Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. 2 Cor.…[read more]
The great crowd heard this with delight. Mark 12: 37 Today’s gospel continues Jesus’ ongoing contestation with the Scribes. It also provides a contrast between the attitude of the scribes and that of those who constitute the “great crowd” that follow Jesus and humbly and openly attend to his word. Jesus reminds us that “where…[read more]
Jesus answered: “‘The first is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” Mark 12:…[read more]
Whereas all your decrees are true when you deal with me as my faults deserve, and those of my fathers, since we have neither kept your commandments nor walked in truth before you; so now, do with me as you will . . . Tobit 3:5 Today’s reading from Tobit invites us to reflect on,…[read more]
And he said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Jesus said to them: “The things of Caesar give back to Caesar, and the things of God to God.” And they were amazed at him. Mark 12: 16-17 Today we hear one of the most familiar sayings of…[read more]
But those tenant farmers said to themselves: “This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.” And they seized and killed him, and threw him outside the vineyard. Mark 12: 7-8 Yesterday was Trinity Sunday. The alternate prayer for the Feast speaks beautifully of the life and love of…[read more]
Now let us praise illustrious persons, our ancestors in their successive generations. . . . While others have left no memory, and disappeared as though they had never been, and so too, their children after them. But here is a list of generous persons whose good works have not been forgotten. Sirach 44: 1,9-10 It…[read more]
How beautiful are all his works even to the spark and fleeting vision! The universe lives and abides forever; to meet each need, each creature is preserved. All of them differ, one from another, yet none of them has he made in vain. For each in turn, as it comes, is good; can one ever…[read more]
You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them and their great ones wield authority over them. But it is not to be so among you. But whoever may wish to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever may wish to be first among you…[read more]
In my early years of religious life, it would often be said, at the time of a celebration, a special meal, or an enjoyable outing, that this particular gratification was “part of the hundredfold.”…[read more]
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