20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Is 56:1, 6-7 Rm 11:13-15,29-32 Mt 15:21-28 God never takes back his gifts or revokes his choice. The passage in today’s second reading in Romans 11:29 speaks about God’s plan for the Israelites and the Gentiles. However, when we interpret this verse generally, it can be applied to the understanding... Continue Reading →
3 July, Monday – A Skeptical Mindset Can Be Valuable
Jul 3 – Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle Thomas (d. 72) was ready to die with Jesus when Christ went to Jerusalem, but he is best remembered for doubting the Resurrection until allowed to touch Christ’s wounds. He preached in Parthia, Persia and India, though he was so reluctant to start the mission that he... Continue Reading →
11 May, Thursday – How Are We Supposed to Love Others?
Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter Acts 15:7-21 Jn 15:9-11 “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.” Talking about a father’s love can be unfamiliar to many people, myself included. Growing up under the tutelage of the traditional Asian father figure from the baby boomer era meant that dad is... Continue Reading →
10 May, Wednesday – Strengthening Our Connection to the Vine
May 10 – John of Ávila (not to be confused with John Avila or St John of the Cross) was a Spanish priest, preacher, scholastic author, and religious mystic, who has been declared a saint and Doctor of the Church by the Catholic Church. He is called the ‘Apostle of Andalusia’, for his extensive ministry in that region. From early 1551 Ávila was in constant ill-health. He spent the last years... Continue Reading →
14 March, Tuesday – Are we capable of true forgiveness?
Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Lent Dn 3:25,34-43 Mt 18:21-35 “And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.” Today’s parable of the unforgiving servant illustrates the importance of forgiveness and the consequences of holding onto grudges. When we refuse to forgive, we... Continue Reading →
13 March, Monday – Complexity Biasness Hindering Our Relationship With God?
Monday of the 3rd Week of Lent 2 Kgs 5:1-15 Lk 4:24-30 “...if the prophet had asked you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? All the more reason then, when he says to you, ‘Bathe and you will become clean.’” The story of Naaman in today’s reading demonstrates several valuable lessons... Continue Reading →
2 February, Thursday – Contented to Go in Peace
2 Feb – Feast of the Presentation of the Lord; World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life This feast celebrates an early episode in the life of Jesus. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Presentation is the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, it is one of the twelve Great... Continue Reading →
15 December, Thursday – Deprivation of Salvation is a Self-Inflicted Harm
Thursday of the 3rd Week of Advent Is 54:1-10 Lk 7:24-30 “...but by refusing baptism from him the Pharisees and the lawyers had thwarted what God had in mind for them.” Despite John’s momentary doubts about Jesus as the Messiah in yesterday’s gospel, Jesus poured out praise upon him and acknowledged John as the forerunner,... Continue Reading →
14 December, Wednesday – Trusting Jesus when the Future Looks Bleak
Dec 14 – Memorial for St. John of the Cross, priest, religious, doctor of the Church St. John (1675–1726) was born in poverty. He cared for the poor in the hospital in Medina. He became a lay Carmelite brother in 1563 at age 21, though he lived stricter than their Rule. He studied at Salamanca.... Continue Reading →
31 October, Monday – Reciprocity: The Burden of Debt
Monday of Week 31 in Ordinary Time Phi 2:1-4 Lk 14:12-14 “No, when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; that they cannot pay you back means that you are fortunate...” Jesus urged the Pharisee in today’s gospel reading to invite those who do not have the ability to... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 