Morning Voice

August 11, 2024. Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B. Readings: 1 Kgs 19:4-8; Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Eph4:30—5:2; Jn 6:41-51. “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life.” A Beninese proverb says: “The world is a journey, the afterworld is home.” A Congolese proverb adds: “You cannot work for food when there is no food for work.” I read somewhere that "If bread fueled men's work, it structured women's." And somewhere else, someone said, "Bread not only brings good health, it helps maintain it." We all need food to live. Without food, life is easily shortened, and we vanish. In our pilgrimage on this earth, food counts among the primarily necessities. Why do people labor? Why all the pains one gives to himself every day? Are there not all to get something put under our teeth? Sure, one does not live for bread, but one needs bread (food) to live. Today, again, like the two previous Sundays, the liturgy...

August 4, 2024. Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B. Readings: Ex 16:2-4, 12-15; Ps 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54; Eph4:17, 20-24; Jn 6:24-35. “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” John 6:27. A Swedish proverb says: “Lack of bread forces one to work.” A Corsican proverb adds: “He who eats holy bread has to deserve it.” One of the most beautiful patristic hymns, which has also become one of the best-ever written Eucharistic hymns, is Panis Angelicus. In it, St. Thomas Aquinas gives the deepest meaning of the Eucharistic Bread. He says, "Thus Angels' Bread is made the Bread of man today: The Living Bread from heaven with figures dost away: O miraculous gift indeed! The poor and lowly may upon their Lord and Master feed." In the Holy Eucharist, it is exactly what we celebrate and receive. The Bread from Heaven, the Bread of Angels that becomes Bread of Men in order to feed and nourish t...

July 28, 2024. Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B. Readings: 2 Kgs 4:42-44; Ps 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18; Eph4:1-6; Jn 6:1-15.   “The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.” Ps 145:16 A Nepalese proverb says: “The god who made the mouth will provide the food.” A Turkish proverb adds: “For the birds that cannot soar, God has provided low branches.” God always feeds our needs. This is not only about the spiritual, but also the human and material needs. God provides. His Providence is enough for all. To operate, God's Providence requires only our human faith. That is our little contribution. Faith is the key to the abundance of God's grace. In today's liturgy, a song can be heard, and it will constitute the directive line of our meditation on the word of God. "The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs." Ps 145:16 The Lord always outstretches his hand. He feeds all who trust in him. He is always eager to answer our needs. I...

July 21, 2024. Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B. Readings: Jer 23:1-6; Ps 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6; Eph 2:13-18; Mk6:30-34.   "His heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd..." (Mk 6:34) A Hindi proverb says: “God takes care of a blind cow.” A Romanian proverb adds: “A good shepherd must fleece his sheep, not flay them.” The relationship between sheep and shepherds is one of the images commonly used in the Scriptures to describe God's relationship with his people. It is normally one of intimate knowledge and trust. Shepherds are responsible for the care and safety of their sheep, which are helpless animals that can not survive independently. In return, the sheep learn to recognize their shepherd's voice and follow them—three main words spring from that relationship: care, trust, and obedience. The shepherd cares. The sheep trust, and because of their trust, they obey him. When the care is lacking, the trust also disappears, an...

July 14, 2024. Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B. Readings: Am 7:12-15; Ps 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14; Eph 1:3-14or 1:3-10; Mk 6:7-13. “Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.” Mk 6:7 A Swahili proverb says: “A person does not object to being called, he objects to what he is called for.” A Romanian Proverb adds: “Every man must walk in his own calling.” At our Baptism, not only do we become children of God, but we are also invested with a threefold authority that becomes also a mission. We are made through the anointing  Priests, Prophets, and Kings. We are made sharers of the mission of Christ, anointed like him and sent. So, as a Priest, you become a mediator between God and humans, offering sacrifices on behalf of all. Jesus is considered the greatest high priest. Every baptized Christian is an Alter Christi. As a King: A person with supreme authority over a territory. Jesus' mission was to bring ...

July 7, 2024. Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B. Readings: Ez 2:2-5; Ps 123:1-2, 2, 3-4; 2 Cor 12:7-10; Mk6:1-6. “So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.” Mk 6:5 A Corsican proverb says: “Have faith and God will provide.” A Portuguese proverb adds: “Faith has no eyes; he who asks to see has no faith.” Humans are weak, frail, prone to sin, and rebellious. We often let our weaknesses and rebellious minds take over our inner goodness. God, however, shows his love and power at work in us. He can transform our stories and make of our weakness, the place where his grace operates. The only thing God’s grace requires to be at work in us is a firm faith in him. Without faith, no miracle is possible and God’s power inoperative. Today, again, like the two precedent Sundays, we continue meditating and speaking about God's power. Previously, it was about his power...

June 30, 2024. Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B. Readings: Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24; Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13;2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mk 5:21-43. “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” Mk 5:41 A British proverb says: “The first step to health is to know that we are sick.” An Albanian proverb adds: “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.” We spoke last Sunday of God's power, that he has power over everything, including the sea and the evil forces. This could sound abstract for some people and even ideal. Today's liturgy, particularly the Gospel attests to God's power, and it is at work in Jesus. All that it requires is faith. To see and feel God's powerful hand at work in one's life, one must have a firm faith in him. Without faith, no miracle is possible. We are exhorted to trust that God is at work in us and that he alone has the power to keep us alive when people give us for dead. "Since it belongs to the supernat...