Morning Voice

July 31, 2022. Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C. Readings: Ecc 1:2; 2:21-23; Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17;Col 3:1-5, 9-11; Lk 12:13-21. “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Luke 12:15 A Bantu proverb says: “Life is vanity.” And a Nepalese proverb adds: “Vanity blossoms but bears no fruit.” To be rich in what matters to God, here is the inner message of the liturgy of this 18th Sunday in the Ordinary Time. Life in God requires that we make of him our priority and that we price more the heavenly virtues that the earthly things. Hoarding up treasure here below for ourselves and forgetting heavenly realities is a kind of madness. And regrettably, many of us are caught in the madness of accumulation and worldliness. Riches for us means to own the whole world and all the created things. Many people breathe only possessions, riches, and accumulation. But when our life ends, nothing of what we toiled for...

July 24, 2022. Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C. Readings: Gn 18:20-32; Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 6-7, 7-8; Col2:12-14; Lk 11:1-13. “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 A British proverb says: “Prayer knocks till the door opens.” And an Albanian proverb adds: “Prayer is food for the soul.” As Christians, we live by the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. Our life is called to be an act of filial obedience to God, searching for His Divine Will in everything we do. This life, however, is a relationship with the Lord. There cannot be true obedience to God's will without a relationship. Religion in that sense is a relationship with the Divine, from the Latin root, "RELIGARE", linked, attached... The substance of religion is prayer. No one can be firm in his faith without prayer. No one can keep a strong hope without prayer. And no one can truly love without the support of prayer. Thus, the Catechism can say, “The acts of fait...

July 17, 2022. Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - C. Readings: Gn 18:1-10a; Ps 15:2-3, 3-4, 5; Col 1:24-28; Lk10:38-42. “Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.” Lk 10:38 A Jewish proverb says: “Hospitality is one form of worship.” And an Amerindian proverb adds: “When there is true hospitality, not many words are needed.” There is a saying, "He who welcomes a prophet receives a reward of a prophet. He who welcomes a king receives a reward of a King." Hospitality is never a loss or a waste of opportunity and time. It is always rewarded. From far, it is a form of a safe investment. The goodness and kindness you show to others return to you as a blessing. The word hospitality refers to the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. It is the inner disposition to make someone feel welcomed in a foreign or not usual environment. About hospitality, the Magisterium of the Church says: “The Counci...

July 10, 2022. Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C. Readings: Dt 30:10-14; Ps 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37; Col1:15-20;Lk 10:25-37. “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Lk 10:25 A Hebrew proverb says: “The world is sustained by three things: justice, truth, and peace.” And a Chinese proverb adds: “If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character.” The ultimate goal and end of our earthly existence is life in God, eternal life. This eternal life is a life of perfection. But, left to oneself, no human being can attain this perfection. We will access it only through the almighty and loving mercy of God. For, salvation is a gift of His mercy. Mercy is the image of God we all like and we only want to see him under that image and nothing else. For us, knowing God as mercy is the source of peace. That, even though we are sinners, the Lord does never get tired of us. In his book interview with the Vatican Reporter Andrea Tornielli title...