Is he not the carpenter’s son?

July 31, 2020 4:00 am

“Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” And they took offense at him.” (MT 13: 54-57)

This is why we put so great concern on our premises. With our beliefs comes the interpretation: what we can expect from “the carpenter’s son”? we know his cousins—they are ordinary people. Our problems start when we have bad premises about our relationships, our spouses and the quality of their signs of love.

“The word of the Lord remains forever; this is the word that has been proclaimed to you.” (Gospel Acclamation)

both the new and the old

July 30, 2020 4:00 am

“Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” (MT 13: 52)

Those “who have been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven” are very flexible. They know that Heaven is about love and whatever brings more love, keeps you closer to your spouse, makes you more respectful and gentle, free, creative and joyful is exactly what you need; because it is not about me, it abuts my spouse and communicating her/him how much we love them.

“Open our heart, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son.” (Gospel Acclamation)

anxious and worried about many things

July 29, 2020 4:00 am

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” (LK 10: 41-42)

We know perfectly Martha’s dilemma: how to prepare everything to express our hospitality and our joy of Our Lord’s visit and have enough time to do Mary’s part. The problem with being busy is only when we are so busy being busy, that we forget why we are busy; all our activities have one main purpose—to love, to be united, to be happy givers and have enough time to stay close and enjoy our relationship. If our activity is based on thinking: tomorrow, or next week, or next month or year I will have more time for my loved ones, we are in danger. We have only today to live.

“I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.” (Gospel Acclamation)

In the Kingdom of their Father

July 28, 2020 4:00 am

“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.” (MT 13: 43)

It is not about shinning, being proud of our achievements, this is always about God’s love and being with Him in “the Kingdom of their Father.” We are called to be with Him, to love each other in the most unique and beautiful way, and to be so gentle and respectful. This is Heaven’s lifestyle.

“The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live forever.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Yet when full-grown…

July 27, 2020 9:16 am

“It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’” (MT 13: 32)

Our lives and our relationships are always in progress. It is not about today only, but about our future. The truth about us is not only about who we are today but also about our potential, about our growth. It is always good to keep the vision of our relationship in the future, how we “become a large bush” for our growing children and our friends, being for them a safe environment based on our love and mutual respect grounded on the gift of selves.

“The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (Gospel Acclamation)

All that he has

July 26, 2020 4:00 am

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” (MT 13: 45-46)

We want to have great lives, fantastic relationships, an amazing job, and faithful friends. And it is possible to have all of these. But it is not about lives, relationships, jobs, and friends, it is about us in lives, relationships, jobs, and friends. It is about us and how much we want to invest. Those who put “all that they have” receives all; those who invest some…, will receive some… It’s like tithing. But from gross or net – some ask? It depends whether you want a blessing for gross or net only.

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; for you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.” (Gospel Acclamation)

To serve and to give life

July 25, 2020 4:00 am

“Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (MT 20: 26-28)

We know perfectly the temptation “to be served” and we have some idealistic expectations of our great lives. But we know that this is not the right road to being “great.” The quality of our lives is measured by our service with love and sharing our lives as a gift of selves.

“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Bear fruit

July 24, 2020 4:00 am

“But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” (MT 13: 23)

It is so great, that we can “bear fruit” in every area of our lives: in our homes, and in our offices, in our relationship with our spouses and with our children, with our neighbors and our friends. Whenever we put love, care, respect, and joy, we can multiply fruits and inspire others to bring more fruits.

“Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Blessed are your eyes, because they see

July 23, 2020 4:00 am

“But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” (MT 13: 16-17)

“Blessed are our eyes because they see”—this is the very first reason to be so grateful that we have eyes and ears to see and to hear. But also we are so grateful because our eyes and our ears are trained to see and hear the right things. We took responsibility (extreme ownership) to see and to hear to protect our relationship, to communicate love, and to be givers. And that kind of eyes and ears are blessed.

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Early in the morning, while it was still dark

July 22, 2020 4:00 am

“On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.” (JN 20: 1)

You know that I like very much the moment: “early in the morning, while it was still dark.” This is the best moment to recognize who we are, what is our purpose to live, what is our identity, and plan the whole day to be a concern about our vocation and to actions that need to be planned. When the first moment is also based on recognition where is Our Lord (“Mary Magdalene came to the tomb”), we can open the Bible and look for Him in His words, or go to the Church to meet Him in the Holy Mass, we will have the best morning and the whole day: “Tell us, Mary, what did you see on the way? I saw the glory of the risen Christ, I saw his empty tomb.”

“Tell us Mary, what did you see on the way? I saw the glory of the risen Christ, I saw his empty tomb.” (Gospel Acclamation)