Reflections

The Small Pleasures of Life • A Weekly Reflection with Ozanam

I do not like and do not share in any way the rigorist doctrines of some Christians, who, without even realizing it, have clothed themselves in arrogance and false modesty; they are far from the true spirit of faith. The innocent joys of life were never forbidden....

A Polarized Church both Then and Now

Growing up, I was fascinated by fading pictures meticulously glued into some decades-old family albums. There I saw pictures of my mother and father before I was born.

A Vincentian View: The Good Shepherd

In the 23rd Psalm, the psalmist proclaims, “My shepherd is the Lord.”  I imagine that when Jesus prayed these words, he found a depiction of himself.

Mother Theresa and her “call within a call”

In 1946, during a train ride from Calcutta to Darjeeling, Mother Teresa received what she called, “the call within a call.” The Lord asked her to begin a new religious community that would live and work with the poorest of the poor.

International Water Day

International Water Day

This week and every week, as we celebrate #InternationalWaterDay, let us be more cognizant of our responsibility to limit water-waste, to fund sustainable water projects around the world, and to appreciate what keeps us alive.

Blind to the needy, blind to God

Fourth Sunday of Lent (A), March 30, 2014 – 1 Sam 16, 1b. 6-7. 10-13a; Eph 5, 8-14; Jn 9, 1-41 Light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth (Eph 5, 9) Jesus opens the eyes of the blind.  We are not blind if we believe in Jesus and go about doing...

The first thing he did was ask

Third Sunday of Lent (A), March 23, 2014 – Ex 17, 3-7; Rom 5, 1-2. 5-8; Jn 4, 5-42 While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5, 8) Jesus lives the true religion.  Those who follow his example adore the Father in Spirit and truth. The worship the Father...

Healthy and liberating insecurity

Second Sunday of Lent (A), March 16, 2014 – Gen 12, 1-4; 2 Tim 1, 8b-10; Mt 17, 1-9 Bear your share of hardship for the gospel (2 Tim 1, 8) Jesus came from the Father and has come into the world to save us.  We will be saved if we imitate him, leaving the familiar and...

No to “Every man for himself”

First Sunday of Lent (A), March 9, 2014 – Gen 2, 7-9; 3, 1-7; Rom 5, 12-19; Mt 4, 1-11 Through the obedience of the one, the many will be made righteous (Rom 5, 19) The new Adam overcomes temptations.  Through him, we are provided with a way out of trials, so that we...

Cherish yourself

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), March 2, 2014 – Is 49, 14-15; 1 Cor 4, 1-5; Mt 6, 24-34 You have been purchased at a price (1 Cor 6, 20) God considers us very dear and very precious.  Do we take ourselves according to his appreciation of us? Jesus teaches that we...

The real fool on the hill

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), February 23, 2014 – Lev 19, 1-2. 17-17; 1 Cor 3, 16-23; Mt 5, 38-48 Let him become a fool so as to be wise (1 Cor 3, 18) We can belong to Christ and his kingdom only if we prefer divine folly to human wisdom and remember always and...

Same ole same ole?

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), February 16, 2014 – Sir 15, 15-20; 1 Cor 2, 6-10; Mt 5, 17-37 If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (2 Cor 5, 17) Jesus, with his announcement of the kingdom and his lifestyle, represents conversion and newness.  But radical...

Fatal attraction

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), January 26, 2014 – Is 8, 23b – 9, 3; 1 Cor 1, 10-13. 17; Mt 4, 12-23 Praising God and enjoying favor with all the people (Acts 2, 47) Rather than impose, brightness attracts.  Whoever imposes admits he is not attractive. St. Francis...

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