Zec 9: 9-10, Rom 8: 9, 11-13, Mat 11: 25-30 Dear brothers and sisters, Apart from its context, Jesus’ prayer in today’s Gospel is rather puzzling. He praises God for hiding “these things” from “the wise and the learned” and making them known to “the little ones.” The attentive listener may be forgiven [...]
2 Kgs 4: 8-11. 14-16, Rom 6: 3-4.8-11, Mt 10: 37-42 HOSPITALITY Dear brothers and sisters, One of the nicest things in life is to meet an open, friendly, warm, hospitable person. Hospitality is a hallmark of a true follower of Christ. At long last winter ended and summer came. All along the [...]
Jeremiah 20:10-13, Romans 5:12-15, Matthew 10:26-33 Dear sisters and brothers, “Fear no one.” — The words of Jesus from today’s Gospel according to Saint Matthew are so strong! “Fear no one.” We can only be free from fear and from fears if we truly believe in the Lord and live for everlasting life. The [...]
Deut 8: 2-3, 14B-16A, 1 Cor 10: 16-17, John 6:57-58 Dear brothers and sisters, Bread of Life: I have always found the aroma of bread freshly baked very comforting. That smell always makes me feel somehow at home. Perhaps it is because bread is such a staple of life. Furthermore, it is difficult to [...]
Ex 34: 4b-6, 8-9, Cor 13: 11-13, Jn 3:16-18 Dear brothers and sisters, Often the Trinity becomes an intellectual puzzle that we try to figure out, rather than an invitation to live into the very being of God, the God who is Fullness-of-Being. The God revealed to us in scripture is always reaching out to [...]
Acts 2: 1-11, 1Cor 12:3b-7, Jn 20:19-23 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, The feast of Pentecost concludes the Easter season, the fifty days that, from Jesus’ resurrection to Pentecost, are marked in a particular way by the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is in fact the Easter Gift par excellence. He is [...]
Acts 1-11 Eph 1: 17-23, Mt 28: 16-20 Dear Brothers and Sisters, Our first reading today tells us that these forty days after Easter were a time of preparation. Jesus was getting his Catholic Church ready for her mission — to go out into the whole world and proclaim the Kingdom of God. We know [...]
Acts 8: 5-8. 14-17, 1 Pet 3: 15-18, Jn 14: 15-21 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The Paraclete: Our Divine Coach Roald Amundsen, the great Norwegian explorer who discovered the South Pole took a homing pigeon with him on his trip. He told his wife that if he reached the end of the [...]
Acts 6: 1-7, 1 Pet 2: 4-9, Jn 14: 1-12 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, It’s impossible to exaggerate the importance of home. I once heard the governor of a prison say: ‘If you were to give the prisoners a choice between going home and staying here in a luxury suite, complete with [...]
CHRIST THE GOOD SHEPHERD Acts 2: 14.36-41, 1Pet 2: 20-25, Jn 10: 1-10 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, ‘I came so that you may have life and have it to the full.’ (Gospel) Is Jesus talking only about eternal life or also about this life? I have no doubt but these words are [...]