June 16, 2024
11th Sunday in Ordinary Time The keywords for today are patience, perseverance, and hope. The passage from Ezekiel is an allegory about a messianic age to come. His prophecy declares an end to the violence and destruction that Israel has been suffering. In this allegory of the cedar tree, he portrays God as a gardener […]
June 15, 2024
Elijah did everything the Lord asked of him. He defeated the prophets of Baal, escaped from Jezebel, and hid in the cave on Mt. Horeb. He anointed those he was instructed to and took Elisha to follow him as his successor. Elijah always answered yes to what was asked of him, although at times not […]
June 14, 2024
Some time ago, a young man I have been mentoring over the years shared some struggles with his prayer life. He said, “Sometimes I feel God is really speaking harshly with me.” We talked more about this, and I sensed that he was really fearing that God was being very “judgmental” of him – harshly […]
June 13, 2024
On the Potter’s Wheel A musical memory. In 1972, a song busted out the words about teaching the world to sing in perfect harmony and to stand together hand in hand. What a lovely sentiment. How? Past and present-day sages have ways of balancing our lives in an unstable world. Taking a cue from nature […]
June 12, 2024
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish, but to fulfill.” We are human, just as the disciples were, and although we may be mature adults, there is always an opportunity to develop and deepen our understanding of Jesus’ teachings. Jesus makes it […]
June 11, 2024
Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle When God calls, God equips. Jesus sent his apostle Barnabas and his disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God and gave them the power to do what he called them to do. At the same time, he told them to give without pay, reflecting the principle of selfless service. Saint […]
June 10, 2024
I count nine beatitudes in Matthew’s version. The first seven are for people who are forsaken and need hope: Jesus loves them and wants to care for them. We, his hands and feet, are asked to attend to them, as is implied in the eighth and ninth beatitudes. However, we are reminded that those of […]
June 9, 2024
10th Sunday in Ordinary Time Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. Genesis presents the story of Adam and Eve wasting away their intimate relationship with God by trying to become something other than what they were called to be. […]
June 8, 2024
Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” When reading this Gospel, I remember what my mother said years ago. She understood Mary’s reluctance to comprehend how Jesus could speak those words to her. Indeed, if my child […]
June 7, 2024
Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus When they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. All the early Fathers of the Church saw this passage as signifying the […]