Children

Today, we are given to contemplate the father and vineyard owner asking his two sons: «Son, today go and work in my vineyard» (Mt 21:29). One says “yes”, but he does not go. The other one says “no”, but he does go. None of the two sons keeps the word given.

In the background of today's Gospel lies the vineyard, prophetic image of the people of Israel in the Old Testament, and now, of the new people of God, born from the wounded side of the Lord in the Cross.

This feast commemorates two events: (1) The finding of the Cross by the Empress Helen (the mother of St. Constantine the Great) on Golgotha in 326 AD, the place where Christ was crucified...

In the community of the first Christians there were also faults and behaviors that are contrary to God's will. The final verse offers us the framework to solve the problems arisen, throughout history, within the Church: "For where two or three are gathered...

Today, we can also see Peter —a most remarkable figure and great testimony and teacher of the faith—as a man of flesh and blood. With virtues and failings, as each one of us. We have to be grateful to the Evangelists for having realistically acquainted us...

Two Sundays ago, when we were watching Peter walking on the sea and beginning to sink, we saw Jesus reprimand him: "You of little faith! Why did you doubt?" (Mt 14:31). Today, the scolding is changed to praise: "It is well for you, Simon Barjona" (Mt 16:17).

Today, we are given to contemplate the scene of the Canaanite woman: a pagan woman —not an Israeli one— whose daughter was very sick, possessed by the demon, and who had heard of Jesus. She comes to meet him and starts crying ...

Today, Peter's experience reflects situations that, more often than not, we also eventually undergo. Who has never, ever felt, at least once, that the world was crumbling around and then decided to let it all go and surrender to despair? Under these circumstances we must revive our faith and...

Today, Jesus shows us just how much He wants to involve us in his saving work. He who had created the heavens and the earth out of nothing, could have easily created a rich banquet from nothing to satiate the multitudes.

Today, our Gospel is helping us to look inside us, to find something hidden in there: "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field" (Mt 13:44).

Today, Christ. Always, Christ. From him we come; the good seeds sowed in our life also come from Him. God visits us —the Kempis says— in the consolation and in the desolation,...

Today, we consider the parable of the sower. It has a special force and charm because it is our Lord Jesus' own word. The message is quite clear: God is generous while sowing, but the very success of his sowing is also contingent —at the same time— on our free response.

Today, two realities define Jesus in this Gospel: no one knows the Father except him, and He is "gentle and humble of heart" (Mt 11:29). We can also discern in this Gospel two attitudes that we require to properly understand and enjoy what Jesus is offering us: simplicity and the desire to get close to Him.

Come to me, all you who work hard and who carry heavy burdens and I will refresh you. Today, two realities define Jesus in this Gospel: no one knows the Father except him, and He is "gentle and humble of heart" (Mt 11:29)...

Today, is the day consecrated by the martyrdom of the apostles Peter and Paul! «Peter, our leader in faith; Paul, its fearless preacher who became the teacher of the world» (Preface). Today is a day to be grateful for the Apostolic Faith, which is also our faith...

Today the one and only message we have to listen to and to live with is contained in “the bread”. Chapter 6th of St. John's Gospel refers to the miracle of the multiplication of the breads, which is followed by a great talk of Jesus, a fragment of which we are today listening to.

Today, Jesus goes on commenting the Commandments. The Israelites had a great respect for the name of God, a fearful veneration, for they knew that names refer to persons nd God deserves all respect, all honor and all glory, by thought, word and deed.

Today, we are given to contemplate a pair of blessing hands —our Lord's last gesture on earth (cf. Lk 24:51). Or some footprints up on a mount —the very last visible sign of God's steps our earth.

Today, Jesus —as He previously did with his disciples— is leaving us. He is going back to the Father to be glorified. This seemed to sadden his disciples who were always looking at him with that physical, human gaze, that only believes in, accepts and clings to whatever can be seen and touched.

"Please keep the book carefully". Nguyen Hanh, aged seven, carefully wrote these words across a blank page in one of her favourite books, Two Cats Sitting on the Window. She then picked up a rubber stamp and embossed the words with the initials "BB", meaning Book Box.

Today, the scene we consider in the Gospel explains the existing intimacy between Jesus Christ and the Father; but not only that; it invites us to discover the relationship between Jesus Christ and his disciples.

Today, in this Gospel, Jesus uses two images when referring to himself: He is the shepherd and He is the gate. Jesus is the good shepherd and He knows his own sheep. "He calls each of his sheep by name" (Jn 10:3). For Jesus we are not just numbers; He has a...

Today, we start proclaiming the Gospel with the expression: "That very same day after the sabbath" (Lk 24:13). Yes, the day after Sabbath, Sunday. Easter —it has been said— is like a great Sunday lasting fifty days.

Today, 2nd Sunday of Easter, we complete the octave of this liturgical time, one of the two octaves —along with that of Christmas— that have remained out of the renewal made by the Vatican Council II. During eight days we contemplate...

Today, "is the day when the Lord has acted", as we shall be singing throughout Easter time. As this is the expression of Psalm 117 that fills out the celebration of our Christian faith. The Father has resurrected Jesus Christ, His beloved Son, whom He indulges in because He has loved

Today, we are asked to contemplate the royal style of Christ, our savior. Jesus is a king, and —precisely— the last Sunday of our liturgical year we celebrate Our Lord Jesus Christ the King of the world. Yes, He is King, but his kingdom is "a kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace"

Lazarus' resurrection is a “prognostication” of that of Christ, which we are soon going to commemorate. Jesus tells Martha that He is the "resurrection" and life (cf. Jn 11:25). He asks all of us: "Do you believe this?" (Jn 11:26). Do we believe that God has given us a new life through the Baptism?

Today, in the Fourth Sunday of Lent —also called rose or “laetare” (rejoice) Sunday— all the liturgy invites us to experience a deep joy, a great exultation, because Easter is getting nearer.

Today, just as in that Samarian afternoon, Jesus comes into our life, halfway through our Lenten journey, telling us, as He did to the Samaritan woman: "Give me a drink" (Jn 4:7).

This Sunday all three readings follow the same thought that, perhaps, can be expressed in this way: faith is a journey we are all on, a journey of joy, a journey that demands sacrifice, and a journey that leads to glory.