20)
Seeking redress for injustice is a human need: when we perceive that we are unjustly treated we want justice to be restored.  There are mainly two ways in which we desire justice. One: by wanting revenge on the unjust aggressor; that is, by harming or wanting to harm the unjust aggressor we feel consoled, and our status restored.  Though the Hebrew Scriptures see this means of seeking justice to be right, the teachings of Jesus totally rule this out.  The second way that we seek justice is by appealing to a higher authority – even God – to defend us and prove us righteous.  This is often referred to as the vindication of the just; that is, without necessarily causing harm to the unjust aggressor, the integrity of the victim is restored.
He made him […]

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Innovative Capstone Assessment Models Beyond the Thesis in Master’s Psychology Programmes

Sahaya G. Selvam


Abstract

Master’s degree is a liminal stage at higher education between the bachelor’s and the doctoral degrees. The expected competency outcomes of a master’s degree presuppose a development on the foundations of the bachelor’s level while providing a basis for an original contribution at the PhD level with subject-specific abilities in integration of knowledge, its application, and communication of the same, coupled with a set of skills in self-learning.

A capstone experience that generally marks the conclusion to the coursework assesses these outcomes before a candidate is awarded a master’s degree. Does a thesis or dissertation consisting of empirical research alone assess the programme outcomes, as is the norm in many universities? Could there be an integration of capstone experiences and research with a variety of possibilities, taking into consideration the […]

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Excellence: Doing well or doing good?

Early January 2026, the United States launched a military strike in Venezuela and captured incumbent president Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Later Trump in his inimical style prided to a journalist, “we have weapons nobody else knows about… we have some amazing weapons. That was an amazing attack.” He even shared on his Truth Social page a fake Wikipedia entry describing himself as the acting president of Venezuela.

Yes, America pulled off the “Operation Absolute Resolve” with impeccable precision, that is what the press reported. Yes, it was done well, but was it right, was it good? Was it ethical or even legal?

‘Excellence’ is an overused term these days. Often a mere capitalist marketing byline. Academic institutions aim at excellence in education. Service industry strives for excellence in customer care. Government agencies claim to deliver excellence in public administration.

The […]

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