Posts by Fr. Justino Cornejo
The Light of the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand!
During this time of Christmas, a recurring theme has been the theme of Christ as the one who came to bring light to dispel the darkness of the world. I do not think I ever valued more the beauty of light then when I experienced blackouts in my country. I am from Panama, and when…
Read MoreFrom Darkness, Into the Light of Christ!
There is a statement in the first reading that, in my opinion, summarizes the theme of today’s readings and responsorial psalm: “And out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.” This reading is taken from the prophet Isaiah, and it describes the signs that will accompany the manifestation of the Messiah.…
Read MoreTo “Hate,” In Order to Love for Real!
I understand if you feel that today’s readings seem to present a paradox to us. How do we reconcile Jesus’ command “to hate” (which is the accurate translation of Jesus’s words as opposed to “love more” or “prefer”) recorded in the Gospel with St. Paul’s call to “owe nothing to anyone except to love one…
Read MoreAsking For the Gift of Faith!
My father was extremely sensitive to the way we asked him a question. He did not like it when we asked him a question that we knew the answer to. He also disliked when we asked a question in an ambiguous way, almost as if trying to test where he stood regarding the matter of…
Read MoreWith the Bridegroom, in the Feast!
Every Friday, during Lent, we fast in the seminary. Following the invitation made by the readings of Ash Wednesday, we make a sign during lunch, and instead of eating a regular meal, we only have bread and water. We eat in silence, while a seminarian reads an account taken from the Sayings of the Fathers…
Read More“Lord, if it is You, Command Me to Come to You!”
One of my family’s favorite activities for the summer was going to the river. We would go to “El Chorro,” which was about a mile and half away from my grandmother’s house. When we arrived, we would have a nice barbeque, play games, and, of course, enjoy the fresh water. I remember that when I…
Read MoreThe “New Wine” of God’s Spirit in Us!
I grew up in what some people would call “a very Catholic” home. My grandparents (especially my grandmother) were very devout Catholics, who raised my mother with a very strong religious character, which she transmitted to my siblings and me. I certainly received a formation in faith from them, but that faith was presented to…
Read MoreOnly in Christ, True Unity is Possible!
I received my formation to the priesthood in the Redemptoris Mater Seminary of Newark, in New Jersey, in the United States. One of the characteristics of this Seminary was its internationality. Men from all over the world, with different cultures and backgrounds, different ages, and educational levels, with different family histories and social status, all…
Read MoreIn Search of Eternal Life!
Remembering Aunt Beby. I grew up in Panama, a small country in Central America. My aunt Gladys, whom we all called “Aunt Beby” lived in Oklahoma. Once or twice a year, she would travel to Panama to visit my grandmother and all of us. When my father said that Aunt Beby was coming, I volunteered…
Read MoreThe Lion Who Made Himself Lamb, to Suffer!
Preparing a retreat for a group of seminarians who were to be instituted as Lectors, I came across a text that struck me immensely. It is a poem attributed to St. Victorinus of Pettau, Bishop of the City of Poetovio (modern day Ptuj, in Slovenia) during the late third century and early fourth century. The…
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