Joseph Osho

  Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)   Isa 55.6-9;   Ps 144;   Phil 1.20-24, 27;   Mt 20.1-16   The familiar parable we have just listened to is one which leaves some people feeling rather uncomfortable.  Perhaps we feel a degree of sympathy with those workmen who had toiled all day and yet received the same wages as those who had come in no more than an hour before the end of the day. They had not only worked for a much shorter time, but they had also missed bearing the burden of the day, working in the stifling heat of the midday sun.  And yet they received the same pay.  Is it fair?  Can we not be forgiven if the word "injustice" comes to mind?      When we try to grasp the analogies given us in parables, we must always remember that God is not like us.  God, as Saint Anselm said, is "that greater than which nothing can be thought".  God's nature is utterly different from ours.  As he reminds u...

  Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs  1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13 Psalm 32(33):2-5,12,22 Luke 7:31-35 Every event —the birth of a child, the return of a hero, the loss of a loved one, or the destruction of a community or nation—requires a response. Exhibiting indifference, lack of support, or disdain is inappropriate and unkind. We are called to act with love and kindness in our interactions with one another. This is the highest virtue. Love is the environment in which other virtues can flourish. Let us seek the gifts of the Spirit through love and for love.

   Our Lady of Sorrows  1 Corinthians 12:12-14,​27-31 · Psalm 99(100) John 19:25-27 O Mother of Sorrows-intercede for us.  The devotion to the Blessed Virgin stems from the loving heart of her son, who entrusted Mary to the beloved disciple as a mother figure for us all. Jesus offered himself completely for our salvation, embodying an enduring love for humanity. In light of this, what remains to be offered on earth? Perhaps only the last member of the Holy Family-His beloved Mother. We can never love Mary more than Jesus did, for Mary’s YES to God was wholehearted from the beginning, sharing in the mystery of the Lord’s passion. In gratitude, we acknowledge the salvation wrought by Christ through His shedding of blood, and through Mary—Our Lady of Sorrows—we are enveloped in an inexhaustible source of grace, becoming increasingly aware of His limitless sacrificial love for all of us. The profound mystery of our devotion is underscored by Pope John Paul II, who s...

  The Exaltation of the Holy Cross  - Feast   Numbers 21:4-9  Psalm 77(78):1-2,34-38 John 3:13-17 HE WAS RAISED UP HIGH SO THAT WE MIGHT COME TO HIM Today’s feast commemorates the dedication of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, a site many believe is where Jesus was crucified. At this location, crosses have been uncovered, one of which may have been the very cross on which Jesus was believed to have died. The day also marks the return of the Holy Cross to Jerusalem after it was previously taken by the Persians. This feast is often referred to as the Triumph of the Cross, but the deeper meaning associated with the word “exaltation” is also appropriate. The readings invite us to reflect on the cross’s significance within the divine plan of salvation and Jesus’ resurrection, which ultimately elevates us to eternal communion with Him. The first reading (Numbers 21:4b-9) can be seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ crucifixion, depicting Moses raising a fi...

  Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)   Ecclus 27.30 – 28.7;   Ps 102;   Rom 14.7-9;   Mt 18.21-35   If someone nurses anger against another, can he then demand compassion from the Lord?   During Mass, we begin by saying, “I confess to almighty God…that I have sinned,” feeling capable of this affirmation with everyone else present. But how sincere are we, and do we truly intend to act on it? How frequently do we actually go to confession? Likely not as often as our conscience urges.   We often shy away from the sacrament due to guilt, shame, fear of judgment, or a false view that prayer alone suffices. We prefer to think we can manage our weaknesses and avoid exposing our sins, especially to a priest. Though prayers of contrition are valuable, they are not the same as confession. Jesus gave His disciples, and through them the Church's priests, the power to judge, bind, and loose—highlighting the importance of this sacrament over mere pr...

Saturday of week 23 in Ordinary Time  1 Corinthians 10:14-22 · Psalm  115(116):12-13,17-18 Luke 6:43-49 A disciple humbly submits to the guidance of the master in order to acquire knowledge and to teach others the truths learned. Christ is our master, and without learning from Him, we risk leading others astray. This occurs when individuals fail to practice what they preach and do not live according to their professed beliefs. A life characterized by double standards is an inauthentic form of Christianity and constitutes hypocrisy. Today, the Lord calls upon us to reject hypocrisy and to reflect introspectively on the quality of our witness. Each of us must ask ourselves: How consistently do I live according to my professed beliefs? What kind of results am I producing? Are these outcomes of high quality or merely average? Ultimately, it is not about the titles we hold in society, but about the contributions we make to humanity as Christians. If our lives and deaths serve ...