The story of the fall of Adam and Eve, and the story of the temptation of Jesus, are both about making choices. Every day we are faced with choices: to do good or to do evil, to choose for or against God. Within each of us there is a tendency toward rebellion and self-centeredness, which often leads us to make wrong [...]
“Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20) The Kingdom of Heaven is the ultimate goal of the Christian life. Jesus, in the Beatitudes, shows us the path that leads to this Kingdom. He begins by saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom [...]
In the Beatitudes that Jesus proclaimed on the mountain, we discover the values by which a Christian is called to live. While the Beatitudes present a great challenge, they also promise great rewards, both in this life and in the life to come. Too often, the values by which we live have little to do with the values of the [...]
“The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light.” This is how the Gospel of this Sunday describes the impact of Jesus’ ministry. That light shines on us as well whenever we gather in the Lord’s name. Light is a source of great joy. Coming from Africa, where in some places even in the twenty-first century there is [...]
With the words, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” Saint John the Baptist proclaims a profound truth about the mission of Jesus. Jesus’ mission is directed toward sinners. He is the Servant whose coming was foretold by the prophet Isaiah, the One sent to bring sinners back to God. Jesus comes to give [...]
With the Baptism of the Lord, the Christmas season comes to an end, for Jesus is no longer the child of Bethlehem but begins His public ministry. As we reflect on Baptism, we are reminded that whenever we enter a church, we bless ourselves with holy water as a reminder of our Baptism. Since the early days of the Church, [...]
Today we look at the central icon of Christmas: the crib of Bethlehem, with Mary and Joseph gathered around the Child Jesus. This is not an image of the Trinity, but of a family. When God came among us, He chose the most natural mode of human existence—a family. The family is the most important community to which we can [...]
As we approach Christmas, when we look at our streets and commercial centers, it often seems that the spiritual meaning of the season is getting lost. People are already celebrating Christmas, while the Church is still inviting us to light the fourth Advent candle. Does this mean that we are behind or out of step with the world? No. Rather, [...]
When you read the newspapers, sometimes you feel ashamed to be a human because of war, atrocity, dead, killing, tears and fears. The prophet Isaiah had a vision of how things could be. The vision is for peace and harmony among all people where the wolf and the lamb living together. Leopard lying down with kids, calf and lion browsing [...]
The Third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete, which means “rejoice,” because the Lord is coming. Joy is something everyone can experience—a feeling of great happiness, a positive emotion, and satisfaction. Biblical joy, however, is deeper: it is a profound sense of happiness and contentment that comes from a relationship with God. It is rooted in confidence and trust [...]