A year of lost hugs! Virtual hugs aren’t the same, just as watching the Food Network on television won’t ever be as satisfying as the first bite of a crisp, juicy apple. A hug shared with a grandparent, a handshake with a friend, even an elbow bump with a neighbor: how powerful a simple touch can be!
Sunday Scriptures
The Power of Divine Love: A Formidable Force
Awesome as this surely is, God’s definitive answer to Job and to all the raging storms of human suffering is the most paradoxical display of divine might, of power that is made perfect in weakness. It is about this power that Paul writes to the Corinthians in Sunday’s second reading.
The Kingdom of God Starts Small
Yes, like the mustard seed, the kingdom of God starts small. So too does the Church, the community of those who put their trust in Jesus, which began as the smallest of seeds, through God’s abundant grace now puts forth large branches under whose generous shade many can take shelter.
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Among the perks that come with teaching, researching, and writing about the Bible (in addition to the surpassing blessing that is the study of the Word of God), is the opportunity to learn from and with so many brilliant colleagues in biblical studies and theology. I deeply appreciate the scholarship of fellow Catholics, Christians from many other faith communities, and Jewish colleagues as well.
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
We celebrate this weekend one of the greatest mysteries of our Christian faith. There have been many theologians who tried to give eloquent explanations about the Blessed Trinity. But like the saying goes, “answers lead to more questions.” We can only really appreciate this with the “eyes of faith.”
Jesus Gave Us the Means to Find Courage, Overcome Fear
Feelings or emotions play a big role in our daily life. It is one of the things that separates us from machines. Most often, we might not even be aware of it but emotions affect our mind and how we respond to situations. This is something that we are asked to consider as we read the opening description in today’s Gospel reading.
Conflict an Opportunity For God’s Grace to be Victorious
In the past couple of weeks, we also heard at weekday Mass readings how the apostles dealt with the tension emerging between Hebrews and Greeks. They addressed the situation immediately before it festered and took root. The conversations were not easy and maybe even brutal but because they engaged it with the desire to stay united in love, they were able to bring peace.
An Explanation of the Kind of Love Jesus Expects
This past year had been a challenging time for many of us, not just because of the great losses and emotional stress that this pandemic had brought us but also for the physical day-to-day conditions and limitations that we have to deal with while waiting to get the spread of infection under control.
Focus on The Quality of The Fruit You Produce
May is one of those months when we have religious processions almost every weekend to celebrate May Crowning or another Marian Devotion.
What Do We Have To Do To Earn God’s Love?
Hans Urs von Balthasar, a 20th-century Swiss theologian, wrote, “But the issue is not only life and death but our existence before God and our being judged by him. All of us were sinners before him and worthy of condemnation.” But God’s love changes that and gives us the opportunity to become so much more.
