Do you consider yourself a prophet?
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Have you ever thought of yourself as a prophet? We are called to be prophets but why and how do we live this calling?
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Do not be afraid, just have faith
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In today’s Gospel reading (Mark 5:21-43) we get a powerful lesson on the importance of having humility and an unwavering faith in God’s love and omnipotence during prayers of petition and intersession. Jesus performs the miraculous healings of Jairus' daughter and a hemorrhaging woman because of their intense faith.
Read MorePope Francis Urbi et orbi 2020 for an end to the Corona Virus
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Start and ending blessing of the meaningful address by Pope Francis in his 2020 Urbi et Orbis for the end of the Corona Virus, March 27, 2020
Start
“When evening had come” (Mk 4:35). The Gospel passage we have just heard begins like this. For weeks now it has been evening. Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and a distressing void, that stops everything as it passes by; we feel it in the air, we notice in people’s gestures, their glances give them away. We find ourselves afraid and lost. Like the disciples in the Gospel we were caught off guard by an unexpected, turbulent storm. We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other. On this boat… are all of us. Just like those disciples, who spoke anxiously with one voice, saying “We are perishing” (v. 38), so we too have realized that we cannot go on thinking of ourselves, but only together can we do this.
It is easy to recognize ourselves in this story. What is harder to understand is Jesus’ attitude. While his disciples are quite naturally alarmed and desperate, he stands in the stern, in the part of the boat that sinks first. And what does he do? In spite of the tempest, he sleeps on soundly, trusting in the Father; this is the only time in the Gospels we see Jesus sleeping. When he wakes up, after calming the wind and the waters, he turns to the disciples in a reproaching voice: “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” (v. 40).
Final blessing
“Why are you afraid? Have you no faith”? Dear brothers and sisters, from this place that tells of Peter’s rock-solid faith, I would like this evening to entrust all of you to the Lord, through the intercession of Mary, Health of the People and Star of the stormy Sea. From this colonnade that embraces Rome and the whole world, may God’s blessing come down upon you as a consoling embrace. Lord, may you bless the world, give health to our bodies and comfort our hearts. You ask us not to be afraid. Yet our faith is weak and we are fearful. But you, Lord, will not leave us at the mercy of the storm. Tell us again: “Do not be afraid” (Mt 28:5). And we, together with Peter, “cast all our anxieties onto you, for you care about us” (cf. 1 Pet 5:7).
Instructions to the Monastic or the Pilgrim
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Instructions to the Monastic or the Pilgrim
A poem by Nicholas Samaras
Enter this room and call it a cell.
Fold yourself and put yourself away.
For your whole life, you will be an amateur.
But be an amateur striving.
Enter this room and call it vigilance.
Make your ego the threadbare rug you walk on.
Read MoreTake my yoke upon you
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An image, a metaphor, is a powerful tool to understand life and theology. For many years I had the wrong image in mind of what Jesus meant by “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me.” As I read and visualized this passage I could feel Jesus’ compassion in his words, but could not understand why he wanted me to take his yoke, and why it was going to be easy.
Read MoreMy God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
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“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” In Matthew 27:46 we hear Jesus on the cross say in Aramaic and Hebrew “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” How is it possible the the Son of God, knowing that He is fulfilling His Father’s plan, felt such despair? This is shocking.
Read MoreThe sign of the cross: simple, ancient, and so profound
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When we do the sign of the cross we are putting ourselves in the presence of God and are asking for His spiritual and physical protection. Yet, this simple prayer has a much more profound meaning.
Read MoreChanging the world, a little at a time
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What we would like to do is change the world--make it a little simpler for people to feed, clothe, and shelter themselves as God intended them to do. And, by fighting for better conditions, by crying out unceasingly for the rights of the workers, the poor, of the destitute--the rights of the worthy and the unworthy poor, in other words--we can, to a certain extent, change the world; we can work for the oasis, the little cell of joy and peace in a harried world.
We can throw our pebble in the pond and be confident that its ever widening circle will reach around the world. We repeat, there is nothing we can do but love, and, dear God, please enlarge our hearts to love each other, to love our neighbor, to love our enemy as our friend. ~Dorothy DayRead More
Lent: 7 Things to Know
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With Ash Wednesday we begin the beautiful and important liturgical season of Lent. Even though Advent is such a happy season, full of light and joy, I actually prefer Lent. Perhaps because there are so many other distractions during Advent with parties, Christmas cards, gifts, special meals, etc. I like the simplicity of Lent, the reminder to repent, and the exhortation to imitate Jesus Christ. I appreciate the silence and self-reflection of the next 40 days. While our focus tends to be on what we are going to sacrifice, the real question needs to be what we need to change in our lives to become more holy, more Christ-like. Here are 7 things we should know about Lent.
Read MorePrayer for Migrants
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Merciful and loving Father, we beseech you, open our hearts so that we may provide hospitality and refuge to migrants who are lonely, afraid, and far from their homes.
Give us the courage to welcome every stranger as Christ in our midst...
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8 Keys to happiness: The Beatitudes
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We all crave happiness. It is a desire that God has placed in our hearts to draw us to Him, the true source of perfect and eternal happiness. But we get confused and try to fill this craving with wealth, power, pleasure, and honor. When Jesus saw the crowds He went up to the mountain and taught them how to achieve happiness, in fact, utmost bliss.
Read MoreGospel Reflection: From darkness will come a great light
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“But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.” Isaiah 9:1-2. How does this passage from the 8th century B.C prophet helps us deal with a state of darkness, whether personal or societal? How do we reach a state of light and hope?
Read MoreMeditating on the Feast of Corpus Christi
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This week the Catholic Church celebrated the Feast of Corpus Christi, also known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. In this feast we celebrate the wonderful gift of Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist. We honor His body, blood, soul, and divinity truly and substantially present in the Eucharist. After mass we had a meaningful Eucharistic Procession around the church.
Read MoreGospel reflection: Abide in me, as I abide in you
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A Gospel reflection studying two passages where Jesus asks us to have an intimate relationship with Him, and then to bear fruits by expressing our love through faith
Read MorePadre Pio on relating to your Guardian Angel
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Yesterday I heard a radio program about Guardian Angels and today I read a July 15, 1913 letter from Padre Pio to Annita Rodote, to whom he gave spiritual direction. In the letter he gives her wonderful advice about her relationship with her Guardian Angel.
Read MoreGospel reflection: The Walk to Emmaus
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The story of "The walk to Emmaus" (Luke 24:13-35) is jam-packed with lessons to help us better live our lives as Christians. Through these words we learn about humility, spiritual awareness, and hope.
Read MoreWhat did Jesus look like after the resurrection?
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What did Jesus look like after the Resurrection? Why is he hard to recognize? Was he physical or spiritual in appearance?
Read MoreThe Passion through Children's Eyes
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There are Bible passages that we read often and we may become used to them. This could be the case with the passages associated with the passion and crucifixion of Christ, as at a minimum, we read them once a year and there are countless movies and paintings about them. It is helpful to “see” the scenes from a different perspective every now and then.
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Learning to forgive
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Every week we may experience actions from others that may offend or hurt us. This could be as simple as another person cutting us off or a person saying something condescending. Often we are ready to forgive them after a few hours or a day, but there are times when the actions against us are extremely hurtful and forgiving is equally difficult. What then? Here are some steps we can take in the forgiveness process.
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