Mikawa Catholic Center (SVD)

10/04/2026

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24/09/2025

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Unity and Bonding 2025 – Jubilee Year of HopeTheme: “Grace through the Years: Embracing the Future with Faith and Hope”By the grace of the Triune God, we joy...

17/09/2025

16/09/2025

https://epriest.com/

The Judgment of True Wisdom
17 September 2025
September 17, 2025 (readings)
Wednesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

1 Timothy 3:14-16

Psalm 111:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

Luke 7:31-35



Jesus said to the crowds:

“To what shall I compare the people of this generation?

What are they like?

They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,



‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.

We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’



For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine,

and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’

The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said,

‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,

a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’

But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”



Opening Prayer: Lord God, open my ears to hear the songs of repentance and joy. Teach me to be sorrowful for my sins and to rejoice in your gracious mercy. Guide me to weep and mourn at the appropriate times and to dance and shout for joy.



Encountering the Word of God



1. Judging John and Jesus: In the Gospel, Jesus points out how people criticize both him and his predecessor, John the Baptist. It is a reminder of how quickly we judge someone, label them, and dismiss them. Jesus doesn’t say directly, “Stop judging me for eating with people you deem as public sinners. I’m trying to win them over and bring them from a life of sin to a life of divine grace and virtue.” Instead, Jesus uses his preferred method of teaching, parables and comparisons. He calls to mind the image of children sitting in the marketplace, inviting each other to either dance for joy or weep with sorrow. Jesus compares John the Baptist to a child in the marketplace, who invites the other children to weep by singing a funeral dirge to them. This accords with John’s message of conversion and the invitation to be baptized in the Jordan River while confessing one’s sins. Jesus compares himself to a child who invites the other children to dance by playing the flute. This accords with Jesus’ words and actions, such as attending wedding feasts and dining in the homes of public sinners like Matthew the tax collector. He points out the hypocrisy of the people, who claimed that John, because of his strange way of life, was possessed by a demon, and who claimed that Jesus, because he associated with tax collectors and sinners, is a lover of the good life and a drunkard and glutton.



2. True Wisdom: Jesus concludes his comparison with the line, “Wisdom is vindicated by her children.” Wisdom is divine, and we share in divine wisdom only because God gives it to us as a gift. We struggle to attain philosophical wisdom and see creation as caused by God and ordered to God. The wisdom that is a gift of the Holy Spirit enables us to judge things rightly and see things in the light of God’s eternity. “Saying that wisdom is vindicated by all her children conveys the message that God’s plan is shown to be right by those who embrace it: the results of accepting God’s way show that God’s way is the right way. Those who listened to John and Jesus and heeded their messages are a living demonstration of the righteousness of God (verse 29)” (Martin, Bringing the Gospel of Luke to Life, 206-207). The truly wise one will welcome both John’s message of repentance and conversion from sin and Jesus’ message of mercy, joy, and salvation.



3. The Church as the Household of God: In the First Reading, Paul teaches Timothy that ministry “is not just jobs to be done; it is a sacred service to God’s household and the mystery of his revelation” (Montague, First and Second Timothy, Titus, 85). Paul compares the Church in Ephesus and the community of believers to a household. The Church is like an extended family bonded together by the Spirit and the New Covenant. Each of its members has different roles and functions. “Although the whole world belongs to God, the Church is his house, his sanctuary (1 Cor 3:16), and those who live there are the householders or family members ‘of the faith’ (Gal 6:10) or of God (also Eph 2:19)” (Montague, First and Second Timothy, Titus, 85). Paul compared the Church to a household instead of a temple, possibly because in Ephesus, there was a great temple dedicated to the goddess of the hunt, Artemis. By calling the new people of God the “church,” Paul is evoking the “assembly of the Lord” in the desert. Just as the people of Israel were called out of the land of darkness and slavery into covenant union with the Lord, so also the people, who share in the death and resurrection of Christ, have been called out of the slavery and darkness of sin into the New Covenant and familial union with the Triune God.



Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, bring me along the way of wisdom, the way of love, and the way of joy. Grant me your Spirit so that I may see all things in a divine light, do all things urged by divine charity, and spread the joy of divine life in you.



Living the Word of God: Do I see my local parish as a household and family of God? Do I even know the names of my fellow parishioners? What can I do to truly live this truth that they are my brothers and sisters in Christ?

16/09/2025

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Jesus, the Great Prophet
16 September 2025
September 16, 2025 (readings)
Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs

1 Timothy 3:1-13

Psalm 101:1b-2ab, 2cd-3ab, 5, 6

Luke 7:11-17



Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain,

and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him.

As he drew near to the gate of the city,

a man who had died was being carried out,

the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.

A large crowd from the city was with her.

When the Lord saw her,

he was moved with pity for her and said to her,

“Do not weep.”

He stepped forward and touched the coffin;

at this the bearers halted,

and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”

The dead man sat up and began to speak,

and Jesus gave him to his mother.

Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming,

“A great prophet has arisen in our midst,”

and “God has visited his people.”

This report about him spread through the whole of Judea

and in all the surrounding region.



Opening Prayer: Lord God, you have visited your people and continue to visit your people. You call me to eternal communion with you and will raise me up through your Son. I praise and glorify you for who you are and thank you for all you have done for me.



Encountering the Word of God



1. Parallels with Elijah: When Jesus restores the widow of Nain’s son to life, the miracle he accomplishes refers back to how the prophets Elijah and Elisha both restored people to life. Jesus himself, when he preached in the synagogue at Nazareth, recalled how Elijah and Elisha both did mighty works for Gentiles. Elijah and Elisha both prophesied in Northern Israel, the same territory that Jesus is now ministering in. Just as Elijah was met by a widow at the gate of a city (1 Kings 17:10), so also Jesus encountered the widow and her dead son at the gate of the city of Nain. In the case of Elijah, he raised the widow’s son by praying: “Lord, my God, let the life breath return to the body of this child” (1 Kings 17:21). Just as Elijah gave the son to his mother (1 Kings 17:23), so also Jesus gave the son to his mother. Jesus’ “outreach is in keeping with the spirit of Old Testament commandments regarding care for widows (Deut 14:28-29; 24:17, 19-21; 26:12-13), but by showing pity (or ‘compassion,’ RSV), he fulfills his own command. ‘Be merciful’ (Luke 6:36)” (Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 143).



2. Parallels with Elisha: When the people of Nain saw that Jesus restored the widow’s son to life, they all glorified God and proclaimed Jesus as a great prophet. This title evokes the prophecy of Moses that God would raise up a prophet like himself (Deuteronomy 18:15). Elijah and Elisha were both prophets-like-Moses, but they were not the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy. Jesus is truly the prophet-like-Moses, and his mighty works far surpass those of Elijah and Elisha. “As a prophet, Jesus is like Elijah, who raised the son of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17-24), and Elisha, who raised the son of the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:32-37). As ‘Lord’ (Luke 713), Jesus is greater than these prophets, healing by his own word rather than by praying to God. In the saving help that Jesus brings, God has visited his people, as in the days of Moses (Exodus 4:31; 13:19 RSV) and as prophesied earlier in the Gospel (Luke 1:68, 78). Because of the miracle, Jesus’ fame continues to spread (4:14, 37; 5:15)” (Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 144).



3. The Royal and Prophetic Roles of Bishops: In the First Reading, Paul is giving Timothy a list of the qualities that the bishops (overseers) and deacons (servants) of the Church should possess. He first points out that the man who aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. This desire should not be a disordered one for power and prestige, but is truly a desire to serve as Christ did and care for the Church as Christ did. Paul lists the following qualities for a bishop: “a bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, temperate, self-controlled, decent, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money” (1 Timothy 3:2-3). A bishop, according to Catholic theology, is conformed to Christ, who is priest, prophet, and king. The prophetic role is seen especially in the teaching authority of the Bishop, who needs to safeguard the deposit of the Church’s faith. The kingly role is seen in the pastoral governance of the bishop. And here Paul gives sage advice. He tells Timothy to look at how the man governs and manages his own household and how his children behave, “for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of the church of God” (1 Timothy 3:5). This is similar to the teaching of Jesus, who says that the one who is faithful in small things, will be faithful in greater ones (see Luke 16:10) and can be entrusted with greater responsibilities.



Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I contemplate today the great sign of restoring the widow’s son to life. You have restored me from death to new life through Baptism and granted me the grace of eternal life. Raise me up on the last day to enjoy your eternal presence.



Living the Word of God: Am I praying for and supporting my local bishop? What am I asking for in prayer? How am I supporting him concretely in his pastoral mission?

11/09/2025

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You Will Show Me the Path to Life
12 September 2025
September 12, 2025 (readings)
Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-14

Psalm 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 11

Luke 6:39-42



Jesus told his disciples a parable:

“Can a blind person guide a blind person?

Will not both fall into a pit?

No disciple is superior to the teacher;

but when fully trained,

every disciple will be like his teacher.

Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,

but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?

How can you say to your brother,

‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’

when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?

You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;

then you will see clearly

to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”


Opening Prayer: Lord God, I once again ask that you enlighten me so that I can eradicate all hypocrisy from my life. Show me where I profess one thing and do another. Show me where I judge the faults of others and am blind to my own faults. Grant me your grace and soften the hardness of my heart.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Spiritual Blindness and Sight: Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain in the Gospel of Luke includes a parable. The images of the parable build on one another quickly. Jesus asks: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?” This image puts us on guard against being overconfident that we see everything clearly. Jesus has just commanded his hearers to stop judging and to be merciful. When we are patient and gentle in our judgments, it is largely because we realize we don’t have all the information. We do not know easily what is in another person’s heart or what things led up to their decision to act or not to act, to sin or to do good. It is by recognizing our spiritual blindness that we can humbly ask in prayer for the light of faith and divine wisdom. In fact, wisdom is the gift that enables us to judge and order things from God’s perspective.

2. Disciples and Teachers: The second image in the parable contrasts a disciple at the beginning of their training and a “fully trained” disciple. Once again, this is an invitation to humility and patience. The arrogant disciple thinks highly of themselves and thinks they know more than their teacher. The proper attitude of a disciple, especially when the teacher is the Lord Jesus, is always one of humility. Humility is not self-deprecation. It is having a true image and assessment of oneself. A disciple of Jesus can always learn more. Even when “fully trained,” the disciple will not surpass Jesus the teacher, but only be like Jesus. We can always be more conformed to Jesus in our way of thinking, in our sentiments and emotions, and in our actions. The third image builds on the two we have considered. Only with the spiritual light of faith can we see clearly enough to guide others. Only having been fully trained by Jesus can we see things as Jesus does. Only by removing the wooden beam of sin and vice from our eyes can we see clearly enough to help our brothers and sisters remove the bothersome splinter from their eyes.

3. Grace, Mercy, and Peace: Yesterday, we finished reading Paul’s Letter to the Colossians. Today, we begin to read First Timothy, one of Paul’s three “Pastoral Epistles.” These were letters Paul sent to his coworkers, Timothy and Titus. They gave advice on how they were to set up and lead the pastoral governance of the Churches of Crete and Ephesus. In First Timothy, we learn that Paul wrote from prison and knew that he was nearing the end of his life. Thus, the three letters have the tone of a last will and testament. In the First Reading, Paul reflects on his past life and how Jesus has changed his life. Paul was “once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man.” When he persecuted the followers of Jesus, he acted out of ignorance in his unbelief. All of that changed when he encountered the risen Lord on the way to Damascus. Now, Paul is grateful to Christ, who has strengthened him with his abundant grace and the virtues of faith and charity. Paul is humbled by the fact that he has been mercifully treated by God. Paul now approaches his death with peace and is filled with hope because of the Lord Jesus. One lesson we can learn from these opening paragraphs is how Paul is not complaining about his lot. He is not discouraged by being in prison or having suffered so much. His thoughts are not self-centered, but concerned for his coworkers ministering in the newly-founded Churches.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, help me remove the wooden beam from my eye and see clearly. I want to contemplate all things with the help of divine wisdom. I want to see my own faults and sins clearly so that I can truly help others on the path to salvation.

Living the Word of God: If Paul were to write me and my family a letter, what would be some of its contents? What moral exhortations would he make? What would he thank God for? What would he admonish?

10/09/2025

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Life according to the New Covenant
11 September 2025
September 11, 2025 (readings)
Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Colossians 3:12-17

Psalm 150:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6

Luke 6:27-38



Jesus said to his disciples:

“To you who hear I say, love your enemies,

do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,

pray for those who mistreat you.

To the person who strikes you on one cheek,

offer the other one as well,

and from the person who takes your cloak,

do not withhold even your tunic.

Give to everyone who asks of you,

and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

For if you love those who love you,

what credit is that to you?

Even sinners love those who love them.

And if you do good to those who do good to you,

what credit is that to you?

Even sinners do the same.

If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment,

what credit is that to you?

Even sinners lend to sinners,

and get back the same amount.

But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,

and lend expecting nothing back;

then your reward will be great

and you will be children of the Most High,

for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.



“Stop judging and you will not be judged.

Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.

Forgive and you will be forgiven.

Give and gifts will be given to you;

a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,

will be poured into your lap.

For the measure with which you measure

will in return be measured out to you.”



Opening Prayer: Lord God, you love those who accept you and your Son and even those who reject you and your Son. You do not give up but seek their conversion. You are always ready to welcome your wayward child. Teach me your ways of mercy.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Love your Enemies: In the Gospel, Jesus is giving his “Sermon on the Plain.” He began with the blessings and woes of the New Covenant. It is interesting how things like poverty, hunger, prosperity, and persecution were seen as curses in the Old Covenant, but have become the pathways to blessing in the New Covenant. The transformation of the old continues in the passage we read. Jesus says: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies.” The Book of Deuteronomy, given by Moses, commanded the harsh treatment and even killing and extermination of Israel’s enemies. Jesus, the New Moses, corrects the old Laws of Moses and brings them to fulfillment. Israel, in the New Covenant, does not need to fear their enemies and the corrupting influence of their pagan practices. In fact, the new Israel is being sent out to the nations, not to destroy them, but to bring them into the merciful Kingdom of God.

2. Stop Judging and Condemning: The New Covenant brings with it the power of the Holy Spirit. From a human and merely natural point of view, it is difficult to love those who wish us evil. It is almost impossible to refrain from judging others, to leave condemnation to God, to forgive those who sin against us, and to be generous with the less fortunate. But, empowered by the Spirit, we can live supernaturally. We forgive more readily when we are grateful for how much God has forgiven us. We pray not for the condemnation of others, but for their salvation. If we practice spiritual gentleness and are meek and humble of heart, we will be patient with others and not be quick to judge. We will be generous with our earthly treasure, knowing that we are building up heavenly treasure with our Father.

3. Put on Love: Yesterday, when we read from Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, we heard a long list of vices that we need to put to death and take off. Today, the passage from Colossians begins with a list of Christian virtues and practices: “Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another. … And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3:12-13). Love, peace, thankfulness, the word of Christ dwelling in us, wisdom, singing psalms and spiritual hymns… these are the characteristics of Christian life. Paul encourages the Colossians and us to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through Jesus. This is why we are encouraged to pray at the beginning of our day, throughout the day when we begin a new activity, before meals, and before we go to sleep. It is a way of offering all our words and deeds to the Father through the Son and in the Holy Spirit.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I want to be just, charitable, holy, and merciful like you and your Father. Teach me the way of justice so that I give to others what is theirs. Teach me the way of charity so that I give to others generously. Teach me the way of holiness so that I do all with a right intention. Teach me the way of mercy so that I forgive those who have offended me.

Living the Word of God: Today, Jesus tells us: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Do we want to be treated fairly and justly? Do we want to be treated with mercy when we fail? Do we want to be forgiven? Then we need to treat others with justice, love, and mercy.

09/09/2025

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Put off the Old Self and Put on the New
10 September 2025
September 10, 2025 (readings)
Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Colossians 3:1-11

Psalm 145:2-3, 10-11, 12-13ab

Luke 6:20-26



Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:



“Blessed are you who are poor,

for the Kingdom of God is yours.

Blessed are you who are now hungry,

for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who are now weeping,

for you will laugh.

Blessed are you when people hate you,

and when they exclude and insult you,

and denounce your name as evil

on account of the Son of Man.



“Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!

Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.

For their ancestors treated the prophets

in the same way.

But woe to you who are rich,

for you have received your consolation.

But woe to you who are filled now,

for you will be hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now,

for you will grieve and weep.

Woe to you when all speak well of you,

for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”



Opening Prayer: Lord God, I see before me the path that leads to life and the path that leads to death. For some reason, the path to death beguiles me and tugs at my heart. I feel the allure of the riches and glory of this passing world. Help me to overcome these temptations and set out on the path to eternal life and communion with you.



Encountering the Word of God

1. Covenant Blessings and Curses: One of the running themes in the Bible is that of the covenant. The Bible opens with the covenant of creation. The word for wearing a covenant in Hebrew is related to the number seven. And so, on the seventh day of creation, God is seen as establishing a covenant with Adam and Eve. If they are faithful to the covenant and govern creation properly, they will be blessed: “God blessed them and God said to them: Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that crawl on the earth” (Genesis 1:28). If Adam and Eve are unfaithful to the covenant and choose for themselves what is good and evil, then they will trigger the curse of the covenant, death (Genesis 2:17). Another covenant, that of Deuteronomy, is very clear that there are blessings – prosperity, victory, divine favor – for faithfulness and curses – poverty, illness, defeat, famine, despair, exile – for unfaithfulness.

2. Four Blessings and Four Woes: Jesus, through his life, death, and resurrection, establishes the New Covenant. And, like the covenants of old, it contains blessings and curses. The Gospel of Luke parallels the blessings and the curses. Blessings, in the New Covenant, belong to the poor, those who hunger, those who weep, and those who are hated and persecuted on account of Jesus, the Son of Man. Ultimately, this means sharing in the life of Jesus, who was poor and humble, who knew hunger and wept over Jerusalem, and who was persecuted despite being innocent. By sharing in Jesus’ passion and death, we will also share in his resurrection, glorification, and beatitude. In the New Covenant, there are also warnings of woe about the path that leads to eternal death. Those who are rich, those who are filled, those who laugh, and those who are spoken well of are all given a warning. Riches tend to lead us to earthly consolation, but not heavenly reward. Over-indulging and satisfying ourselves with earthly food can lead to spiritual hunger. Superficial living and laughter can lead to grieving and weeping in the next life. Being spoken well of can lead to a false security in our eternal destiny.

3. Put to Death what is Earthly: Paul’s Letter to the Colossians echoes this teaching of Jesus. We need to put to death the parts of us that are earthly. Paul lists eleven such earthly parts: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed, anger, fury, malice, slander, obscene language, and lying. These are vices that bring about God's judgment. Paul invites us to take off the “old self” and its practices, and put on the “new self,” which is identified with renewal in the image of God the Creator. We have been created in the image of God and recreated in Christ. Having been raised with Christ, we need to seek what is above. If we do this, we will share in Christ’s glory. We do not need to be afraid or think that this ideal is too lofty. For the Father and the Son have sent us the Holy Spirit and his gifts to empower us to live as Christians in this passing world.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I must confess that it is hard to hear your words today. You ask me to be poor, to experience hunger, to weep, and to be persecuted. I trust in your words and will do my best to follow them.

Living the Word of God: When I look at my life, am I on the path of woe (temporal riches, earthly fulfillment, superficial laughter, celebrity) or on the path of blessing (detachment from riches, hunger for justice, suffering, enduring persecution)? How can I get on the right path?

09/09/2025

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The Restoration of Israel
9 September 2025
September 9, 2025 (readings)
Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest

Colossians 2:6-15

Psalm 145:1b-2, 8-9, 10-11

Luke 6:12-19



Jesus departed to the mountain to pray,

and he spent the night in prayer to God.

When day came, he called his disciples to himself,

and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:

Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,

James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,

Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,

Simon who was called a Zealot,

and Judas the son of James,

and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.



And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground.

A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people

from all Judea and Jerusalem

and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon

came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;

and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured.

Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him

because power came forth from him and healed them all.



Opening Prayer: Lord God, you know me and know the very depths of my heart and being. You know who I am and who I am called to be. Grant me true self-knowledge. Allow me to see myself as you see me.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Call of the Twelve and the Restoration of Israel: Jesus called his disciples after a night in prayer. This was a momentous decision that symbolically reconstituted the twelve tribes of Israel. Many of the prophets envisioned that the twelve tribes and the Kingdom of David would be restored, but it was less clear how this would happen. Calling twelve disciples to be apostles was an important stage in the restoration process. A disciple is a student; an apostle is someone who is sent out. The Apostles will spend time with Jesus and learn from him. Over the course of three years, he will teach them about the mysteries of the Kingdom, the fulfillment of the Old Law, and how to govern the Church, the seed and beginning of the Kingdom, in a spirit of humility. After his resurrection and ascension, the Apostles would be sent out to the ends of the earth to gather not only the lost tribes of Israel into the Kingdom, but also the Gentiles from the nations.

2. He Healed Them All: In the Gospel, Luke is also building up to Jesus’s “Sermon on the Plain.” Luke points out that there were people from Judea and Jerusalem, and also from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon. He does this to indicate the universality of Jesus’ message. The ministry of Jesus and the Apostles will begin primarily with Israel, but will then go out to all the world. Even Paul, in his ministry, would follow this same path when he would go to a city for the first time. If there were a synagogue in the city, he would preach there first. And when people began accepting or rejecting his message, he would then turn to the Gentiles. The Christian life is not reducible to a doctrine, philosophy, or moral code. In the Gospel, people were not only taught by Jesus, but also healed. Christianity is a personal and communal encounter with the living Christ. The Church, the Body of Christ, not only teaches, but also heals and sanctifies, especially through the power of the Sacraments.


3. Sharing in Christ’s Life: Paul, in his Letter to the Colossians, also speaks about how they were taught, not an empty, seductive philosophy according to the tradition of men, but were taught to walk with Jesus, be rooted in him, built upon him, and established in the faith. In Christ, the fullness of divinity abides, and we share, through our Baptism, in that divinity. Baptism is our spiritual circumcision, where the stubbornness of our hearts was cut away and the stain of original sin was washed away. Through our Baptism, we were buried with Christ and also raised with Christ. This sacrament gave us new life, forgave our sins, and removed the curses of the Old Covenant. Paul speaks about this when he writes how the bond against us, with its legal claims, has been obliterated. Jesus removed it from our midst and nailed it to the cross.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you knew the strengths and weaknesses of each one of your Apostles. You knew how they would be successful and how they would fail. Enlighten me today to know my strengths and weaknesses, where I have loved you, and where I have chosen to love myself more than you and others.

Living the Word of God: When we sin, we need to place ourselves before the throne of God's mercy and confess our sins with a contrite heart. When others sin against us, we need to show them mercy, imitating the merciful love of our heavenly Father and the merciful heart of Jesus. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.