In today’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus continues his intense teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. Before laying out the Golden Rule, He instructs his disciples in the familiar “ask, and ye shall receive” narrative: that everyone who asks, receives; who seeks, finds; and who knocks, will…
I have often come across people who appear to be very interested in religion but express great fear of God’s presence. Some feel they have done so many terrible things that God can hardly forgive them. Such feelings are often very deep-rooted and lead to many emotional disorders. We suffer…
After fasting as a key pillar of Lent, today’s liturgy focuses on an essential attitude: charity. The main message is clear from the beginning: what truly counts is our tangible actions of love toward others. We live in a world where people are classified into myriad categories: professions, academic qualifications,…
The Holy Mother Church has entered into the Holy Season of Lent, where each and every one of its children is called to be led by the Spirit into the Desert to fight, just as the Author of our Salvation, Jesus, did. Let us all remember and reaffirm the truth…
‘After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth.’ A tax collector I did not look out into the crowds from my booth. I was a wealthy man and I had no right to be. The only reason I…
People fast for many reasons. On the secular front, intermittent fasting has become popular in health and fitness circles, for its efficacy in weight loss, and in mitigating diabetes and heart disease. A strapping young man at work once told me that, before summer, he did a weekly water fast…
Today’s title has been blithely borrowed from a favorite saint; it is one of St. Augustine’s more famous quotes. The theme of choosing life over death is highlighted in all of the readings on tap for today. If we reduce the Commandments to the Golden Rule, we are left with…
The first line of the first reading is an appropriate start to Lent. Today, Ash Wednesday, begins our Lenten journey to Easter. “Return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God” Joel 2:12.…
Today’s gospel from Mark is the account when the disciples are with Jesus in a boat and realize they have forgotten their bread. They become distressed at this realization and Jesus warns them; and reminds them of what they have been through together. Guard Yourselves Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out,…
The Lord sighs. In today’s Gospel, we are introduced to the Pharisees, who attempt to trap Jesus by seeking grounds to accuse Him. They request a sign from Jesus. Like them, we sometimes seek signs from above to better understand our circumstances or make wise decisions. We often look for…