Tuesday of Week 22 in Ordinary Time 1 Ths 5:1-6,9-11Lk 4:31-37 In the synagogue there was a man who was possessed by the spirit of an unclean devil, and it shouted at the top of its voice... Today’s gospel surrounds this possessed man in the presence of Jesus, calling out to Him in the synagogue.... Continue Reading →
30 August, Monday — Questioning our Faith
Monday of Week 22 in Ordinary Time 1 Ths 4:13-18Lk 4:16-30 The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me, because he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor... In the gospel today, Jesus, who was preaching in the synagogue in this hometown of Nazareth, was driven... Continue Reading →
29 August, Sunday – Observing our Hearts in the Face of Tradition
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Dt 4:1-2,6-8Jas 1:17-18,21-22,27Mk 7:1-8,14-15,21-23 Nothing that goes into a man from outside can make him unclean; it is the things that come out from a man that make him unclean. The core message of today’s readings permeates through each of the passages; flowing from the observance of the commandments in... Continue Reading →
28 August, Saturday — Sharing God’s Mercies
Aug 28 – Memorial for St. Augustine, bishop, doctor After investigating and experimenting with several philosophies, Augustine (354-430) became a Manichaean for several years; it taught of a great struggle between good and evil, and featured a lax moral code. A summation of his thinking at the time comes from his Confessions: “God, give me... Continue Reading →
27 August, Friday — Keeping our inner reservoirs of faith
Aug 27 – Memorial for St. Monica, married woman St. Monica was distressed to learn that her son had accepted a heresy and was living an immoral life. For a while, she refused to let him eat or sleep in her house. Then one night she had a vision that assured her Augustine would return... Continue Reading →
26 August, Thursday — Doing God’s will
Thursday of Week 21 in Ordinary Time 1 Ths 3:7-13Mt 24:42-51 “Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment.” Today’s gospel reading speaks deeply to the ongoing geopolitical and public health uncertainty that we are facing. Indeed, the news channels have been filled with distressing images of people fleeing their own... Continue Reading →
25 August, Wednesday – Slaves to love
Aug 25 – Memorial for St. Louis of France, married man; Memorial for St. Joseph Calasanz, priest, religious founder As king of France, Louis (1214-1270) made numerous judicial and legislative reforms. He promoted Christianity in France; established religious foundations, aided mendicant orders, propagated synodal decrees of the Church, built leper hospitals, and collected relics. “In... Continue Reading →
24 August, Tuesday — Being a Friend
Aug 24 – Feast of St. Bartholomew, apostle Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles. He was probably a close friend of St. Philip, as his name is always mentioned in the gospels in connection with Philip, and it was Philip who brought Bartholomew to Jesus. He may have written a gospel, now lost, as... Continue Reading →
23 August, Monday – Understanding True Worth
Aug 23 – Memorial for St. Rose of Lima, virgin A beautiful girl and devoted daughter, Rose (1586-1617) was so devoted to her vow of chastity, she used pepper and lye to ruin her complexion so she would not be attractive. She lived and meditated in a garden, raising vegetables and making embroidered items to... Continue Reading →
22 August, Sunday – True Love
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Jos 24:1-2,15-18Eph 5:25-32Jn 6:60-69 …Christ loved the Church and sacrificed himself for her… I remember speaking with a colleague years ago about marriage and we were discussing about the challenges that married couples go through. I cannot remember much of this conversation, but I do remember how it ended. “If it... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 