2014

This is a wake up call for those of us who have grown complacent about our faith. We come to Mass every weekend and judge ourselves to be faithful followers of Jesus yet are we being faithful to his message when we leave here and venture into the world out there?

At the end of Mass we are instructed to go forth and live the gospel, but do we? As we heard in the gospel, Jesus divided all the nations into two camps: the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. He welcomed the sheep to inherit the kingdom for having lived what we traditionally call the corporal works of mercy. “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”

…

Christ the KingRead More »

As with all of Jesus’ parables, it is very common for us to want to simply throw up our hands and say, “I don’t get it!” And, today’s parable is particularly difficult to understand. I can imagine his disciples saying, “what on earth are you talking about, Jesus?

In the context of today’s environment, I can also imagine a professor at a prestigious graduate school of business using this parable to explain why the “rich get richer, while the poor get poorer.” Or, as an introduction to investment theory. After all, the master summarizes the situation pretty well, “those who have, will get more until they grow rich, while those who have not, will lose even the little they have.” We could assume the parable is about capitalism, investing for the maximum return, acquiring wealth at all cost….But we know better, don’t we?

…

33rd Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »

This weekend, the Church celebrates the dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran. Why all this fuss over a church located on a hilltop in Rome? This church is significant because of its place in history. When he freed the Christian faith from centuries of persecution by becoming one himself, Emperor Constantine built this church to serve as the cathedral of Rome. There has been a Catholic cathedral on this spot ever since it was dedicated on November 9, 324 by Pope Sylvester I.

The cathedral still stands although little remains of the original building, destroyed several times by fires and an earthquake. Rebuilt in the 14th century, the present cathedral is a testimony that the Church, like a phoenix, will rise from its ashes. As the cathedral for the diocese of Rome, St. John Lateran is considered the “Mother and head of all the churches of Rome and the world.”

…

Dedication of Lateran BasilicaRead More »

This solemnity today brings to me a sense of sadness and yet great joy. On this day, my sister celebrated her birthday. She died on 18 November, 1993, days after her 40th birthday. I especially remember her last birthday celebration where we danced and just had fun, at her expense of course, being her 40th and all.

I can still feel that last hug we exchanged on that day as if it were just yesterday. Memories of my sister linger on in my heart and I pray for her every day as I do my father who died in 1997.

…

All Souls DayRead More »

Church tradition has long identified the vineyard in this parable as Israel. The tenants were seen as the leaders of ancient Israel, the servants as the prophets who received the unjust treatment from them, and the son is Jesus himself. To many observers, this gospel passage alludes to the rejection of Jesus’ preaching by the elders and chief priests. We gather together as his followers but how often do we find ourselves doing the same thing, rejecting his word?

Think of the vineyard as your mind and the wicked tenants as your negative beliefs, habits and attitudes. The servants are divine ideas that your ego rejects. The tenants’ final act of defiance, in killing the son, refers to our rejection of Jesus whenever we commit a grave sin.

…

Respect Life SundayRead More »