Joseph Osho

  Friday of week 27 in Ordinary Time  Galatians 3:7-14  Psalm 110(111):1-6 Luke 11:15-26 The finger of God inflames our hearts Throughout much of His public ministry, Our Lord seems to have chosen not to draw attention to His true identity. At times, He asks others to remain silent; at other times, when questioned about who He is, He responds enigmatically or answers in a way that prompts further amazement. The event described in today's Gospel passage was undoubtedly a manifestation of God’s saving work. It appears to have unsettled the Pharisees, who, rather than give glory to God for the wonder of a devil being cast out, accused Jesus of acting through Satan, Beelzebul, the prince of demons. This reminds us that if the world questions the power of Jesus, it may also question the power of the Church and of every Christian.  Our words and actions can affect others and leave a lasting mark. At times, we may make things difficult for others or cause them distress thro...

  Saturday of week 27 in Ordinary Time  Galatians 3:22-29 · Psalm 104(105):2-7 Luke 11:27-28 Mary : the perfect model of discipleship In today's Gospel, as Jesus was speaking to the crowd, a woman called out in admiration, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” This passage brings to mind the Visitation, the joyful encounter between the Blessed Virgin Mary and her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women… And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? … Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled” (Luke 1:42–45). In today's Gospel, Christ affirms Mary’s wholehearted obedience to God’s will, expressed in her response to the Archangel Gabriel: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Mary is therefore an examp...

  Thursday of week 27 in Ordinary Time Galatians 3:1-5 · Luke 1:69-75 Luke 11:5-1 3 Be persistent in prayer Today’s Gospel presents Luke’s version of Matthew 7:7: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9–10). Ask, and you will receive.-God encourages us to pray continually, trusting that He will respond in His perfect time and manner. In the previous chapter, Jesus taught us to ask for our daily bread in the Lord’s Prayer. The parable reinforces this lesson: although the persistent neighbor initially requests only three loaves, he ultimately receives all the bread he needs, illustrating God’s generosity and willingness to provide.

  Our Lady of the Rosary Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14 Psalm 116(117) Luke 11:1-4 Prayer and Meditation In today’s gospel, our Lord provided his disciples with the blueprint for all prayer—’The Lord’s Prayer,’ also known as the ‘Our Father.’ He emphasized that aligning our petitions with God's will is essential. Recognizing God’s plan in everything we do helps us stay humble, entrusting all to Him. We are called to do this with persistent faith, remembering that our relationship with God remains righteous in His sight, even when faced with challenges. Today we also celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, a feast characterized by steadfastness and perseverance in prayer. It commemorates the miraculous victory of Christendom at the Battle of Lepanto, where Christian forces triumphed over the Ottoman invasion through the intercession of Our Lady, ‘Refuge of Christians.’ The Ottoman Empire was among the most powerful and enduring dynasties in history, ruling vast territories across t...

  Tuesday of week 27 in Ordinary Time  Galatians 1:13-24 · Psalm 138(139):1-3,13-15 Luke 10:38-42  A  Messenger of Grace For centuries, our faith communities have looked at the story of Martha and Mary in today’s Gospel as a tug-of-war between active and contemplative life. Martha is busy rushing around in the kitchen, trying to entertain their special guest, Jesus, all the while Martha wonders why Mary is just sitting disappointing him without helping. But we’ve misunderstood this story as a contest between two different vocations. Scripture scholar Luke Timothy Johnson guides us instead to see it for what it truly is: an encounter with the messenger of grace, who enters our space. "The story... refines our understanding of hospitality. Jesus’ response to Martha makes it clear that the ‘one thing necessary’ for hospitality is giving full attention to the guest, rather than fussing over domestic chores... Jesus shifts the focus from providing a service to receiv...

  Monday of week 27 in Ordinary Time Galatians 1:6-12 · Psalm 110(111):1-2,7-10 Luke 10:25-37 BE AN AMBASSADOR OF MERC Y  In today’s gospel, a lawyer posed a question aimed at understanding how to inherit eternal life, seeking to challenge our Lord. In response, Jesus recounted the parable of the Good Samaritan, highlighting the importance of showing compassion and caring for those in need. This teaching underscores that loving God, whom we cannot see, naturally involves loving our neighbor, whom we can see. If we exclude others from our compassion and care, we risk fostering an environment where such attitudes prevail, leading to indifference or retaliation. Jesus demonstrated the depth of God's love and compassion by sharing in our suffering and offering His life as a sacrifice for our redemption on the cross. His suffering is redemptive, bringing healing, restoration, and the promise of eternal life. Through the cross of Jesus Christ, God offers us genuine freedom from...