On This Peter I Will Build My Church!
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Two weeks ago Peter was walking on the water during a huge storm until he took his eyes off of Jesus, looked at himself and sank. He was the only apostle who climbed out of the boat. And today he receives the keys to the kingdom of heaven (Mathew 16: 13-20)….
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O Woman, How Beautiful Are You!
Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Canaanite woman is a goy, a pagan, who leaves her land and her people and encounters Jesus Christ who heads north into Lebanon. Their encounter is arranged by our Father (Matthew 15: 21-28). No power on earth can stop them. The humble ones, like her, are better at receiving the mercy…
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Look At The Lord, Not At Yourself!
Dear Brothers and Sisters: After dismissing the crowd of five thousand whom Jesus fed, he does not go on the boat with his disciples. Before doing so he escapes to “the mountain” in order to be with his Father. The day that began for him in solitude ends in solitude, far away from the crowds….
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Jesus Alone Is Enough For Me!
Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to a mountain to pray and to witness the glory of God in today’s gospel (Matthew 17: 1-9). The apostles are devastated by the news that Jesus has to suffer and die and the Lord shows them the glory that awaits him and them. I was struck with…
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A True Disciples Is A “Little One”
Dear Friends, Jesus continues with his discourse to the apostles and disciples before they go out two by two to preach the gospel (Matthew 10: 37- 42). He says some very beautiful and strong things to them. First of all, he says, “Follow behind me,” implying do not get in front of me. It is…
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He Counts The Very Hairs Of Your Head
Dear Brothers and Sisters, We return to the wonderful gospel of Matthew after a long break for Lent and Easter and the recent feasts. And we pick up on Jesus’ discourse to his apostles and disciples: he is encouraging them and us to not be afraid if you need to suffer for the sake of…
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The Word Made Flesh Is Real Food!
Dear Brothers and Sisters: Today we celebrate this great Solemnity of Corpus Christ to honor the incredible mystery of the Holy Eucharist. As usual the Old Testament can help us by preparing us for the Messiah and his saving work. The forty years the Jews spent wandering in the desert was more of a testing,…
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Pentecost Reverses the Pride of Babel
Dear Brothers and Sisters: We celebrate the great feast of Pentecost today and we close the Easter season. This feast leads us to reflect again on the Church’s missionary spirit. Pentecost was a Jewish agricultural feast to give thanks for the first fruits of the harvest. Pentecost then, and now, celebrates the first fruits of…
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Go And Make Disciples of All Nations!
Dear Brothers and Sisters, We continue with the missionary theme of St. Peter from last week: always be ready to give an answer for the hope you have inside of you. Do it with reverence and grace, but do it. The Church is always missionary even right here in East Rutherford and Carlstadt. When it…
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He Will Not Leave You Alone
Dear Brothers and Sisters: The gospel for this Sixth Sunday of Easter (John 14:15-21) is a continuation of Jesus’ farewell address to the disciples that we heard last week. This was the discourse he gave the night before he died. Jesus is reminding his disciples that if they love him, they will keep his commandments,…
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