Morning Voice

June 4, 2023. The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity -A. Readings: Ex 34:4b-6, 8-9; Cant. Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56; 2Cor 13:11-13; Jn 3:16-18. “Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; to God who is, who was, and who is to come.” Rv 1:8 A Romanian proverb says: “A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” And a Jews proverb adds: “If triangles had a God, He'd have three sides.” The Entrance Antiphon "Blest be God the Father, and the Only Begotten Son of God, and also the Holy Spirit, for he has shown us his merciful love" opens us to the centrality of what we are celebrating today, the Most Holy Trinity, the mysterious community and communion of love between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Trinity is the mystery of God in himself, his deep identity, and his being. As Christians, we profess a Trinitarian Faith, that is, our God in whom we believe is One in Three: One Godhead in Three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our whole being is

May 31, 2023. Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Readings: Zep 3:14-18a or Rom 12:9-16; Cant. Isaiah 12:2-3,4bcd, 5-6; Lk 1:39-56. “For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.” Lk 1:39 A Latin proverb says: “We can enjoy nothing without someone to share the pleasure.” And a Traditional proverb adds: “Visits always give pleasure; if not the arrival, the departure.” We are celebrating today what we recall in the meditation of the Holy Rosary as the second Joyful Mystery, the Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth.  The Scriptures report that after the solemn Annunciation she received from the Archangel, Mary, newly pregnant, traveled to be with her cousin Elizabeth, who was in her sixth to seventh month with her son, the future John the Baptist. And we read from St. Luke that, on Mary’s entrance to the house of Zechariah, the babe leaped in Elizabeth's womb, and Elizabeth said the words we all know

May 28, 2023. Pentecost Sunday – A. Readings: Acts 2:1-11; Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34; 1 Cor12:3b-7, 12-13; Jn 20:19-23. “… He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit” …” Jn 20:22 A Bantu proverb says: “Life is your ability to breath out every time you breathe in.” And a Thai proverb adds: “Don’t borrow someone else’s nose to breathe with.” There is a beautiful psalter hymn we sing every first and third Sunday while praying the midday liturgy of hours. It was composed by Edwin Hatch. It goes this way: "Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love the way you love, and do what you would do. Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure, until my will is one with yours, to do and to endure. Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die, but live with you the perfect life for all eternity." The Holy Spirit is that Divine Breath that comes to breathe on us and give us life. When the world seems to asphyxiate us or

May 21, 2023. Seventh Sunday of Easter – A. Readings: Acts 1:12-14; Ps 27:1, 4, 7-8; 1 Pt 4:13-16; Jn17:1-11a. “I pray for them...” Jn 17:9 An Irish proverb says: “There is no strength without unity.” And an Arabic proverb adds about prayer: “Prayer is the pillow of religion.” Jesus Christ as Pantocrator, meaning “Almighty, All-Powerful,” is the Greek word used by Paul to describe the Lord in 2 Corinthians 6:18 and many times by John in the Book of Revelation: 1:8; 4:8, and many others. Here, we are given to see and contemplate our Lord Jesus Christ as above all things and all-powerful. He is the fulfillment of everything, and all comes to being and is made possible through him. While we are nearing the close of our Easter journey, the image of the Pantocrator is what fits the most to the Risen Lord. Nothing is beyond his reach. In his passion, death, and resurrection, he has brought all things and promises to their completion. Thus, his words, while dying on the Cross, "

May 21, 2023. The Ascension of the Lord – A. Readings: Acts 1:1-11; Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; Eph 1:17-23; Mt28:16-20. “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) A Nicaraguan proverb says: “There’s who nobody can prevent you from getting into heaven, but there are many always ready to give you a shove into hell.” And an Afghan proverb adds: “Your aspirations are in heaven, but your brains are in your feet.” There is a childhood truth that travels every culture, language, and tradition. When a child asks his parents, mostly the mother, "Mommy, where is God?" The answer is simple and all found: "In the sky!" God is up there, in the huge and far-away skies or heaven. And this truth fashions our relationship with God. He is in heaven above, and we, here on earth below. When I was a child, I have been told by my

May 14, 2023. Sixth Sunday of Easter – A. Readings: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; Ps 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20; 1Pt 3:15-18; Jn 14:15-21. “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth…” John 14:16 A Danish proverb says: “Woe be to him whose advocate becomes his accuser.” And an Albanian proverb adds: “A proof of faith is obedience.” During these days preparing us for the Ascension of the Lord and the feast of the Pentecost, the Liturgy put a special accent on the Holy Spirit. Each word of God we will hear, says something about him and helps us to discover him and to know him better. Who is the Holy Spirit? Someone said that the Holy Spirit is the less known and the less prayed person of the Divine Godhead, however, the most active and most present of the three. From the Creation to the Redemption, the Holy Spirit is at work, never absent, but always silent. The Father's voice has often been heard. He spoke, and things came

May 7, 2023. Fifth Sunday of Easter – A. Readings: Acts 6:1-7; Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; 1 Pt 2:4-9; Jn14:1-12. “In my Father's house, there are many dwelling places.” Jn 14:2 A Nigerian proverb says: “Without knowing a way thoroughly at day time, never attempt to pass it at night.” And an Ivorian proverb adds: “The way a cat walks is not the way it catches a rat.” We live in a world where models, examples, and directions matter a lot. Many people lose their way by following the wrong model. Many people go to their loss for following the wrong direction. Sadly, many more are misled by wrong convictions and falsehoods. The media, day after day, are bombarding us with images and conceived models. And because nature abhors the void, we buy and consume them without moderation. The Lord, today, teaches us the right and unique model worthy to be followed and incarnate or imitate. For us Christians, he is our unique model and mediator of life, love, and peace. We are urged not on