Posts by Jerry DeMelo Jr.
Wholly Holiness
“Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.” Mt 5:20 Who Were the Pharisees? The Pharisees were a lay group, one of three recognized groups of Jews that included the Sadducees (priestly clan) and Essenes. The Pharisees were formed during the Maccabean period as…
Read MoreMessiah Was to Restore All of Israel, But How?
Context: St Peter relays what happened while praying in Joppa. A vision commanded Peter to eat certain food that as a Jew rendered him unclean – A voice insisted he eat, which he did after protesting. Visitors later arrived from Caesarea, a pagan town and naval port built by Herod to honor Augustus Caesar. They…
Read MoreThe Time to Choose Is Near
Jesus raised Lazarus and Passover is near. The Jews will seek to kill Lazarus and Jesus. God will fulfill His plan without negating the people’s free will as to their belief or rejection of Christ. The Hour is Coming Today’s Gospel captures a crucial moment foreshadowing Jesus’ Passion and emphasizing God’s divine plan of salvation.…
Read MoreA Reflection on Jonah’s Mission to Nineveh
Context: Jonah attempted to frustrate God’s mission to obtain Nineveh’s repentance by jumping off the ship that was transporting him there. Jonah was swallowed by a large fish (sea monster), regretted his disobedience, and called out to God, Who then commanded the fish to spew Jonah out. God then reinstated the mission. Jonah journeyed as…
Read MoreA Reflection on Sin and Works
But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.” Mk 7:20-23 “Thus, He declared all foods clean.” Mk 7:19. Sin in…
Read MoreTwo Apostles – Same Gospel
On this Feast of the Baptism of Jesus, the Church also focuses on its early days, when it contemplated how Jesus’ last words in the Gospel of Matthew, the great commission, would be carried out. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,…
Read MoreThe 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.…
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