In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus challenging us to give up our possessions and desires and dedicate ourselves to the work of the Gospel. “Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple”- Luke 14:27. The call for us to take up the cross and follow Jesus is not something easily understood especially so [...]
In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Since the creation of Mankind by God our Father, Humanity has been invited to enter into the fullness of life that is offered by God. This fullness of life has dimensions beyond one’s earthly existence. Intrinsic in this, is a call to partake of [...]
“For everyone who exults himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted.” Of all the ways others have described you, how many have described you as a humble person? His state was divine, yet Christ Jesus did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as men [...]
Beginning in the Victorian era and continuing into the 1960s, there were many floating pseudo-Sciences and quackeries that were masquerading themselves as legitimate medical practices. Women were often sent to asylums to treat their monthly hysterias, while supposed medical practitioners often advocated extreme and shocking measures such as lobotomies to eradicate temperaments. An infamous case in point was Rosemary Kennedy [...]
“For I know what my plans for you are, plans to save you and not to harm you., plans to give you a future and to give you hope.” (Jer 29:11) God’s plan for us is salvation and salvation begins when we begin to ‘know’ Jesus Christ. Simply claiming to be a good Catholic and to have spent time with [...]
Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew (21:28-31) tells a parable of two sons: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son [...]
Some of you may think this a preposterous question. Jesus had 12 disciples with him. Beyond these close confreres, Jesus also had personal friends like Lazarus, Mary and Martha.1 Perhaps I never really thought of Jesus having friends. Since young, I have hummed the hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear…” Jesus [...]
Fire is a mechanism that is powerful. It can be destructive, it can also purify. This fiery baptism that Jesus speaks of, aims to destroy the old ways and the kingdom of sin, while purifying the Faithful like gold in a crucible. (cf. Lk 17:29). We see a glimpse into the depths of Jesus’ soul as He speaks passionately and [...]
The life of Mother Teresa has been well-documented. In her interviews, she related the story of a man that she had found in the street drains. His body had been infested by maggots and his face had been almost half-eaten by these worms that plagued him. As she tended to his wounds and cleaned him up, picking out maggot after [...]
“Sell your possessions and give alms.” “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” “You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Is your treasure of this world or are you rich in love, faith, hope, charity, and trust in our Lord’s providence? Are you [...]