May 28 -- Friday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time Ecc 44:1,9-13Mk 11:11-26 “ …the fig tree you cursed has withered away.” At first reading of the Gospel today, it seems that Jesus was being unreasonable. How can a fig tree bear fruit when it is not in season? To curse it and have... Continue Reading →
27 May, Thursday — Meaning of Faith
May 27 – Memorial for St. Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop St. Augustine (d. 605) was a monk and abbot of St. Andrew’s abbey in Rome. He was sent by Pope Gregory the Great with 40 brother monks, including St. Lawrence of Canterbury, to evangelize the British Isles in 597. Before he reached the islands, terrifying... Continue Reading →
26 May, Wednesday — Zeroes and Heroes
May 26 – Memorial for St. Philip Neri, Priest St. Philip Neri (1515-1595) came from a poor family, though he was related to Italian nobility. His father, Francisco Neri, worked as a notary. Philip’s brother died in childhood, but his two sisters, Caterina and Elisabetta survived. He was a pious youth, and was taught humanities... Continue Reading →
10 April, Saturday — Untuned Instrument
Easter Saturday Acts 4:13-21Mk 16:9-15 “We cannot promise to stop proclaiming what we have seen and heard.” After Peter and John have healed a man who was crippled from birth, they proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus and the salvation by repentance of sins. Many people came to believe, except for the Sadducees, the rulers, the... Continue Reading →
9 April, Friday — Reverting and Standing Firm
Easter Friday Acts 4:1-12Jn 21:1-14 Simon Peter said, ‘I am going fishing.’ They replied, ‘We’ll come with you.’ There's nothing strange about that phrase. Peter and other disciples were fishermen before they followed Jesus. There is nothing strange about them fishing. Is there? Let’s look at the whole scenario and the context. Jesus’ crucifixion in... Continue Reading →
8 April, Thursday — It Is Written
Easter Thursday Acts 3:11-26Lk 24:35-48 “…it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations… ” Previously, when I read this passage when Jesus said that it is written or prophesized... Continue Reading →
7 April, Wednesday — Blinded
Easter Wednesday Acts 3:1-10Lk 24:13-35 “…Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but something prevented them from recognizing him.” Put yourself in the shoes of the two disciples, Cleopas and the unnamed disciple, as they head to Emmaus. This is the third day after Jesus has been crucified. They were probably despondent after... Continue Reading →
9 February, Tuesday — Commandment vs Tradition
Tuesday of Week 5 in Ordinary Time Gen 1:20-2:4Mk 7:1-13 “You put aside the commandment of God to cling to human traditions.” In today’s Gospel, Jesus cited Isaiah: “This people honours me only with lip-service, while their hearts are far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless, the doctrines they teach are only... Continue Reading →
8 February, Monday — The Power of Light
8 Feb – Memorial for St. Jerome Emiliani; Memorial for St. Josephine Bakhita, virgin St. Jerome (1481–1537) was born wealthy, the son of Angelo and Eleanor Mauroceni Emiliani. His father died when Jerome was a teenager, and he ran away from home at age 15. After a dissolute youth, he became a soldier in Venice... Continue Reading →
7 February, Sunday — To Pray in Quietude and Solitude
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Job 7:1-4,6-71 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23Mk 1:29-39 “In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there.” If you were to ask me what I miss the most during the quarantine periods, one thing comes to mind immediately.... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 