FEAST OF SAINTS PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLESFirst Reading - 1 Corinthians 15:1-8Gospel - John 14:6-14
Late Pope Francis had made a revolutionary statement: "The Church grows by attraction." The readings of today urge us to mould our lives acc…
First Reading - Acts 5:34-42Gospel - John 6:1-15
When we think about suffering, the faces of St. Alphonsa, St. Mariam Thresia, and many other saints who bore great pain for the name of Jesus naturally come to mind. They found deep meaning in their su…
First Reading - Acts 5:17-26 Gospel - John 3:16-21
Everyone desires freedom and light, yet often we settle for chains and darkness because we are afraid to step into the truth. The readings of today invite us to move from darkness to light by choosin…
First Reading - Acts 5:27-33Gospel - John 3:31-36
"Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" is the catchphrase of the wisdom writings. The 'fear of the Lord' here refers to the obedience of the commandment of God, or this also c…
First Reading - Acts 4:32-37Gospel - John 3:7-15
Today, individualism and other divisive mentalities are soaring high. They move us to live individual and selfish lives without caring for others. The readings of today invite us to break such barriers…
First Reading - Acts 4:23-31Gospel - John 3:1-8
We all wish to be heard. To meet this desire, some express themselves by shouting, protesting, advertising, demonstrating, and so on. Yet there are others who remain calm, quietly expecting to be heard.…
First Reading - Acts 5:12-16 Second Reading - Apocalypse 1:9-13,17-19 Gospel - John 20:19-31
We all long for second chances—for someone to believe in us even when we’ve failed, to embrace us not because we’re perfect but because we are loved. Today, …
First Reading - Acts 4:13-21Gospel - Mark 16:9-15
It’s said that Mother Teresa struggled in her faith for thirty years—a time often described as the darkest night of her soul. Yet, she did not remain in that darkness. Instead, she emerged stronger in…
First Reading - Acts 4:1-12Gospel - John 21:1-14
Many people don’t like to be dependent. That’s because dependency is often seen as a loss of freedom. But the readings today invite us to a different kind of dependence—not a slavish submission, but a …
First Reading - Acts 3:11-26Gospel - Luke 24:35-48
We’ve all come across people who carry a big “I” with them—I’ve done it. It’s all because of me. Only I can make it happen. This attitude of self-centered pride leaves little room for acknowledging G…
First Reading - Acts 3:1-10Gospel - Luke 24:13-35
What is the most essential thing in life as Christians? It’s not the accumulation of material possessions—but the possession of Jesus. The readings today invite us to allow Jesus to take the central p…
First Reading - Acts 2:36-41Gospel - John 20:11-18
We all experience great joy when we recover something we had lost. That same joy surges within us when we realize that our God is so near to us that we need not worry about anything. Today’s readings…
First Reading - Acts 2:14,22-33Gospel - Matthew 28:8-15
There’s a saying: “You can bury the truth, but it won’t stay buried.” Like seeds hidden under soil, truth has a stubborn way of rising—especially when it comes to the truth of the Resurrection. T…
First Reading - Acts 10:34,37-43Second Reading - Colossians 3:1-4Gospel - John 20:1-9
A Sunday school teacher had just finished telling her third graders about how Jesus was crucified and laid in a tomb sealed with a great stone. Wanting to share the…
First Reading - Genesis 1:1-2:2Second Reading - Genesis 22:1-18Third Reading - Exodus 14:15-15:1Fourth Reading - Ezekiel 36:16-17,18-28Fifth Reading - Romans 6:3-11Gospel - Luke 24:1-12
One lady once wrote into a Q&A column: “Dear Sirs, our prea…
First Reading - Isaiah 52:13-53:12Second Reading - Hebrews 4:14-16,5:7-9Gospel - John 18:1-19:42
The crucifix and the cross stand as enduring symbols of love—of a self-giving, sacrificial love offered for others. Today’s liturgy invites us to contemp…
First Reading - Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Gospel - John 13:1-15
Today, the Church commemorates three profound anniversaries: 1) The institution of the Holy Eucharist during the Last Supper—the first Holy Mass. 2) …
First Reading - Isaiah 50:4-9Gospel - Matthew 26:14-25
Today is traditionally known as “Spy Wednesday”—a day that early Christians, as far back as AD 250, called “the day of betrayal.” The spotlight falls on Judas Iscariot, who conspired in secret to…
First Reading - Isaiah 49:1-6Gospel - John 13:21-38
God desires that all people should be saved and come to faith in Him (1 Timothy 2:3-4). The readings of today invite us to reflect on this universal will of God for salvation—a will beautifully mani…
First Reading - Isaiah 42:1-7Gospel - John 12:1-11
We are in the Holy Week. This week invites us to meditate on the total self-offering of Jesus on the cross for the sake of each and every one of us. The readings of today aptly remind us that we need…