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My central theme for the week is the ministry of Jesus Christ as the one who lifts us from death to life. As the week unfolds, we see this divine pattern reflected in the lives of many, and today it appears in God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17:3-9). In that covenant, God establishes a relationship […]

At the beginning of this weekend’s first reading (Ezekiel 37:12-14), one line stood out and shaped the theme of this reflection: from death to life. That line emerges from God’s promise to open our graves and raise us (Ezekiel 37:12). Though originally spoken as a message of restoration and renewal for the exiled people of

It has been over four hundred years since the feast of Saint Joseph, the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was established as an obligatory celebration in the Church, first by Pope Sixtus IV, and later affirmed by Pope Gregory XV. And why not, my brethren? Joseph never needed to speak loudly for his life

In today’s Gospel reading from the Gospel of John (John 5:17-30), Jesus speaks words that echo the mystery of creation itself. He responds to the Jews by saying, “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” In this statement, Jesus reveals that God’s creative activity did not end with the first

Once again, I am happy to welcome all of you to our Eucharistic celebration on this Fourth Sunday of Lent. Every Sunday is our weekly Easter, but today’s own is special. We call it “Laetare Sunday,” and the Church uses this beautiful pink color to explain to us why it is special. It invites us

Those who claimed in today’s Gospel (Luke 11:14-23) that Jesus was acting “by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons” leave us with an important lesson. We live in a world where many people struggle to acknowledge their limitations or recognize what they themselves cannot accomplish. Sadly, when individuals refuse to acknowledge the good

During Lent, and indeed at all times, we speak often about repentance and even more about forgiveness. In Christ Jesus, God reconciled us to Himself and entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation with one another. In today’s Gospel reading (Matthew 18:21-35), Peter asks Jesus how many times he must forgive, and Jesus’ response becomes

All living things, especially humans, need water to survive. We drink water when we need hydration. Even in our bodies, most of what flows in our blood is water, with research showing that human blood is almost 85% water. When we think about this, we realize how essential water truly is. That said, many of

One of the primary ways the Church guides us in discernment and decision-making is through the Sacred Scriptures. Two other essential parts of the tripod are the Sacred Traditions of the Church and the Magisterium. The Scripture provides moral instruction but is also the theological foundation upon which we anchor our existence. In today’s first

Essentially, we are all called to ultimate transfiguration. Matthew’s gospel today says: “and he was transfigured before them” (Matthew 17:1-9), a destiny that flows from a holy life rooted in authentic humanity. As St. Paul would reiterate in the second reading, God “has saved us and called us to a holy life” just as we

I do not know if you have reflected on this point before, but I often wonder why many breakthroughs emerge only after a season of trial. Consider the story of Joseph and his brothers before he rose to greatness and was appointed prime minister in Egypt. He was hated by his siblings (Genesis 37:23-28), falsely

I was grateful last Wednesday when Fr. Ricky returned from his trip to attend Bishop Ramon’s consecration in Monterey and celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass with me for all of you. I would have done it regardless, but his presence brought a deep sense of relief, especially as I continue to strive to communicate meaningfully in