In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us glimpses of the pathway to heaven by using parables - finding a hidden treasure buried in a field; a pearl trader searching for a pearl of great price; and a large fishing net full of every kind of fish to be sorted. Jesus used these parables to explain and give us a glimpse of [...]
Our Father is indeed merciful and patient, loving and forgiving, He stays faithful to His Covenant and waits patiently for us to return. The psalmist is so convinced of God’s mercy and love that he becomes a willing servant and seeks God for strength to go through the trials to do His will. This is the response that we are [...]
In this week’s Liturgy of the Word, God is reminding us to set our sights on our end goal, our destination: which is the glory and grandeur of His kingdom at the end of our lives. Now how are we supposed to reach there? What is the path we must take? The First Reading points us to the Word [...]
“....although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to little ones.” (Mt 11:25) Have we ever wondered that our Eternal Father who knows all, who has seen humans from age to age would say this? Well, why wouldn't He? It was HE who created us from the womb of our mother and [...]
The Gospel of the Transfiguration of the Lord puts before our eyes the glory of Christ, which anticipates the resurrection and announces the divinization of man. The Greek word for “transfigured” is metemorphothe, from which metamorphosis stems from, which means transformation or conversion. Jesus’ “face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.” (Matthew 17:2). Jesus was transfigured by [...]
In all three Synoptic Gospels, the temptation immediately follows Jesus’ baptism. Matthew's more gentle expression -"was led up” indicates how entirely voluntary this action of Jesus was. The Spirit guided and accompanied Him into the wilderness to have His faith tried. The Spirit does not tempt Jesus, the tempting is done by Satan. The Greek word peirazo mean tempt or test. To tempt is to entice [...]
Jesus summoned the twelve apostles and sent them out on their first mission to proclaim the message that “The Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Matt 10:7). Jesus did not give them any preaching resources, instead he instructed them specifically not to bring anything and forewarned them that they would face great challenges like sheep among the wolves! He only promised [...]
The solemnity of Pentecost draws to a conclusion the Easter season, exactly fifty days after our Lord’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. We know from Gospel reading that on the evening of Easter Sunday, shortly after Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to his disciples. He then commissioned them with these words, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so [...]
Liturgical Reflection for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity The solemnity of the Holy Trinity which we celebrate today is a mystery of love and the central mystery of our Christian faith. “It is the mystery of God in himself. It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them (Catechism [...]
Liturgical Reflection for the 6th Sunday of Easter In today’s Gospel we are taken to the scene of the last supper, where Jesus having taught His disciples about serving and loving each other by washing their feet, calls on them to keep his commandments in response to his love. What are these commandments? To love God “with all your heart, [...]