Peter and Paul ACTS 12:1-11; PSALM 34; 2TIMOTHY 4:6-8, 17-18; MATTHEW 16:13-19 Peter was formerly called Simon. Christ gave him the name Cephas, or Peter. The change of name reflects Peter’s mission and office. Similarly, the names we bear at our baptism are simply marks of our new identity, mission, and purpose. Acts 12:1–12 speaksPeter […]
Monthly Archives: June 2024
28
Jun
Jun
Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy 2 Kings 25:1–12; Psalm 136; Matthew 8:1-4 A leper kneeled before Jesus in the gospel text and said to him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” Jesus said to him, “I will be clean,” and immediately he was cleansed. Christ gave the leper a new look. […]
27
Jun
Jun
Faith and trust 2 Kings 24:8–17; PSALM 79; Matthew 7:21–29 In the gospel, Christ calls us to build our house on solid ground for stability, solidity, and safety. The Word of God is the solid ground. Faith and trust in the Word of God make us wise, and in the days of storm and flood, […]
26
Jun
Jun
False prophet 2 Kings 22:8-13, 23:1-3; Psalm 118; Matthew 7:15-20 Jesus warned crowds against false prophets, who disguise themselves as sheep but are ravenous wolves. This warning is relevant in today’s world, where people disregard prophets’ authenticity for personal gain. False prophets and faithlessness in Christians can lead to exploitation. Believers who don’t know their […]
25
Jun
Jun
The Golden Rule 2 Kings 19:9-11, 14-21, 31-36; Psalm 48; Matthew 7:6, 12-14 In our first reading, we are presented with Hezekiah’s prayer. When the letter to denounce and overtake the kingdom was given to Hezekiah, the Bible says that Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord, […]
24
Jun
Jun
St. John the Baptist Isaiah 49:1-6; Psalm 139; Acts 13:22–26; Luke 1:57–66, 80. Today’s feast is placed three months after the Annunciation, on March 25, because Elizabeth, John’s mother, was six months pregnant. Three more months from March 25th take us to June 24. The one-day discrepancy between March 25 and June 24 is an […]
22
Jun
Jun
Brainstorming with faith Job 38:1.8–11; Ps. 107; 2 Corinthians 5:14–17; Mark 4:35–41 The gospel presents us with the theme “Jesus calms the storm”. A storm refers to a rushing, raging, violent agitation, wind, or tempest. In politics, a storm could be a violent civil or political commotion, insurrection, clamour, or tumult. In society, there could […]
21
Jun
Jun
Worry 2 Chronicles 24:17–25; Psalm 89; Matthew 6:24–34 In the gospel, Jesus says, We cannot serve two masters. This is practically true. If we serve God faithfully and truly, we have no need to worry about anything. Most times, we are troubled because we are not faithful to God. Oftentimes, we suffer from the concomitant […]
20
Jun
Jun
The reign of Athaliah 2 Kings 11:1-4,9-18; Ps. 132; Matthew 6:19–23 The first reading presents us with the reign of Athaliah, the queen mother who reigns over Judah. Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and was given to King Jehoram of Judah as a bride. She was a bad influence on both her […]
19
Jun
Jun
Prayer Sirach 48:1–14; Psalm 97; Matthew 6:7–15 The gospel presents us with the theme of prayer. Jesus taught his followers how to pray. He gave them “Our Father,” otherwise called the “Lord’s Prayer.” “Our Father” is both a prayer and a pattern for all prayers. William Law once said that “prayer is the nearest approach […]