Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary                        We celebrate today the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Luke, in today’s gospel reading, gives an interesting detail in his story. He tells us, “Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste…”             Mary went to Elizabeth, not to have a … Continue reading SURRENDERING TO GOD’S WILL

The Most Blessed Trinity               We celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Our God is a Communion of Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Trinity is Community of Love – the community of loving Father, loving Son, loving Spirit – each equal to one another, sharing a life of mutual and … Continue reading BAPTIZED IN THE TRINITY

The Most Holy Trinity                    Mitch Albom, author of the best-selling book, Tuesdays with Morrie, has written another book entitled, Five People You Meet in Heaven. The book speculates that when we die, we enter into the perfect happiness and joy of heaven by passing through encounters with five people. These five people might have … Continue reading THREE PERSONS YOU MEET IN HEAVEN

The Most Holy Trinity                    Allow me to start with a prayer: (you can pray this with me) Glory be to the Father, Who by His almighty power and love created me, making me in the image and likeness of God. Glory be to the Son, Who by His Precious Blood delivered me from hell, … Continue reading STANDING IN AWE

Saturday, 8th Week in Ordinary Time                          Alexander Woollcott met G.K. Chesterton for lunch at a London restaurant. Chesterton expounded on a variety of philosophical topics, including the relationship between power and authority. “If a rhinoceros were to enter this restaurant now, there is no denying he would have great power here.” “But I should … Continue reading POWER AND AUTHORITY

Friday, 8th Week in Ordinary Time              “All you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.”             Among the most important teachings of Jesus are about faith, trust, prayer, forgiveness, and love. We see in today’s gospel how all of these are linked with one another. According … Continue reading THE LAWS OF PRAYER

Thursday, 8th Week in Ordinary Time                         Wendell Berry, an American novelist, has suggested that “to treat life as less than a miracle is to give up on it.” Well, today, eagerly, painfully, obediently, Bartimaeus refuses to give up on the miracle called life, the miracle called faith, the miracle called Jesus. He jumps up … Continue reading OPEN OUR EYES

Wednesday, 8th Week in Ordinary Time                     “Lord, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”              According to spiritual masters, whenever we begin to tell the Lord what we want him to do for us, we are in the wrong spiritual space. We need to move from “ego space” to … Continue reading WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?

Tuesday, 8th Week in Ordinary Time                           “We have given up everything and followed you.”             I’d like to go directly to the point and pose a question: What have we left behind to follow Jesus? Yesterday, with the gospel story of the rich young man, we were challenged to examine ourselves and ask: Are … Continue reading HUNDREDFOLD REWARD

Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church              We celebrate today the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. This feast was celebrated for the first time only three years ago. In March 2018, Pope Francis published the decree Ecclesia Mater, Mother of the Church, instituting this feast to be celebrated on … Continue reading THE CHURCH IS MOTHER