Joseph Osho

  Tuesday of week 16 in Ordinary Time  Micah 7:14-15, ​18-20  Psalm 84(85):2-8 Matthew 12:46-50 Today’s first reading is truly inspiring. It is a heartfelt prayer that recognizes the unparalleled greatness of God and earnestly appeals for His mercy once more. May divine mercy extend to us again as we rise each morning to diligently perform our daily responsibilities and pursue our goals. The Lord will never abandon us if we faithfully follow His commandments, which encompass loving others as He loves, making choices aligned with His will, and surrendering our own desires to Him. We must invite the Holy Spirit to renew our hearts, minds, and wills, empowering us to love others freely and generously, just as God loves, and, as such, the will becomes as vital to us as the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the life we live. Let us move forward courageously, despite the obstacles and daily challenges we encounter trusting in God’s plan . May the merciful Lord continue to be...

Monday of week 16 in Ordinary Time  Micah 6:1-4, ​6-8  Psalm49(50):5-6,8-9,16-17,21,23 Matthew 12:38-42 How easy it is to fail to see God's presence in our lives.Today’s reading, highlights how we may sometimes overlook God's presence and providence in our daily lives. In today's Gospel, the scribes and Pharisees seek a sign to confirm Jesus’s divine authority, and Jesus gently critiques their lack of faith. The Lord encourages us through the prophet Micah in today's first reading, to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with Him. Today’s readings prompt us to reflect on why we often seek new signs from God or expect Him to act before we place our full trust in Him. Our faith should be rooted in acknowledgment of what He has already done—giving us life and salvation through Christ. While it is appropriate to bring our needs before Him, our trust should not depend on His immediate responses or demands. Instead, we should marvel at His ongoing acts of grace and reco...

  Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)   Wis 12.13, 16-19;   Ps 85;  Rom 8.26-27;   Mt 13.24-43 Why do God allow evil to exist? In today's first reading, from the Book of Wisdom. God is shown as a righteous judge. He is all-powerful, but he always judges with mercy and forbearance. The writer says,  'Through such works, you have taught your people that the righteous man must be kind, and you have filled your sons with good hope because you give repentance for sins, ... so that we may meditate upon your goodness when we judge, and when we are judged we may expect mercy.'  This is the same teaching as that of Jesus and here, as in everything He taught, there was no contradiction between what He taught and what He did - He tolerated the presence of Judas among the apostles until His divine purpose was achieved and in today's gospel passage, Jesus shares three parables about the kingdom of God, drawing on familiar farming and cooking scenarios that h...

  Saturday of week 15 in Ordinary Time  Micah 2:1-5  Psalm 9B(10):1-4,7-8,14 Matthew 12:14-21 In today's gospel passage, the Pharisees conspired to consider how they might undermine Jesus. Aware of their intentions, Jesus withdrew from the vicinity. Many followers gathered around Him, and He healed them all, instructing them not to disclose His identity. This teaches us that the Pharisees' steadfast pride and self-reliance led them to view Jesus as a threat, prompting efforts to diminish His influence. Likewise, we are called to uphold our faith and stand firm against temptation and misdirection. Furthermore, the prophecies of the Suffering Servant from Isaiah come into focus, illustrating how Jesus the Messiah fulfilled His mission—not through force, but through love and self-sacrifice (Isaiah 42:1-4). Instead of a throne, Jesus chose the cross, wearing a crown of thorns as our Lord and King (John 19:19; Philippians 2:11). His sacrificial death stands as the ultimate tes...

  Friday of week 15 in Ordinary Time  Isaiah 38:1-6,​21-22,​7-8 Isaiah 38:10-12,16 Matthew 12:1-8 Asserting His divine authority over the day of rest. God originally established the Sabbath as a sacred day dedicated to rest and worship, emphasizing its significance in spiritual obedience and the sovereignty of God over all creatures. Jesus came into the world to demonstrate how to truly obey God, emphasizing compassion and mercy over ritual sacrifice. When the Pharisees accused His disciples of working—specifically by plucking ears of corn on the Sabbath to satisfy their hunger—Jesus responded, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' highlighting that obedience to God's commandments encompasses acts of mercy and compassion. Genuine obedience to God and acts of mercy are essential for spiritual fulfillment. Unfortunately, today, these acts of mercy are increasingly rare and undervalued.   The world currently faces widespread wickedness and sinfulness. Some individuals are perceiv...

  Thursday of week 15 in Ordinary Time  Isaiah 26:7-9,​12,​16-19 · Psalm 101(102):13-21 Matthew 11:28-30 There are occasions when individuals doubt their self-worth due to negative remarks from others or personal setbacks. However, the Lord Jesus invites all who labor and are burdened to come to Him. Could self-doubt be an additional burden to bear? What are the heavy or laborious aspects within one's life? Are we aware that the Lord also bears our burdens? Without God's intervention, life could be significantly more challenging. When the Lord looks upon the earth, He responds to His people and does not scorn the prayers of the helpless. Human beings are created as individuals of intrinsic value, and each person is watched over by Him. Since God cares for all creation and loves each of us, it is imperative to transform our worries into prayers. Life is too brief to be consumed by burdens because God's love surpasses any hardship. He is greater than any burden we face....