Daily Reflections
Last Sunday we were at lunch with a group of singles, married couples, and widows. Some Catholic, others exploring Christianity for the first time. Some married within the (Catholic) faith, others outside it. Given the presence of a bachelor in our company, the discussion soon turned to marriage; in particular,…
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We all want to feel safe, at all times and every place. Today we celebrate Messengers of God, whose role is to keep us safe until we attain full salvation—the blessedness of beholding the face of God. The Catechism teaches that, “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded…
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As a boy of fourteen years old, the life of one girl moved mine more than any other—showing me the way of love. The girl is Thérèse, from the little city of Lisieux in Calvados, France. She is popularly known as the Little Flower, Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus. To her, I…
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I love all things literary. I love hearing great dialogue in a movie. I am impressed when a subject expert takes a complex subject and makes it understandable. Great speeches can move me to tears. And nothing to me is more wonderful than reading a great book. Today’s readings speak…
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Nathanael speaks God gave me gifts; a love for my people, a love for his word and visions of his glory. I was also given a longing for him which is endless. From boyhood I wrestled with His words and tried to live my life in simple docility to my…
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For me, the most striking part of today’s readings are these lines: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men of every nationality, speaking different tongues, shall take hold, yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say, ‘Let us go with…
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We hear about the discussion of the disciples on the way to Caesarea Philippi arguing who among them is the greatest. We might call this aspiration towards greatness, “ambition.” Ambition is not bad. It can motivate us and energize us to do great things for ourselves and others. Ambition can…
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Today is the feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian, twin brothers who were both physicians. By accepting no payment for their services, they attracted many to the Christian faith. These two saints are my birthday patron saints, interestingly, born in Arabia, as was I. Not much is known of them…
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What sustains life is hope. Without the hope of a better future, we can hardly survive the upheavals of the present. Here one recalls the opening words of the great Encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, SPE SALVI facti sumus – “In hope we were saved, says Saint Paul to the…
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Peter’s exclamation of “You are the Christ, the son of the Living God!” is a bold declaration of who Christ is. Yet, a moment later, his lack of faith in that statement earns him rebuke from Our Lord. Although not included in the reading today, in the verse directly after…
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