Morning Voice

March 6, 2022 First Sunday of Lent – C. READINGS: Dt 26:4-10; Ps 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15; Rom10:8-13; Lk 4:1-13. “Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil…” (Luke 4:1) An Arabic proverb says: “In the desert of life the wise person travels by caravan, while the fool prefers to travel alone.” And a Portuguese proverb adds: “Good habits result from resisting temptation.” In everyone's life, there are times when we pass through some kind of desert. During those times, we face all kinds of tribulations, trials, and temptations. Those moments, however, should be the greatest opportunity to confess our faith in God and stand firmly rooted in him. Temptations, when approached with firm faith in God turn into a blessing. For, a trial that does not kill you forms and strengthens you. In human life, evil will always be near setting traps and any kinds of trials. The way we react...

March 2, 2022 Ash Wednesday. READINGS: Jl 2:12-18; Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17; 2Cor 5:20—6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18. “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning…” (Joel 2:12) A Tibetan proverb says: “Traveling is a return to the essentials.” And a Hungarian proverb adds: “Better to return from halfway than to take a wrong road.” Technology has changed considerably since then. Before, when we were using the tape recorders and radios, to listen to a sound or music which was passed, one needed to take a pause and then, press on the return or reverse button. When one missed making the pause and goes straight to the reverse, there was the great risk of destroying the band through jumping up. We open today a liturgical season that sounds like a pause in order to make a return. We are urged to put a pause on our evil tendencies and make a reverse towards righteousness, a return to God. Lent, says the teaching of the Churc...

February 27, 2022 Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C. READINGS: Sir 27:4-7; Ps 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16; 1 Cor15:54-58; Lk 6:39-45. “From the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Lk 6:45) A Chinese proverb says: “Words are sounds of the heart.” And a German proverb adds: “Words are like bees, they have honey and a sting.” No one knows what hides in man's mind and heart. Science and technology can try all the possibilities, even the psychologists through hypnosis, but hardly can man's mind be read, not speaking even about the heart. What lies inside us is made known only through our words. Rightly, we can say that words are the mirror of the heart, the gateway to the mind. What we think, what we feel, what we go through are only expressed through the words that flow from our mouths. Without sign language and writings, it will always be hard to know what a mute and deaf man thinks or feels. Words are very important. They can say all about us. They also can betray us. To...

February 20, 2022 Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – C. READINGS: 1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23; Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8,10, 12-13; 1 Cor 15:45-49; Lk 6:27-38. “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Lk 6:27) A British proverb says: “All beings seek happiness so let your compassion extend itself to all.” And a Sicilian proverb adds: “Don't love only the one who loves you, it's tyranny.” Love your enemies. Do good. Be compassionate... These simple sentences are the code of harmony, peace, and fulfilled life. They are the perfect way to happiness. No one can live in harmony without others, without love, and especially without love for those who hate him. Humanly speaking, our common tendency is to do to others what they did to us. That means, if someone hurts you, hurt him back, and maybe more painfully, that he may feel what you felt. If someone hates you, make no effort to love him. T...

February 13, 2022 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - C. READINGS: Jer 17:5-8; Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6; 1 Cor 15:12,16-20; Lk 6:17, 20-26. “Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.” (Lk 6:23) A Sicilian proverb says: “Who serves God, fears nothing.” And a Scottish proverb adds: “Have God and have All.” No other but God. No treasure but God. No refuge but God. No hope but God. That is what it means to have God in one's life. Those who truly belong to God find in him their protection, stronghold, refuge, and strength. Though humanly they might seem weak and poor, they have the greatest riches that fills all heart, God alone. Meditating on today's readings, came to my mind these words of St. Teresa of Avila: "God alone suffices." She said it as a beautiful prayer: "Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, all things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing...