What can a man give to regain his life? Yesterday’s reflection on Psalm 51 prepares us to embrace the cross as a disciple of Christ. We know that the disciples didn’t understand Jesus’ many references to the cross nor his teaching that whoever follows him will have to “deny himself, take up his cross and …
“Create a clean heart in me, O God.” Psalm 51 is one of the most beautiful and powerful prayers of repentance. It has been put to music by many composers, most notably Allegri’s Miserere. The psalm isn’t merely a “God, forgive me” prayer; rather it is one that goes to the very heart of our …
“… Tell me to come to you on the water.” Today’s feast marks the revelation of Jesus’ divinity with three of the apostles as witnesses. All were overcome by the glory that enveloped them. Peter declared that three tents should be set up to memorialize the event, but that glory could not be contained on …
August 6 (Mk. 9:2-10, Feast of the Transfiguration) Read More »
“… He gave thanks, broke bread, and gave it to the disciples…” Jesus often points to deeper meanings in events and stories. This account is no different except it starts with a very practical concern for the people that moved Jesus’ heart to pity. Jesus responded to their needs by curing the sick among them. …
Matthew 13:47-53 They gather the good and throw away the bad. Today Jesus refers to the Kingdom as a large net thrown into the sea, collecting every sort of sea creatures and probably an assortment of trash thrown into the water. As Jesus’ disciples, we throw out our nets daily in our various ministries. It …
Sell everything. Mt. 13:44-46 Today’s image of the Kingdom of God is a hidden treasure. Whoever finds it, joyfully goes and sells everything to buy the field where the treasure is located. Jesus is our great treasure, nothing compares to Him. Leaving everything for the ALL can only bring joy. Saint Ignatius of Loyola had …
“The righteous will shine like the sun.” Mt. 13:36-43 When the disciples ask Jesus to explain the parable of the wheat and the tares, he stops at each of the expressions and does so in a loving and patient way. We also do not understand many things that Jesus wants to explain to us, and …
“The Kingdom of God resembles…” Mt. 13:31-35 It is difficult to define the Kingdom of God. Everything that is really important, since it has no measure and is infinite, cannot be contained in a sentence. Love, friendship, faith, beauty, kindness… Jesus knows that there are no words to do so, so he proposes images that …
“Blessed are…” Mt. 13:16-17 Today we celebrate the feast of St Joachim and St Anne, the parents of Mary. In the gospel Jesus invites us to be happy because of what we have seen and heard. What would Mary’s parents see and hear in her? What do we see and hear from her? Let us …
“It must not be like this among you.” Mt 20:20-28 Today, Jesus teaches us that the way to govern cannot be according to the criteria of this world; It is not power, manipulation, domination, annihilation of differences, but it must be by making oneself small and serving others. It is difficult to be in this …
