Bill Hao

Listen to Him! The Gospel account of the Transfiguration appears in all three synoptic Gospels; comparing all three with one another gives us a fuller picture of the event: In summary, Jesus led Peter, James and John up a high mountain where He was physically transfigured – His face shone like the sun and His clothes became dazzling white (white as light). Moses and Elijah appeared and conversed with Jesus; they talked about His exodus that He was to accomplish…

Lessons from the Desert After Jesus was baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert; He was alone and He fasted for forty days. Jesus seemed vulnerable and Satan came to tempt Him. Point (1) The devil tempts us when we are physically, mentally and spiritually weak and vulnerable. Satan’s objective was to thwart God’s plan of salvation which Jesus, the Son, intended to carry out; this plan will ultimately lead…

Lent – Its Origin and Purpose    Lent – Its Origin and Purpose     Lent is a time when the whole Church reflects on the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; at the same time, it is a time for the unbaptized to prepare for baptism and for those already baptized, it is a time for personal spiritual renewal.  In the 3rd to 4th century Church, preparation for baptism lasted several years. During that time of preparation, the unbaptized…

Peter’s Speech In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught His disciples that it is not enough not to kill, but that they must not have anger in their hearts and be reconciled with their brothers. Jesus taught them that it is not enough not to commit adultery, but that one must not look lustfully at others, and that there can be no divorce in lawful marriages. Jesus taught them that it is not enough not to take a false…

Salt and Light “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in…

Living a Blessed Life The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Jesus went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to Him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them. Great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and from…