Commentary on the Gospel for Sunday, January 12, 2025
Dear brothers and sisters, Peace and blessings to you all. Every year, we notice a leap in the Gospel stories. We move from Jesus’ birth and the visit of the Magi to His baptism by John the Baptist at about 30 years old. What did Jesus do during those «hidden» years? We can only imagine. […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Saturday, January 11, 2025
The texts from today’s Mass, beginning with the Collect prayer, emphasize the central event: God became human flesh. As the First Letter of John says, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” The post-Communion prayer asks that the faithful receive both the present and […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Friday, January 10, 2025
The entrance antiphon for today’s Mass says: In darkness, a light shines: the Lord who is just, merciful, and compassionate. The Gospel of Luke recounts Jesus’ first public act in the synagogue of Nazareth, where He announces His mission as the Anointed One and calls for conversion. This same passage inspires the third luminous mystery […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Thursday, January 9, 2025
“Courage, courage, my daughters; remember that God does not give anyone more burdens than they can bear, and His Majesty is with those who are troubled.” These words, written by Saint Teresa, beautifully illustrate the Gospel passage from Mark in today’s liturgy. A passage worth recalling, especially when we are tired of rowing against the […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Something I find almost amusing is the style of the evangelist Mark. His style is devoid of rhetoric. Mark recounts what he has seen or heard with remarkable simplicity, like a chronicler reporting events without adding any personal evaluations. It’s as if he has no opinion and no intention of evoking amazement or admiration—he just […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Matthew explains, in the Gospel sequence of the Feast of the Epiphany, what Isaiah had prophesied: the salvation awaited by the Jewish people extends to all nations. Paul affirms this in his letter to the Ephesians: the Gentiles, too, are co-heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the same promise in Christ Jesus. […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Saturday, January 4, 2025
Come and See Curiosity can take on different forms. It can be unhealthy, driven by the desire to uncover gossip or someone’s misfortune. But it can also be a motivation to seek goodness. For a faithful Jewish ear, hearing “This is the Lamb of God” could evoke not just curiosity but a living hope for […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Friday, January 3, 2025
He Is Given the Name Above Every Name In Semitic cultures, a person’s name holds great significance. It grants identity and serves as the means by which one is recognized. When we were children, our mothers would sometimes correct us if we referred to someone as “him” or “her” instead of using their name. “They […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Thursday, January 2, 2025
I Am Not Worthy It might seem curious that after repeatedly hearing that we are children of God, with the immense dignity that entails, we now join John in saying, as we do before every Communion: “I am not worthy.” But both statements are true: as children of God, we possess immense dignity. Yet, because […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Blessing In Hispanic cultures, as it once was throughout much of the Catholic Spanish and European world, there is a custom where parents bless their children before they leave the house, start a task, or at the end of the day. Some spouses also bless each other at the start of the day. A blessing […]
