NOVEMBER 1, ALL SAINTS DAY One-page synopsis: The feast and its objectives: All baptized Christians who have died and are now with God in glory are considered saints. All Saints Day is intended to honor the memory of countless unknown and uncanonized saints who have no feast days. Today we thank God for giving ordinary… Continue reading »
The central theme of today’s readings is the overflowing mercy and kindness of a loving, healing and forgiving God for His children. (Add an anecdote) Scripture lessons summarized: The first reading tells us how a forgiving and compassionate God has been healing the spiritual blindness of His Chosen People by subjecting them to captivity in… Continue reading »
OT XXIX [B] (Oct 21): Mk 10:35-45 (L-18) Central theme: Today’s Scripture readings describe leadership as the sacrificial service done for others and offer Jesus as the best example. They also explain the servant leadership of Jesus, pinpointing service and sacrifice as the criteria of greatness in Christ’s Kingdom. Scripture lessons summarized: The first reading… Continue reading »
Central theme: Today’s readings remind us that we do not possess anything in our life that we refuse to surrender to the Lord. In reality, these things often possess us, and we become the prisoners of our possessions. What we have really done is to give our “things” top priority in our lives. Thus, we violate… Continue reading »
The central theme: Today’s Scripture readings are about the bond of love that marriage creates between a man and a woman, a bond that God intends to be permanent. These readings challenge the spouses to practice the fidelity of their ever-faithful God, honoring their holy covenant marriage commitment before Him. Scripture lessons summarized: The first… Continue reading »
Central theme: Today’s Scripture readings give us a strong warning against jealousy, intolerance and scandal. Scripture lessons: In the first reading, we find jealousy, in its destructive form of envy, raising its ugly head in Moses’ assistant and successor, Joshua. Moses and seventy future helpers were called by the Lord God to the Tent of Meeting… Continue reading »
Introduction: Today’s readings invite us to become great in the sight of God by doing God’s will, as Jesus did, surrendering our lives to Him by serving others. Scripture lessons summarized: The passage from the Book of Wisdom sounds like a messianic prophecy similar to the “Suffering Servant” prophecy in Isaiah referring to Christ’s passion. It… Continue reading »
Introduction: Today’s Gospel explains the basis of our Faith as acceptance of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God and our Lord and Savior. It also tells us that Christ Jesus became our Savior by his suffering, death and Resurrection. Finally, it outlines the three conditions of Christian discipleship, namely, denying oneself,… Continue reading »
OT XXIII [B] Isiah 35:4-7a; James 2:1-5; Mk 7:31-37 Homily starter anecdote: The “little monk” who opened blind eyes: At the Annual National Prayer Breakfast on February 2, 1984, Ronald Reagan, the former president of the United States, told the old story of “the little monk,” Telemachus, a martyr whose self-sacrificial commitment to Christian ideals… Continue reading »
SYNOPSIS: OT XXII [B] HOMILY: Mk 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Introduction: Today’s readings explain what true religion is. It is not simply a scrupulous, external observance of rules, laws, traditions and rituals. It is a loving, obedient relationship with God expressed in obeying His Commandments, worshipping Him, recognizing His presence in other human beings and… Continue reading »