Gospel (Page 2)

One of the most beloved Christmas stories outside the Bible is really a story about repentance. What is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, if not that? His story is really one of a man who was made bitter by suffering, and who then repented. The visit from the ghost ofRead More →

We often find it difficult to wait. Waiting does not come easy to us. The commercial world cannot wait for Christmas. The carols of Christmas have been piping through our department stores for some weeks now. It is hard to escape strains of ‘Let it snow, let it snow, letRead More →

The thief saw the sign over the cross, which was a sermon in itself: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” And through it all the Holy Spirit led him to recognize and to believe in Jesus of Nazareth as the King of the Jews, the promised Messiah, SonRead More →

Is there a temple whose sacrifice, by God’s grace, is pure and holy, where humanity, with clean hearts, can meet the true God? The answer is yes. We find that temple in a surprising spot. It is no vast structure that dominates the landscape. The temple of which I speakRead More →

Historically, basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral church of the bishop of Rome, the Pope, even though many of the Catholic faithful think the Basilica of St Peter would be his cathedral. The Lateran Basilica has the title “Mother and Head of all the Churches in the CityRead More →

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Sainthood can be easily dismissed as an impossible lifestyle far beyond our reach. After all, most of us do not wear sackcloth, pray 10 hours a day, start a religious congregation, or risk being fedRead More →

Ironically both men got what they prayed for. The tax collector humbly asked for mercy, and he received it. The Pharisee asked for nothing because he thought that he already had it all, and he received nothing. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector shows us whose prayersRead More →

This parable is what the rabbis called “from the lesser to the greater.” If it is the case that even this cynical judge caved in to constant appeal, how much more will God eventually respond to those who, like the widow, keep pleading for what they desire. (Of course, whatRead More →

 The Greek word Luke uses for the leper’s thanksgiving in today’s story is “eucharistein”. And we are here now because we know that the best possible way of expressing our thanks to God for all his gifts is through participation in the Holy Eucharist. Here is made present Christ’s selfRead More →

A friend of mine gave me some acorns, with the idea that I would make them into prayer beads. I tipped them out and there, amongst them all, was an acorn with a crack in its golden shell and the palest green shoot beginning to sprout. This acorn knew exactly what itRead More →