Where’s your heart? Those are the words that spoke to me during a recent meditation when we heard Jesus explaining the difficulty behind a rich man entering the kingdom of heaven. Toward the end of that passage, the Apostles ask Jesus what they will receive as a reward for following…
Today, we pray for the dead. We do this because, as Christians, we are in communion with the Saints and with those on their journey to sainthood. All Souls’ Day is important, not only because we remember the deceased, but also because it brings the reality of death to the…
Happy All Saints’ Day! This past weekend, I had the privilege of leading a retreat for the deacons and their wives from the Catholic Diocese of Fresno. We enjoyed the peaceful beauty of Three Rivers, California, close to nature, and immersed in deep reflection. It was a special prayer time,…
The reading from Ephesians today has got to be a favorite with Catholic parents around the globe. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your Father and Mother.” This offers a voice of authority to help us with our mission of being parents and raising…
The left side (looking at it) of Fra Angelico’s Last Judgment is gorgeous. We see angels leading the saints to a shining city. The latter seem to be conversing and angels almost dancing. On and off in the last couple of weeks during Mass we have heard excerpts from St…
“Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.” -Luke 6:12. In today’s Gospel, our Lord went up a mountain to spend a long time in prayer. We should imitate what our Lord does and go up a mountain to spend a…
When someone begins an academic career or assumes new job responsibilities or enters a new environment, it is important to ask oneself this crucial question namely. “What do I want and why is what I want so essential to me?” This is evident during child-baptisms. Parents are asked what they…
Today we celebrate the baptism of my grandnephew (baby of my niece). His name is Jordan, and we welcome him into our Catholic family. Our entire family realizes the importance and value of baptizing infants at an early age, wiping them clean of the stain of original sin and officially…
Wisdom is the power to make proper discernment in every situation. The wise person is able to make good judgements and adequate choices in the face of conflicting options. Some situations are very complex, and one easily makes errors of judgement. We meet such situations every day, and we need…
The Gospel of Luke today is startling. Do you think there is peace on Earth today, or division? Are families of five dividing three against two? Are fathers and sons at odds, mothers and daughters? Yes, and it is not always over petty things. Jesus expects to have some division,…