Miracles
Why Jesus Performed Miracles
10/11/10 08:23
At times, we all come across people like the scribes and Pharisees – people who are pre-occuopied with outward signs of success. The temptation is to prove our self-worth to them by relying on status symbols such as designer labels, bling-bling jewelry, gas guzzlers, expensive private schools and super-sized McMansions. But using status symbols to impress others can leave us emotionally and physically sick. Read More...
Comments
We're All Equal in God's Eyes
06/28/09 05:45
"Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, 'Who has touched my clothes?'" (Mark 5: 21-43)
In today’s Gospel, Mark wrote about two miraculous events. First, Jesus cured a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years, which according to Leviticus, meant she was ritually unclean and untouchable. Then, Jesus brought back to life the twelve-year old daughter of Jairus, a prominent Jewish elder.
The contrast between the two people is instructive. Read More...
In today’s Gospel, Mark wrote about two miraculous events. First, Jesus cured a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years, which according to Leviticus, meant she was ritually unclean and untouchable. Then, Jesus brought back to life the twelve-year old daughter of Jairus, a prominent Jewish elder.
The contrast between the two people is instructive. Read More...
Make Room for Jesus
06/10/09 04:27
". . . wheresoever he shall enter in, say to the master of the house, The Teacher saith, Where is my guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?" (Mark 14: 12-16, 22-26)
Life is full of surprises. Some of them are truly miraculous. In fact, you are a miracle. You are like no one else on planet earth, a wonder to behold, unique in every way. There never has been, never will be, anyone quite like you. Your gifts and talents have prepared you for whatever Jesus might be calling you to do. Read More...
Life is full of surprises. Some of them are truly miraculous. In fact, you are a miracle. You are like no one else on planet earth, a wonder to behold, unique in every way. There never has been, never will be, anyone quite like you. Your gifts and talents have prepared you for whatever Jesus might be calling you to do. Read More...
Jesus' Testimony
03/26/09 04:28
“But the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.” (John 5: 31-47)
Suppose someone were to question whether you were a faithful follower of the Lord. Would someone step forward, as John the Baptist did, to witness on your behalf? Would the witness say your faith burned bright as a shining lamp? What works of mercy and alms-giving could be entered into evidence as proof of your discipleship? Could you point to the pages of a dog-eared Bible as evidence of your faith? Read More...
Suppose someone were to question whether you were a faithful follower of the Lord. Would someone step forward, as John the Baptist did, to witness on your behalf? Would the witness say your faith burned bright as a shining lamp? What works of mercy and alms-giving could be entered into evidence as proof of your discipleship? Could you point to the pages of a dog-eared Bible as evidence of your faith? Read More...
Miracle of Loaves and Fishes
01/06/09 06:02
“ . . .he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake the loaves; and he gave to the disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.” (Mark 6: 34-44)
The feeding of the multitude with five loaves and two fishes reminds me of a ritual that we observe in our parish. Once a year, we take up a “reverse collection” in which the offertory baskets are passed down the pews and each member of the congregation is invited to remove a slip of paper identifying food items needed by a local food bank. The following week we parishioners return with those same items to be distributed to the less fortunate families within our community. Read More...
The feeding of the multitude with five loaves and two fishes reminds me of a ritual that we observe in our parish. Once a year, we take up a “reverse collection” in which the offertory baskets are passed down the pews and each member of the congregation is invited to remove a slip of paper identifying food items needed by a local food bank. The following week we parishioners return with those same items to be distributed to the less fortunate families within our community. Read More...
Healing of a Blind Man
11/17/08 01:15
“And Jesus said to him: Receive thy sight: thy faith hath made thee whole.” (Luke 18: 35-43)
We’ve all heard the expression, “Be careful what you pray for. You just might get it.” There’s a nugget of truth in that saying because prayer changes lives, sometimes in dramatic and unforeseen ways.
Dealing with momentous changes can be unnerving. In fact, most of us would rather experiment than actually change; that way, if things don’t work out as we expect, we can always end the experiment and go back to the way things were before. When it comes to leaving our comfort zone, we tend to be very cautious.
In our approach to prayers of petition, there is a difference between being cautious and being careful. Read More...
We’ve all heard the expression, “Be careful what you pray for. You just might get it.” There’s a nugget of truth in that saying because prayer changes lives, sometimes in dramatic and unforeseen ways.
Dealing with momentous changes can be unnerving. In fact, most of us would rather experiment than actually change; that way, if things don’t work out as we expect, we can always end the experiment and go back to the way things were before. When it comes to leaving our comfort zone, we tend to be very cautious.
In our approach to prayers of petition, there is a difference between being cautious and being careful. Read More...
The Ten Lepers
11/12/08 04:01
“One of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God.” (Luke 17: 11-19)
The three most despairing words in the English language are, “Why me, Lord?” It’s a question we all may be tempted to ask when beset by life’s trials and afflictions. Why me? Why this punishment? What did I ever do to deserve this? We may feel forsaken, cast out into the darkness, beyond all hope of recovery. In our depression, we may withdraw from others, isolate ourselves and become increasingly despondent, even harbor destructive thoughts.
In today’s Gospel, we encounter ten men who might well have asked themselves the same question: “Why me? What sin did I ever commit to deserve leprosy?” The very word leprosy meant to “scourge” or to “smite.’ It was thought of as a punishment reserved for the vilest of sinners. Read More...
The three most despairing words in the English language are, “Why me, Lord?” It’s a question we all may be tempted to ask when beset by life’s trials and afflictions. Why me? Why this punishment? What did I ever do to deserve this? We may feel forsaken, cast out into the darkness, beyond all hope of recovery. In our depression, we may withdraw from others, isolate ourselves and become increasingly despondent, even harbor destructive thoughts.
In today’s Gospel, we encounter ten men who might well have asked themselves the same question: “Why me? What sin did I ever commit to deserve leprosy?” The very word leprosy meant to “scourge” or to “smite.’ It was thought of as a punishment reserved for the vilest of sinners. Read More...
Jesus Worked Miracles on the Sabbath
10/27/08 02:50
“ . . . he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God." (Luke 13: 10-17)
During His ministry, Jesus performed many miracles of which 34 were described in some detail by the evangelists. On seven occasions, Jesus’ miracles were performed on the Sabbath to the great consternation of the Jewish leaders. They fumed and protested as He healed a lame man at the pool of Bethseda; freed another man of an evil spirit; restored Peter’s mother-in-law to good health; healed a man with a deformed hand; gave sight to a blind man; cured another man of dropsy; and, in today’s Gospel, He healed a women bent low by an infirmity. Read More...
During His ministry, Jesus performed many miracles of which 34 were described in some detail by the evangelists. On seven occasions, Jesus’ miracles were performed on the Sabbath to the great consternation of the Jewish leaders. They fumed and protested as He healed a lame man at the pool of Bethseda; freed another man of an evil spirit; restored Peter’s mother-in-law to good health; healed a man with a deformed hand; gave sight to a blind man; cured another man of dropsy; and, in today’s Gospel, He healed a women bent low by an infirmity. Read More...
Raising A Dead Man
09/16/08 05:41
Since none of us knows our appointed time, the only thing we can be certain of is that we are alive today and we have to make the most of this miracle we call life. Read More...
Healing the Leper
07/28/08 07:27