A Glimpse of His Love

7th Tuesday in Ordinary Time Feast of Saint Crispin of Viterbo TODAY'S GOSPEL (Mark 9.30-37) recalls moments in Galilee when Jesus told His apostles of His impending death, and how that death should let them understand what faith is all about. When they came to Capernaum, the Lord noticed that His apostles had argued about something along the way. And they told Him about it, He said: If anyone wishes to be the first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all. And then He proceeded to illustrate to their faith: Whoever receives this child in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me. There is a single thread that ties together the death of the Lord, the greatness found in servanthood, and the acceptance of a child in a culture that treated a child as nothing of value. That thread is the humility of soul flowing from total submission to the will of God in an environment of total love and devotion. The Lord will eventua...

7th Sunday of Easter Solemnity of the Pentecost IN TODAY'S GOSPEL (John 7.37-39), the Beloved Apostle recalled Jesus speaking before the Jews in the synagogue during the last and greatest day of the feast. The Lord invited the people of Israel who thirst amid the evils of life to come to Him and be filled. Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink.  Interestingly, the Lord did not invite those who do not thirst to come to him. And this lack of invitation has profound meaning to reflect upon. He did not invite them because either (a) they are self-sufficient in their lives and think they do not need the Holy Spirit, or (b) they are so close to the Lord anyway no invitation would be necessary. The first group of people believed they do not need a drink; the second are already drinking what the Lord can give. Above all that, the Lord sought to fill those who thirst. He came to bring everlasting water to those whose souls thirsted for God. Lord, I thirst for you all through my...

Seventh Saturday of Easter TODAY'S GOSPEL (John 21:20-25) tells of a final scene before the Lord ascended into Heaven. As the newly appointed leader of the Church that would take care of the Lord's sheep  when He physically goes back to His Father, Peter had started thinking of maximizing the Apostles and disciples under him in order to reach as many Jews and Gentiles as possible. But obviously, he had nothing in mind for the beloved apostle, John. So he asked the Lord, what about him? And the Lord replied: What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? The Lord concluded His response with an exhortation for Peter to do instead: You follow me .  In this account from John, the Lord reminds us of the primacy of God's will as the purpose of our lives. He tells us that our vocations are personal calls of a personal God. And only the person being called can exactly understand that call.  Neither must we concern ourselves for the fut...