Morning Voice

November 10, 2024. Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time – B. Readings: 1 Kgs 17:10-16; Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10; Heb 9:24-28;Mk 12:38-44 or 12:41-44. “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury..." Mark 12:43 A British proverb says: “God looks to clean hands, not to full ones.” A Persian proverb adds: “In this world, generous people have no money and those with money are not generous.” Not to fall into a sinful generalization, but many situations and happenings tell us that poor people, people who are deprived of everything in terms of materials, are very generous. And when they want to give, they give with their heart. The Gospel, but also the first reading of this 32nd Sunday are a calling on generosity, a calling on self-giving seeking nothing in return for oneself. Regardless of our status, rich or poor, we always have something to offer, something to give for the needs of others. We have love to offer. We have our h

November 3, 2024. Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time – B. Readings: Dt 6:2-6; Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51; Heb 7:23-28; Mk12:28b-34. "There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31 An English proverb says: “He that plants trees loves others besides himself.” A Sicilian proverb adds: “Who loves God with all his heart, lives happy and dies happy.” According to the New Testament, the greatest commandment is two-part: First, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Second, love your neighbor as yourself. Let's first leave aside today's readings and go to a beautiful work of intellectual art, the Paulinian hymn of love. There, the Apostle of the Gentiles sings in 1 Cor 13:1-13 14: "Though I command languages both human and angelic -- if I speak without love, I am no more than a gong booming or a cymbal clashing..." And the Apostle ends his poetic litany of love with this solemn proclamation: "As it is, these remain: fait

October 27, 2024. Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B. Readings: Jer 31:7-9; Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6; Heb 5:1-6; Mk10:46-52. “What do you want me to do for you?” A Swahili proverb says: “What the heart desires is medicine to it.” A Romanian proverb adds: “We soon believe what we desire.” Every one of us has his or her personal needs. There are things we all thirst for, and for those thirsts, we can brave all difficulties, undertake all challenges, and allow nothing to stop us until we get what we want. One truth we can not deny is that we all are children of Adam, and so we all thirst for three things: Possessions, Power, and Pleasures. Some people make it worse until it becomes evil when they want possession at all costs, power at all costs, and pleasure at all costs, even if that should cost the life or liberty of others. Faith nourishes and sustains our desire, desire of God, desire to see, and desire of life. Without faith, we travel in unsatisfaction and towards unce

October 20, 2024. Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B. Readings: Is 53:10-11; Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; Heb4:14-16; Mk 10:35-45 or 10:42-45. “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mk 10:45 An Irish proverb says: “A good servant makes a good master.” A Yemeni proverb adds: “The master of the people is their servant.” Son though he was, the Lord chooses to be a Servant and live and die as a Servant. We are talking about the great kenosis, the abasement of Jesus, the Son of God who became Son of Man, and Servant of God and Men, suffered and died on the Cross for men's salvation. Two expressions will run the whole of our meditation today, Son and Servant. Sons have rights, servants have duties and obligations. In the Bible, the terms "son" and "servant" can have different meanings, depending on the context. In terms of inheritance, a son is an heir to his father's possessions,

October 13, 2024. Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B. Readings: Wis 7:7-11; Ps 90:12-13, 14-15, 16-17; Heb4:12-13; Mk 10:17-30 or 10:17-27. “You are lacking in one thing…” Mark 10:21 A Portuguese proverb says: “If a rich man ate a snake, they would say it was because of his wisdom.” A Dutch proverb adds: “Wisdom is a good purchase, though we pay dear for it.” Wisdom, in one simple word, is the capacity of discernment and the ability to make the right choice. I asked Uncle Google, our uncle who knows all things, and he gave me this beautiful answer: "Wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise." He went further to add that it is the ability to discern inner qualities and relationships, an insight or good sense, a judgment, and a generally accepted belief. Today's readings, especially the Gospel and the first reading, invite us to invest in wisdom in our decisions and choices of life. As Christians, this

October 6, 2024. Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – B. Readings: Gn 2:18-24; Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6; Heb 2:9-11; Mk10:2-16 or 10:2-12. “If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is brought to perfection in us.” 1 Jn 4:12 A Romanian proverb says: “Love is blind, but marriage finds a cure.” A German proverb adds: “Marriage is the opposite of a fever attack; it begins very hot and ends very cold.” Marriage is a noble divine institution. It is the surgent of the society, of life, and so, of any other calling. Through the marital union of husbands and wives, a new life originated opening to a new vocation. Without doubt, after the Holy Eucharist, the Matrimonial Union is the nobless of all Sacraments. It even has greater value in terms of impact on social life than the Sacramental Order of the Presbytery. In the Diocese of Lucena, while celebrating the 74th Foundation Anniversary, this year is dedicated to vocation. In the prayer for the year of vocations, we rea