THE Gospel of Luke (5:33-39) presents Christ responding to those who questioned why His disciples did not fast like the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees. His answer reveals a profound truth: Christianity is not merely a collection of religious practices but a...
THAT Gospel account of Christ calling Simon Peter to “put out into the deep” (Duc in altum) (cfr. Lk 5,1-11) remains one of the most powerful invitations to Christian discipleship. After a long night of unsuccessful fishing, Peter and his companions had every reason to believe...
THIS is a lesson we can learn from that gospel episode when Christ healed Peter’s mother-in-law, and followed by many people also begging for some healing. Not only that, Christ had to excuse himself from the crowd to pray in a deserted place, and when...
THIS was clearly illustrated in that gospel episode where Christ went to Capernaum, preached in the synagogue, and a person possessed by the devil approached him. (cfr. Lk 4,31-37) We know what happened next. The devil was quickly exorcised. Despite rising reports of spiritual warfare, we...
WE have to ask ourselves this question from time to time: are we really following Christ, or have we quietly begun following our own likes, dislikes, and opinions? It is surprisingly easy to drift. Instead of allowing Christian faith to guide our decisions, we can gradually...
A PHONE can connect us to a friend across the world within seconds, yet it can also make someone sitting beside us feel completely ignored. Social media is neither simply good nor bad. It is a powerful tool whose value depends greatly on how wisely...
IT just doesn’t make sense at first glance. Why would Christ tell us to deny ourselves and pick up a cross just to follow Him. (cfr. Mt 16,24) What’s so appealing about suffering that He’d ask us to embrace it? What hidden treasure is there...
THE parable of the ten virgins (cfr. Mt 25,1-13) reminds us of our need to develop an effective way of being always vigilant. This, of course, is only possible if we develop a deep, active union with God. Without his grace, we are would be...
THIS is the lesson hidden in Christ’s command to his disciples: “Watch therefore, because you do not know what hour your Lord will come.” (cf. Mt 24:42-51) It is one of those simple sayings that become more mysterious the longer one reflects upon them. We...
THERE are few things more ghostly than a man who is alive only on the outside. Our Lord’s image of the scribes and Pharisees as “whitewashed tombs” remains unforgettable because it is more than an insult—it is a diagnosis. A tomb may gleam in the...