Dear Family!
Reflection: People take up the subject on ‘Pro-Life’ mostly during the election time and use it for or against a presidential candidate. ‘Pro-Life’ must be understood in the context of our love and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ without whom we have no life let alone ‘Pro-Life’. How ‘Pro-Eucharist’ you are determines how ‘Pro-Life’ you are. Your love for the Eucharist, longing to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus through which we receive ‘Life’ in fulness, compels us to honor and respect our Godgiven, free gift of life.
READ MOREDear Family!
Reflection: On the 15th of October 2023, the Pope published another Apostolic Exhortation in honor of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. In the 1st part the pope reflects on God’s merciful love and forgiveness. In the 2nd part he invites us to trust in God in moments of joy and also in difficulty. In the last part the pope invites us to share our trust in God with others.
READ MOREDear Family!
Reflection: The readings remind us of our duty to be partakers of the banquet of the Lord. Isaiah’s time has seen poverty of people who could not afford great banquets. Banquets were organized by the kings for political reasons or for victory over enemies. ‘Banquet’ like a wedding feast is the biblical image of the encounter of love between the Lord and Israel. ‘Banquet’ is also the symbol of happiness in the time of the Messiah. It is the ‘banquet’ that unites us with the Kingdom of God.
READ MOREDear Family!
Reflection: The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us, "The Church is a cultivated field, as tillage of God. On that land, the ancient olive tree grows whose holy roots were the prophets and in which the reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles has been brought about and will be brought about again. That land, like a choice vineyard, has been planted by the heavenly cultivator. Yet the true vine is Christ who gives life and fruitfulness to the branches, that is, to us, who through the Church remain in Christ, without whom we can do nothing" (CCC 755).
READ MOREDear Family!
Reflection: The readings this Sunday focus on repentance and humility. They are the sure ways of our salvation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that Jesus' call to conversion and penance does not aim first at outward works, "sackcloth and ashes," fasting and mortification, but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion. Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil. At the same time, it entails the desire and resolution to change one's life, with hope in God's mercy and trust in the help of his grace. (CCC 1430)
READ MOREDear Family!
Reflection: Saint Pope John Paul II in meditating on the distance between God’s perspective of things and ours dedicated a whole encyclical in teaching us,“The desire for knowledge is so great and it works in such a way that the human heart, despite its experience of insurmountable limitation, yearns for the infinite riches which lie beyond, knowing that there is to be found the satisfying answer to every question as yet unanswered.” (Fides et Ratio, 16, Pope John Paul II)
READ MOREDear Family!
Reflection: From the 18th Sunday on we have been closely reflecting on the personality of Peter in the Gospel Readings: Peter played a huge role in the multiplication of loaves (18th), walks on the water (19th) intercedes for the Canaanite woman (20th), declares his confession and conviction that Jesus is the Son of God (21st), learns from Jesus to take up and carry the cross (22nd), learns about community building (23rd) and learns the secrets of happiness and peace to be shared with the community in the readings for this this Sunday (24th).
READ MOREDear Family!
Reflection: In the Lord’s Prayer we pray, ‘Forgive us our trespasses’, that forgiveness is prayed for after food which is life’s necessity. Saint Ambrose taught us, “For when the Lord forgave all sins, He made an exception of none.” Yes, God forgives everyone without exceptions. Forgiveness indeed brings blessings from God. As Saint Faustina once said, “He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God. As often as I look upon the Cross, so often will I forgive with all my heart.”
READ MOREDear Family!
Reflection: Happy Labor Day to you! When Saint Augustine said, “You are my Lord, because You have no need of my goodness” we understand a little about the vastness of God, but it doesn’t empty us of our responsibility of the command of Jesus, “Be holy as your Father is Holy.” Certainly, as Scott Hahn puts it, ‘God disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness.” How would a Christian react to our tough situation? How would a leader, a prophet, the Church respond to the suffering, pain and misery that threaten our holiness? When we face underserved suffering, it is wise to approach it as a test that requires great faith.
READ MOREDear Family!
Reflection: Peter’s whole life is a symbol of the church in itself. Peter was to encounter Jesus with the persuasion of his brother Andrew. He was to make known the revelation which has been given from above, that Jesus was the Christ. He was to get himself in a difficult and opposing position with Jesus on account of being very earthly in heart and mind. He was given the commission to lead the group of the apostles and gets his name and the meaning of his life changed by Jesus. Peter was set to betray Jesus and was to weep and repent later on to be encouraged by Jesus to tend His sheep.
READ MOREDear Family!
Reflection: The theme of the 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time reveals to us the universal call to salvation. Jesus commissioned His Apostles to spread the Gospel “to the ends of the earth”. God’s plan was always to invite all people. In the first reading, through the voice of Isaiah we hear that the Jerusalem Temple “Shall be called a house of prayer for all people”. God will extend the gift of salvation to all nations (Isaiah 56:1- 12). Saint Paul also reiterates this universal call of God: Jews and Gentiles can have confidence in God’s call to salvation because the “gifts and call of God are irrevocable.”
READ MOREReflection: I thank all of you for all your love and support all through the year; it has been one year since my appointment as your pastor. I am grateful to God for His graciousness in leading me and guiding me so that I can serve you well! There will always be uncertainties in life as you probably felt at times in your lives. The personalities we meet in the readings are all and nothing but personalities who have faced uncertainties all their lives. Elijah’s uncertainty is all about his prophetic role. In the Gospel, the Apostles unwillingly agree to get into the boat as they were enjoying the privilege of Jesus’s friendship - they got special recognition from the people. For Jesus ‘special recognition’ is given to you when you are found worthy at the time of challenge, trial, tribulation.
READ MOREDear Family!
Reflection: Every pope has a Papal Motto that highlights the pope’s focus or his pastoral concern over the church. Pope Francis’ motto on his coat of arms, “miserando atque eligendo” is taken from a homily by Saint Bede, which could be translated as “having mercy, Jesus called him.” Pope Benedict XVI’s Papal Motto was “Cooperatores Veritatis” (Cooperators of the Truth taken from 3rd Letter of John, which has only one chapter, 8th verse). Pope John Paul II’s motto is “Totus Tuus” which means ‘Totally Yours’ or ‘I am all yours, and all I have is yours’ is inspired by the teaching of St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort.
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