THE INEVITABLE TAX DEUTERONOMY 10:12-22/ PSALM 147:12-15,19-20/ MATTHEW 17:22-27 Jesus predicts his death a second time. When the disciples came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to […]
Monthly Archives: August 2023
12
Aug
Aug
The Divine presence 1Kings 19:9, 11-13; Psalm 84; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33 The Divine presence is often manifested in prayer and power. In the gospel, Jesus demonstrated power over natural forces by calming the wind and walking on water. After which, he went into the hills by himself to pray. In the first reading, God […]
12
Aug
Aug
Build your faith Deuteronomy 6:4-13/ Psalm 18/ Matthew 17:14-20 In today’s gospel, the unnamed man stands in for all the parents, guardians, and other caregivers who sincerely pray for their children. We fervently hope and pray that parents who toil day and night for their children’s health and welfare will be blessed by Jesus’ response. […]
11
Aug
Aug
TRUE FOLLOWERS Deuteronomy 4:32-40; Psalm 76; Matthew 16:24-28 Moses exhorts the people to turn back to God in the first reading by reminding them of the Horeb theophany, the Exodus, and all that God had done for them in both Egypt and the wilderness. God had been faithful to them, therefore they should only serve […]
09
Aug
Aug
CHEERFUL GIVER 2Corinthians 9:6-10; Psalm 112; John 12:24-26 “Do not forget: thin sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you reap. Each one should give what he has decided in his own mind, not grudgingly or because he is made to, for God loves a cheerful giver.“ With these words, Paul encourages […]
08
Aug
Aug
FAITH NOT TEARS Numbers 13:1-2,25-14:1,26-29,34-35, Ps. 106:6-7,13-14,21-23, Matthew 15:21-28 The Canaanite woman in today’s gospel text was not a Jew. She was a gentile, and so she was regarded as a “pagan” by the Jews. For the Jews, she does not merit salvation. However, Jesus demonstrated through her faith that salvation is universal. John 3:16 […]
08
Aug
Aug
Be Steadfast NUMBERS 12:1-13; PSALM 51; MATTHEW 14:22-36 In the first reading, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses in connection with the Cushite woman he had married and they were also jealous of him because God was speaking through Moses. The Lord chastised them, but they continued to speak ill of Moses. Miriam eventually contracted […]
07
Aug
Aug
INSATIABLE DESIRES Numbers 11:4b-15; Ps.81; Matthew 14:13-21 The first reading describes some of the challenges and frustrations Moses and the Israelites experienced as they journeyed in the wilderness toward the promised land. Moses became irritated when the Israelites complained about having only manna to eat and how they preferred their life of servitude under the […]
05
Aug
Aug
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; Psalm 97; 2 Peter 1:16-19; Luke 9:28-36 Fr. Thomas Oyode “JESUS: THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S REVELATION” Today’s gospel reading (Mark 9:2-10) tells that Jesus was on a hike with his closest of disciples, Peter, James, and John as they went up the mountain to pray. This was six days after Peter […]
05
Aug
Aug
RASH PROMISES LEVITICUS 25:1, 8-17; PSALM 67; MATTHEW 14:1-12 The Gospel presents us with the martyrdom of John the Baptist by Herod the Tetrarch to fulfill an imprudent promise. He made a rash promise perhaps under the influence of wine. We must be cautious about how we drink alcoholic beverages. Don’t drink before you speak, […]