Posts by D'Souza Family
The Two Standards
For the last week, we’ve been dipping into the Sermon on the Mount. The Lex Talionis or law of the Talon was the Old Commandment and the early civilization practice of retribution, such that acts resulting in bodily injury were in turn meted out to the perpetrator in precise proportion, so an eye for an…
Read MoreTidings of Great Joy
The verse before the gospel is a way of preparing our hearts to receive what’s to come in the main course. Today’s edition reads: Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory. Lk 24:46,26 Here we have laid out before us, the sheer immensity of God’s salvific…
Read MoreBreakthrough!
In the Gospel for today, Jesus speaks these oft-quoted words: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. Jn 3:16 Dear Reader, let the power of these words sink in anew, whether you’re hearing this for…
Read MoreEye Opener
The readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, from my vantage point, appear to coalesce naturally around the twin themes of light and sight, or conversely darkness and blindness. We have The Good Shepherd who guides us in right paths and we have nothing to fear for He is our Repose, our Protector, the Giver…
Read MoreThe Bond of Perfection
Recently, I was thinking of favorite Gospel passages. You know, the ones that people can rattle off the top of their head. A quick scan of mine came up with The Golden Rule, Psalm 23, and John 3:16. Today’s liturgical offerings are chock full of amazing options: Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God,…
Read MoreEvery Knee Shall Bow
The mission of Jesus is defined by his very name: God Saves. That is the name ordained from on high, and scripture records both Mary and Joseph getting the same memo: You are to name him Jesus. Luke 1:31 and Matthew 1:21 Today we are reminded that we can always turn to Jesus, the perfect…
Read MoreSpeechless
There are striking similarities in today’s spiritual offerings. Angelic messengers bear gladtidings to barren couples proclaiming the miraculous birth of sons. Said sons are choseninstruments for deliverance of their nation into a people fit for God. In the midst of ourinnate human tendencies of disbelief and skepticism, God makes allowances for ourfrailty and dispenses His…
Read MoreHappily Ever After
In the Spiritual Exercises, one meditates on the reality of one’s own death. It is a healthy exercise calculated to put things in perspective. The takeaway is we need to start living for eternity right now. If we believe what we profess, the Resurrection of the Body is the gateway to a life that puts…
Read MoreGreat Expectations
What is our image of God? What does He want from us? For most of us, God is Mercy, and we would not be wrong in that. But He is also Justice. His perfect mercy and perfect justice cannot and will not be denied. On our journey through life, we throw ourselves on the former,…
Read MoreLight From Light
While reflecting on today’s readings, I was drawn to the theme of light. The Collect before the Gospel reads: Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. (MT 5:16) Our goal in life then is clear: see, sow, and do good. The Light of The…
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