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Jesus said that when the prodigal son came home, he was welcomed back into his father’s house. He received a new robe, ate at his father’s table and had full forgiveness. But that didn’t make him an angel. On the contrary, I believe the prodigal’s father experienced a lot of problems with him before it was all over. However, the one thing this son had to know was that he was secure in his father’s love. He had to know his father would bear with him, work with him and love him. That’s how our heavenly father is with us....

"For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers" (Eph. 1:15-16). Your love for other Christians is as much a mark of true faith as your love for God. The Ephesian Christians demonstrated two important characteristics of genuine Christian faith: faith in the Lord Jesus and love for fellow believers. "Faith in the Lord Jesus" implies both an affirmation of Christ's deity and submission to His sovereignty. Because He is...

22 January 20233rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Sunday of the Word of God) Cathedral of Valencia, Saint Vincent Martyr chapel Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: A(I).First readingIsaiah 8:23-9:3 ©In Galilee of the nations the people has seen a great lightIn days past the Lord humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in days to come he will confer glory on the Way of the Sea on the far side of Jordan, province of the nations.The people that walked in darknesshas seen a great light;on those who live in a land of deep shadowa light has...

(Daily readings from the USCCB)From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17In Matthew’s Gospel, from which we read today, we hear the first words spoken by our Lord as He begins His public ministry: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”Up until this point, Matthew’s Gospel presented us with Jesus’ genealogy, His birth, the story of the Magi, the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt, the slaughter of the Holy Innocents, Jesus’ baptism, the preaching of Saint John the Baptist and Jesus’ forty days in the...

[Catholic Caucus] To improve liturgy, involve people, pope saysReligious celebrations must foster the "fruitful participation of the people of God" and not just of the clergy, Pope Francis said.Speaking to diocesan liturgical directors Jan. 20, the pope said that beyond a "deep knowledge" of religious celebrations, experts on liturgy must have a strong pastoral sense to improve a community's liturgical life.A pastoral approach to the liturgy allows religious celebrations to "lead the people to Christ, and Christ to the people," which the pope said is the "principal objective" of liturgy and an essential principle of the Second Vatican Council."If we...

The Readings for this Sunday focus in part on the theme of joy, the joy that comes from recognizing Jesus Christ as the light of the world, the ray of sunshine from God who shows us a different way to live, a way that will lead to an eternal friendship with a God who loves us as our Father. Jesus is the joy and light that first was promised to the people of Israel long ago, but is now available to the whole world, from Sweden to Swaziland. 1. Our First Reading is Isaiah 8:23-9:3:First the Lord degraded the land...

21 January 2023Saint Agnes, Virgin, Martyr on Saturday of week 2 in Ordinary Time St. Agnes Parish, Arlington, Va. Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Red. Year: A(I).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst readingHebrews 9:2-3,11-14 ©He has entered the sanctuary once and for all through his own bloodThere was a tent which comprised two compartments: the first, in which the lamp stand, the table and the presentation loaves were kept, was called the Holy Place; then beyond the second veil, an innermost part which was called the Holy of Holies. But now Christ has come,...

(Daily readings from the USCCB)Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” Mark 3:20–21When you consider the sufferings of Jesus, most likely your thoughts first turn to the crucifixion. From there, you may think about His scourging at the pillar, the carrying of the Cross and the other events that took place from the time of His arrest until His death. However, there were many other human...

You cannot know God in fullness until you see Christ as God wants you to see him. Jesus said, “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9 NKJV). We must see Jesus, not as man teaches, but as the Spirit reveals him to us, as God wants us to see and know him. There are many volumes in my library about Jesus, written by good men. Yet, I believe many of these men have never seen Jesus as God would have us see him. We are to get God’s vision and testimony of Christ, then we will...

You were sealed with the Holy Spirit "with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory" (Eph. 1:14). Someday God will take full possession of all that is rightfully His. Yesterday we saw that God seals us with the Holy Spirit as a pledge of our eternal inheritance. Here Paul says He does so "with a view to the redemption of [His] own possession." That refers to when God takes full possession of all that is rightfully His. Everything is God's by creation, but Satan has usurped God's rulership to become the "god...

Most of us are still dumb creatures looking to the future for fulfillment. We think some future event or change in our circumstances will bring us peace and joy. We say, “Just wait; my day is coming. Somehow, someday, somewhere…I don’t know what is out there for me, but it will happen.” We are like children waiting for Christmas and counting the days. David once wrote during a mournful, introspective season in his life that he felt the time was going too fast. He had accomplished so little, he thought. Everything at the time seemed to be in vain. “Surely...

"You were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance" (Eph. 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit is God’s first installment on your eternal inheritance. The Holy Spirit's ministry in your life is multifaceted and profound. Among other things He brings salvation, conviction, guidance, and strength. He indwells and equips you for spiritual service and gives assurance of your salvation. He is your Helper and Advocate. He is the Spirit of promise, who seals you until the day when your redemption is fully realized (Eph. 4:30). Sealing speaks of security, authenticity, ownership,...

(Daily readings from the USCCB)He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. Mark 3:14–15The Twelve Apostles were first called by Jesus and then sent to preach with authority. The authority they were given was for the purpose of driving out demons. But how did they do that? It’s interesting to note that the authority they were given over demons was, in part, associated with their commission to preach. And though there are some recorded instances in the Scriptures...

20 January 2023Friday of week 2 in Ordinary Time St. Fabian, Pangasinan, the Philippines Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: A(I).First readingHebrews 8:6-13 ©The first covenant is already oldWe have seen that Christ has been given a ministry of a far higher order, and to the same degree it is a better covenant of which he is the mediator, founded on better promises. If that first covenant had been without a fault, there would have been no need for a second one to replace it. And in fact God does find fault with them; he says:See, the days are coming...

The liturgical life was revived in yet another Russian church, a century after it was abolished by the godless Soviet authorities. On January 14, the feast of the Circumcision of the Lord and St. Basil the Great, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the lower church of the Church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos on Vasilievsky Island in St. Petersburg for the first time since 1923, reports the St. Petersburg Metropolis. The service was celebrated on the right altar, which was consecrated in 1762 by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk. The renovated altar is to be consecrated in...

Pope tells Cambodian Buddhists: rebuilding with the poor respecting creationA Cambodian delegation is received in audience at the Vatican together with the Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh and the president of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. The pope calls for an "ecological conversion" that safeguards both the environment and our brothers and sisters. The pontiff praises “metta”, a Buddhist practice of respecting every living thing preached by the Buddha that is similar to the call in Genesis to till and keep the earth.

The One Thread By Which the Council Hangs: a Response to Cavadini, Healy, and WeinandyAbove: photos of (left) Requiem Mass for Pope Benedict XVI at the Monastère Saint-Benoît, provided by the monastery, and (right) Mass in Mexico, by marianaarias of CathoPic.“Don’t touch that! If you do, everything will collapse!” The warning is clear enough. Any sensible person would rapidly desist, lest their one seemingly minor act bring everything crashing down, undoing the work of many days, weeks, years or even decades.I am not sure whether these were the exact words used by a number of bishops at the beginning of...

(Daily readings from the USCCB)He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. Mark 3:9–10It’s fascinating to ponder the enthusiasm that so many people had toward Jesus. In the passage above, we see Jesus asked His disciples to have a boat ready for Him so that He would not be crushed as He taught the crowd. He had been curing many who were sick, and the crowd was...

19 January 2023Thursday of week 2 in Ordinary Time St. Henry Catholic Church, Buckeye, AZ Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green. Year: A(I).First readingHebrews 7:25-8:6 ©He has offered sacrifice once and for all by offering himselfThe power of Jesus to save is utterly certain, since he is living for ever to intercede for all who come to God through him. To suit us, the ideal high priest would have to be holy, innocent and uncontaminated, beyond the influence of sinners, and raised up above the heavens; one who would not need to offer sacrifices every day, as the other high priests...

[Catholic Caucus] Letter #23, 2023 Wednesday, January 18: “No secrets” I just received a fascinating letter, which I publish below. I took my distance a bit yesterday (see this link) from the “rumors” in Rome that Pope Francis may soon issue a new decree further restricting the celebration of the old Mass. Then, I received this letter. It begins: “As we both know, there are no real ‘secrets’ in Rome.” Then, essentially, the letter-writer tells me that the “rumor” does in fact contain a truth: that there is a draft Vatican document which would further restrict the celebration of...