****** In the gospel, Jesus tells His friends that he’ll only be with them a little longer. Once His friends shall have received the power of the Holy Spirit, they will be able to go out and just do what Jesus is asking them to do—to love one another as He loves them. He tells … Read more
The difference between Adam and us is that Adam does not have an umbilical cord while we all have. Meaning, we have an earthly and biological mother while Adam does not have. Whether you like it or not, you are a human being because you have a biological mother and you are her child. You … Read more
***** A story is told about a sacristan whose main work was to prepare the responsorial psalm for the Sunday’s liturgical celebration. Incidentally, the responsorial psalm for that Sunday was taken from Psalm 23—the Lord is my Shepherd. Since the sacristan was not well instructed on what to write on the whiteboard designated for the … Read more
As Jesus began his ministry, he looked hard at the group of possible disciples who were attracted to him and wanted to belong with him (Matthew 10:37). He told them, ‘Hold on. Don’t start something you cannot finish. The cost could be high.’ The dearest part of that cost is to our ego, our centering … Read more
***** In the Gospel, Peter is portrayed as going back to his old ways—back to his profession of fishing. The others say they will go with him. They are all going back to their past discouraged by what just had happen to Jesus–a devastating experience for those who expected Jesus to be the Messiah who … Read more
***** In today’s gospel we read about the first appearance of the Risen Lord to the Apostles and a second appearance a week after. The second appearance focuses on Thomas who was not present with the rest of the apostles when Jesus first appeared among them. Where could Thomas be during the first appearance? We … Read more
Easter is not just a historical event that occurred one time, long ago. That is what we think of it, in the past tense. A great man was killed but did not stay dead forever. He was raised to life again. In our minds, this is Easter. And it is that, first of all. But … Read more
Today, with the celebration of the Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday, we begin the Holy Week. And this Sunday, according to Pope Francis, is “a bittersweet celebration” because it is both joyful and sorrowful at the same time. Joyful, because we celebrate the Lord’s entrance to Jerusalem as King, amid the rejoicing crowd (who cried … Read more
On Palm Sunday, the Church celebrates Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem to accomplish his paschal mystery. There he would be arrested, imprisoned, falsely accused, condemned, scourged, crowned with thorns, burdened with the cross, pushed around, nailed to the cross, would die and be buried. It was also there that he would triumph by his resurrection. Jerusalem … Read more
The lamp that guides our steps on the road to communion is the Word of God. St. Augustine considered it his inseparable companion and his own joy. All text of the Word of God invites us to be able to say like St. Augustine and with St. Augustine: Vox tua gaudium meum! Your voice is … Read more
