"Behold, I Make All Things New.” (Revelation 21:5a) These are some of the most consoling and challenging words in the Bible. We long for things to be made new. For some, being made “new” is a renewal and return to…

I am the Good Shepherd. Venerable Bruno Lanteri, founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, consecrated himself to Mary on the feast ofthe Assumption, 1781. He was 23 years old, and approaching ordination to the priesthood. This was an…

Follow Me Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and…

Love That Is Beyond All Telling “Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.” (Colossians 3:2) In our religious education classes every Sunday, I would usually greet our children and parents upon entering the classrooms. Once inside,…

Jesus entered the City of David his Ancestor in Triumph Today’s Gospel passages about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and suffering at the hands of his people exemplify a pattern in salvation history. In 539 B.C., Cyrus the king of Persia…

“See, I am doing something new.” Isaiah 43:19 Death Valley burst into bloom in 2024, thanks to abundant rains the previous year, early rains that January, and cool temperatures. Everything was just right for the hottest and dryest place to…

God Sees You, Even From a Distance “While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him and was filled with compassion.” Luke 15:20 This Parable of the Prodigal Son allows us to reflect on God’s…

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” The reading from Psalm 103 distills the theme of the Lord’s patience and continued mercy toward us. We can face many discouraging obstacles in the spiritual life, and…

"Jesus: God’s salvation who leads a new exodus for us." Salvation is a main theme in the Gospel according to Luke. When the Angel Gabriel comes to Mary, he announces that she shall name her Son ‘Jesus’ (God’s salvation), and…

Listening First and Then Doing In religious life, obedience is learned long before the vow is made. As novices, our novice master trained us to seek God’s will before making any request. Whenever we needed permission for something, he would…

“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit” Fruit is an essential part of plant and animal life on earth, and it is…