The Root of Jesse and the Bloom of Christ: An Advent MeditationThe entrance antiphon for today’s Mass reflects a powerful image.“A shoot shall sprout from the root of Jesse.” Sometimes translated as “from the stump of Jesse,” this image resonates deeply when we pause to consider its implications. A stump represents what remains after a tree has bee…

Mary, Elizabeth, and the Spirit of Advent Encounter As we approach the final days of the Advent season, . . .. . . our readings and prayers guide us to focus more intently on the events and circumstances leading up to the birth of Christ. By the time we reach the last day of Advent, we metaphorically find ourselves standing on the threshold of His …

God’s Call to Each of Us This Christmas As Christmas draws near, we find ourselves immersed in the exchange of greetings.These greetings come in many forms—gifts, cards, words, and heartfelt messages. Yet, they hold a deeper significance beyond their outward expressions.Giving Inspired by GodWhen a gift is given, it can transcend its material value…

From Darkness to Dawn: The Mystery of Grace Unfolding: Reflections on St. John of the Cross When this weary world approached the shadows of night, . . .. . . the ancient hymn reminds us, the Lord came—not in regal splendor or majestic power, but as a humble child born to Mary, the pure and gentle mother. The saint we honor today, John of the Cross,…

God’s Unfailing Love: Transforming Burdens into BlessingsCasting Our Burdens Upon the LordAs the Gospel reminds us, Jesus invites us to come to Him, for He is humble and gentle in heart. This message resonates deeply, as all of us face difficult moments in life. We carry various burdens—some stemming from responsibilities, others from personal stru…

Hearkening to God’s Music: A Christian’s Dance Dancing is an art that beautifully combines movement and music.At its core, dancing involves two essential elements: the steps we take and the music that inspires them. To dance well, one must first pay close attention to the rhythm, beat, and melody of the music. The steps should flow in harmony with …

The Immaculate Conception: Rooted in Faith, Fulfilled in GraceToday, we celebrate the profound mystery of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Lady.Although formally proclaimed as doctrine less than 200 years ago, its roots run deep in the ancient traditions of Christian faith and practice. This belief flows naturally from what we profess about…

St. Nicholas: A Legacy of Faith and GenerositySt. Nicholas, the revered Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, . . .. . . played a significant role in the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. This pivotal council resolved the Christological question of the divine nature of Jesus Christ and His relationship to God the Father. It affirmed that Jesus is both ful…

Called to Compassion: Sharing Christ’s Message Through DeedsIn the last several days’ readings, we hear about the prophecies . . .. . . which foretell that the blind will see, the mute will speak, the crippled will walk, and the deaf will hear. These miracles have been the focus of this week’s readings, and in the Gospel, we see Jesus fulfilling th…

St. Andrew the Apostle: First Called and the Lessons He Gives to the ChurchThe first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the Advent Season, . . .. . . a sacred time of preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord. While it’s common to think that Advent begins by simply counting back four Sundays from December 25th, the Church fol…

By Perseverance, We Secure Our Lives: A Christian Journey By your perseverance, you will secure your life.What is the ultimate goal of Christian life? Is it happiness? Perhaps happiness is a consequence, but it is not the goal! Is it eternal life? Again, while it may be a result, it is not the primary goal! Is it to love others? Yes, that may be a …

Preparing for Jesus’ Arrival: Reflecting on the Advent Season We extend our heartfelt wishes . . .. . . for a blessed and joyful new liturgical year to everyone. This new beginning calls us to renew ourselves in how we live and grow closer to God. As we step into this liturgical year, we begin with the season of Advent—a time rich with meaning.Adve…

Jesus’ Call to Vigilance: What Does “Stay Awake” Really Mean?Today’s Gospel recounts the parable of ten virgins . . .. . . waiting for the bridegroom’s return, each with lamps in hand. Five brought extra oil, preparing for the unknown length of the wait, while the other five did not. All ten eventually fell asleep.One striking irony in this story i…

The Presentation of Our LadyToday we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lady in the Temple, . . .. . . a celebration with a unique and somewhat debated history in the Roman Church calendar. Following the Second Vatican Council’s revisions, questions arose about whether to retain this feast. While it had modest significance in the Wester…

The God of the Living: Lessons from Jesus and the Sadducees: Preparing Now for Eternal Life We’ve all heard the phrase, . . .. . . “Life is too short; you better enjoy it.” We often use it as a reminder to embrace the fleeting moments of life—whether by traveling, tasting new foods, or seeking out experiences because, as the saying goes, “you won’t…

Discovering the Transformative Love of God In all circumstances, give thanks to the Lord.This timeless truth is exemplified in the story of a little boy who once asked a priest, “Am I going to meet God one day?” The priest confidently replied, “For sure, God will meet you one day.”A few years later, the boy was diagnosed with cancer, and doctors in…

What Jesus’ Parable Teaches About Faithful DevotionIn Luke 17, Jesus teaches His disciples about forgiveness.When Peter asks how many times, they should forgive those who offend them, Jesus provides an answer that challenges their understanding. In response, the disciples say, “Lord, increase our faith,” recognizing that forgiveness is a deeply dif…

Faith and the Second Coming of Christ Luke’s gospel, often referred to as the apocalyptic section, . . .. . . speaks about the future and the anticipated return of Jesus Christ. This second coming is eagerly awaited by those with faith, as faith is the first and essential requirement for this expectation. Such faith is nurtured through persistent p…

Jesus Tells Us: The One Who Loses His Life Will Save It! What Does He Really Mean?The Gospel that we have today is a continuation of what we read yesterday.Yesterday, the Pharisees came to Jesus and asked him, When is the kingdom of God going to come? That was the question. And Jesus said, The kingdom of God cannot be observed.You won’t see someone…

What Happens When Jesus Comes and Completes The Work of Salvation?Today’s scripture reminds us of a fundamental truth: the heart’s ultimate disposition should be to rely on God above all else—before trusting in anyone or anything.Jesus, turning to His disciples, begins by acknowledging the reality of tribulation and turmoil. It’s as if He’s saying,…

Eucharistic Revival Conference #5: Liturgy of the EucharistThis marks the final conference of the Eucharistic Revival series.In the previous session, we explored the Liturgy of the Word. Today, we transition to the Table of the Eucharist, and by the end of this conference, we’ll discuss the possible path forward. What potentially comes next? The an…

Jesus Advises Us on Preparing for Our True Citizenship in Heaven In the first reading, St. Paul delivers a powerful statement.He says, “Our citizenship is in heaven”. This profound assertion suggests that while we live in this world, our ultimate life belongs to heaven. Our existence here is a preparation for that true and eternal citizenship. This…

Jesus Tells Us What God Truly Desires In today’s Gospel, we hear the story of people placing their offerings into the treasury.Jesus takes His disciples, sits down, and observes the people making their contributions. Many offer substantial amounts. However, one widow steps forward and places two small coins—everything she possesses. We have all hea…

St. Paul Tells Us to Put on the Armor of God: Why and When Should We Do That? Just as St. Paul spoke directly to the early Christians; he addresses the profound inner and outer battles in living the Christian faith.It’s not merely a struggle to live a good life, though that is part of it; rather, it’s a struggle against forces and influences beyond…

Entering Through the Narrow Gate: Jesus Shows Us The Path to Salvation! Today’s gospel recounts a moment when someone approaches Jesus with an important question: “Will only a few be saved?”Jesus responds, urging, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate. Many will try, but only a few will be strong enough to succeed.” This gate, Jesus explains, is…

The Four Last Things – Death, Judgment, Heaven, and HellThe conference opens with the recitation of the Hail Mary.The closing words of this familiar prayer, “now and at the hour of our death,” provide a meaningful starting point for reflecting on The Four Last Things. In these simple words, we speak a profound truth: by praying for the hour of our …

Embracing Inclusive Love: Jesus’ Call to Selfless Giving Every good deed receives an award.But the question is, where does this reward come from? Blessed are we if we expect the reward to come from God! In the beginning of the Homily, we hear a story of a specific practice in a distant land. The practice is called “Secret” and is a very good illust…

Jesus tells us to Love your Lord God with all Your Heart, Soul and Mind . . . and Love Your Neighbor. What Does That Really Mean for Us? As you may know, many of the Shrine’s Masses are outdoors.After a bit of humor, the priest tells a story when he was based in Rome, he would hear a priest at a parish near his lodging always sing a Latin verse. It…

Eucharistic Revival Conference #4: Hearing the Word: Why the Gospel Matters in the Liturgy In our last three conferences, we began by exploring the principles of the liturgy.In our first week, we explored the church’s teachings on these principles, focusing on the idea of liturgical participation. This participation, we emphasized, must be active a…

What is God Telling Me During My Hardships? This week in the Gospel, Jesus tells us to prepare and to remain awake.We do not know the hour when the Son of Man will come. Today’s Gospel Jesus tells us to interpret the signs of the times. The Homily explains further.In the Homily we also hear of the destructive power of nature that impacted Africa. D…

What Are You Doing With the Time You are Given? Jesus Gives A Lesson for Our Spiritual Journey! The opening of the Homily talks about a gesture that is performed each time the Gospel is proclaimed at Mass.It is important to understand this for our own Spiritual Journey because the Word of God is given to us in love. Regardless of whether the Gospel…

Jesus Does Not Immediately Respond to a Prayer for a Reason. He Wants Us to Pray in Confidence!As we move through the last several weeks of ordinary time, there will be a shift in the overall tone of scripture.There will be a note of ultimacy. We hear that in today’s readings of scripture. In today’s Gospel we hear of a blind man on the side of the…

St. Luke: A Friend in Faith Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Luke, evangelist.Luke wrote his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. Together, they represent approximately twenty-five percent of the New Testament’s scripture. Interesting, Luke begins his Gospel.Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been …

Eucharistic Revival Conference #3: The Importance of the Eucharistic Prayer Last week we began looking at the Mass and the prayers of the Mass through the centuries.Ultimately the journey will take us through examining the Mass in the Past, the Present and Potentially the Future.We started the journey by examining the prayer of the consecration or …

History Remembers His Greatness: Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and MartyrThe Saint we honor today, Saint Ignatius of Antioch, is one of the most remarkable men that history has ever produced.Tradition holds that when the disciples were arguing among themselves about who was the greatest, Jesus sat down and placed a child on His lap. Unless you …

St. Paul Prays for All to have the Spirit that Allows You to Appreciate the Glorious Goodness of What God has Done . . . For You! There is a beautiful wisdom that underlines the words Jesus gives us in today’s Gospel.Today’s Gospel tells us about acknowledging Him. Jesus also says that one is not to be worried or troubled if dragged before hostile …

Eucharistic Revival Conference #2: The History and Potential Future of the Mass: A Journey Through Eucharistic Worship In Eucharistic Revival Conference #1, we explored the reasons behind the need for this revival and clarified its purpose.We focused on reintroducing the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ and examined the inspiration for the…

The Essence of Christian Life is the Continual Receiving of the Gift From God In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us a parable about a friend knocking on the door in the middle of the night asking for bread.The owner of the house was already in bed. He tells the visitor to go away. Jesus tells us that if the man does not get up and give the visitor what…

Remembering Saint Pope John 23rd: The Good Pope on His Feast Day Saint Pope John 23rd was born in the Northern Italy town of Sotto il Monte in 1881.Upon becoming a priest in 1904, he was made the secretary to a bishop. A few years later he was appointed to go to Rome. He was appointed to be a Cardinal in 1953, and was elected Pope in 1958 at the ag…

St. Paul, and Jesus, Tell Us We All Have A Common Life That We Are All Called to Live. What Does That Really Mean? As St. Paul writes to the Church, he answers a question that is normally asked of Church leaders.The question? Are you saved? St. Paul gives an answer to the Church in his writing. He doesn’t answer, Yes, I am! He answers, Yes, WE are!…

Jesus Tells the Man that Earthly Life Can Prevent You From Obtaining Eternal LifeIn the second reading, we hear there is a cutting sharpness of the Word of God.The Word can uncover what is in a person’s heart all along. It is in sharp contrast to the gentler words within the first reading. To fully understand today’s Gospel, it is important to unde…

Eucharistic Revival Conference #1: What Is and Why Do We Need a Eucharistic Revival?So, why is there a need for the Eucharistic Revival?The Eucharist is where Worship begins and ends as a Catholic. So, why is there a need for a revival? A recent survey taken on April 12th of this year shows that people who come to weekly and / or daily Mass represe…

Conference on Angels: Conf. #2: How We Are United With The Angels in Heaven!When we speak of the angels, it is important to attend to one of the most important ways where the church is most sensitive to the presence of the angels.And that is during the act of our collective divine worship, which we call the liturgy. Um, And again, this is something…

Conference on Angels: Conf. #1: The Role Of Our Guardian Angels is More Than A Protector When we hear that expression, Guardian Angels, we imagine those angels who individually have been assigned to watch over us. And that’s a half truth. Rather, when the church celebrates the guardian angels, it celebrates that, but it also celebrates the way that…

Receive What Jesus Gives You! Be Dependent upon the Lord! Intoday’s first reading from Proverbs we hear about something that all humans have struggled with since Adam and Eve. We hear about the Word of the Lord. We need to be content with what we have. Hmmm! Hear more within the Homily!We hear from scripture of the danger of abundance. In our wealt…

You Are Invited to Participate In the Plan of God! St. Augustine was asked what is time?Time of planting, a time for harvesting, a time for dying, a time for birth and more. When asked what time is, St. Augustine has a thought. When someone doesn’t ask him about time, he says, he knows what time is. He continues, however, when ultimately asked what…

The Book of Ecclesiastes Offers Us the Meaning of Life The most important thing to know about time, is that it ends!It runs out for everyone and everything. It’s not infinite. It is measured. Time comes to an end. This is a fact of our faith. Time indeed comes to an end.Our first reading makes this point to us! When we are young, the possibilities …

St. Paul Asks the Church of Corinth: Are You Conscious of Living in Such a Way that You Know You Are Moving Toward Another World . . . the Kingdom of God in Heaven?St. Paul wrote the letter to the Church in Corinth 2000 years ago.He wrote to the people, and he may have written it to us in today’s world. While Christians do not deny Jesus’ Resurrect…

By Saint Matthew’s Example: How Much Do I Follow Jesus? Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Matthew (September 21st).We all know the Gospel story. Jesus walks over to Matthew’s table, saying nothing but Follow Me!One has to understand the profession of Matthew. He was a tax collector. How the tax collector worked in collecting money is de…

Jesus Tells Us …. Go In Peace, Your Sins are Forgiven Among the contribution of Pope Benedict 16th ‘s papacy was a rekindling in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.The Pope wrote several series / books on Jesus Christ. In one of the Pope’s writings, he speaks of the Gospel. He explains when many read the Gospel, they look at it as ordinary words … as th…