Daily Reflections
Today’s Gospel reading, in its seeming simplicity, can baffle our modern sensibility. Jesus insists upon the efficacy of prayer, telling us that “everyone who asks receives.” Surely, we say, he doesn’t mean everyone. We all know of prayers in our hearts that seem to have gone unanswered; and we all…
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“A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.” Psm 51:17b This refrain from our responsorial psalm was King David’s cry of repentance for his sins of adultery and murder. It is a groan full of remorse, acknowledging his sins against others and his God. Yet it is…
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Today’s gospel (Mt 6:7-15) presents us with the charge to forgive others their transgressions. It is said that forgiveness is divine because it is seemingly not in the nature of human beings to let go of hurts done to them by others. The normal human instinct would be to retaliate…
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One of the most exciting and interesting facts about this life is that nothing is perfect here, everything only gets better or worse. Our lives are conditioned by spacio-temporal factors. What we call the best today loses its importance tomorrow and gives way to something better. Records are set and…
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The devil came to Jesus after his forty days fast and urged him to use his divine powers to turn stones into bread and satisfy his hunger. I did not fully capture the devil’s maneuver here until I visited Israel for a pilgrimage. Our group of pilgrims visited the desert…
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Lent again! The gospel of Ash Wednesday sets the tone for the readings in these first couple of weeks of Lent. In it Jesus promotes and expounds on three practices: almsgiving, prayer and fasting. These are the three aspects of Lent especially promoted by the Church since the time of…
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We had a visiting priest at St. Eugene last weekend, and his emphasis was for all of us to “just do something” when we left Mass. The concept of an abundant harvest with not enough laborers must have been on his heart and mind. He wanted us to volunteer in…
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Today’s readings are very clear that a choice has been set before us. The choice, as it was revealed in the first reading, was not merely a suggestion set, but Moses with authority was clear that he “enjoin(ed)” or commanded (Deuteronomy 30:16) a particular way on the people for their…
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Ash Wednesday—The Beginning of Lent Thus says the Lord God, “return to me with your whole heart” (Joel 2:12). Do you feel distanced from God? Feel you need to see more of God? Do you need peace? Are you struggling with habitual sins which you do not seem to break…
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Holiness of life; how does this phrase sound to you? A cliché? A never-realistic goal? A special reserve for the monks and nuns? On this day, after my dad’s passing yesterday, I draw from today’s Gospel to share some points about holiness. During my early days in spiritual life, I used…
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