The Healing Power of Love Our reading this week from the Gospel of Mark depicts two parallel miracles by Jesus: one of a twelve-year-old girl who is dying and the other of a woman who has been hemorrhaging for twelve years. From the gospel we learn that the bleeding woman is suffering immensely, with…
Finding Faith in the Storms of Life “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” In today’s gospel, Jesus poses a poignant question to his apostles amidst the storm. It’s an inquiry that resonates with us today, challenging us to examine the depth of our faith in times of turmoil. Jesus has gathered…
Trusting in God’s Plan The readings for this week teach us to trust in God’s plan, even if it starts small. We might feel insignificant or think our actions do not matter. But God can use our small efforts to create something wonderful. Just like the small shoot in Ezekiel and the mustard seed…
Whoever Does the Will of God is Brother and Sister and Mother to Me In the section of the Gospel just before these verses, Jesus calls his Twelve Apostles. Now he performs his first exorcism. It is told within the context of conflict with his family. A crowd so large has gathered that Jesus…
In the gospels there are plenty of times when Jesus is with people eating and drinking and today’s gospel is no exception. As always, Jesus is concerned with people and their real needs. They are hungry, so he feeds them. He is gracious in his abundant giving. But he feeds them not only with food;…
The Trinity is not something that we can understand and figure out with our reasoning, intellect or with our brain. We most certainly won’t find the explanation to the Trinity by ‘googling’ it! The Trinity is a mystery that we are to experience with our hearts not with our heads. It is not a puzzle or a…
Come Holy Spirit Today, we celebrate the most glorious Solemnity of Pentecost, the promised Gift of the Father and the Son to Jesus’ disciples. After rising from the dead, Jesus appeared to His disciples for forty days. During those appearances, He offered them proof of His resurrection, continued to teach them, and reminded them…
Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow As we mark and celebrate the Ascension of the Lord, the saying, ‘all good things come to an end’ never sounded more suitable and appropriate. In last Sunday’s gospel, Jesus told his followers that he would give them another Advocate to be with them forever, the Spirit of truth. Before Jesus…
Chosen by God In this weekend’s gospel, Jesus says “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain” (John 15:16). Jesus chose this unqualified group of people to lead his church. He knew their shortcomings and sins yet chose them.…
The True Vine If we admire nothing about Jesus except that he was a superb observer of people and nature and that he was an equally superb storyteller, we will have much to admire. Sheep, vines, wheat, corn, sowing, harvesting, salt, foxes, snakes, coins – you name it, and Jesus could brilliantly work it…