Today's Readings: 2 Kings 5:14-17 Psalms 98:1,2-4 2 Timothy 2:8-13 Luke 17:11-19 “Gratitude is the memory of the heart.” It is shocking to read that only one of the ten lepers healed by Jesus came back to say “thank you.” Being grateful is not just a social duty that we share, but an expression of … Continue reading “Gratitude is the memory of the heart.” →

Today's Readings: Joel 4:12-21 Psalms 97:1-2,5-6,11-12 Luke 11:27-28 In today’s brief Gospel reading, we hear the word “blessed.” It refers to a state of spiritual well-being, in which true joy is experienced in the soul, but it can also be used to mean “respected” or “revered.” So who are the people who deserve to be … Continue reading “Blessed” →

Blessed John XXIII, who will be made a saint April 27, is remembered by many for his warmth, simplicity, social conscience and sense of humor. Pope Francis, who will canonize "the Good Pope," recalled his predecessor as being holy, patient and a man of courage, especially by calling the Second Vatican Council. Blessed John is … Continue reading Memorial of St. John XXIII →

Today's Readings: Malachi 3:13-20b Psalms 1:1-4,6 Luke 11:5-13 In today’s Gospel (Lk 11:5-13), the theme of friendship is prominent. The Gospels are rich in examples of Jesus approaching others in friendship. St. Luke shows a compassionate Jesus who approaches the lepers, paralytics, sinners, tax collectors, centurions, widows, those possessed by demons, epileptics – the list … Continue reading The Friendship-Love of Jesus →

Today's Readings: Jonah 4:1-11 Psalms 86:3-6,9-10 Luke 11:1-4 The Our Father is more than a prayer; it is, as Tertullian said, “the compendium of the whole Gospel,” because in it we find the fundamental principles, the deepest hopes, and the most decisive needs of the disciples of Jesus. The Gospel of Luke presents, first of … Continue reading Memorial of Saint John Leonardi →

Jonah 3:1-10 Psalms 130:1b-2,3-4ab,7-8 Luke 10:38-42 “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you” (Jon 3:2). After some digressions, Jonah finds himself having to face the insistent call of God. The Lord has not forgotten him and renews his missionary call: this time Jonah … Continue reading The Humanity of Christ →

Jonah 1:1-2:2,11 Jonah 2:3-5,8 Luke 10:25-37 Luke presents this parable within the context of a larger episode, in which Jesus encounters a lawyer who believes he can put him to the test. Jesus has already been tested at the beginning of his public ministry, when he was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert … Continue reading Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary →

Today's Readings: Habakkuk 1:2-3:2,2-4Psalms 95:1-2,6-92 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14Luke 17:5-10 Today’s Gospel offers a significant account of faith and a brief parable of our role as servants of God. These two different teachings follow in Luke’s Gospel a demanding precept from Jesus on sin and forgiveness, and they lead to the story of Jesus’ healing of … Continue reading Increase our Faith →

Today's Readings: Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29Psalms 69:33-37Luke 10:17-24 In the Gospel for today, the seventy (or seventy-two) disciples return from the mission with joy, to give account to their master Jesus of their pastoral success: “even the demons are subject to us because of your name” (Lk 10:17). And Jesus shares in the joy of his … Continue reading Written in Heaven →

Today's Readings: Baruch 1:15-22Psalms 79:1-5,8-9Luke 10:13-16 For a deeper understanding of the mission to which all Christians are called, it is useful to start from the words of Jesus in Lk 10:13-16, and then turn to the prayer of Bar 1:15-22, thus shedding light on the history of Israel of God, which is made up … Continue reading Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi →