The biblical Pharisees have always fascinated me. They’re always trying to trip up Our Lord, and they indubitably end up getting the short end of the stick. These Biblical fall guys provide countless nuggets for our instruction, usually of the “not as I do” variety. St. Mark’s gospel sums up…
Wedding ceremonies are usually joyous moments for both the celebrants and the invited guests. Everything about a wedding ceremony – the dress, the venue, the cake, the lights, the reception, the music – speaks of happiness, love and joy. Invited guests try to adapt to wedding-guest etiquette as much possible. This…
Today we reflect on Samuel’s call, our call from the Lord. Eli patiently sends Samuel back to bed twice before realizing there was something more going on with young Samuel. Eli suggests that next time Samuel is to respond “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” The strategy works, and…
Picture this as vividly as you can: Joints are where two bones meet. They consist of cartilage and ligaments. These strong fibrous tissues allow bones to move while supporting the body. Within bones, there is marrow, the spongy substance that contains both red blood cells, that carry life-giving oxygen to…
In the desert of Massah and Meribah, there was no water for the people to drink. There in the wilderness, the Israelites were thirsty, and they grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, Why have you brought us out of Egypt into this wretched and horrible place for us to die…
This Gospel narrative shows the leper’s posture of submission to the will of God over his circumstances. It gives us an example of how we are to come before God. The leper recognized the authority and the power of Jesus Christ – and in faith, asked Jesus to make him…
Dear Brothers and Sisters, St Mark introduces us to the beginning of his Gospel with the public ministry of Jesus. He gives us a picture of how Christ carries out his mission, which is to proclaim the Good News. Leaving the synagogue, Jesus enters the house of Simon Peter. Jesus…
“Christian, remember your dignity,” Pope St. Leo the Great wrote, contemplating that God emptied himself of His divine attributes to become truly man like us – yet remaining truly God, a Divine Person. Did Jesus lower Himself to become like us, or did He elevate us to become like Him?…
We have just finished the Christmas season during which we celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, Emmanuel, God among us. When we receive Jesus, we do not stay the same. His coming transforms us and gives us a new impulse of life, a new way of…
Today the Church celebrates the Baptism of Our Lord, the first of the Luminous Mysteries in the life of Christ. Let us take a few moments today to reflect both on this particular scene, as well as the gift of baptism for each of us. St. Mark’s telling is spare…