Friday, 29th Week in Ordinary Time                            In today’s gospel passage, Jesus rebukes his contemporaries for being able to predict the weather by interpreting or ‘reading’ the signs provided by nature, yet being unable to read and interpret the signs of God’s kingdom – being unable to discern God’s message in what is happening around … Continue reading READING THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Thursday, 29th Week in Ordinary Time                       “I have come to set the earth on fire.”             Jesus, in today’s gospel reading, talks about his mission by using the metaphor of lighting a fire.             The Lord is telling us that he wants to set us on fire. Do we really want to be set … Continue reading FIRE AND FERVOR

Wednesday, 29th Week in Ordinary Time                   “Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so…”             The Greek word for ‘servant’ is doulos – and can be translated as either servant or slave. A doulos in Jesus’ time was more of a slave than a hired servant. Doulos implied a total … Continue reading SERVANT

Tuesday, 29th Week in Ordinary Time                        St. Francis of Assisi, hoeing his garden, was asked what he would do if he were suddenly to learn that he was to die at sunset that day. He said, “I would finish hoeing my garden.” Why did Francis answer that way? Because he believed that doing God’s … Continue reading SEMPER PARATUS

Monday, 29th Week in Ordinary Time                         Jesus, in today’s gospel reading, issues a stern warning against greed: “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” And then he tells the parable of the rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He … Continue reading INVESTING IN THE KINGDOM

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time                       A pig said to a chicken, “What shall we have for breakfast?” The chicken suggested, “Let’s have ham and eggs.” The pig said, “Oh no, not ham!” “Why not? The chicken replied, I’ll provide the eggs and you the ham.” The pig said, “For you, ham and eggs for … Continue reading TOTAL COMMITMENT, ABSOLUTE LOYALTY

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time                       The Oxford Dictionary defines the word ‘question’ as “sentence worded or expressed so as to seek information or an answer; a doubt or dispute about a matter.” So, the most fundamental use of ‘question’ is to get information.             However, different people have different reasons for asking different questions. … Continue reading TO GOD ALONE

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time                       In one TV commercial, Andre Agassi, a very popular tennis player and considered to be a pop icon, said, “Image is everything.” Indeed, in the world of advertisement, image is everything. Advertisement is all about projecting an image, selling an image, and convincing people “to buy” that image. And … Continue reading WHOSE IMAGE IS THIS?

Saturday, 28th Week in Ordinary Time                        Jesus, in today’s gospel reading, says, “The one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” We blaspheme the Holy Spirit when we deny his grace, reject his assistance, or refuse to allow his light to penetrate our minds and hearts. Thus, we are unable to … Continue reading BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT

Friday, 28th Week in Ordinary Time                            One night a fire broke out in a house and an eight-year-old boy, who was alone, ran up to the roof. By the time his father reached the house, the whole house was aflame and covered with smoke.             The father could see his son on top of … Continue reading TRUSTING FAITH