During the months of quarantine because of the COVID-19, millions of us were connected to the world wide web of social media. We were physically apart from our workstations, church ministries, relatives and friends. Yet, after a while, we realized that virtual connection cannot suffice or replace the physical connectivity.…
Blessed Solemnity of the Holy Trinity! I recall more than one priest sharing his feelings that preparing a homily on the Trinity is daunting. How to share in fifteen minutes or less the foundation of our beliefs? Our reflection faces the same task; but we will try our best to…
‘What authority have you?’ ‘Who gave you authority?’ In this episode from Mark’s Gospel, we are in Jerusalem with Jesus and the disciples, during the last week of his public ministry. Jesus has thrown out those who were trading in the Temple, in the court of the Gentiles, and he…
A Troubling Situation The Gospel reading for today tells of Jesus cursing a fig tree on which he could find no fruit. St. Mark makes a point of noting that there were no figs on the tree because ‘it was not the time for figs,” making it clear that the…
I am always intrigued by the story of blind Bartimaeus. Imagine this man-blind, maybe abandoned by any family he may have had, a beggar on the street hearing about Jesus, and thinking, “If everything I have heard about this man is true, he can cure me! He can take away…
Today’s responsorial Psalm is resonating in my heart: “Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindness.” And the verses are true cries from the heart: – “Remember not against us the iniquities of the past” – “May your compassion come quickly to us” – “Help us, O God our…
One characteristic of religious worship is the presentation of gifts to God, otherwise called offering. The Old Testament presents different forms of offering. One common trait is that in every offering, what is offered somewhat represents the one doing the offering. The point is that every form of offering is…
On this memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, I reflect on Mother Mary’s as the first follower of Jesus, her son. Today’s Gospel takes us to the foot of the cross. Most of Jesus’ supporters have taken off, either scared or disillusioned, or both. Their vision…
‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem, but… to the ends of the earth’ (Acts 1: 8) My dear friends, today, the Church celebrates the solemnity of Pentecost. It is a prestigious feast that commemorates…
Living through a pandemic has greatly altered many things in our lives, especially living in California. Before the pandemic began, my wife and I used to go to Adoration multiple times a week to reflect on our lives and discern where God was calling us. Once Adoration, indoor Mass and…