Tuesday, 25th Week in Ordinary Time                 “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”             There is in this passage a great and practical truth. It may very well be that we find ourselves closer to people who are not related to us than to … Continue reading TRUE KINSHIP

St. Matthew                    We celebrate today the feast of St. Matthew. Matthew is a tax collector. Tax collectors are not looked upon kindly by the Jewish contemporaries of Jesus for two reasons: 1. Because they are collecting taxes for the Romans who have subjugated Israel. 2. Because, just like today, tax collectors are thought to … Continue reading REACHING OUR FULL POTENTIAL

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time                John Chambers, in his book With Eyes Fixed on Jesus, tells the story about a certain Akbar and Birbal. Akbar drew a line on a blackboard and asked Birbal to shorten the line without erasing any part of the line. Birbal was a wise man. He drew a longer … Continue reading NOTHING HAD BEEN REDUCED

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time                Several years ago, I baptized a baby girl who was given the name Magnificat. When I asked the parents why they chose that name for her – I could still remember their exact words – they said, “We’d like our daughter to be like Mama Mary: someone whose life … Continue reading CHRIST MAGNIFIED IN ME

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time                How do you call a relationship that is based on self-interest and self-seeking? How do you label a relationship that is predicated on how much each person gains from the other? How do you characterize people who enter or engage in a friendship of convenience? What do you think … Continue reading MERCENARY LOVE

Saturday, 24th Week in Ordinary Time               Today’s gospel passage gives us the Parable of the Sower and its interpretation or explanation. Jesus says, “The seed is the word of God.”             Then he explains, “Those on the path are the ones who have heard, but the evil one comes and takes away the word … Continue reading THE SEED OF THE WORD OF GOD

Friday, 24th Week in Ordinary Time                     “Accompanying him were…some women.”             There was an old shoemaker who once had wished to become a priest. But the way had never opened up for him. He was a friend of young student who studied for priesthood. He supported him from his meager income.             When the … Continue reading WOMEN FOLLOWERS

Thursday, 24th Week in Ordinary Time               In today’s gospel, the Pharisee thinks he is the righteous one who is worthy to be in the company of Jesus and that the woman was the sinful one unworthy to be seen with Jesus. In the end Jesus showed each of them where they really belonged: the … Continue reading LACK OF SELF-AWARENESS

Wednesday, 24th Week in Ordinary Time                          We are all adept at excuses. We all know how easily we find reasons to delay doing the things that we ought to do. When there is something we do not want to do, although it is necessary, there seems to be in our brain that rolls out … Continue reading EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES

Our Lady of Sorrows                  We celebrate today the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. The principal biblical references to Mary’s sorrows are in Luke 2:35 and John 19:26–27, which part of today’s gospel reading. The Lucan passage is Simeon’s prediction about a sword piercing Mary’s soul. The Johannine passage relates Jesus’s words to Mary … Continue reading OUR LADY OF SORROWS