SCRIPTURAL WISDOM : DAILY MEDITATION ON THE WORD OF GOD

  Our Lady of the Rosary in Fatima (Readings: Is 61:9-11; Lk 11:27-28) The responsorial psalm today says: “The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.” These words of the psalmist resonate with today’s feast. While it is true that God’s revelation is totally and definitively achieved in the life of Christ Jesus, the mother Church considers some private revelations in her history. Among them are the apparitions of Fatima. Between May 13 and October 13, 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared six times in Portugal to three children:   Lucia who was nine years, and her cousins—Francisco who was eights years and his sister Jacinta, who was six. The message of Our Lady of Fatima to the world is very simple : a call to prayer and penance for conversion of sinners and reparation for sins of humanity against God and for peace in the world. Mary asked these children to pray the Rosary every day for these intentions. She also asked them to accept all the sufferings that they woul

  On various occasions, Jesus imparted valuable lessons to his disciples about prayer and its significance. In Matthew 6:5-8, he advised, “When you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is unseen...” In Matthew 6:9-13, he emphasized our relationship with a Heavenly Father. In Luke 18:9-14, he taught us the attitude to embrace when approaching God in prayer. Regardless of the form of prayer we engage in—be it adoration, praise and worship, petition prayers, or thanksgiving—we must remember that it is all about nurturing our relationship with God. In this Gospel according to Luke, Jesus’s teaching centers on the importance of persevering in prayer. He does this by sharing a parable: “In a certain town, there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And in that town, there was a widow who came to him, saying, 'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.” At the end of the parable, Jesus advises his disciples, “Pay a

  In the Gospel readings, we are drawn into a profound contemplation of the return of Christ, the days of the Son of Man. Jesus, speaking to his disciples, talks about the “day of the Son of Man.” His disciples were naturally curious about the timing of this event. Yet, Jesus redirects their focus, and ours, towards something of even greater significance. While referring to the story of Noah and Lot (Genesis chapters 6-9), Jesus highlights the ordinary aspects of life: eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage, buying, selling, planting, and building. He does not condemn these activities but reminds us that, just as in the days of Noah and Lot, people became so engrossed in their daily lives that they failed to see the impending flood and destruction. Similarly, we may be caught off guard by the day of the Son of Man if we allow the distractions of this world to overwhelm us. Today’s Gospel sheds light on the fact that our personal and collective histories will eventually co

After Jesus was tempted in the desert, he went to the synagogue to inaugurate his public mission (cf. Luke 4:14-23). At the end of his inaugural message, “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips.” The Gospel we meditate on today is in continuity with this episode. A Prophet is not accepted in his native place : While still in the Synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus makes a surprising remark that contradicts the appreciation he just received from the crowd. He says: “ Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his native place .” Upon hearing this, the same crowd that praised Jesus turns against him. They became furious, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill to hurl him down headlong. However, miraculously, he passed through their midst and went away. We have here a prefiguration of the agony of Jesus, during which we would witness the same attitude from the crowd on Palm Sunday. After singing “ Hosanna to the son of D

Faith that Moves the Heart of God. (Mark 2, 1-12) T he mention of the city of Capernaum at the beginning of today’s Gospel by Mark is quite significant. It helps to set the context of his narrative. Capernaum, which means “Village of comfort”, is a city where Jesus preached most of his missions,   accompanied by great signs such as the cure of a demoniac (Mark 1, 21-28), the Cure of Simon’s mother-in-law (Mark 1, 29-31), and many other miraculous healings, including that of a leper. It is evident that Jesus was well-known in Capernaum, explaining why many people were eager to be with him. He embodied the essence of the city’s name, providing not only comfort but also transformation in   people’s lives, both inside and out. Let’s explore how this transformation is reflected in today’s Gospel. His Message Gladdens the Heart : Jesus preached to people who gathered around him. They found joy in   listening to him because his words carried authority and touched their souls, bringing glad