Monthly Archives: June 2024

True Worship 2 KINGS 2:1, 6-14; PSALM 31; MATTHEW 6:1-6, 16-18 Today’s gospel speaks about religious worship. Jesus reminds us of the three hallmarks of genuine worship: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Jesus warns his disciples not to indulge in spiritual acts just to attract men’s admiration. Fasting is an act of mortification in worship, not […]

Love and Mercy 1 Kings 21:17–29; Psalm 51; Matthew 5:43–48 “After murdering Naboth, are you now going to take over his ancestral land? In fact, in the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick up your blood also” (1 Kings 21:19). These were the words of Elijah to Ahab. The Bible […]

Eye for Eye 1Kings 21:1-16/Ps.5/MATTHEW 5:38-42 Jesus said to his disciples, “You have heard how it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil” (Matt. 5:38–39). Jesus cited this old law called lex talionis, the law of tit […]

The Call of Elisha 1 Kings 19:19–21; Psalm 16; Matthew 5:33–37 The first reading presents us with the call for Elisha to be the successor of Elijah. For this reason, Elijah travelled to central Palestine in search of Elisha. When Elijah saw him, he placed his cloak over him, symbolising God’s call to minister to […]

Solitude and silence 1 Kings 19:9, 11-16; Psalm 27; Matthew 5:27–32 In the first reading, God reveals Himself to Elijah. He said to him, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” This was an invitation to solitude. Solitude is the state or situation of being alone. While Elijah was alone on the […]

Elijah on Mount Carmel 1 Kings 18:41–46; Ps. 65; Matt. 5:20–26 At the end of the drought, Elijah instructed Ahab to “go up, eat, and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” While he himself climbed to the top of Mount Carmel. As the rain was fast approaching, Elijah, through his servant, […]

Fulfilling the law 1 Kings 18:20–39; Psalm 16; Matthew 5:17–19 Jesus says, “I have not come to abolish the law and the prophets but to complete them.” This shows that Jesus was not a heretic or a blasphemer. He respected the history and tradition of the people, and he expressed its continuity.  Beloved, these laws […]

ST. BARNABAS, APOSTLE Acts 11:21–26; 13:1-3; Psalm 98; Matthew 10:7–13 Barnabas is one of the least-known apostles. He played an essential role in the spread of the gospel, yet he is not as famous as Paul or as well-known as Peter. You don’t have to be famous to be effective in the Kingdom. For fame, […]

Attitude is everything 1 Kings 17:1-6, Psalm 121; Matthew 5:1–12 In the gospel, we have the beatitudes (Matt:1–12). The beatitudes are Christ’s commentaries on our attitude. They give us the perfect outline for authentic Christian life and salvation. They are a simple expression of the life and ministry of Jesus. They are not alien to […]