Joseph Osho

  Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop  Philippians 2:12-18 · Psalm 26(27):1,4,13-14 Luke 14:25-33 Following in the Footsteps of Christ Today, we are invited to reflect on the Cross. We recall Jesus’ teaching about discipleship: those who wish to follow Him are called to take up their cross and walk in His footsteps (Luke 14:25-33; Matthew 5:39; Luke 9:23). We are also called to love Him above all else, including family, friends, and other attachments. The Cross is the most prominent symbol of our faith. We turn to it in private and public worship, mindful that each of us faces challenges that can make life difficult. At times, we may wonder why our burdens seem heavier as we draw closer to Jesus. Carrying our cross can test our faith, and through patience and perseverance, we may come to recognize Jesus’ presence in our lives more deeply. As we bear our burdens, we can invite Jesus to help us and ask Him to accompany us along the way. Rather than dwell on why we face these cha...

  Tuesday of week 31 in Ordinary Time  St. Martin de Porres, Religious  Philippians 2:5-11  Psalm 21(22):26-32 Luke 14:15-24 Responding to the Lord’s Invitation Jesus' parable of the banquet may have surprised his audience. Yes Indeed! If a great lord or king invited friends to a banquet, why might the guests decline? A celebration of this scale would take many days to prepare, and personal invitations would be sent well in advance, giving guests ample time to make arrangements. Their refusal when the time for celebrating arrived must have been deeply disappointing. They set aside the King's invitation and prioritized their own interests. Where do our interests lie? Do we sometimes make excuses or hesitate to do God’s will? In today’s first reading, St. Paul speaks to the Christian community in Philippi, and to us, about Christ’s humility and obedience. These virtues help us grow in our relationships with God and our neighbors. St. Martin de Porres sought to serve Je...

  All Souls Isaiah 25:6a,​7-9  Psalm 26(27):1,4,7,8-9,13-14 Romans 5:5-11 · Matthew 11:25-30 Today being All Souls’ Day, we commemorate the faithful departed especially those who are in purgatory that the light of Christ will purify them and bring their souls to heaven. Today, we remind ourselves of what Christian hope is. The Christian hope is trusting in an unknown future to a known God. It is hope that whispers and say try one more time even when the whole world is up against you telling you to give up. Where there is hope there is faith and where there is faith love is manifested . Has long as we have God, we have hope. Therefore, if we truly believe in our relationship and friendship with God and the unconditional and undying love of God in our lives then we must realize that God will not abandon us to the pit of death but keep us safe in his hands.  The book of Wisdom says, “But the souls of the just are in the hand of God and no torment of death will touch the...

  All Saints, Solemnity Revelation 7:2-4,​9-14  Psalm 23(24):1-6 1John 3:1-3  Matthew 5:1-12a In today’s first reading, John sees “a great multitude that no one could count,” gathered from every nation, tribe, people, and language. No individual or committee could count them either! The Church canonizes holy women and men as examples for us to learn from and as intercessors with whom we pray. Yet today’s feast reaches far beyond the canonized saints: it celebrates all those God has welcomed into heaven. When Jesus names the blessed in today’s Gospel, he begins not with worldly achievement but with humility and hardship: the poor in spirit and those who mourn. He concludes with those persecuted for the sake of righteousness. Take a moment today to remember the saints in your own life who will never be canonized. Tomorrow, on All Souls Day, we will pray for our departed loved ones by name. Today, we give thanks to God for their lives and the ways they have shaped ours. As t...

  Saturday of week 30 in Ordinary Time  Philippians 1:18-26 Psalm 41(42):2-3,5 Luke 14:1,​7-11 Who Wants to Be the Last? Dearly beloved in Christ, we live in a world where money, power, and respect can seem to take priority, and we may forget that we are dust and to dust we shall return. So, how can we be saved? We are called to believe in Jesus Christ, who humbled Himself and gave His life on the cross so that we may be saved. What, then, is humility? The word comes from humus—earth. Humility invites us to recognize God as the Creator of all things and to understand that we are equal in God’s sight. Every act of humility involves letting go of pride. Every act of courage involves overcoming fear. Every act of love involves setting aside selfishness. By letting go of the false self, we discover the true self, made in God's image. Humility is the queen of all virtues. It acknowledges our dependence on God’s grace. Pride can lead to a fall, while humility and sacrifice are at th...

  Friday of week 30 in Ordinary Time  Philippians 1:1-11 Psalm 110(111):1-6 Luke 14:1-6 … By his pure and peaceful light, all darkness and deceit are dispelled. The Lord knows our secrets, emotions, and thoughts. In today’s Gospel, the lawyers and Pharisees watched Jesus, wondering whether he would heal the man with dropsy on the Sabbath. They remained silent, perhaps recognizing that Jesus could offer this man what they could not. In the end, he revealed the inconsistency in their response. There is nothing we can hide from God. Just as he knew their thoughts, he also knew the thoughts of the man with dropsy. The man’s body was swollen with excess fluid in his tissues, yet he may have felt unable to speak because of those watching him in silence. Perhaps he felt uneasy about their view of life, but Christ was not deterred. He continued to do good works and perform wonders. He accomplished all things well. By his pure light, darkness and deceit faded away. Is there something y...