Posts by Jerry DeMelo Jr.
The 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 MoreOn the Exercise of Authority
Rigorous scrutiny of those in power. Today’s first reading at Mass contains a warning for those in power to rule justly, as God would. The broader application The opening verses of the passage warn those who rule over others to “hear” and “learn” as one who is guided by humility. Broadly, the warning also applies…
Read MoreGuiding a Blind Person
The Gospel Passage: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? …Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when…
Read MoreMy God is an Awesome God
“If a man has 100 sheep and one goes astray…” What makes our God the kind we want to worship? The parable of the man who has a hundred sheep serves as the backdrop for the answer. Jesus, while in the land where shepherds and sheep are common, asks a simple sounding question. “If a…
Read MoreWe Are Sheep Among Wolves
The Gospel: “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, as we heard in yesterday’s Gospel, seems difficult to understand. We can appreciate it more in the…
Read MoreWholly 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…
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