Joseph Osho

  Wednesday of week 22 in Ordinary Time  1 Corinthians 3:1-9  Psalm 32(33):12-15,20-21 Luke 4:38-44 When Simon Peter begged Jesus to heal his sick mother-in-law, she not only received her healing, but many others also experienced complete health of mind and body—she even found strength to care for them. Only God can provide such enduring remedies for body and soul. His healing is everlasting, and His strength is reliable. His love is boundless, and His mercy lasts forever. Even the demons trembled at His presence because they recognized Him as the Christ, the Son of God, with the power to overthrow their dark kingdom by freeing those trapped within it. Jesus came to deliver us from the bondage of sin and evil. Just as division in today's first reading leads to spiritual neglect and suffering, division remains a serious and destructive sin. The Lord has chosen us as His own, and we should feel deep gratitude for the gift of health and life He graciously gives us. 

  Tuesday of week 22 in Ordinary Time  1 Corinthians 2:10-16  Psalm 144(145):8-14 Luke 4:31-37 When Jesus spoke, He didn’t need anyone to validate His words — He was the very embodiment of authority — the Word of God made flesh. Every time He spoke, God Himself spoke through Him. When He commanded, even demons trembled and obeyed. Do you truly recognize God’s overwhelming power and authority in your life? How do you respond when you hear God's Word in Scripture? Do you dismiss it, accept it with hesitation, or embrace it wholeheartedly with faith and obedience? But here’s the punch — we all face our own battles. Our enemies don’t shout or wear frightening masks like the demon in the synagogue. Instead, they whisper in our minds — cynicism disguised as realism, self-protection pretending to be prudence, old grievances dressed up as justified. These demons don’t scream; they quietly settle into our thoughts, taking hold. Paul doesn’t speak of possession outright, but his wo...

  Monday of week 22 in Ordinary Time  1 Corinthians 2:1-5  Psalm 118(119):97-102 Luke 4:16-30 Working Under Pressure In today’s gospel, the people of Nazareth anticipated miracles in their town just as Jesus had performed in Capernaum. Yet Jesus refused to cater to their expectations. Instead, He boldly challenged them to repent, speaking truths that stirred their anger (Lk 4:24ff). Their discontent grew so intense that they tried to throw Him off a cliff (Lk 4:29-30). But Jesus remained faithful to His divine mission, refusing to succumb to the crowd’s pressure. Do you ever wake up on a morning feeling overwhelmed, questioning how to face the day and others around you? Remember, it’s often those closest to us who dismiss us when we share our faith. Ask yourself: are you standing firm in what God has asked of you? When you feel persecuted or unrecognized, unite your sorrow with Jesus’s example. He reminds us that “no prophet is accepted in his own hometown." No matter the...

  Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)   Jer 20.7-9;   Ps 62;   Rom 12.1-2;   Mt 16.21-27   What shall a man give in return for his life? Today's gospel follows straight on from last week's but is in marked contrast to that earlier passage. Last week, Jesus said to Peter, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah...You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." Today we hear Christ saying to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan."  Why the change?  What has happened?   In the first place, Christ had commended Peter for his inspired act of faith, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  This was, of course, absolutely true, but it rapidly became clear that Peter did not fully understand the meaning of his own words.  Peter recognised Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah - but he did not really know what this meant.  Today, we hear Our Lord explaining the reality of what it was to be the Christ:  'From that ti...

  The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist 1 Corinthians 1:26-31  Psalm 32(33):12-13,18-21 Mark 6:17-29 Holiness is frequently regarded as an achievement exclusive to saints. However, in his Letter to the Thessalonians, Saint Paul urges individuals to pursue holiness by conducting themselves in a manner that pleases God. His guidance emphasizes the importance of interpersonal relationships, particularly in the context of selecting a spouse or engaging with others. Saint John the Baptist preached about the coming of the Messiah and publicly addressed Herod Antipas’s marriage to his brother’s wife while his brother was still alive. This confrontation can be interpreted as an exhortation for Herod to reflect on the ethical standards guiding his relationships. When Herod was requested by his wife to execute John the Baptist by beheading, Herod, exercising his authority as king, did not refuse the request. Refusal might have been perceived as humility or vulnerability. Despite his p...

  Saint Augustine, Bishop, Doctor  1 Corinthians 1:17-25 Psalm 32(33):1-2,4-5,10-11 Matthew 25:1-13 The love of God fills the whole world . Count your blessings!  We live in a world where the negative so often commands the most attention, and we can become so caught up in the ills around us that we forget the blessings that surround us. The blessings of august break have given us time for recreation and renewal with family, friends, and nature. God has given us so much to be grateful for that the very thought of it is overwhelming.  Today we celebrate the memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Saint Augustine was richly blessed by God, and after a period of introspection, he was able to see how much of his life called for gratitude to God. He ultimately dedicated his life to the service of God and God’s people. He had a saintly mother in Saint Monica, a great heart, and a brilliant mind. We are forever grateful for his life and service to our C...