Morning Voice

November 2, 2022. The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls). The following are a selection of the readings that may be chosen for this day. May other readings can be found in the Rite of Funerals. Readings: Wis 3:1-9; Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Rom 6:3-9; Mt 25:34. “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” Jn 6:40 A Swahili proverb says: “A dead person is not asked for a shroud.” And an Amerindian proverb adds: “Life is not separate from death. It only looks that way.” The Resurrection of Christ is at the center of all the Church's celebrations. The Holy Eucharist itself is the memorial of that Resurrection. Every time that we gather as a community, we recall and relive this mystery that gives meaning to our lives and to all our being as Christians. As the Apostle Paul can exclaim, “If Christ has not risen vain is our faith.” 1 Cor 15:17 As if to say, ...

November 1, 2022. 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 Chinese proverb says: “Heaven has a road, but no one travels it; Hell has no gate but men will dig to get there.” A Norwegian proverb adds: “Shared joy is double joy.” The beatific life is the main aim of our earthly pilgrimage. We live here on earth awaiting and longing for life in heaven. We know, however, that this heavenly life made of perfect happiness will not be possible if we disconnect ourselves from this earth. It is by living worthily our life here on earth that we prepare for life in heaven. Life according to the Beatitudes is the heavenly life, the life according to Jesus, and in simple, the life of Jesus himself. If as Christians, our life aims to be Christ-like, then our life is to be a new Beatitude. We are called to be Holy. Today's solemnity, the All Saints, remin...

October 30, 2022. Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time – C. Readings: Wis 11:22-12:2; Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14; 2Thes 1:11-2:2; Lk 19:1-10.  “‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house’... ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’” A Latin proverb says: “The knowledge of sin is the beginning of salvation.” And a Filipino proverb adds: “Mercy resides in God; deeds are in men.” The mercy of God is what opens us to salvation. Without the Lord to forgive us, we all remain in our sins and so doomed to damnation. God's mercy is always at work in us. It goes ahead and seeks us where we are getting lost in our sins. The Holy Scriptures are filled with signs and expressions of the mercy of God. From the book of Genesis to that of Revelation passing through the Gospels, we see that it is God's mercy at work that gives meaning to the human story. When sin has invaded hum...

October 23, 2022. Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C. Readings: Sir 35:12-14, 16-18; Ps 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23; 2 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18; Lk 18:9-14. “The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal…” (Sir 35:21) A Chinese proverb says: “The poor ones give their alms in a humble way, the rich man throws them down with contempt.” And a German proverb adds: “The fewer the words, the better the prayer.” “This poor man called; the Lord has heard him.” That is all that it is about in prayer. We come in front of the Lord in all humility and with the docility of children. We present him our petitions and await his divine response. Prayer is before all an exercise of humility. The Lord hears the prayer of the poor and the humble because their prayers begin in a place much nearer to God’s heart. The Holy Father, in his General Audience on October 5, 2022, said nicely about prayer: "Prayer, not like parrots. No: prayer as familiarity and confidence...

October 16, 2022 Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C. Readings: Ex 17:8-13; Ps 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8; 2 Tm 3:14-4:2; Lk 18:1-8. “Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.” Lk 18:1 A German proverb says: “Pray as though no work could help, and work as though no prayer could help.” And a British proverb adds: “Prayer knocks till the door opens.” Faith in God is what makes us pray to Him. And because of that faith, we pray without losing heart or hope no matter the adversities and hardships we go through. He who has no faith does not pray. He feels not its importance. It is because we trust in God that we raise our voices and hands in prayer to him. Besides, our faith is proved genuine and true only in times of adversities. One thing is certain, it is not easy to hold on to one's faith in times of trials. But when we keep firm, our faith is always rewarded. We are speaking of prayer and faith. We could be tempted to as...

October 9, 2022. Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C. Readings: 2 Kgs 5:14-17; Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4; 2 Tm 2:8-13; Lk 17:11-19. “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Lk 17:18 A Paraguayan proverb says: “Gratitude is the least of virtues, but ingratitude the worst of vices.” And a Swahili proverb adds: “The gratitude that bees receive is the smoke that people use to expel them and get at their honey.” Salvation is for all. It is not the private property of a group or a specific people. The Lord wants to save all people and everyone. What is required to enter that great and mysterious gift is faith. Faith, as we heard last Sunday, is what leads to salvation and makes miracles possible. And that faith has no color, no language, no race. It is opened to all and for all, foreigners or national, yellow or green, white or black. In the universe of God graces and miracles, there is nothing written such as ...