Saint Charbel Makhlouf - OHF Philippines

26/08/2026

𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟳, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮

𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹
Mt 24:42-51

Stay awake!

✠ 𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this:
if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant,
whom the master has put in charge of his household
to distribute to them their food at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so.
Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’
and begins to beat his fellow servants,
and eat and drink with drunkards,
the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day
and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely
and assign him a place with the hypocrites,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆

The Gospel today gives us a simple but profound command from Jesus: “Stay awake!” We do not know when the Lord will come, so we are called to remain faithful servants—praying, serving, forgiving, and loving even when the Master seems to be delayed.

This message beautifully reflects the life of St. Monica, whose feast we celebrate today. Monica knew what it meant to wait and to trust. For many years, she prayed for the conversion of her husband and especially of her son, Augustine. Her prayers did not receive an immediate answer, yet she never stopped praying, hoping, and loving. Her tears became prayers, her patience became an offering, and her perseverance became a witness of faith. Eventually, Augustine encountered God's grace, was converted, and became one of the greatest saints and teachers of the Church.

St. Monica teaches us that Christian vigilance is not simply keeping our eyes open; it is keeping our hearts awake before God. When our prayers seem unanswered, we must not give up. When God seems silent, we must trust that He is still working.

Jesus asks us today: When the Lord comes, will He find us faithful? Will He find us praying, serving, loving, and persevering? Perhaps there are people or situations we continue to pray for. Like St. Monica, let us keep praying, keep loving, keep trusting, and keep waiting. God is never absent simply because He is silent.
May St. Monica teach us to remain awake in faith, steadfast in hope, and faithful in love, trusting that the seeds we plant through prayer and sacrifice will bear fruit in God's time.

St. Monica, woman of prayer, patience, and hope, pray for us. Amen.

25/08/2026

𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟲, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹
Mt 23:27-32

You are the children of those who murdered the prophets.

✠ 𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄

Jesus said,
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside,
but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.
Even so, on the outside you appear righteous,
but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You build the tombs of the prophets
and adorn the memorials of the righteous,
and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors,
we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’
Thus you bear witness against yourselves
that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;
now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”

𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 Fr. Lluís ROQUÉ i Roqué (Manresa, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, as in the days before and the ones that follow, we see Jesus almost beside Himself, condemning attitudes that are incompatible with a life worthy of not only a Christian, but of any human being: “On the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing” (Mt 23:28). He confirms for us that sincerity, honesty, loyalty, and integrity are virtues not only cherished by God but deeply valued by people as well.

To avoid falling into hypocrisy, I must first be very sincere. First, with God—because He wants me to be pure of heart, to abhor every lie, for He Himself is absolute purity, the fullness of Truth. Second, with myself—so that I am not the first to be deceived, risking sin against the Holy Spirit by refusing to acknowledge my sins or confess them clearly in the sacrament of Penance. Or by failing to trust in God, who never condemns the prodigal son, and who never loses anyone simply for being a sinner, but only when we refuse to admit that we are sinners. Third, with others—because, like Jesus, we too are all repelled by lies, deceit, lack of sincerity, dishonesty, disloyalty, and lack of integrity. And so, we must apply that basic principle: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

These three attitudes—which we might even call simple common sense—we must make our own if we want to avoid hypocrisy. And at the same time, we must acknowledge that we need sanctifying grace, for original sin came into the world through the “father of lies”: the devil. This is why we should take to heart Saint Josemaría’s warning: “At the time of examination beware of the devil that ties your tongue.” We should also remember the words of Origen: “Every counterfeit holiness is dead, because it is not moved by God.” And above all, we must live by the clear and simple rule Christ Himself gave us: “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No’” (Mt 5:37).

Mary did not multiply her words. But her “yes” to grace, to the good, was unique and true; her “no” to sin, to evil, was total and sincere.

24/08/2026

𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞!

𝐂ᴏᴍᴇ & 𝐁ᴇ ʙʟᴇssᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ 𝐌ɪʀᴀᴄᴜʟᴏᴜs 𝐇ᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ 𝐏ᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴏғ 𝐒ᴀɪɴᴛ 𝐂ʜᴀʀʙᴇʟ 𝐌ᴀᴋʜʟᴏᴜғ!

23/08/2026

𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝕱𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝕾𝘁. 𝕭𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘄

𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹
Jn 1:45–51

Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.

✠ 𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻

Philip found Nathanael and told him,
“We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”
But Nathanael said to him,
“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
“Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him.”
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this.”
And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 Dr. Christoph BOCKAMP (Bonn, Germany)

Today, we celebrate the Feast of Saint Bartholomew, apostle. Evangelist John so vividly narrates his first encounter with the Lord, that it is easy for us to visualize the scene. It is a dialogue between young, direct, frank... divine hearts!

Jesus casually meets Phillip and tells him “follow me” (Jn 1:43). Shortly afterwards, Philip, enthused about his meeting with Jesus, finds his friend Nathanael and tells him that, at long last, he has found whom Moses and the prophets wrote about: “Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth” (Jn 1:45). The answer he receives is not enthusiastic but rather skeptical: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (Jn 1:46). Something similar happens almost everywhere. It is common in every city or every town to be inclined to think that nothing worth its while may come from the next city, or town... there, they are all worthless... and vice versa.

But Philip does not get discouraged. And, friends though they are, he does not offer any additional explanation and just tells Nathanael: “Come and see” (Jn 1:46). He goes, and from the very first moment he sees Jesus his vocation comes to light. What, apparently, may look like sheer chance, it was, no doubt, set up since long ago in God's plans. Nathanael is certainly not an unknown person to Jesus: “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree” (Jn 1:48). What fig tree? Maybe it was just Nathanael's favorite place where he used to go when he wanted to relax, to ponder, to be alone... under the loving gaze of God, though. Just like all of us, all the time. But to realize the infinite love of God for each one of us, to be fully conscious He is at my door knocking I need an external voice, a friend, a “Philip” who may tell me: “Come and see.” Somebody to take me to St. Josemaria Escriva's way, which he describes like this: “May you seek Christ, may you find Christ, may you love Christ.”

21/08/2026

21/08/2026

𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆

𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹
Mt 23:1-12

They preach but they do not practice.

✠ 𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 Fr. Antoni CAROL i Hostench (Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, Jesus Christ once again calls us to humility, an invitation to place ourselves in our true place: “Do not be called ‘Rabbi’ (...); call no one on earth your Father (...); do not be called ‘Master” (Mt 23:8-10). Before we claim all these titles, let us give thanks to God for all that we have which we have received from Him.

As Saint Paul says, “What do you possess that you have not received? But if you have received it, why are you boasting as if you did not receive it?” (1 Cor 4:7). So, when we realize that we have acted correctly, we will do well to repeat: “We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do” (Lk 17:10).

Modern man suffers from a regrettable amnesia: we live and act as if we ourselves were the authors of life and the creators of the world. By contrast, Aristotle is admirable. In his natural theology, he was unaware of the concept of "creation" (a notion known at that time only through divine Revelation) but at least understood that this world depended on Divinity (the "uncaused Cause"). Saint John Paul II calls us to preserve the memory of the debt we owe our God: "Man must honor the Creator by offering, in thanksgiving and praise, all that he has received from him. Man cannot lose the sense of this debt, which he alone, among all other earthly realities, can recognize."

Furthermore, considering the supernatural life, our collaboration—He will do nothing without our permission, without our effort! —consists in not hindering the work of the Holy Spirit: letting God act! Holiness is not "made" by us, but bestowed by Him, who is Master, Father, and Guide. In any case, if we believe that we are and have something, let us strive to put it at the service of others: "The greatest among you must be your servant" (Mt 23:11).

20/08/2026

𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁. 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝘂𝘀 𝗫

𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹
Mt 22:34-40

You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself.

✠ 𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees,
they gathered together, and one of them,
a scholar of the law, tested him by asking,
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
He said to him,
“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆

The Gospel today places before us the heart of the Christian life: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind… You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus does not give us two separate commandments, but one love expressed in two directions: love of God and love of neighbor. We cannot truly love God while remaining indifferent to the people around us, especially the poor, the forgotten, the wounded, and those entrusted to our care. This message becomes especially meaningful as we celebrate St. Pius X, whose life was marked by a profound love for Christ and His Church. His priestly motto, Instaurare omnia in Christo—“To restore all things in Christ”—reveals the center of his mission. For St. Pius X, everything had to lead people back to Christ: the Eucharist, sound doctrine, sacred liturgy, catechesis, and the sanctification of ordinary Christian life. His great concern was that people might know about God without truly living in communion with God. That is why he strongly promoted frequent and worthy reception of Holy Communion, especially encouraging children to approach the Eucharist. He understood that the Eucharist is not merely something we receive; it is Christ Himself who teaches us how to love.

And this is the challenge of today's Gospel: Has our love for God become visible in the way we treat others?
It is easy to say that we love God. It is more difficult to forgive someone who has hurt us, to be patient with someone who tests us, to serve without expecting recognition, and to remain faithful when our sacrifices are unnoticed. St. Pius X reminds us that holiness is not found merely in doing extraordinary things. It is found in allowing Christ to transform the ordinary things of our lives—our words, our relationships, our responsibilities, our service, and our sacrifices. For us who serve the Church, this Gospel is particularly important. Ministry must never become simply a function or a position. Christian service must flow from love. We preach because we love Christ and His people. We celebrate the Eucharist because we desire to bring people into communion with Christ. We serve because we have first encountered the One who loved us completely.
The greatest question, therefore, is not: How much have I accomplished for God? but rather: “How much have I allowed myself to be transformed by the love of God?”

May the intercession of St. Pius X help us to love Christ more deeply, especially in the Eucharist, and to make that love visible through generous service to others.

May we, like St. Pius X, become instruments through whom Christ continues to restore all things in love.

18/08/2026

𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹
Mt 20:1-16

Are you envious because I am generous?

✠ 𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o’clock,
he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.’
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o’clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o’clock,
he found others standing around, and said to them,
‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.’
When those who had started about five o’clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
‘These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’
He said to one of them in reply,
‘My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?’
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 Fr. Antoni CAROL i Hostench (Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain)

Today, the Word of God invites us to see that divine “logic” goes far beyond merely human logic. While we humans calculate (“They thought they would receive more”: Mt 20:10), God—who is a loving Father—simply loves (“Are you envious because I am generous?”: Mt 20:15). And the measure of Love is immeasurable: “I love because I love, I love that I may love” (Saint Bernard).

But this does not render justice useless: “I will give you what is just” (Mt 20:4). God is not arbitrary and wants to treat us as intelligent children: this is why it is logical that He makes “deals” with us. In fact, at other times, Jesus' teachings make it clear that to whom much has been given, much will also be required (remember the parable of the talents). In short, God is just, but charity does not disregard justice; rather, it surpasses it (cf. 1 Cor 13:5).

A popular saying states that "justice for justice's sake is the worst kind of injustice." Fortunately for us, God's justice—let us repeat, overflowing with His Love—surpasses our understanding. If it were a matter of pure and strict justice, we would still be awaiting redemption. Moreover, we would have no hope of redemption. In strict justice, we would not deserve any redemption: we would simply be deprived of that which was given to us at the moment of creation and which we rejected at the moment of original sin. Let us, therefore, examine how we conduct ourselves with judgments, comparisons, and calculations when dealing with others.

Furthermore, if we speak of holiness, we must start from the premise that everything is grace. The clearest example is the case of Dismas, the good thief. Even the possibility of meriting God's favor is also a grace (something freely given to us). God is the master, our “landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard” (Mt 20:1). The vineyard (that is, life, heaven…) is His; we are invited, and not just in any way: it is an honor to be able to work there and to be able to “earn” heaven.

18/08/2026

𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹
Mt 19:23-30

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.

✠ 𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄

Jesus said to his disciples,
“Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
“Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For human beings this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter said to him in reply,
“We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 Fr. Fernando PERALES i Madueño (Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain)

Today we reflect on the reaction stirred among the listeners after Jesus’ conversation with the rich young man: “Who then can be saved?” (Mt 19:25). The words of the Lord to that young man are undeniably strong—meant to surprise us, to shake us from our spiritual drowsiness. These are not isolated or accidental words in the Gospel; Jesus repeats this kind of message some twenty times. We must remember: Jesus warns us about the obstacle wealth can place on the path to eternal life.

And yet, Jesus loved and called wealthy men without demanding that they abandon their responsibilities. Wealth in itself is not evil—its danger lies in its origin, if it was unjustly acquired; or in its use, if it is spent selfishly without concern for the less fortunate, if it closes the heart to the true spiritual values (where there is no need of God).

“Who then can be saved?” Jesus answers: “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26). —Lord, You know well the skill we humans have in softening Your Word. I have to say it, Lord: help me! Change my heart.

After the rich young man walked away, saddened by his attachment to wealth, Peter spoke up: —Grant, Lord, to Your Church, to Your apostles, the grace to leave everything for You.

“In the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory...” (Mt 19:28) —Lord, Your gaze is set on that “day,” on that future. You are a man with a tendency towards the end of the world, towards the fullness of humanity. In that day, Lord, all will be new, renewed, beautiful.

Jesus tells us: —You who have left everything for the sake of the Kingdom will sit with the Son of Man… You will receive a hundred times more than what you have given up… and you will inherit eternal life… (cf. Mt 19:28-29).

The future You promise to Your own—those who have followed You, setting aside every obstacle—is a joyful future, the abundance of life, the fullness of God Himself.

—Thank You, Lord. Lead me to that day!