In the parable of the workers in the vineyard, Jesus is teaching us what being His disciple is all about. Ultimately, we are not supposed to have a business relationship with God where we give Him our hard religious work and He gives us our pay of blessings and graces. It is true that our... Continue Reading →

Gospel Reading: Mk 6:17-29 How do we react when someone points out our sins and failings? Usually not very well! When someone tells us that we are doing something wrong, we often become defensive and angry. Our ego is offended, and because of our pride we try to justify ourselves. We attack the other person... Continue Reading →

First Reading: Is 22:19-23 Gospel Reading: Mt 16:13-20 Our readings this weekend invite us to reflect on the rock upon which Jesus has built His Church, and also on the rock upon which we are each building our lives. Let us look first at the Church. In the Gospel today, Jesus tells Saint Peter that... Continue Reading →

Gospel Reading: Jn 1:45-51 We celebrate today the Feast of St. Bartholomew, who was also known as Nathanael, one of the twelve apostles. In the Gospel reading we just heard, Philip brought Nathanael to encounter Jesus. Nathanael was very skeptical about Jesus at first. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” What was it that changed... Continue Reading →

Today, we celebrate the memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary is our queen because she is the Mother of Jesus, the King of Kings. She is the queen of heaven and earth because of her relationship with her son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. St. Alphonsus Liguori says: “Because the virgin Mary... Continue Reading →

In the Canaanite woman in today’s Gospel reading, we see four important virtues for all of us to emulate: faith, courage, humility, and hope. First, faith. As a Canaanite, this woman was a non-Jew, a pagan who worshipped false gods rather than the true God of Israel. And yet, through the experience of suffering and... Continue Reading →

Gospel Reading: Mt 18:21–19:1 The message for us today is clear and simple, even though it is not easy. You and I have received mercy and forgiveness from God for our sins, and we must give mercy and forgiveness to those who have sinned against us. The debt that you and I owe God because... Continue Reading →

With great joy, we celebrate today the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when God raised His blessed Mother into heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthly life. In the year 1950, Pope Pius XII declared that this belief about Mary has been held by Christians since the early... Continue Reading →