Posts by Jerry DeMelo Jr.
The Impact of Our Lady of Guadalupe
I consider myself privileged to have been born on December 12. Perhaps this explains, in part, my tender esteem for Our Lady of Guadalupe whose feast day is today. Our Lady appeared to Saint Juan Diego near Mexico City in 1531 as the natives of Mexico, and most of Central and South America were continuing…
Read MoreA Short but Challenging Passage
The Passage: Jesus said to the Apostles: Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, “Come here immediately and take your place at table?” Would he not rather say to him, “Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and…
Read MoreSupernatural Over the Natural
The Passage: “While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” Jesus replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” Lk 11:27-28. The Source of Blessedness How often I…
Read MoreAre There Limits on Charitable Giving?
The Passage: “Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours, do not demand it back.” Lk 6:29. A literalist reader of this passage would say: “That is what the Bible says, so that is what it means.” Yet, we recognize that interpretation as impractical and frankly irresponsible.…
Read MoreThe Mystical Contemplation of Ezekiel
In the dramatic and mysterious vision described in Ezekiel 1:4-28, the prophet Ezekiel isconfronted with a theophany—a Mystical experience of God’s presence that defies ourcomplete human understanding.The vision is filled with vivid imagery: a stormy north wind, a great cloud with a ragingamber fire, and four living winged creatures with faces of a man, a…
Read MoreWe are Sheep Among Wolves
“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.” Mt 10:16. The discipleship command given to the Apostles and to us as His disciples, seems difficult to understand. Has anyone ever met sheep that are as shrewd as serpents? We have an idiom…
Read MoreI Have Come to Fulfill the Law
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one…
Read MoreSolemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
Most of us who are fans of the Star Wars movie series remember the 1999 release of the so-called Episode 1, which was, in fact, the fourth Star Wars movie. The idea was to go back in time to events preceding the previous three movies. In Daniel Chapter 7, we have a director’s cut of…
Read MoreThe Prestigious House of Hillel
The Story of a Family: At the time of Christ, two prominent Rabbinic schools guided the people in understanding the Torah. The two founders of these schools, Hillel and Shammai, were the most influential rabbis of the day. These two academies vigorously debated ritual practices, ethics, and theology. Indeed, Jesus would at times cite and…
Read MoreThe Cure of the Crippled Man at the Pool of Bethesda
Allegorical Background: The pool of Bethesda, known for its five porticoes, was special in a unique way.Periodically, an angel stirred its waters, and it was known that the first person to enterthe waters would be healed of his affliction. As such, many crippled and infirm peoplesurrounded the pool awaiting the stirring in the hope that…
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