Posts by Dr. David Cooper
MEMORIAL OF ST. PETER CLAVER, APOSTLE TO AFRICANS
During the 17th century CE, Cartagena, Columbia was one of the major centers of African slavery in the Spanish colonies. One thousand slaves a month survived the voyage to land in the slave pens and be sold, to help extract the gold of the New World. For forty years, between 1610 and 1654, a Spanish…
Read MoreWonderous Things
“Grandpa, please tell me another fishing tale like the one-time Jesus got into your boat to preach and then commanded you to launch out and cast your nets after you had been fishing all night.” Peter hugged his granddaughter and said, “Gladly sweetheart. We caught so many fish, without the nets breaking, that we filled…
Read MoreSalvation Comes from the LORD
“The salvation of the just comes from the LORD.” (Ps 37:39). The antiphon of today’s Responsorial Psalm summarizes the truths of the readings for today’s Mass. In order to understand the poignant embrace of Israel by his favorite son, Joseph, one must be familiar with Genesis 28-45. Joseph is now the vizier of Egypt. He…
Read MoreWalk in the Light
“For if what was going to fade was glorious, how much more will what endures be glorious?” (2 Cor 3:11) The Scripture readings for today’s Mass point to the glory and light of the old and the new covenants. At Mt. Sinai, God spoke to Moses from out of fire and lightning, and with his…
Read MoreNo Greater Love
Today’s Scripture readings are bathed in LOVE. Jesus told us in John 15:13 “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” But on Calvary, He poured out his blood for all of us…friends and enemies. Or as St. John told us in 1John 4:10, “In this is love,…
Read MoreCome and Dine
Today’s Gospel reading from St. John reminds me of a song my family used to sing as grace before meals, “Come and Dine” by CB Widmeyer. Here are the words: “Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “Come and dine. He who fed the multitudes, turned the waters into wine, to the hungry ones calleth now,…
Read MoreGod’s Magnificent Mercy
Today’s Gospel reminds us of the magnificent mercy and justice of God in the parable of the merciless servant. Jesus tells this parable when Peter asks how often he should forgive his brother and thinking he was being generous adds “As many as seven times?” Jesus said, “Not seven times, but seventy times seven.”…
Read MoreCreated for Worship
We are to take all these gifts that God has given us, the beauty of his creation, the abundance of material goods that sustain us, the family where we first experience love and gratefully re-gift them to God and neighbor.
Read MoreThe Bridegroom Delight in His Bride
“The LORD takes delight in His people. The Lord loves His people. Let the faithful exult in glory and let them sing for joy“ (Ps 149:4-5). Today’s responsorial psalm calls us to rejoice at the epiphany of the newborn King, the Beloved Son at His baptism, and the Bridegroom who manifested His glory at the…
Read More