Posts by Celina Manville
Whose Side Are You On?
Some may have a similar memory to me…that of being a child on the playground when teams were being chosen. I recall having some anxiety about which team would choose me (or be willing to have me) since I was not athletically talented. For childhood games and sports, ultimately teams may be somewhat arbitrary as…
Read MoreLiving in His Holy Will
For as many times as I have heard this Gospel passage, I have been challenged by the same question Jesus poses to his beloved apostles: “But who do you say that I am?” And like the apostles, it is easy to spout off several correct answers, but if we let that question marinate within us,…
Read MoreFasting & Feasting
Fasting and feasting might be considered opposites, but they are also linked in a beautiful way. In today’s Gospel, when questioned, Jesus points this out to the people. Coming out of the Christmas season, no doubt we have plenty of experience with feasting. Not only did we enjoy a wonderful variety of foods, but also…
Read MoreSalvation is Coming!
“Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed.” -Isaiah 56:1 About to come…About to be revealed… Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? It should! Get excited. This is a call to wake up! Isaiah’s words are a call to take heart and push forward,…
Read MoreInvesting in the Kingdom
I never noticed it before. Just before Jesus tells this parable about the nobleman and his servants, the Gospel writer notes: “Jesus was near Jerusalem, and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately.” In fact, Luke seems to imply that it is precisely because of these two factors (Jesus about to…
Read MorePurpose of Prayer
We pray for many people, things, and circumstances, but why do we pray for these needs? Does God not already know them? Do we pray to activate God who might otherwise forget or ignore our needs? Is He unaware of them or their importance to us? No, brothers and sisters, we pray because that is…
Read MoreThe Gift of Accompaniment
Each morning when I am in prayer, I ask Jesus to accompany me as I go about my day. I often visualize some key items on my agenda, whether it is a meeting I will attend or a task I must accomplish, and I ask Him to walk with me throughout each. Today’s Gospel challenged…
Read MorePassing Through the Eye of the Needle
Most of us have heard that the Eye of the Needle refers to a short and narrow passageway to enter a city gate in Jerusalem. While a man could fit through the passage, if he were coming with his camel, that was another matter. Camels were often loaded with cargo. In order to get through…
Read MoreThe Power to Persevere
Our world is in chaos. It has been for quite some time, yet we sense it seems to worsen. How do we persevere despite this division and anguish we see all around? Today’s Gospel offers a beautiful glimpse into the heart of God and to the answer to the question above. The passage begins amidst…
Read MoreOur Father: The Perfect Prayer
Hundreds, maybe thousands of beautiful and insightful books, homilies, papal addresses, and gospel reflections have been written about the Our Father prayer! The treasures of this prayer are inexhaustible. It is truly the Perfect Prayer. It contains the keys to becoming a Saint! Each line offers a truth so deep, we cannot ever fully mine…
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