Homilies

With Mother Church, we begin the fourth week of Lent, this liturgical season of penance and conversion, in preparation for the solemnity of Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. Today the evangelist Luke tells us about the famous parable of the prodigal son, or the merciful father. This parable was told by Jesus to the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, who criticized Him for being close to tax collectors and sinners. As we know, the teachers of the Law were a group of Jews who studied the Law of Moses and had recognized authority to teach and interpret It. The Pharisees were another group of Jews who sought to follow the Law of Moses radically, and who criticized those who did not. The tax collectors were Jews who worked for the Roman rulers, collecting taxes. They were hated as traitors to the people and corrupt. In short, the parable tells of a father who, with a joyful celebration, welcomed back his repentant younger son after he had squandered his share of the inheritance, conclu...

In nine months it will be the Solemnity of Christmas, the birth of Jesus, the only Son of God. To celebrate this date, we have the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord on March 25th, which is the first joyful mystery of the Holy Rosary. Today the evangelist Luke tells us about the annunciation of the Archangel Gabriel to the virgin Mary. The messenger makes several important revelations to Joseph's betrothed: about His exalted dignity in the eyes of the Lord; about God the Father's plan for God the Son to become Man through the action of God the Holy Spirit in order to save men from their sins; about the eternal reign of God the Son - whose name would be Jesus - in fulfillment of the promises made to the ancestors of the Jews. At first, the virgin Mary was greatly troubled and afraid. But, after the revelations of the Archangel Gabriel, Joseph's betrothed accepted the divine plan, as the Handmaid of the Lord. What joy! Thanks to Mary's MADE IT BE DONE and the actio...

We are in the third week of Lent. Today the evangelist Luke tells us about non-Jewish foreigners who, because they accepted God's messengers, received blessings, and about the Jews of Nazareth who tried to hurl Jesus down headlong, driven by fury. To the people who were in the sygagogue of Nazareth, Jesus said that no prophet was accepted in his own native place, giving two examples. In the first, Jesus spoke of the widow of Zarephath, in Sidon, who accepted Elijah and received the multiplication of flour and oil. And, in the second example, Jesus spoke of the leper Naaman of Syria, who accepted Elisha and received his healing. God does not show favoritism of people or nations. He loves everyone equally and distributes His grace generously wherever there is a sincere heart with faith. God was not the exclusive property of the Jews. His plan of salvation is universal. And, yes, God can grant a spiritual favor to those who do not practice any religion, in the hope that the person’s f...

With Mother Church, we begin the third week of Lent, a liturgical season of penance and conversion, preparing ourselves for the solemnity of Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. Today, the evangelist Luke speaks to us about deaths by violence and fatality and the parable of the barren fig tree. Jesus spoke to some people about the violent death of Galileans by the governor Pontius Pilate and also about the death of eighteen people when a tower fell in Siloam. Jesus assured them that these people who were killed were no greater sinners or more guilty than the others, saying that everyone would perish as they did if they did not convert. Death is the only certainty we have in our lives. But worse than dying is not converting, losing our salvation and deserving condemnation. Then Jesus told the parable of the barren fig tree. For three years, the owner of a fig tree searched of figs and found none. So he told his gardener to cut down the fig tree. The gardener asked the owner to wait one mo...

Today the evangelist Matthew tells us about the violent way in which God's messengers are treated, about the giving of the Kingdom of God to another people, and about the intention to arrest Jesus. To the chief priests and the elders of the people Jesus told the parable of the murderous tenants . The landowner of a vineyard leased it to tenants and went on a journey. At vintage time, the landowner sent his servants to the tenants to receive his fruits. But the tenants treated them very violently. When the landowner sent his son, the tenants killed him to acquire his inheritance. When asked by Jesus about what the landowner would do when he returned, the chief priests and the elders of the people responded that he would put those wretched men to a wretched death and that he would lease the vineyard to other tenants. Then Jesus concluded by saying that the Kingdom of God would be taken from them and given to a people who would produce fruit. To understand the parable: the landowner w...

Today the evangelist Luke tells us about the parable of the rich man and the poor man Lazarus, told by Jesus to the Pharisees. The rich man dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. When he died, he was buried and, in the netherworld, he was tormented, suffering in the flames. The poor Lazarus was covered with sores and was lying at the rich man's door. He would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. When he died, he carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham, and was comforted. The rich man begged Abraham for pity, asking him to send Lazarus to cool him. Abraham remembered him that, during his lifetime, he had received good things and Lazarus likewise received bad things. Abraham said that there was a great chasm between them, which prevented crossing from one side to the other. The rich man begged Abraham again, asking him to send Lazarus to warn his five brothers so that they would not also go to that...

Today is the liturgical feast of the glorious Saint Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus, the most chaste husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Universal Patron of the Church. Today the evangelist Matthew tells us about the announcement of the angel of the Lord to Joseph in a dream. The messenger explained to Mary's betrothed that She was the Virgin Who would be with child and would bear the Emmanuel, God is with us, through the Holy Spirit. Before this explanation, Joseph had decided to divorce Mary quietly, when he realized that she was with child and that he was not his. After this explanation, Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife Mary into his home. When we are going through difficult situations and we cannot understand anything, let us not make hasty decisions, but let us pray and ask God to explain His plan of love to us. And, like Joseph, let us accept God's will. Today the second book of Samuel tells us about God’s response to King D...

Today the evangelist Matthew speaks of the profile of the scribes and the Pharisees from Jesus' perspective. As we know, the scribes were a group of Jews who dedicated themselves to studying the Law of Moses and who had recognized authority to teach and interpret it with fidelity; and the Pharisees were a group of Jews who intended to follow the Law of Moses radically, and who criticized those who did not. They were important leaders in the synagogues, which were the official places of worship on the Sabbath. Jesus recognized their authority; that is why He told the crowds and His disciples to obey them, but not to imitate them, because the scribes and the Pharisees did not practice what they preached. They were excessively demanding of others; they performed and used religious accessories just to be seen by others; in the synagogues, they loved the first places, the seats of honor; they loved to be greeted and to be called Rabbi. But Jesus told the crowds and His disciples that wh...

We are in the second week of Lent. Today the evangelist Luke speaks to us about mercy and judgment. Jesus reminded His disciples that God the Father is merciful, telling them that they should also be merciful. Referring to the Final Judgment, Jesus said that if people did not judge others, they would not be judged; if they did not condemn, they would not be condemned; if they forgave, they would be forgiven. If they gave, it would be given to them. Jesus concluded by saying that the Father would treat people as they had treated others. Lent is a liturgical time of repentance and reconciliation. We are often harsh with those who fail us, holding grudges, distancing ourselves. But we must remember that we are not perfect either. We also fail. And yet, we want the Father to be merciful to us. So, according to Jesus' teaching, in order to be forgiven by the Father, we must first forgive the faults of others. Forgiving is not an easy task. But, helped by God's Grace, we can be merci...

We begin the second week of Lent with Mother Church. Today the evangelist Luke tells us about the transfiguration of the Lord (which is the fourth luminous mystery of the holy rosary, prayed on Thursdays). The Transfiguration of the Lord has a liturgical feast on August 6th. Praying on a mountain (Mount Tabor), were Jesus, Peter, James and John; the apostles had been overcome by sleep. Jesus' face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. In glory, Moses and Elijah appeared, who spoke of exodus that Jesus was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. When the apostles woke up, they saw the glory of Jesus, Moses and Elijah. When Peter realized that Moses and Elijah were about to part, even without knowing what he was saying, he suggested to Jesus that he make a tent for each of the three. At that moment, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, leaving the apostles frightened. They heard a voice spoking: "This is My chosen Son; listen to Him". Then Jesus was f...

Today the evangelist Matthew tells us about God the Father's response to His children who ask Him, praying with confidence. Jesus told His disciples that fathers on earth, even though they are bad, know how to give good things to their children when they ask them, and concluded by telling them that much more would the Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him. For this reason, Jesus encouraged His disciples to pray with confidence, asking, seeking and knocking, because they would certainly receive, find and the door would be opened for them. And, summarizing the Law and the prophets, Jesus cited the so-called "golden rule", which taught us to treat others as we want to be treated by them. Prayer (along with almsgiving and fasting) is one of the commitments we make on Ash Wednesday, when we begin the Season of Lent. There are many different types of prayer, such as praise, thanksgiving, supplication, intercession, contemplation, etc. The prayer of supplication...

Today the evangelist Luke tells us about Jonah's preaching for the conversion of the Ninevites and about the Queen of the South's search for Solomon's wisdom. Before a large crowd gathered, Jesus said that that generation was evil and that, despite seeking a sign, they would only receive the sign of Jonah. Jesus recalled that, after hearing Jonah's preaching, the inhabitants of Nineveh quickly converted. He said that, at that moment, the Son of Man was a greater sign than Jonah for the conversion of that generation. Jesus also recalled that the Queen of the South, who came from a distant land to hear Solomon's wisdom, was a sign for that generation to seek wisdom from the Son of Man, who was greater than Solomon. During this Lent, a time of conversion and seeking wisdom, let us listen carefully to the words of the Son of Man, Jesus, and let us leave behind the old life of sin to receive the new life in the Grace of God. He who is greater than Jonah and Solomon is th...

In this Lent, today the evangelist Matthew speaks to us about the Lord's Prayer taught by Jesus to His disciples, with an emphasis on the forgiveness of sins. The context is the presentation of almsgiving, prayer and fasting as good practices taught by Jesus - precisely the text proclaimed at the beginning of Lent, on Ash Wednesday. Prayer is one of the commitments we have made in preparation for the celebration of Jesus' resurrection, Easter. As we know, to pray is to dialogue with God, listening to Him and speaking to Him. We must do so enlightened by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures, with the trust and intimacy of a child with his father. To pray is to open our hearts to God, presenting our needs to Him, aware that He knows, hears and sees everything, even before we speak to Him. Let us remember to praise and thank Him, because God always gives us much more than we ask or deserve. Let our prayer be personal, but also family and community prayer. May our day be filled ...

We are in the first week of Lent. Today the evangelist Matthew speaks to us of the Final Judgment, when the Son of Man, the King, will come in His glory. Jesus told His disciples that, just as the shepherd separated the sheep from the goats, the King would separate the righteous from the unrighteous, the blessed from the accursed. Those who had done good to the least brothers of Jesus would go to eternal life, to the Kingdom prepared by the Father from the foundation of the world, because they would have done good to Him Himself, who was in those who were hungry or thirsty, in those who were naked or sick or in prison, in those who were strangers. And those who had not done good to the least brothers of Jesus would go to eternal punishment, into eternal fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels, because they would not have done good to Him Himself, who was equally in those who were hungry or thirsty, in those who were naked or sick or in prison, in those who were strangers. All the n...

We begin the first week of Lent, this liturgical time of penance and conversion, in view of the solemnity of Jesus' resurrection, Easter. Today the evangelist Luke tells us about the temptations of Jesus by the devil in the desert. After being baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, went into the desert and was guided by the Spirit. In this liturgical time that begins, with Jesus, let us enter the Lenten desert, allowing ourselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit. In that desert, for forty days, Jesus was tempted by the devil. And He overcame the diabolical temptations with the Scripture. In this Lenten desert, the devil will also tempt us, because he does not want us to convert, to be saved, to return to God. Let us put on the armor of Scripture so that we will not lead into temptation and be deliver from evil. The devil tempted Jesus, who had fasted for forty days, by proposing a miraculous solution to the problem of hunger. Quoting Sc...

It is Friday after Ash Wednesday. Today the evangelist Matthew tells us about Jesus' teaching about fasting, which was practiced by the disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees, a group of Jews who strictly observed the Law of Moses and religious traditions. The purpose of fasting was to purify themselves from sins in view of the arrival of the Messiah. The evangelist says that they asked Jesus why His disciples did not fast. The answer was that the bridegroom - the Messiah - was among them, and that the purpose of fasting had already been achieved. That was a time of joy. But when Jesus was taken away from them - a reference to His death on the Cross - they would also begin to fast. Jesus brought us something new, which we should welcome with joy. We, Christians, His disciples, are the people whose promises have been fulfilled, unlike the Jews who are still waiting for the promised Messiah because they have not accepted Jesus. The Church teaches Catholics that they must fas...

We are in the Season of Lent, on Thursday after Ash Wednesday. Today the evangelist Luke tells us about the first announcement of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. He opened His heart, sharing with the disciples the dramatic moment that He would soon experience. Jesus told everyone that they had to deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow Him. We know that the cross represents the difficulties that life presents. Jesus said that whoever lost their life for His sake would save it. He said that it was better not to lose or forfeit oneself than to gain the whole world. This is a paradox, a contradictory idea that defies logic and common sense: losing one's life to save it. Jesus transmitted this teaching to the disciples and put it into practice. He denied Himself when He left the glory of Heaven to become Man and save men, and when He accepted suffering, the rejection of the elders, the chief priests and the scribes, being killed and raised on the third day. ...

Today is Ash Wednesday, a day of fasting and abstinence from meat. We begin with Mother Church the Season of Lent, our preparation for the solemnity of Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. Lent is a penitential liturgical season, of conversion. The liturgical color is purple. We have no flowers and we omit the Hymn of Praise and the Alleluia. We practice almsgiving, prayer and fasting, learning to die to sin in order to rise with Christ to a new life. In the Christian communities of the first centuries, Lent was a liturgical season of preparation for Baptism celebrated on Holy Saturday, and also of renewal of baptismal promises. By receiving the blessed ash on our heads, we humble ourselves before God, remembering that we are dust and to dust we shall return, and we accept the invitation to conversion and belief in the Gospel. Today the evangelist Matthew speaks to us of Jesus' teaching about performing righteous deeds in secret so that they can be seen only by the heavenly Father, a...

Today we take a break from Ordinary Time, which will return after the Solemnity of Pentecost in the month of June. The reason is the beginning of Lent Season tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, a day of obligatory fasting and abstinence from meat. Today the evangelist Mark tells us about the hundredfold promise that Jesus made to His disciples. Peter reminded Jesus that he and the disciples had given up everything and followed Him. And Jesus promised that whoever had done this, for His sake and for the sake of the Gospel, would receive a hundred times more in the present age—house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, lands, with persecutions—and, in the age to come, eternal life. Jesus concluded by saying that many that were first would be last. And the last would be first. In a mysterious but real way, God's providence, through the members of the Church, takes care of the material and emotional needs of those who serve Him. He is the Good Shepherd and His sheep lack nothing. Of cour...

We are in the eighth week of Ordinary Time. The day after tomorrow will be Ash Wednesday, and we will begin the Season of Lent. Today the evangelist Mark tells us about Jesus' astonishing statement about the hardship for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God. A man with many possessions, who had observed the commandments from his youth, ran up to Jesus and, knelt down before him, wanted to know what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus looked at that man, loved him, and told him to sell what he had and give to the poor, and then follow Him. But he went away sad, with his face fell. Then Jesus repeatedly told the disciples how hard it was for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God. The disciples were amazed and exceedingly astonished at this statement. They asked each other who then could be saved. Jesus told His disciples that salvation was impossible for men, but not for God, for Whom all things would be possible. There are people who, like that man wit...

Today, with Mother Church, we begin the eighth week of Ordinary Time, which will be brief, as we will begin the Season of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Today, the evangelist Luke tells us about several of Jesus' teachings to His disciples about hypocrisy, interior life, values, and communication. Jesus told them that if a blind person guided another blind person, both would fall into a pit, and that a disciple would not be superior to his teacher. In other words, for a person to exercise a leadership role, he must be willing to receive sufficient formation. Jesus said that in order for a brother to be able to remove the splinter from another brother's eye, he must first see the wooden beam in his own eye and remove it. In other words, it is necessary to abandon hypocrisy, sincerely identifying one's own faults and correcting them, instead of hiding one's own defects and judging others. Jesus said that a rotten tree cannot bear good fruit, and that every tree is known by its ow...