Author: jcgosj

LOSING THE WILD HORSE IN YOU (Mt 16:13-19):  29 June 2008 (Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul)

Today’s Readings

Today we remember two great men of the Church:  one an uneducated fisherman, Peter, from Galilee, that region in Palestine where men are noted even in the Gospels for their thick probinsyano accents; and the other a Pharisee, Paul, as learned as one could ever get in New Testament times, a specialist—and also a fanatic—of the Jewish Law.  There are probably no two apostles in the Gospels more different from each other; yet today, we recognize them both as the two men whose lives and works have most profoundly shaped the beginnings of our Church.  Their importance and prominence are evident in the city of Rome:  At the heart of the Vatican, of course, is the great Basilica of St. Peter; not so well-known, but no less important, is St. Paul-outside-the-walls, where stands a larger-than-life statue of St. Paul.

FEARING NO ONE (Mt 10:26-33):  22 June 2008 (Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Today’s Readings

The first line our Lord speaks to his disciples struck me:  “Fear no one.”

“Sure,” I catch myself in mid-thought. “Easy for you to say.”

Not so easy for the rest of us.  We are no strangers to fear.  We know what it’s like to be scared.  It’s not a pleasant experience—unless you’re one of those people who get their kick out of screaming their lungs out during horror and slasher movies. 

LETTING GO AND GIVING UP (Mt 9:36-10:8):  15 June 2008 (Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Today’s Readings

It was probably the opening shot of One Republic’s music video of their song, “Say (All I Need), that first caught my attention.  It was unmistakably the Sacrecoeur Cathedral in Montmartre, Paris, with its signature immaculate facade.

CHOOSING THE BROKEN (Matthew 9:9-13): 08 June 2008 (Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Today’s Readings

You can’t really blame the Pharisees in the gospel reading today.  They see the Lord invite a corrupt tax collector to follow him.  More than that, he dines with him and other sinners–a big “no-no” among the Jews.  Like the Pharisees, we can’t help but wonder why the Lord doesn’t make better choices with regard to whom he chooses to be his follower and whom he breaks bread with.

“SPEAKING OF ROCKS AND SAND” (Mt 7:21-27):  01 June 2008 (Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Today’s Readings

In today’s Gospel reading, the Lord talks about collapsing houses due to shaky foundations. He is, of course, teaching us that more than anything else, the strongest foundation we can find to build our lives on is following God’s Will and doing good.