Saturday, 17th Week in Ordinary Time                        What a tragic story we have in today’s gospel passage: John is murdered by Herod in cold blood. But worse than murdering a good man is murdering one’s own conscience – which is what Herod did.             A man consulted a doctor, “I’ve been misbehaving, Doc, and my … Continue reading WEAKENING THE CONSCIENCE

Friday, 17th Week in Ordinary Time                            We have heard a ‘shocking’ statement in today’s gospel reading: “(Jesus) did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.” It is easy to see the meaning and implication of this to our own life: Our lack of faith renders the Lord powerless to … Continue reading LACK OF FAITH

St. Martha                        We celebrate today the feast of St. Martha. Her feast day will have its significance and relevance in our lives only if we learn the lesson Martha herself learned from Jesus: listening has to come before acting. That is exactly what today’s gospel reading is telling us.             In all the great … Continue reading LISTENING BEFORE ACTING

Wednesday, 17th Week in Ordinary Time                   Today’s gospel reading challenges us to ask ourselves: What are the things we consider as priceless? Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of great joy goes and sells all that he … Continue reading PRICELESS

Tuesday, 17th Week in Ordinary Time                        “Whoever has ears ought to hear.”             Two men were walking along a crowded city sidewalk. Suddenly, one of the men remarked, “Listen to that lovely sound of that cricket.” But the other man could not hear the sound. So he asked his friend how he could hear … Continue reading WE OUGHT TO HEAR

Saints Joachim and Ann                 We celebrate today the feast of Sts. Joachim and Ann, the parents of Mary. Although the actual names of the grandparents of Jesus are not known, popular tradition – not historical fact or biblical account – refers to them as Joachim and Ann. We do not know much about them; … Continue reading JOACHIM AND ANN

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time                       A few years ago, I read an article in a religious magazine which recounts what happened in a certain parish. According to the article, one Sunday, after the priest-presider read the gospel passage that day, which is also today’s gospel reading, he told those attending Mass: “I don’t intend … Continue reading BE A PART OF A MIRACLE

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time                       There was a little girl named Hattie May Wiatt from a poor family who loved attending Sunday school in Philadelphia, USA. There were so many children who usually went to their church, and since it was so small it could not accommodate that much. So, there were times when … Continue reading SMALL OFFERINGS

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time                       There was a thirteen-year old boy who read about the missionary works of Dr. Albert Schweitzer in Africa, and he wanted to help. All he had was enough money to buy one bottle of aspirin. He wrote to the US Air Force and asked if they could fly over … Continue reading GIVING THE LITTLE WE HAVE

Saturday, 16th Week in Ordinary Time                        Today’s gospel story would be familiar to the people of Palestine. When wheat was planted and started to grow, weeds would sprout too. Their seeds were mixed with the wheat and could not be distinguished at first. Then, by the time you could tell them apart, their roots … Continue reading A PATIENT GOD