The Easter Message St. Augustine once said that there is nothing great in believing that Christ died, because non-Christians also believe it, but the great thing is in believing the Resurrection of Christ, which is the foundation of Christian faith. For the Christian, the Resurrection is the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise when he said, “I have the power to lay down my life, and I have the power to take it up again (Jn 10:17-18),” and “destroy this temple and…
The Passion of Christ St. Luke’s version of the crucifixion and death of Christ gives us the remarkable example of Christ’s forgiveness. Hanging on the cross, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them: they don’t know what they do (Lk23:24).” Luke’s Gospel is unique in telling us about the two criminals who were crucified with Christ. One of them echoed the taunts of those who put Jesus to death, by saying: “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us. (Lk23:39)”.…
Lazarus! Come forth! The raising of Lazarus from the dead is the seventh and last sign or miracle in the Gospel of John. Through these miracles, Jesus revealed His identity. For example, at the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus proclaimed Himself the Bread of Life; in restoring the sight of the man born blind, Jesus proclaimed Himself the Light of the world; and at the raising of Lazarus, Jesus proclaimed Himself the Resurrection and the Life. The raising of…
The Man Born Blind The story of the man born blind in John’s Gospel is more than just a miracle story in which Jesus cured the physical blindness of a man. More importantly, it helps us to be more aware of our own spiritual blindness – our inability to see our own sins. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” The…
Worship God in Spirit and Truth Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.” What is the meaning of ‘worshipping God in spirit and truth?’ To worship in ‘spirit’ means to worship in the Holy Spirit, and to worship in ‘truth’ means to worship in a way that is revealed by Christ. Therefore, in order to worship God ‘in spirit and truth,’ a person must first have the…
The Transfiguration of the Lord There are three important elements in the Transfiguration of Jesus that is pertinent to the season of Lent. First, the conversation that Jesus had with Moses and Elijah. Second, the change in appearance of Jesus, and third, the voice from the cloud that came over them. According to St. Luke in today’s Gospel, Moses and Elijah conversed with Jesus about the exodus which he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. The Exodus in the…
The Three Temptations We are all beset with temptations on a daily basis, and sometimes it becomes a real struggle to choose between sin and doing what is pleasing to God. However, today’s Gospel shows us that we need not face temptation alone, and that it is possible to overcome temptation. The temptations of Jesus in the desert signify that Jesus himself had to undergo what all of mankind had to undergo since the fall of Adam and Eve. And…
Lent is Fast Approaching The Lenten season has a double character. It prepares both catechumens and the baptized faithful to celebrate the Paschal Mystery. The catechumens are prepared for their reception of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. On the other hand, the baptized faithful are prepared through penance and prayer for the Easter celebration. This year, the Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday (March 6, 2019) and ends on Holy Thursday (April 18, 2019). In addition…
Love your Enemies Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours…