Joseph Osho

  The Body and Blood of Christ (Year A)   Deut 8.2-3, 12-15, 19-20;  Ps 147;  I Cor 10.16-17;  Jn 6.51-58 Appreciating the rich and life-sustaining food preserved in the sacred tabernacle! Many of Christ's words in the Gospels are often shrouded in mystery. To truly understand Holy Scripture, we rely on the guiding light of the Holy Spirit, alive within the Church’s living tradition—its divine soul. Even with this guidance, the meaning can sometimes be elusive. But today’s Gospel is a powerful exception! It boldly and clearly reveals Jesus teaching us about something absolutely fundamental—His own Body and Blood in the Most Blessed Sacrament. This is the core of our faith, a miraculous gift that calls us to recognize and partake of Him. Most Catholics already believe in the real presence of Christ's Flesh and Blood in the Eucharist. Yet, imagine how astonishing this must have sounded to those hearing it for the first time! Jesus insisted that we must eat His Fle...

  Saturday of week 9 in Ordinary Time 2 Timothy 4:1-8  Psalm 70(71):8-9,14-17,22 Mark 12:38-44 In a nation of immense wealth, it is outrageous that anyone goes hungry, lacks healthcare, or lives on the streets. Today’s reading highlights the many social ills that still confront us today.As disciples, we should also feel anger at a society that promotes individualistic social upward mobility while turning a blind eye to its impact on the disadvantaged, especially those living on the fringes of our communities. Today’s readings also challenge us to be “refusers, renegades, and resisters” against the prevailing narrative of upward mobility centered on riches, honors, pride, and power. The culture that upholds these values might want us to see today’s Gospel as a sweet story of a poor widow surrendering everything to God, encouraging the well-to-do to give a little more. But the story is much more radical. Jesus is condemning the Temple economy that allows scribes and similar figu...

  Saint Boniface, Bishop, Martyr  2 Timothy 3:10-17  Psalm118(119):157,160-161,165-166,168 Mark 12:35-37 bearing witness to the reality of the resurrection. This day’s readings and feast focus on the central theme of the power of scripture and the presence of God's Word in our lives. The wonderful scripture teachers I’ve encountered over the years always encouraged us to ask deep, challenging questions of the text. The goal was not to discredit scripture but to hear it at a more profound level. Isn’t this precisely what Jesus models for us in today’s Gospel? He takes a familiar text—Psalm 110—and opens it up like a door no one had thought to try. “If David calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” It’s a simple question, but it manages to crack something wide open. The crowd was delighted because they recognized they were in the presence of someone who read Scripture from the inside out. Praying and reflecting on the Scriptures takes effort. It’s much easier to simply read ...

  Saints Charles Lwanga and his Companions 2 Timothy 1:1-3,​6-12 · Psalm 122(123):1-2 Mark 12:18-27 Popular images of life after death and heaven tend to depict earthly, familiar scenes—pastures, clouds, choirs, and even harps playing. We often use these ‘homely’ images to describe what lies ahead. However, the life to come with God remains a mystery—simple at its core. We understand basic truths: we will live on, our existence will be eternal through Jesus’s death and resurrection. Still, detailed descriptions elude us. Faith is about trust, and though we live by faith, it's natural to seek some recognizable aspects of the life to come to help us hold on. Today, we read about the Sadducees devising a very fanciful scenario regarding marriage in heaven, not to gain wisdom but to trap Jesus and support their belief that there is no resurrection. Like Jesus, we shouldn’t get too caught up in these invented stories. Jesus doesn’t get sidetracked by the absurd scenario; instead, h...

  Tuesday of week 9 in Ordinary Time  2 Peter 3:11-15,​17-18  Psalm 89(90):2-4,10,14,16 Mark 12:13-17 S t. Augustine once teaches that because we have a mind and a soul, our higher purpose is to seek to know, love intentionally, and belong to the One in whose image we were created. In today’s Gospel, Jesus is posed a political question meant to trap Him. The heated topic at the time was a census tax paid to the Roman emperor, Caesar. For many Jews, this tax constantly reminded them of their subjugation to Rome. However, the Pharisees were somewhat tolerant of collaboration with Rome and supported paying the tax. In contrast, the Herodians were more nationalistic and opposed paying it. These unlikely allies teamed up to catch Jesus: "Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?" — Mark 12:13–14 If Jesus answers "No," the Herodians could accuse Him of rebellion against Rome. If He answers "Yes," He could be seen as not ...

  Saint Justin, Martyr  2 Peter 1:2-7  Psalm 90(91):1-2,14-16 Mark 12:1-12 Why did Jesus' story about the wicked tenants offend the scribes and Pharisees? This story carried both a prophetic message and a warning. Isaiah had referred to the house of Israel as "the vineyard of the Lord" (Isaiah 5:7). Unfortunately, they neglected to realize that they were merely God’s tenants and stewards. We are not the owners; instead, we are the owned. “None of us lives as his own master... while we live, we are responsible to the Lord” (Romans 14:7-8). “You are not your own. You have been bought at a price!” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We truly belong to God.  Happy New Month