Dec 15 Scripture Readings: bible.usccb.org/bible/readin... Balaam's prophecy in Num 24:2-7, 15-17 is read by Jewish and Christian interpreters as referring to the Messiah. But the gospel presents an irony. Religious leaders misunderstood the Messiah. This can happen to us too. youtu.be/0PIekVJBw8g

Homily Podcast - "Despair is Real, So is Hope" itemissaest.podbean.com/e/december-1...

Dec 14 Scripture Readings: bible.usccb.org/bible/readin... The Christian story is the story of a God who never abandons us in our despair and hopelessness. youtu.be/XBTejdqL1QE

Sunday Homily - "Despair is Real, So is Hope" The Christian story is the story of hope amidst despair and hopelessness. www.itemissaest.org/resources/su...

Dec 13 Scripture Readings - bible.usccb.org/bible/readin... The ability to read the sign of the times, just like we read times and seasons, is an important spiritual quest. Could it happen that God is standing right in front of us and we totally miss it? It happened with Jesus! youtu.be/PT-WMTi8HKA

Dec 12 Scripture - Our Lady of Guadalupe Readings: bible.usccb.org/bible/readin... I often say, only a mother can love like a mother does. Mary's apparition to the native people was as a native woman, and came at a time of great oppression. It gave them dignity and hope. youtu.be/igZ1TrftoW0

Dec 11 Scripture Readings: bible.usccb.org/bible/readin... During Advent, we normally expect John the Baptist to say things about Jesus. Today we hear what Jesus has to say about John the Baptist and the Kingdom of God . It is implications for our times. youtu.be/LXfkvrSDnNU

Dec 10 Scripture Readings: bible.usccb.org/bible/readin... Isaiah's words, "“They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles' wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint” (Is 40:31), have great meaning for us today. youtu.be/qhHx7oYje_Q

Dec 9 Scripture Readings: bible.usccb.org/bible/readin... As we reach the middle of the 2nd Week of Advent, the tone of the readings from Isaiah shift away from caution and judgment to comfort and healing. In today's readings, the image of the caring shepherd offers comfort. youtu.be/CfvWgwesUJ8

Dec 8 Scripture bible.usccb.org/bible/readin... The Feast of the Immaculate Conception always falls during Advent. It is closely tied to the incarnation of Jesus. Yet, Mary's role must be understood appropriately and not confused with Jesus' unique role as the Redeemer. youtu.be/MJKeUyYTjLU

Sunday Homily Podcast - Don't Expect Candy from John of the Baptist John the Baptist did not prepare people to have a Christmas party. He called for deep-rooted conversion in preparation for the coming of Christ. www.podbean.com/eas/pb-7y52r...

"On That Day" - Daily Reflections Advent 2025 - Episode 9 Second Sunday of Advent. John the Baptist preaching during Advent seems to be out to sync with contemporary Advent sentiments. Here is why... youtu.be/l5ZCXxvh3Y8

Sunday Homily - "Don't Expect Candy from John the Baptist" John the Baptist did not prepare people to have a Christmas party. He called for deep-rooted conversion in preparation for the coming of Christ. www.itemissaest.org/resources/su...

Dec 6 Scripture Scripture Readings: bible.usccb.org/bible/readin... Isaiah offered both judgment and hope to a nation in turmoil. In the gospel Jesus is presented as the hope of the people, especially as they felt they were like sheep without a shepherd. But Jesus also sends us. youtu.be/QzN0X6OoTB4

Dec 5 Scripture bible.usccb.org/bible/readin... Isaiah prophesies that the deaf, blind, and poor will experience God's saving power but the powerful and arrogant will miss it. In the gospels too, Jesus is welcomed among the poor and it was they who experience his healing power. youtu.be/8hcDD6XIeYs

Dec 4 Scripture Isaiah calls people to "Trust in the Lord; for the Lord is an everlasting rock" (Is 26:4). As Jesus says, "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock" (Mt 7:25). The focus is on trust. Video: youtu.be/8ICaGi74Pyg

Dec 3 Scripture Paradise, or as Isaiah calls it, "Mountain of the Lord" is described using the analogy of rich food and drink. It is meant to create in us a desire for Paradise. In the gospel, Jesus fullfills Isaiah's prophecy. Advent invites us to look forward to the same. youtu.be/U_sV7nj5L5s

Dec 2 Scripture (bible.usccb.org/bible/readin...) Isaiah prophesies God's vision for the world under a new Davidic King. This king is Jesus who proclaimed the same vision under the title "reign of God". But it takes a childlike heart to see and desire it. youtu.be/CXEsy4FF26g

Dec 1 Scripture Isaiah prophecies that Jerusalem will manifest luster and glory. The fruit of this will be glory and splendor. It called for a cleansing of "filth" and a trustful abandon in God's work. This is the kind of trust that the Roman centurion was able to put in Jesus. youtu.be/6CKFh3ZrRW0

Homily Podcast - "Living Life in Confidence, Not Fear" itemissaest.podbean.com/e/november-3...

Advent Daily Reflections - Episode 2 www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFjL...

Sunday Homily - Living Life in Confidence, Not Fear As we begin Advent, today’s scripture readings invite us to live life, each day, and every moment in a way that finds us living meaningfully. www.itemissaest.org/resources/su...

Tomorrow we begin the season of Advent. I’m inviting you to join me on this journey as I focus on the scripture readings for the day. Here is the introductory episode. youtu.be/ObxcTGhDdHQ?...

Nov 29 Scripture Whereas Daniel describes creatures, kingdoms, and kings that "oppress the holy ones of God" (Dan 7:15-27), in the gospel, its just the "anxieties of daily life" (Lk 21:34). Often, it's the small things that can get us down. Hence Jesus' caution, "Be vigilant at all times" (36).

Nov 28 Scripture "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (Lk 21:33). It is the truth! People may ignore, contradict, or refuse to live by Jesus' words. But His words will always be there to lead, encourage, challenge, and guide humanity into eternity. "Thank you, Lord!"

Nov 27 Scripture Like the one leper who returned to give thanks to God (Lk 17:11-19), today I too fall at the feet of Jesus and give thanks - for my creation, for my family, friends & acquaintances, rich & poor, immigrant & citizen. You make my life what it is! Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

Nov 26 Scripture "You will be hated by all because of my name" (Lk 21:17). The statement can be overstated and perhaps, even used by people who carry out atrocities in Christ's name. We should not forget that many also love us because of Christ. Instead of contentions, may we look for friendships.

Nov 25 Scripture Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzar's dream about the future (Dan 2:45b). Jesus predicts the future in apocalyptic lingo (Lk 21:5-11). We need not look for future predictions. We know that someday our life on earth will end. But our eternity is secure with the God of Jesus Christ.

Nov 24 Scripture In the last week of the liturgical year, the focus is eschatological. The poor widow, who put two small coins into the treasury (Lk 21:1-4), teaches us that not only at this time, but each day, we must give life everything we've got. It is the best way to live a life of faith.

Homily Podcast - The King Who Never Was A King itemissaest.podbean.com/e/november-2...

Sunday Homily - "The King Who Never Was A King" The gospel reading is in stark contrast to the grandeur and solemnity of the celebration. It recalls one of the most vulnerable moments of Christ’s life. What is in the Church’s mind as it proposes this scripture? www.itemissaest.org/resources/su...

Nov 22 Scripture The hypothetical case of a woman marrying seven brothers and the resurrection (Lk 20:27-40) brought forward by the Sadducees exposes the doctrinal differences b/w those who believed in the resurrection and those who did not. Jesus said, "God is not of the dead but of the living!"

Nov 21 Scripture Who God is and what religions make God to be can be two different things. When Jesus entered the temple he saw the kind of religiosity that made him say: "...you have made it a den of thieves" (Lk 9:45-46). The best way to avoid this is to stay true to the God Jesus revealed - Love.

Nov 20 Scripture Lk 19:41-44 requires careful interpretation. Jesus was not endorsing violence but lamenting Jerusalem's fate during the Roman-Jewish war of 70AD. Jesus came to bring peace but both parties rejected the Messianic reign of God and resorted to violence. War is never the answer.

Nov 19 Scripture Another interpretation of "Parable of the Gold Coin" ((Lk 19:11-28) is that one who did not invest the money is the real hero because he refused to participate in the unjust system of the king who "harvested what he did not plant." Rather God's gift is for love of God and neighbor.

Nov 18 Scripture Today we read about two towering personalities - Eleazar (2 Mac 6:18-31) and Zacchaeus (Lk 19:1-10). Both, in different contexts, stood up for what was right and did the right thing with great courage. One gave up his life, the other made things right. Today, do the right thing!

While the Nation villainizes and brutalizes immigrants, the immigrants are busy ensuring that meats and vegetables reach our exotic Thanksgiving tables!

Nov 17 Scripture The strife of the Maccabees is so relevant today. Just like many people abandoned the Covenant to worship alien gods (1 Mac 1:15), many Catholics/Christians have abandoned Christ to worship alien gods of racism, nation, violence, power. But we must remain faithful amidst the strife.

Homily Podcast - The Key is Perseverance itemissaest.podbean.com/e/november-1...

Sunday Homily - The Key is Perseverance When change happens, we need not be terrified, deceived, or succumb to false predictions. Rather, it is by our perseverance that we will secure our lives. www.itemissaest.org/resources/su...

Nov 14 Scripture The 1st reading (Wis 13:1-9) sounds like Aquinas' 5th argument for the existence of God - the order & beauty of nature points to its Creator. Human's are endowed with the ability to deduce this. But many don't. As Jesus says, "Where the body is, there vultures gather" (Lk 17:37).

Nov 14 Scripture Wisdom is: "an aura of the might of God a pure effusion of the glory of God refulgence of eternal light spotless mirror of the power of God. Passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets" (Wis 7:25-27). "Wisdom of God, infuse me with your spirit."

Nov 12 Scripture Sometimes scripture teaches us plain manners. Ten lepers were healed but only one returned to say, "Thank you!" (Lk 17:11-19). When I was a kid I was taught: "Door to hearts open with ease. The two keys are "Thank you" and "Please."" Let us be people with good manners.

Nov 11 Scripture Wisdom says, "The souls of the just are in the hand of God" (Wis 3:9). Wisdom is trying reconcile the mortality of humans and the immortality of the God who created them. The Devils envy many have brought death (3:2), but very hands that created humans is the source of eternal life.

Nov 10 Scripture The reading from Wisdom (1:1-7) tells us that "she" does not enter souls that plot evil. Rather "she" is with "those who love righteousness and seek God in integrity of heart" (1:1). The Psalm response today can be our prayer - " Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way."

Homily Podcast - "One Temple, Temples All Here is my homily for the Feast of the Dedication of the of Lateran Basilica in Rome. itemissaest.podbean.com/e/november-9...

Sunday Homily - "One Temple, Temples All" Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. What does a basilica in Rome have anything to do with us? Read on... www.itemissaest.org/resources/su...

Nov 8 Scripture When Jesus says "Make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth" (Lk 15:9), he is not saying that we become money loving people. Rather, that we are not attached to it; that our identity is not lost when we do not have it; that it does not determine our dignity, character, faith.

Nov 7 Scripture In the "Parable of the Dishonest Steward" (Lk 16:1-8), the clever steward is commended for being a prudent manager. The moral is that just as the steward was good at his crafty trade, the "children of light" must be good at their life vision - be prudent disciples for Christ. Are we?

Nov 6 Scripture Jesus' question, "Who among you having a hundred sheep and losing one would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?" (Lk 15:4) is an ironical question. No one does that. But God does. Thus Jesus eats with tax-collectors and sinners (15:2).