Joseph Osho

  Saint James, Apostle  - Feast   2 Corinthians 4:7-15  Psalm 125(126):1-6 Matthew 20:20-28 CALLED TO LOVE, CALLED TO SERVE  Today, the Church honors St. James, the brother of St. John—son of Zebedee and fisherman by trade. After they met with Jesus, he witnessed the Transfiguration and was present during the sleepless hours of the Agony in the Garden. Notably, he was the first of the apostles to face martyrdom, beheaded by King Herod Agrippa I to appease Jewish opponents of Christianity. He also played a role in Peter’s arrest and once got a harsh lesson in humility—being consumed by an internal parasite or worms as a punishment for pride. The Lord puts it to us in today’s gospel that Power, status, privilege, and prestige often go hand-in-hand with leadership—and they can be dangerously tempting. Like James and John, some of us follow Christ for the recognition and honor, while others seek to be in charge and exert control as men and women of God. Some pu...

  Friday of week 16 in Ordinary Time  Jeremiah 3:14-17 Jeremiah 31:10-13 Matthew 13:18-23 Perseverance calls all of us to live Gospel-centered lives with unwavering commitment. We live in a world and within a church community that challenges us to nurture and hold fast to the seeds of faith planted in us at baptism. To deepen our faith, we must be willing to walk on rocky ground, endure the thorns we encounter, and persevere in the Gospel message—even when it is difficult to understand or when we would rather ignore it. Today's Gospel reminds us that the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word, understands it, and actively produces fruit—yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirtyfold. May we continue to cultivate ourselves as the rich soil that bears abundant spiritual fruit, not only enriching our own lives but also impacting everyone we meet on our faith journey with compassion and love.

  Thursday of week 16 in Ordinary Time  Jeremiah 2:1-3,​7-8,​12-13 · Psalm 35(36):6-11 Matthew 13:10-17 In today’s Gospel reading, I was particularly struck by Jesus’ explanation of why He often spoke to the people in parables. He quotes Isaiah: ‘They look but do not see, and hear but do not listen or understand.’… The hearts of these people are dull; they scarcely listen with their ears, have closed their eyes, so that they cannot see with their eyes, hear with their ears, or understand with their hearts—yet, if they did, I would heal them. You might wonder why these words of Jesus resonated so deeply with me. It’s probably because it feels like we struggle to see what truly matters and to hear what we need to hear. We find it hard to recognize the humanity in certain groups of people. We often don’t take the time to listen to their stories, and we struggle to hear how far Jesus is calling us to go in loving God and our neighbors. In our first reading from Jeremiah, God ...

  Saint Mary Magdalen  - Feast Song of Songs 3:1-4 · Psalm 62(63):2-6,8-9 John 20:1-2,​11-18 We are called to witness to the Resurrection  Mary initially did not recognize the Rosen Lord due to her overwhelming grief and the vacant tomb that left her distraught. However, when the Lord called her by name, her sight was restored, and she identified Him as the Master. As followers of Christ, we too can become absorbed in our sorrow, potentially forgetting His words. The Lord then instructed Mary to inform His disciples that "I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." She sought out the disciples and shared everything that had happened and what He had said. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Mary Magdalene is renowned as "apostolorum apostola,” the Apostle of the Apostles. She was the first to witness the empty tomb, the first to see the resurrected Christ, and the first to proclaim His Resurrection to the apostles. Her love for Jesus wa...

  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...