Category: Daily Reflections

THE MALE-MAN

“Tell the older men that they must be temperate, serious-minded, and self-controlled; likewise sound in the faith, loving, and steadfast.” –Titus 2:2 “Tell the young men to keep themselves completely under control.” –Titus 2:6 In the USA, we often expect our parishes and pastors to provide for the religious education of our children. We expect our pastors to provide the sacraments and to reach out especially to the elderly and the sick. These expectations are good, but they are different than the early Church’s expectations for ministry. St. Paul expected St. Titus, the pastor of the church of Crete, to...

“FATHER, FORGIVE” (LK 23:34)

“If he sins against you seven times a day, and seven times a day turns back to you saying, ‘I am sorry,’ forgive him.” –Luke 17:4 We are made in the image and likeness of God (Gn 1:27). As disciples of Jesus, we try to be like Jesus in every aspect of our conduct (1 Pt 1:15). In this way, we are like God, for Jesus is God and the “exact Representation of the Father’s Being” (Heb 1:3). To be like God means to work, suffer, give, love, and forgive as God does. This means we must forgive seven times...

LIFE-GIVING

“They gave from their surplus wealth, but she gave from her want, all that she had to live on.” –Mark 12:44 God the Father loves us so much that He gave His Son to us (Jn 3:16). Jesus gave His life for us when He died on the cross. The Holy Spirit gives us charisms, gifts of the Spirit (see 1 Cor 12:4ff). Because God is the greatest Giver, He teaches us that it is better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Because God is the greatest Giver, Jesus, Who is God, sat down opposite the treasury and observed...

NEEDING TO GIVE

“You sent something for my needs, not once but twice.” –Philippians 4:16 St. Paul told the Philippians that receiving money from them gave him great joy, but not because he needed the money (Phil 4:10-11). Paul had learned to be self-sufficient, and cope with anything (Phil 4:11-12). Therefore, he was not in want and not eager for the Philippians’ monetary gifts, but he was concerned for them to balance their account and pay for the service He gave them (Phil 4:17). Paul gave the impression that the Church doesn’t need money, but people need to give money. The Church is...

“ONE BREAD, ONE BODY”

“The temple of God is holy, and you are that temple.” –1 Corinthians 3:17 Today we celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, which is considered the mother church of Christianity. Today we remember that there is only one Church because “there is but one body and one Spirit, just as there is but one hope given all of you by your call. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Eph 4:4-6). Jesus prayed “that all may be one as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; I...