Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord?– Sirach 28:2-4 I believe that there is true power in choosing to forgive. We imitate God Himself when we show mercy to those who have hurt us. In truth, all sins are sins against God’s law, so only He can truly forgive sins: “It is I, I, who wipe…
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. – Psalm 95:8 Just how can we hear the voice of God? We can hear Him speak His Word to us through the Scriptures, in personal prayer, in our conscience that convicts us of right and wrong (CCC 1777), in the liturgy of the Mass, through the writings of the saints, and through godly people. The adage goes, it’s one thing to hear and another…
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.’” – Matthew 16:24 What does it mean to “deny” yourself? We might take that to mean that we don’t allow ourselves certain pleasures. For example, a person would deny himself a second helping of dinner. But that’s not exactly what Jesus is asking of His disciples. According to the USCCB Bible Commentary, “to…
“And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.” (Matthew 16:18) Just what is a missionary disciple? A simple answer is a disciple who has a mission. In this Sunday’s Gospel passage, Jesus changed Simon’s name when he became the foundation of the Church. Simon’s new name, Petros–Rock, reflected his new mission to be the solid ground for the Church to be built upon. God also…
“Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David – Matthew 15:22 Each of the readings for this Sunday talk about unity, the coming together of different people from various places, all oriented toward the Lord. Isaiah writes the prophecy of all nations being united in the Lord: “my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (Isaiah 56:7). In the Responsorial Psalm we cry out, “O God, let all the nations praise…
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20) This weekend we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. Jesus told the apostles that he would be with them always just before He left them. How is it possible for Him to be both sitting at God’s right hand (Ephesians 1:20) and with us here on earth? How can he remain Emmanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23) after His ascension?…
Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope… (1 Peter 3:15) Easter is a season of joy and hope. During Lent I was focused on allowing God to bring me to healing in a couple of areas, but as Easter approached I felt Him moving me away from that work and toward joy and hope. I think He knew I needed a break from the…
During His trial, Christ told Pilate His purpose: “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” To which Pilate famously asked, “What is truth?” (John 18: 37-38). His question was rhetorical—he probably didn’t really want an answer. But Jesus had given the disciples this answer already, and we hear it in today’s Gospel reading. Jesus…
I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.- John 10:10 The Bible verse above is one worth memorizing. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, gave us a secret to joyful, fulfilling life in this summation of His rescue mission to save us. He came to give us His abundant life, both in this life here and now and the next. So if Jesus came to give us an abundant life, why do…
Imagine walking with the two disciples on the way back home to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). It was the day of the Resurrection, a mere three days after Jesus was crucified. He had indeed risen, as He had promised, but these two disciples had already given up hope. They were downcast and they had lost hope. Notice the past tense: “But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel” (21). How strange:…