Both the first reading and the Gospel today have one resounding message for us: To respond in authentic truth and love no matter the circumstances! In the first reading, St. Paul is appealing to the early Christians to live with great integrity. Even in hardships, they are encouraged to be…
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Dear brothers and sisters, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). The Wisdom of God in Creation Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, the Triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,…
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In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his followers not to swear oaths. He is not talking about legal oaths in court, or the solemn promises made in a wedding ceremony, those have their place. What he is warning against is the casual or manipulative use of oaths to…
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Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Today, we celebrate the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua, the great preacher and servant of the poor. At this occasion, the Word of God invites us to reflect on the fragility of our humanity and the transforming power of Divine grace. St. Anthony…
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“Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.” Mt 5:20 Who Were the Pharisees? The Pharisees were a lay group, one of three recognized groups of Jews that included the Sadducees (priestly clan) and Essenes. The Pharisees were formed…
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Recently overwhelmed by a myriad of activities, I forgot to prepare my June 11 reflection presentation. An email reminder revealed it was late. Rushing to my computer, I consulted my Missal and discovered it was the feast of Saint Barnabas, “Son of Encouragement.” I pondered what to share about the…
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I often listen to the musical score from The Passion, and the one piece I love most is the final song, “Resurrection.” It is unlike any other piece I have ever heard. With its dramatic swell of loud drumbeats, it brings an explosive quality to the end of the Passion.…
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The ancient systems of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Traditional Indian Medicine (TIM), or Ayurveda, tackle the whole human person. Key to both systems and their focus is the person and not the disease. Both systems begin with a model of all organic and inorganic matter, including the human person,…
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On Pentecost Sunday, the Church celebrates not only the descent of the Holy Spirit but also the birth of the Church as a sent community. The passage from the Gospel of John 20:19–23 captures a moment of profound transition – between the resurrection and the mission of the Church. It…
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Pentecost, like Easter, has a solemn vigil liturgy. This liturgy includes a large number of Old and New Testament readings foreshadowing the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. They highlight His role as unifier of all nations in the Church (Genesis 11:1-9), as God dwelling with His people…
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