‘For they will be made holy who observe holy things in holiness, and those who have been taught them will find a defense.’ (Wisdom 6:10) Today Holy Mother Church in the first reading reveals the arrogance of King Antiochus who thought that he had all power to do what he…
Year on year, we measured out our lives in waiting; waiting for our liberation, waiting for a new Kingdom of justice and right. Year on year, we made our way to the holy Temple of the Lord. We sang psalms as we approached the gates of the city, our limbs…
Wherever we are in the world, we can identify—to one extent or another—with the challenge of Mattathias and his followers. While the U.S. government, for example, has not yet forced her citizens to directly commit idolatry by offering sacrifice to pagan gods, we living in the U.S. have faced lesser…
Today’s readings contrast the fleeting authority of mortal kings with the ethereal sovereignty of the Creator of Creation, Triune God, unsurpassed in splendor and benevolence. The courage on display from the intrepid Maccabean brothers and their indomitable mother teach us how to remain steadfast in our fidelity to God Almighty…
The Old and New Testament readings go very well together today. Have courage. Be humble. We all need this message in our time. Firstly, in the Old Testament reading, Eleazar, a notable Scribe is faced with a situation that could potentially compromise his character with God. At the same time,…
“Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The words of the blind beggar from today’s Gospel echo in our hearts. How many times have we had the same prayer? ‘Let this suffering end!’, ‘See that I am perishing!’, ‘You can do all things, let this chalice pass from me!’,…
The year is slowly winding down. We feel it in the shorter days, the cooler air, and the quiet sense that another chapter is closing. In two weeks, the Church’s liturgical year will end, and Advent will usher in a new beginning. The readings at this time of the year…
Prayer sits at the heart of the spiritual life, and Jesus teaches it through his words and actions. As God, he did not need to pray, yet he prayed constantly, showing us how vital prayer is for communion with the Father. He began his ministry with fasting and prayer (Matthew…
Created things can easily draw our gaze away from the One who fashioned them. The world is drenched in goodness, so much so that its radiance can eclipse our desire to look beyond it. A simple domestic scene teaches the point: once a meal is served, the cook is forgotten;…
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, the Word of God today invites us to open our hearts to the very mystery of God’s presence in our lives. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom paints an image of divine wisdom as a living spirit, full of light and goodness.…