Daily Reflections
As humans, we love to categorize – both others and ourselves – into specific groups, whether it be our political affiliations, our sports team loyalties, our personality types, and even our worship preferences. Somehow, by defining these aspects of ourselves, we think we can communicate our identity more effectively. Yet,…
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“Speak, for your servant is listening (NABRE, 1 Sam 3:10). In today’s Gospel, we encounter Jesus’ words. They command the obedience of a demon and the attention of the crowd (Lk 4:32.36). His words leave the people stunned: “What is there about his word?” (Lk 4:36). What If? Now, what…
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St. Paul writes in the second chapter of his first letter to the Corinthian church about the centrality of God in his ministry. Before his journey to the church at Corinth, Paul had been to Athens, where he tried to convince the Athenians with several arguments—he engaged them from their…
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Imagine a garden where every element is a masterpiece. The flowers burst forth in a harmony of vibrant colors, and the trees are adorned with jewels of sweetness. In this paradise, Adam and Eve dwell in perfect harmony with nature and God. They are not bound by rules, but bask…
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Twenty-two years after graduating from high school in 1998, our batch got reconnected through Facebook. We began meeting in small groups and conversing through a chat box while planning our class reunion. Everyone was filled with so much joy and excitement, especially upon knowing what each of us has become.…
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There is a children’s group in the United States called the Boy Scouts. I was never a member, but they have a very noble motto. “Be Prepared” they say. Be ready for anything. Mark’s Gospel about the ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom to arrive, and the party to start,…
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Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.(Mt 5:10) Caravaggio, The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist (1608)[1] Dear Brothers and Sisters: In today’s gospel we heard: “I want you to give me at onceon a platter the head of John…
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Today’s readings show the importance of both the external work and one’s interior disposition to make an act good. “to shun any brother who walks in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us. For you know how one must imitate us…. Rather, we wanted…
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Holding on to the faith and teachings of the Church is becoming increasingly more difficult in today’s world, due to contemporary societal pressure with its emphasis on individualism, moral relativism, and materialism, which is the brainchild of secularism. The secularized, neo-liberalized and pluralistic society promotes values that sometimes conflict with…
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The exhortation that St. Paul gives to the Church of the Thessalonians in today’s reading remindsme of the presentations my husband and I were so blessed to witness last month at the NationalEucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. Every one of the amazing speakers spoke of God’s love and His mercy being…
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