“Blessed is the man”—the first word of the first psalm. This is echoed by the first word of Jesus’ first sermon on the mount: “Blessed are the poor.” What does “blessed” mean—this somewhat archaic and faded term? The mind immediately turns to synonyms such as happy, content, fortunate. But the term cannot be confined solely…
In today’s gospel, Jesus says “You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” And, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” We have heard these words, over and over, and they are the foundation of our belief system, our faith. Yet, they pose…
Teacher, what is the greatest commandment? This important question prompts Jesus to offer a command not found among the Ten Commandments. He begins with the verb “You shall love,” indicating that love is essential for the future. Without love, there is no future, and we risk destroying ourselves. This is the essence of the Gospel:…
Today’s readings begin with Simeon, a priest known for renovating the house of God. This relates to St Francis, on his feast day, to whom God said, “Go and repair my house, which, as you see, is falling completely to ruin.” Francis, who lived in the 13th century, began with physical labor, repairing one church…
Reflection on Matthew 21:33-43The parable is both somber and clear: the vineyard symbolizes Israel, the world, and me—a source of wild grapes, as noted in Isaiah, and a harvest of blood in Matthew. I reflect God’s disappointment. Its harshness foreshadows a violent conclusion, as evident in the vineyard workers’ chilling statement: “This is the heir;…
I look at the day through the eyes of the least among us—those sitting in the square with their tools of the trade laid aside, useless, who feel they have failed in their mission to provide for their families: those who feel unable to care for their children are suffering, suffering greatly. The call that…
“A man had two sons,” and each son had two hearts, reflecting a common human experience: one heart that says yes and another that says no. There is no third son with a unified heart—no ideal son who perfectly aligns words with actions. We are unfinished, contradictory people: I do not understand myself; I do…
It all begins when we feel indebted, says Paul;when we feel ourselves to be guardians of the other,says the Prophet; unassuming debtors and attentive guardians: these are the two beautiful names for every person in a relationship. And the third is offered by the Gospel: restorers of bonds, those who ceaselessly mend the continually torn…
Today’s gospel asks the question, “Who is Jesus?” He wants to know how we define our relationship with Him. When I take my mom to a doctor’s appointment, the medical staff asks me, “How are you related to the patient?” I say, “I’m her son.” Essentially, I came from her, they may even notice a…
What do people say? And what do you say?Jesus uses questions to help his friends grow.Jesus’ questions in the Gospel truly serve an important purpose; they are not catechism-style questions, but sparks that ignite something, setting in motion transformation and growth. In life, questions are more important than answers. While answers may satisfy us and…