Posts by Jerry DeMelo Jr.
On 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…
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,…
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