The two verses from Luke’s gospel presented today are quite compelling—one message: “Be Merciful as your heavenly Father” (Luke 6:36-38). From a human perspective, Mercy is placing oneself in a situation of someone else who requires assistance. Do we all need help? Yes, we do, we need authentic help, the…
In today’s Gospel, Our Lord says, “Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is Perfect.” -Mt 5:48. At first glance, there may be a lot of fear when reading this command. How are we to become perfect when we are constantly making the same mistakes, confessing the same sins, and coming…
Reflecting on Jesus’ words, one may conclude that we live in a world of misplaced priorities. In the pursuit of success, some people hurt others. Yet instead of seeking forgiveness, they plan thanksgiving services, undertake stringent mortifications, or engage in spiritual exercises such as the Stations of the Cross. They…
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…