Wednesday of Week 25 in Ordinary Time Pro 30:5-9Lk 9:1-6 So they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and healing everywhere. Today’s Gospel is, in fact, the beginning of the ‘third tour of Galilee’ by Jesus. On the first tour, He was accompanied just by the four fishermen he... Continue Reading →
24 September, Tuesday — To Be His Mother and Brothers
Tuesday of Week 25 in Ordinary Time Pro 21:1-6,10-13Lk 8:19-21 “Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.” As I reflect on today's Gospel, the words "want to see you" somehow jump right out at me. We are told that when the mother and brothers of Jesus came looking for Him,... Continue Reading →
21 September, Saturday — Discovering my vocation
Sep 21 – Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist St. Matthew was the son of Alphaeus, and he lived at Capernaum on Lake Genesareth. He was a Roman tax collector, a position equated with collaboration with the enemy by those from whom he collected taxes. Jesus’ contemporaries were surprised to see the Christ with... Continue Reading →
16 September, Monday — “Cos you are worth it!”
Sep 16 – Memorial for Sts. Cornelius, Pope and Martyr; and Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr St. Cornelius (d. 253) was elected after a year-and-a-half period, during which persecutions were so bad that papal ascension was a quick death sentence. He worked to maintain unity in a time of schism and apostasy. He called a synod... Continue Reading →
12 September, Thursday — Thank God for God
Sep 12 – Most Holy Name of Mary This feast is a counterpart to the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (January 3); both have the possibility of uniting people easily divided on other matters. The feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary began in Spain in 1513 and, in 1671, was extended... Continue Reading →
11 September, Wednesday — “Rich Man, Poor Man.”
Wednesday of Week 23 in Ordinary Time 1 Cor 7:25-31Lk 6:20-26 “How happy are you who are poor…” “Do you want to be rich and be condemned or be poor and have eternal life in Heaven?” As Christians, I wonder what our answer would be. For those of us that didn’t have very much when... Continue Reading →
9 September, Monday — Assumptions
Sep 9 – Memorial for St. Peter Claver, Priest St Peter Claver was born in Catalonia and studied at the University of Barcelona. He became a Jesuit; and while he was studying philosophy in Mallorca, the door-keeper of the college, Alfonso Rodríguez, saw that his true vocation was to evangelize the New World, and encouraged... Continue Reading →
8 September, Sunday — A Holistic Faith
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Isa 35:4-7Jas 2:1-5Mk 7:31-37 “Ephphatha!”, that is, “Be opened!”” Normally, the first reading and the Gospel are linked -- it is especially clear this week, as Isaiah talks about the blind, deaf, lame and mute being healed and streams bursting forth in the desert. He precedes this prophecy of healing... Continue Reading →
28 August, Wednesday — What If I Stumble?
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 →
26 August, Monday — Let us glorify Him through His calling for us
Monday of Week 21 in Ordinary Time 2 Ths 1:1-5,11-12Mt 23:13-22 …we pray continually that our God will make you worthy of His call… My parish Church of St Vincent de Paul recently celebrated the ordination of a new priest, Fr Clarence Yue. Personally, I felt thrilled to witness this momentous opportunity, which is so... Continue Reading →