Today we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The cross proclaims to us Jesus’ humility and sacrifice. The second reading from Philippians brings out the way of exaltation through humility. First the hymn proclaims the humility or self-emptying...
In today’s Gospel Jesus instructs us to look at our own faults instead of focusing on the faults of another: “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” (Luke 6:42). This saying is part of the...
In today’s Gospel Jesus is confronted by some Jewish Scribes and Pharisees. The Pharisees are a lay reform movement within Judaism who are zealous for the things of God and seek to discern and to do God’s will. The Torah commands: “Remember the sabbath day—keep it...
Jesus calls us as disciples to draw people to God. Our good deeds can draw people to God, but bad deeds or hypocrisy can drive people away from the church and even from God. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus calls us to let our light shine: “You are the light of the...
In today’s Gospel Jesus invites his first disciples and invites all of us to “Come and See.” Philip finds Nathanael and tells him we found the one foretold in the Scripture (“the Law, and also the prophets”). It is: “Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” Nathanael is...
