Posts by Arlene Braganza
Speak Truth
Merry Christmas everyone! Yesterday, we celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and today we are brought to reality with the martyrdom of St. Stephen, the very first martyr of the newly formed Catholic Church. He was stoned to death in Jerusalem, shortly after the death and resurrection of Christ. Jerusalem, the holy city…
Read MoreChrist the King
Are you a sheep or a goat? Opt to be a sheep and strive to enter through the narrow gate! Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This feast was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 to celebrate the Jubilee Year and the 16th centenary of the…
Read MoreFree Yourselves from Sin
There have been many times in the recent past that I have wondered about how God feels when He looks down upon the earth and sees the behavior of human beings; those He created in His own image and likeness. Must He not be shaking his head in dismay and bewilderment? How is it that…
Read MoreCosmas and Damian
Today I’m going to focus on the optional Memorial readings at Mass, commemorating the saints Cosmas and Damian, my patron saints. According to Wikipedia, Cosmas and Damian were third century, twin, Arabian born brothers who became physicians. They practiced their profession in the seaport of Aegeae, then in the Roman province of Syria. Cosmas and…
Read MoreBlessed Are Those Who Fear Him
Yesterday we began our readings from the Book of Ruth, which started off like a fairytale … “Once in the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land;” We hear of a man from Bethlehem departing with his wife and two sons to live on the plateau of Moab. The man’s name…
Read MoreBe Ready to Grow
What kind of a plant are you? A little flowering rose? A big tree with lots of delicious fruit hanging on the branches? A little weed, which for some strange reason my little dog likes to nibble? I hope you are a big fruitful Catholic tree, providing goodness and beauty to all who come under…
Read MoreJesus Said
For the past one week, we have been reading from Matthew’s Gospel, and every one of them started with: “Jesus said to his disciples”: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.”…
Read MoreDo You Really Love Me?
If Jesus were to ask any one of us, “do you love me?” I’m sure we would all immediately respond with a loud YES, without a second thought. But then, what if Jesus followed that up with a task, demanding of us something that was difficult? What is Christ requiring of us when He asks…
Read MoreMore Zeal, Less Fear
We are well into the Acts of the Apostles, hearing about the apostles going out and proclaiming the Gospel based on their firsthand experiences with Jesus Christ. They were filled with zeal for the Lord, and unafraid of the authorities, especially after they saw the risen Jesus and saw the wounds in his hands, feet,…
Read MoreBelieving With or Without Seeing
“I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will never die” This is today’s verse before the Gospel. It is the ultimate assurance from God, that we will be saved if we believe and trust in Him completely. Today’s long gospel narrates the story of…
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