Saturday of the 1st Week of Lent Dt 26:16-19Mt 5:43-48 “You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Today’s gospel readings are an extension of yesterday’s, particularly in its call for us to love our enemies. Indeed, both readings are asking us to forgive our enemies and to love everyone. To illustrate what He... Continue Reading →
26 February, Friday — Loving the Unlovable
Friday of the 1st Week of Lent Ez 18:21-28Mt 5:20-26 Go first and be reconciled with your brother. I have always found today’s gospel passage to be one of the hardest biblical passages to live out. Jesus is telling us that unless we reconcile with those whom we have offended or wronged, we continue to live... Continue Reading →
25 February, Thursday — Knocking on Heaven’s Door
Thursday of the 1st Week of Lent Est 4:17Mt 7:7-12 “...the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him.” There’s a verse from an old song by the 90s rock band Guns and Roses that goes: “Mama put my guns in the ground I can’t shoot them anymore That cold black cloud is comin’ down Feels like I’m knockin’ on heaven’s... Continue Reading →
31 October, Saturday — Garments of Saintliness and Holiness
Saturday of Week 30 in Ordinary Time Phi 1:18-26Lk 14:1,7-11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted” Last year on this day, my wife and I were invited to celebrate Halloween in our community in Hong Kong (where we were living then). It was a wonderful night as... Continue Reading →
30 October, Friday — Observing the Sabbath
Friday of Week 30 in Ordinary Time Phi 1:1-11Lk 14: 1-6 “Which of you here, if your son ox falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a sabbath day without hesitation?” Today’s gospel reading is especially relevant to me, especially with regards to observing the Sabbath. As an academic, I have been... Continue Reading →
29 October, Thursday — Standing Firm in the Lord
Thursday of Week 30 in Ordinary Time Eph 6:10-20Lk 13:31-35 “Put God’s armour on so as to be able to resist the Devil’s tactics.” As the American presidential elections draw close, I am starting to discern a growing rift in opinion among my friends and acquaintances, whether they are American or not. On the one hand stand the liberals, many of whom... Continue Reading →
29 August, Saturday — Finding Strength in God
Aug 29 – Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist To endure temporal agonies for the sake of the truth was not a heavy burden for such men as John; rather it was easily borne and even desirable, for he knew eternal joy would be his reward. Since death was ever at hand, such men considered it... Continue Reading →
28 August, Friday — Wayward Hearts on Fire
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 chastity and... Continue Reading →
27 August, Thursday — Black Swans and White Angels
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 to the... Continue Reading →
20 June, Saturday — Lost but Found
Saturday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time 2 Chr 24:17-25Lk 2:41-51 “And all who heard him were astounded” The gospel readings today depict what is essentially a nightmare scenario for any parent -- a missing child. Certainly, all parents will know that sinking feeling that they get when they turn around and realise that their child is missing. And... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 