Morning Voice

September 19, 2021 Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B. READINGS: Wis 2:12, 17-20; Ps 54:3-4, 5, 6 and 8; Jas3:16—4:3; Mk 9:30-37. “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” (Mk 9:35) A Sicilian proverb says: “Asparagus and mushrooms teach a cook humility.” And an Indian proverb adds: “Austerity is an ornament, humility is honorable.” The Church of the poor is a community that welcomes and embraces the least fortunate, the forsaken, the marginalized, the poorest of the poor. Someone said the Church of Pope Francis is the Church of the poor. I will go further by saying the Church of Jesus Christ is the Church of the poor. The Church of God is the Church of the poor. Because God has a preferential option for the poor and the humble. These assertions are not beatification of poverty but an emphasis on how the humble people are more opened to God and the Gospel, and so, closer to him. Real poverty is not as so much on material possessio...

September 14, 2021 Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. READINGS: Nm 21:4b-9; Ps 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38; Phil2:6-11; Jn 3:13-17. “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (Jn 3:14) An Italian proverb says: “Self-exaltation is the fool’s paradise.” And a Filipino proverb adds: “There’s no glory without sacrifice.” There is no glory without suffering. That is the beautiful message of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. Jesus was raised into glory after being raised high on the cross. The instrument of his suffering became the highway to his exaltation at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Many people find suffering unacceptable and the crosses in life, unbearable. The Lord, today, tells us that we should not be afraid to suffer, and most especially to suffer for righteousness’ sake. For, all our hardships will be rewarded and our lives crowned with ...

September 12, 2021 Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time - B. READINGS: Is 50:5-9a; Ps 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; Jas 2:14-18;Mk 8:27-35. An Indian proverb says: “Nonviolence is the supreme law of life.” And a Turkish proverb adds: “When violence comes into the house, law and justice leave through the chimney.” When we hear "Non-violence", everyone's mind goes on Martin Luther King, the Black American activist pastor, or Mahatma Gandhi the Indian activist. Non-violence, from the philosophy of these two, but also from that of many other pacific activists, consists in not opposing violent resistance to one who does battle with you with it and to oppression. An article from Stanford University related to this topic says, "King’s notion of nonviolence had six key principles. First, one can resist evil without resorting to violence. Second, nonviolence seeks to win the “friendship and understanding” of the opponent, not to humiliate him (King, Stride, 84). Third, e...

September 8, 2021 Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. READINGS: Mi 5:1-4a or Rom 8:28-30; Ps 13:6ab, 6c; Mt 1:1-16, 18-23 or 1:18-23. “Those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” (Rom 8:29) A Congolese proverb says: “The day the monkey is destined to die, all the trees get slippery.” And a Corsican proverb adds: “At birth, your fate is written.” Great joy in the household of Joachim and Anne. A daughter is born who will give birth to the Savior of the world. With delight we rejoice in the Lord for he has given us the Mother of His Son. God in his great and mysterious love foreknew how he will work out human salvation. So, he forechose Mary to be part of his project. She was chosen by the Father. She was chosen for the Son. She was chosen by the Spirit to be the Blessed Mother of the Savior. In the liturgical calendar, only three people have their birth celebrated, and these three are united to a unique plan, the mystery of s...

September 5, 2021 Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time – B. READINGS: Is 35:4-7a; Ps 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10; Jas 2:1-5; Mk7:31-37. A Sicilian proverb says: “The justice of God is better than the justice of the world.” And a Jewish proverb adds: “The world exists on three things: truth, justice, and peace.” The justice of God is far beyond and above how this world defines justice. Among the many attributes given to our God, he is also called God of justice. What must we understand through this attribute? Something very simple. It says that God makes no difference or discrimination between rich and poor, or great and small. He loves them all the same way and would that, they should also love each other the way he loves them. Our world, our countries, our societies, our associations, groups, and families, will be a better place and know the real peace only when we will dare to give a seat of honor to justice and bury our hypocrisies and indifferences. “Socio-economic problems can be...