Risen to a new life The Gospel of John chapter 11 is about the “Raising of Lazarus”. It is a story of sadness and frustration when people are faced with the death of a loved one; but it is also a story of hope and trust in God when one experiences tragedy. When Jesus finally arrived in Bethany, Martha went out to meet Him; she poured out her heart to Jesus, saying: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother…
Dear Parishioners, May the peace of Jesus Christ be with you all! In these uncertain times, we advise everyone to take the necessary precautions against the spread of the coronavirus. We recommend the advice of health officials that people stay home as much as possible. In addition, the CDC offers advice on how to protect yourself and your family from COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/index.html. As we take sensible measures to protect everyone from the spread of the coronavirus, be assured that our…
A friend of sinners Jesus is a Friend of sinners. The Gospel of Luke tells us that He was criticized by the scribes and the Pharisees for eating with sinners (Luke 15:2); they called Him “a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” (Luke 7:34). But for those of us who consider ourselves as sinners, it is quite comforting to think of Jesus as a friend. On the other hand, the thought that Jesus will always…
Transfiguration and Exodus All three Gospels of Matthew (17:1-8), Mark (9:2-8) and Luke (9:28-36) record the event of the Transfiguration of Christ. All three Gospels mention that Jesus conversed with Moses and Elijah. However, Luke’s Gospel alone reveals the subject of what they were conversing about – Moses and Elijah were speaking with Christ about the exodus which he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). Let us compare the exodus in the Old Testament with the exodus of…
3 temptations There is a difference between temptation and sin. Temptation is a kind of test or trial, in which man is free to choose to be faithful or unfaithful to God. It is not a sin to be tempted. However, when a person is tempted and chooses to be unfaithful to God, whether in thought, word or deed, then that person commits a sin. Jesus overcame each one of the devil’s temptations. How did Jesus overcome the devil’s temptations?…
An eye for an eye In Ｍatthew’s Gospel, Jesus quotes the Book of Exodus on the subject of personal injury, which said: “But if injury ensues, you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” (Ex 21:23-25) These words actually limit the degree of retaliation one can inflict on others; i.e., if one is unjustly injured by another, the ensuing retaliation cannot…
The Spirit of the Law In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us about anger, adultery and the taking of false oaths. In each case, Jesus goes beyond what was prescribed by the Mosaic Law by teaching us the deeper meaning of these commandments. And in doing so, Jesus teaches us to observe not only the letter of the law but more importantly, the spirit of the law. When one follows the letter of the law, one follows only the literal interpretation…
Persecution and Martyrdom in the History of Salvation In 2020, which was plagued by disasters, there were in addition many persecutions all over the world. In today’s society, we must rely on God to give us the strength to stand up and defend the values of the Church. Let us prepare our hearts to understand and meditate on the history and significance of the history of salvation, and how to apply it in our own spiritual life. Note: this retreat…
Salt and Light Jesus used this metaphor of salt as a teaching tool for His disciples. He calls His disciples “the salt of the earth.” But immediately, He warns them: “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.” (Mt 5:13) In these modern times, it is not easy to understand how salt can lose its taste, because salt is a very…
The Presentation of the Lord The Gospel of Luke 2:22-40 contains two pairs of things. The first pair is the two religious obligations fulfilled by Mary and Joseph: one for Jesus, and one for Mary. The second pair is the two oracles spoken by Simeon: one about Jesus, and one about Mary. 2 religious obligations: (1) The consecration of the firstborn is based on the Book of Exodus chapter 13 verses 11-15. In commemoration of Passover, when the angel of…