Monthly Archives: February 2024

LAZARUS AND THE RICH MAN (Heaven and Hell) Jeremiah 17:5–10; Psalm 1; Luke 16:19–31 Wealth should not make us indifferent to the plight and dignity of human life. The rich man in today’s gospel reading was condemned because, in his riches, he was indifferent to the situation of Lazarus—what Catechism would call sin of omission. […]

The Evil Plot JEREMIAH 18:18-20; PSALM 30; MATTHEW 20:17-28 “My enemies are digging a pit for me.” ‘Come on,’ they said, ‘let us concoct a plot against Jeremiah” (Jer. 18:18). The plot against Jeremiah prefigures the plot against Jesus. It also shows how the enemies plot evil against the children of God without offense. What […]

Against Hypocrisy ISAIAH 1:10, 16-20 PSALM 50; MATTHEW 23:1–12 Isaiah 1:16 says, “Cease to do evil; learn to do good.” This is an alarm not only to feel sorrowful for the sin committed but also to break away from the practice. We often regret the evil we have done, but we do not put an […]

Love your enemies. DEUTERONOMY 26:16–19; PSALM 118; MATTHEW 5:43–48 Jesus said to his disciples, ‘You have learned how it was said: You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way, you will be sons of your […]

True Conversion  EZEKIEL 18:21–28; PSALM 129; Matthew 5:20–26 Today we are reminded that God does not delight in the death of a wicked man. He says in Ezekiel 18:21–22 that “If the wicked man renounces all the sins he has committed, respects my laws, and is law-abiding and honest, he will certainly live; he will […]

THE CHAIR OF ST. PETER, APOSTLE  1 Peter 5:1-4; PSALM 23; Matthew 16:13–19 Today the church celebrates the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, also known as the Throne of Saint Peter. The “chair” symbolizes the authority of St. Peter and his successors (the Pope). Peter lived and worked in Capernaum as a fisherman […]

REPENTANCE JONAH 3:1-10; PSALM 51; LUKE 11:29-32 Jonah was sent by God to the people of Nineveh to warn them about the coming wrath if they don’t turn from their evil ways. They received Jonah’s message with so much remorse, declared fasting and penance and repented.  Nineveh’s narrative reminds us of the importance of penance […]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 The separation of the sheep from the goats is a parable that exhorts Christians to take action to help those in need. Jesus says, “Truly, I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). Do you believe this?  […]

FORGIVENESS ISAIAH 55:10–11; PSALM 34; MATTHEW 6:7–15 The gospel presents us with the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus gives us a model of prayer in “Our Father.” The prayer begins with a focus on God. Oftentimes, our prayers tend to focus on our situations, wants, and fears rather than God. This prayer comes in during this season […]