Gratitude is like a rare flower found in a wintry landscape. Our human nature tends to take for granted favors and gifts, especially those that come from God. An Israelite slave girl belonging to Naaman, a Syrian official who had contracted leprosy, told her master about the prophet of...
Faith. This is a word that we throw around a lot in religion. But what does it mean? Before we look at today’s readings, let’s perhaps review its meaning. Faith is about the future. It is about belief, and it is about trust and loyalty. If we look at faith...
It is no sin to be rich, even though Jesus did say that the rich would have a harder time getting into heaven than the rest of us would. But there’s no virtue in being poor either, even if Jesus once did call the poor “blessed.” Today’s Gospel story helps...
The Gospel passage you’ve just heard is a part of a series of parables dealing with spiritual crises that are generated when we misuse our possessions, when we end up being possessed by our possessions. The lesson today involves, as you all know, the devious and clever wicked steward who...
Today’s Liturgy tells us that “tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus speak” (Luke 15:1). Not just a few, but “ALL”. The poor, the sick, and the lame were universally attracted to Jesus because he offered hope. The scribes and Pharisees took great offense at...
The science class was discussing about whales. The teacher pointed out that this large creature has a very small throat that would make it physically impossible to swallow a human. But one boy objected: “But according to the Bible, Jonah was swallowed by a whale!” The teacher dismissed the comment...
Jesus was a great traveler, always on the move. What drove him was the Gospel, the Good News of the Kingdom. Somehow it was a burden to him that there were people who had not yet heard it and so he kept moving: Through towns and villages he went …...
During today’s First Reading, we heard how Jeremiah was mistreated by the king and his officials. These persons of authority did not appreciate hearing the Word of God that was being prophesied through the mouth of Jeremiah. While it cannot be denied that Jeremiah was delivering bad news, such was...