Dear Family!

Reflection: From the 18th Sunday on we have been closely reflecting on the personality of Peter in the Gospel Readings: Peter played a huge role in the multiplication of loaves (18th), walks on the water (19th ) intercedes for the Canaanite woman (20th), declares his confession and conviction that Jesus is the Son of God (21st ), learns from Jesus to take up and carry the cross (22nd), learns about community building (23rd) and learns the secrets of happiness and peace to be shared with the community in the readings for this this Sunday (24th).

Dear Family!

Reflection: In the Lord’s Prayer we pray, ‘Forgive us our trespasses’, that forgiveness is prayed for after food which is life’s necessity. Saint Ambrose taught us, “For when the Lord forgave all sins, He made an exception of none.” Yes, God forgives everyone without exceptions. Forgiveness indeed brings blessings from God. As Saint Faustina once said, “He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God. As often as I look upon the Cross, so often will I forgive with all my heart.”

Dear Family!

When Saint Augustine said, “You are my Lord, because You have no need of my goodness” we understand a little about the vastness of God, but it doesn’t empty us of our responsibility of the command of Jesus, “Be holy as your Father is Holy.” Certainly, as Scott Hahn puts it, ‘God disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness.”

Dear Family!

Peter’s whole life is a symbol of the church in itself. Peter was to encounter Jesus with the persuasion of his brother Andrew. He was to make known the revelation which has been given from above, that Jesus was the Christ. He was to get himself in a difficult and opposing position with Jesus on account of being very earthly in heart and mind. He was given the commission to lead the group of the apostles and gets his name and meaning of life changed by Jesus. Peter was set to betray Jesus and was to weep and repent later on to be encouraged by Jesus to tend His sheep.

Dear Family!

Yesterday we celebrated the Solemnity of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother, which, this year, is not a Holy Day of Obligation. Karl Rahner, a famous theologian calls the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary a Day of Hope. What hope? It is the hope that someday eternal life may be ours. Mary not only assures us of eternal life through her intercessory power, but Mary stands with us now to strengthen us in the virtue of hope especially when we feel the worst.

Dear Family!

Reflection:
There will always be uncertainties in life as you probably felt it at times in your lives. The personalities we meet in the readings are all and nothing but personalities who faced uncertainties all their lives. Elijah’s uncertainty is all about his prophetic role. In the Gospel, the Apostles unwillingly agree to get into the boat as they were enjoying the privilege of Jesus’s friendship - they got special recognition from the people. For Jesus, a ‘special recognition’ is given to you when you are found worthy at the time of challenge, trial, and tribulation.

Dear Family!

Every pope has a Papal Motto that highlights the pope’s focus or his pastoral concern over the church. Pope Leo XIV’s papal motto is In Illo Uno Unum which could be translated as ‘In the One, we are one’. This phrase comes from a writing by Saint Augustine about Psalm 127. Pope Francis’ motto on his coat of arms, “miserando atque eligendo” is taken from a homily by Saint Bede, which could be translated as “having mercy, Jesus called him.”