Morning Voice

November 2, 2021 The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls). The following are a selection of the readings that may be chosen for this day. READINGS: Wis 3:1-9; Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Rom 6:3-9; Jn6:37-40. "Just as Jesus died and has risen again, so through Jesus God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep; and as in Adam all die, so also in Christ will all be brought to life." (Cf. 1 Th 4: 14; 1 Cor 15: 22). This Entrance Antiphon gives the true meaning of what we are commemorating today, our love and prayer for those who have gone before us in death and whom we believe, are still in the journey of purification towards the glory of God. An Akan proverb says: “Death is like a dress that, at some point or another, everyone has to wear.” And an Amerindian proverb adds: “They are not dead who live in the hearts they leave behind.” In the final article of our Creed, we profess: "I believe in the Resurrection of the dead and life everlasting....

November 1, 2021 Solemnity of All Saints. READINGS: Rv 7:2-4, 9-14; Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6; 1 Jn3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12a. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” (Mt 5:12a) A Hebrew proverb says: “Whoever has not tasted sinfulness does not qualify for holiness.” And an Italian proverb adds: “All saints do not work miracles.” Communion and fellowship with the Saints is one of the articles of our Catholic faith. We profess in the Creed that we believe in the Communion of Saints. From there, the Saints become our daily companions of life. In the liturgical calendar, every single day has its mentioned saint. So, the whole year, one after another, plenty of known saints are namely commemorated. The Saints, however, are more than those we recall in one year. And not only so, but many other saints are also unknown. Today's feast celebrates all those unknown saints who, we believe, are now in Heaven. Holiness is within everyone's reach. Through the Communion o...

October 31, 2021 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. “To love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (Mk 12:33) An Amerindian proverb says: “When you have learned about love, you have learned about God.” And a Jewish proverb adds: “Only love gives us the taste of eternity.” One truly lives his life and comes closer to God, only when he knows how to love. Love is what comes to us from God and relates us to Him and others. Life without love is a consecration of individualism and opens to indifference, and selfishness, and the worst form of narcissism. When you enter our Center for Children with special needs, the so-called disabled children, the Cottolengo Filipino, one sentence welcomes you: "Life is love." For, we live to love. He who fails to love, even though alive is a living-dead, that is, an accumulation of meat and bones without importance. ...

October 24, 2021 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - B. READINGS: J er 31:7-9; Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6; Heb 5:1-6; Mk10:46-52. A Tunisian proverb says: “There is no blindness but the blindness of the heart.” And a British proverb adds: “There is no blindness like ignorance.” The Christian life is a journey from darkness to light, from blindness to perfect sight. This journey, however, requires firm faith, great hope, and sincere love. It is by lack of faith in God one falls into idolatry and is blinded by sin. Sin makes us blind to our blindness. We therefore need the eyeglasses of faith to see. It is through faith, hope, and love that our sight can be restored. And every disciple of Christ is in that journey of purification and restoration of sight and of life. Perfect faith is not without trials. The Catechism says, “Faith in God the Father Almighty can be put to the test by the experience of evil and suffering. God can sometimes seem to be absent and incapable of stopping...

October 17, 2021 Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time - B. READINGS: Is 53:10-11; Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; Heb 4:14-16;Mk 10:35-45 or 10:42-45. A Yugoslavian proverb says: “If you wish to know what a man is, place him in authority.” And a Chinese proverb adds: “The emperor is the father of his people, not a master to be served by slaves.” A basic definition, and from the understanding of the common of mortal, authority is the power or right to control, judge, or prohibit the actions of others. Are called authority, a person or group of people having this power, such as a government, police force, social leaders, etc. The word authority also refers to a position that commands such a power or right. In the fields of sociology and political science, authority is the legitimate power that a person or a group of persons possess and practice over other people. When we hear of the word authority, the first thing that crosses our minds is supremacy or dominion over others. It is about h...