We continue to focus on the Beatitude, Blessed are the pure of heart." What does the heart signify? Yesterday, we heard from Pope Francis. Today, we will hear from Pope Benedict XVI. "The ...
Thought of the Day July 30, 2019 The intention of the heart
By spiritaflame 9:28 AM Thought of the Day"Blessed are the pure of heart." This beatitude focuses on the true intention of the heart of the person. Why am I doing what I am doing? Am I doing it out of ...
:"The Beatitudes are the manifesto of the new greatness, the way of Christ to self-realization, to happiness>' Fr. Cantalamessa. Let us look at the fourth Beatitude. "Blessed are the pure of heart, for...
Thought of the Day July 26, 2019 Put on the mind of Christ
By spiritaflame 9:41 AM Thought of the DaySomeone has said: “To be meek is to recognize that power is not about using force but about standing in truth and in love. To be meek is to be considerate and caring...
Thought of the Day July 25, 2019 Jesus, the meek and just one
By spiritaflame 9:55 AM Thought of the DayAt the same time, Jesus, the model of meekness and gentleness, showed just anger in the Temple for his Father’s house that had become a commercial den of thieves. And he showed prophetic...
Homily: Seventeenth Sunday Year C Reading 1: Background. Sodom and Gomorrah are cities in which sin is rampant, especially the sin of sodomy. But living in the city of Sodom is Abraham’s nephew,...
An illustration of meekness as power under God’s control would be the Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls is one of the most spectacular sights in the world. The roar of 6 million cubic feet...
Reflection on Scripture Seventeenth Sunday Gospel C Persistent prayer
By spiritaflame 11:38 AM Reading ReflectionsSeventeenth Sunday Gospel C Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his...
Thought of the Day July 23, 2019 Meekness: strength under control
By spiritaflame 9:44 AM Thought of the DayFr. John Riccardo says that the biblical writers used meek to refer to strength that is under control. It’s strength that knows when to assert itself and when to be passive, as opposed...
While the world says: “Happy are those who have power over others”, Jesus says :”Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth.” A popular dictionary offers a secondary definition of meek...
One day, while St. Ignatius was passing a field, a group of farmers began to deride him and call him names. In order not to deprive them of this pastime, the saint stopped...
Thought of the Day July 18, 2019 Our true treasure is the Lord
By spiritaflame 9:16 AM Thought of the DayThe first Beatitude calls us to be totally dependent upon God whatever He intends for us and calls us not to clutter our lives with material things that keep us attached to the...
Homily: Sixteenth Sunday Year C Reading 1: We have a reading that speaks on the surface of hospitality. Being in a desert area with a few trees around, one does not get visitors...
What are other qualities of one who seeks to embrace the first beatitude--Blessed are the poor in spirit? The person is humble, docile and open to the grace of God in the present...
Reflection on Scripture Sixteenth Sunday Gospel C Priority
By spiritaflame 9:59 AM Reading ReflectionsSixteenth Sunday Gospel C Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to...
If we reflect on the rich young man who went to Jesus wanting to gain eternal life of happiness, we can see how it was difficult for him to respond to Jesus’ invitation. ...
Jesus is the premier model of how to embrace this way of holiness, reflected in the first Beatitude: Blessed are the poor in spirit. Learning from Jesus, St. Paul was a model of...
Homily: Fifteenth Sunday Year C Reading 1: What was the great commandment for the Israelites? It was summed up in these words: There is no other God. God alone is our God. You...
Thought of the Day July 11, 2019 Blessed are the poor in spirit
By spiritaflame 10:32 AM Thought of the Day"Blessed are the poor in spirit...." The word “poor” in biblical Greek refers to one who is a destitute, who survives by begging. The character of Lazarus in the parable of Lazarus and...
Thought of the Day July 10, 2019 Beatitudes for disciples
By spiritaflame 2:25 PM Thought of the DayBeatitudes a way of life for each disciple of Jesus. Do you want to be truly happy? It is part of our nature to desire to be Happy. God wants us to be...
In this past Sunday's Gospel reading from Matthew, we heard Jesus say to the seventy-two disciples after their initial missionary outreach, "Rejoice in the fact that your names are written in heaven." The...
Homily: Fourteenth Sunday Year C Reading 1: To a people who are returning to Jerusalem from their exile in Babylon, their initial reaction is disheartening. The city is in total destruction. It would...
"'The revelation of Love,' wrote Henri de Lubac, 'overturns all that the world had conceived of the Divinity.' What are the consequences of Divine Love? One such consequence is that if Jesus suffers...
Reflection on Scriptures Fourteenth Sunday Gospel C Discipleship in action
By spiritaflame 2:24 PM Reading ReflectionsFourteenth Sunday Ordinary Gospel C At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. · These seventy-two...
"Among those who make a habit of following the maxims of Christ, simplicity ought to be held in great esteem; for, among the wise of this world there is nothing more contemptible or...
This past Sunday the theme of discipleship was evident in the Mass readings. This coming Sunday's Gospel will also speak of the purpose of discipleship in action. What is the bottom line for...
