Posts by Jerry DeMelo Jr.
The Complete Sign of Jonah Fulfilled
First the Luke-Matthew Connection: Today’s Gospel verses are paralleled in Matthew 13: 38-42. Both record Jesus’ address to a crowd who ask for a sign, perhaps expecting something so spectacular as to overcome their doubt that Jesus is the Messiah. Our Lord proclaims that this unfaithful generation would only see the sign of Jonah. Somehow…
Read MoreAn Invitation to Move to the Center
The harmony of both readings: In the first reading St. Paul calls us to flee idolatry because participation in the Eucharistic cup and bread openly joins us to Our Lord and to one another: “Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body.” The Gospel then reminds us that a good…
Read MoreHandling a troublemaker: How to handle serious problems within the Church
The Prospectively Serious Situation: Visualize a parishioner who reports knowledge of grave misconduct within the parish that, if true, could lead to a significant scandal. How should the Pastor proceed? Jesus anticipated problems within His Church Matthew 18 is properly described as part of the Ecclesial Discourse, for it institutes the hierarchy and rules for…
Read MoreTwo Parables of a Sower of Seeds
On the occasion of the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Church focuses our attention on the Parable of the Sower. The Setting Jesus teaches from a boat as crowds gather to listen from the shore. God’s desire is that through Jesus, all can hear the Gospel and understand that He, as our Saviour, wills…
Read MoreThe Sacred Heart of Jesus
On the occasion of the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus let us focus on the development of the Feast and on aids to its proper devotion. The Devotion Every year, 19 days after Pentecost the Church celebrates this Solemnity. The Devotion to His Wounded Heart began in the 11th Century as the…
Read MoreThe Mystery of Promised Joy after Suffering
Jesus speaking in His “Farewell Discourse” at the Last Supper tells the disciples that they will weep and mourn while the world rejoices, but that their grief will turn to joy. Context Matters Jesus has much to say on the evening before the Crucifixion. Our Lord washes the Apostles’ feet, demonstrating that their Priesthood is…
Read MoreOur Lord’s Merciful Blueprint for His church
The heart of the early Catholic Church life in Jerusalem after the Resurrection of Our Lord is highlighted in our celebration of His Divine Mercy Sunday. A communal structure One of the great constants of the Catholic Church has been its reliance from inception that “[t]hey devoted themselves to the apostles ’teaching and fellowship, to…
Read MoreJesus Can’t Do Anything Right, Some Suggest
In a rather dramatic moment, Jesus casts out a demon from a mute man, only to see some accusing Him of acting with the power of Beelzebub – one of the seven princes of Satan. First, a reality regarding sin Luke describes the exorcism of a mute man to the amazement of those who witness…
Read MoreJesus proclaims the Gospel of God
“After John (the Baptist) had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God. This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15). A Prophecy Fulfilled John had been thrown into prison by Herod in Judea. Jesus then came to Galilee…
Read MoreFeast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Today is my birthday. My family will remember the event with congratulatory remarks. The Catholic world, however, will focus on my Spiritual mother. I have two mothers. My Biological mother would have remembered the joy of my birth as her first born son. My Spiritual mother remembers my adoption into her family, when I was…
Read More