Archives for August 2025

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.  (Lk 14:11). What is humility? The word origin comes from the Latin word “humus,” which means “dirt.” It can have negative connotations as being “lowly” or “abased,” but Catholics tend to see humility as a virtue. And the reason for that? It’s because Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the epitome, the essence of humility. He came from the highest station possible: He is the Lord, the Creator of the Universe, the Word made Flesh, the Alpha and the Omega. And from the highest station, He chose the lowliest station on Earth. He was born in a stable. He grew up in one of the smallest backwaters of the Middle East. He became an “itinerant” preacher and had nowhere to lay his head. He owned nothing … [Read more...]

Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”  (Lk 13:23-24). What does it mean to be “saved”? We use the word all of the time. We might save money by buying something on sale. We might save electricity by turning down the thermostat. We might save for a vacation or save our breath when in an argument against someone stubborn. We might want to save the whales, save the rain forest, save the lake or save the cemeteries, to quote some international or local causes. So what does that “someone” in the verse above mean when he asks Jesus whether “only a few will be saved.” The Greek word being used is from the root “Soter,” meaning “Savior.” … [Read more...]

Jesus said to his disciples: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. (Lk 12:49-51). A few years ago, Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI reflected on the Gospel passage we hear this Sunday. He said: There’s a passion of ours that must grow from faith, which must be transformed into the fire of charity. Jesus said: I came to cast fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled. Origen has conveyed us a word of the Lord: “Whoever is near me is near the fire.” The Christian must not be lukewarm. The Book of Revelation tells us that this is the … [Read more...]

Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. (Lk 12:39-40). There are two ways by which we will see God face-to-face: upon our death or at the time of the Second Coming. And the truth is that we really don’t know when either of those events might occur! Several years ago, I was the celebrant at two funeral Masses in a few days that marked a real contrast. The first funeral was of a young, 18-year-old boy in the beginning of a promising life. And the second was of a 93-year-old great-grandfather. Although it’s certain that only God knows the state of their souls at their death, we prayed at both funeral … [Read more...]