Joseph Osho

  Philippians 2:1-4  Luke 14:12-14 The willingness to do something no matter how little and the readiness to give something no matter how small can bear much fruit if done appropriately. That is why St.Paul’s desire for all Christians is whatever we do or say; ‘Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; put simply; have a universal heart. For every act of love involves dying to selfishness.It is by dying to the false self that the true self, made in God's image is found. It means that acknowledging that we are all dependent on God’s grace makes us humble.  In today’s gospel, Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisee. He put forth that when you hold lunch or dinner invite everyone. In other words, don't invite your family or friends only when you have an occasion. Who are the invisible people in our life?  Whom do we pass by daily? The poor could be our sister, struggling to pay her bills this month.  The sick could be our brother, in ...

  Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) Wis 11.22-12.2;  II Thess; 4.6-8, 16-18;  Lk 19.1-10 The first reading at today's Mass, from the Book of Wisdom, is a wonderful passage inspired by the Holy Spirit, teaching us once again of God's infinite love and mercy. Out of his immersed love, God made us to be perfect.    All our thoughts, our desires, our intellect, all are ordered to the only thing that could ever give us perfect fulfilment and happiness, namely God Himself.    As Saint Augustine says, 'Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee.'  Saint Paul takes up this same theme and adds to it the one central event not open to the Old Testament writer of the Book of Wisdom: the intervention of Our Lord in the history of our salvation.    St Paul adds the possibility of the grace of God, coming to us through Our Lord Jesus Christ, calling us to Himself, making us worthy of that call, and ass...

  PHIL 1:18B-26 LK 14:1, 7-11 In today's Gospel, Jesus was invited to dining in a Pharisee’s house. Jesus tells a parable about choosing a place at the dinner table. Again, Jesus challenges the Pharisees with his ending, telling all, that those who think themselves better than others and take the highest place will be humbled and those who have chosen the lowest may in turn be asked to move to a higher place.  The goal is to make choices that lead us to the heavenly feast. The feast of eternal life comes through our choices to become the person that God created us to be. Through our choices we may also participate in the building of the Kingdom of God now. Through our own suffering, we share in the Kingdom and the eternal feast that awaits us. Every day, we wrestle with decisions. When making a decision we look at the pros and the cons and decide what is in our best interest. We think of our family, career opportunities, living situation, and other factors. In Saint Paul’s let...

  FEASTS OF ST. SIMON AND ST. JUDE Eph 2:19-22 Lk 6:12-16 The Gospel moment when Jesus chose his twelve Apostles must have been a turning point in their lives. It was a decisive moment also for Jesus.Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Simon and Jude. They were faithful apostles of Jesus who preached the Good News throughout the Middle East and gave their lives in service to the Gospel.  Luke shares the gospel message wherein Jesus, after prayer and discernment, gathers the disciples and appoints the twelve to be his apostles.  We all have a ‘call’ story or many stories of how God calls us time and again to serve as members of his household.  This call to serve takes us down many paths in our lifetime. We are confronted daily with the joys and struggles that surround us as we try to live out that clarion call to be disciples of Jesus in a world that often seems to turn a deaf ear to the good news! We find a lot of hope and promise in Paul’s letter to the Ephe...

  Ephesians 6:10-20 · Luke 13:31-35 Some Pharisees who knew Jesus and had seen his works and deeds, came to warn him about the cruel intention of Herod in trying to kill him. Jesus did not fear anyone and was never afraid of Herod. Jesus knew that he had a lot of works in his hands yet to be done. Preaching is yet to be done. The institution of the Eucharist and priesthood yet to be done. The passion and the resurrection yet to be done. Jesus cannot be swayed from his role as he enters into the last stages of his journey here on earth. He knew he was surrounded by pain and suffering, and his mission was to heal, to share his beautiful mission with those in his path. Jesus loved Jerusalem, and he wanted to protect those who lived there. The Jerusalem of today is not far different from then – there is still a need for his loving protection in that place where so much of our faith history was experienced firsthand.Jesus so easily could have run away, fled from the hands that...

  Ephesians 6:1-9 Luke 13:22-30 “WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO ENTER THE NARROW GATE “ Lord will only a few people be saved? Today’s gospel is introduced with this intriguing question. To the one who questioned Jesus about how many will    be saved, that is, those to be admitted into the kingdom of God, Jesus says to him and us, ‘strive to enter by the narrow gate, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.’  Which door would you pass through narrow or wide? Why is it important to enter by the narrow gate? The Narrow gate is Jesus and He is the only gate that leads to life-for He himself is Life. The wide gate on the other hand leads to damnation, that which many prefer to follow. And that narrow gate is the path opposed to the majority who stand against Christ the way, the truth, and the life; and His ideals of justice, charity, discipline, love, peace, compassion and progress.  Besides all this, how we try to enter the narrow gate really matter...

  EPH 5:21-33 LK 13:18-21 “What is the kingdom of God like?” says Jesus. For us, we may have observed a seed growing or maybe even studied the scientific process of a seed growing into a bush.  We may have experienced baking bread or even analyzed the chemical reaction which occurs in the process of adding yeast to flour and water. But we really do not know how the generative mechanism actually works.  The mystery of becoming precisely what God has intended from the first moment of existence—is in the mind of God alone. The kingdom, therefore, is not food and drink but righteousness and joy in the Holy Spirit which demands a conscious attempt to break away from sin and to live a holy life. The mustard seed or yeast seems little but significant. We must see the little things of life as important and they adds up to the beauty of our holiness and service to God. Like St. Joseph Marello, the founder of the Congregation of the Oblates of St. Joseph, “Be extraordinary in ordin...

  Ephesians 4:32-5:8 Luke 13:10-17 What is wrong in doing good on a Sabbath day? Why do we begrudge charity. Nothing in the law forbids good deeds. As Jesus was teaching in the synagogue, he saw a woman who has being possessed by a spirit for twelve years. She was bent double and was not able to stand straight. Here Jesus finds himself in the midst of a situation where good needs to be done. Who will love and care for her sake of God the creator himself. Christ immediately healed her of her infirmity. Indeed, the Lord is close to the broken hearted those whose spirit is crushed he saves. Psalm 38:18 On the contrary, the synagogue official was blinded to charity because of his hatred of Jesus. He was indignant without considering the wonders God has done. Jesus points out their hypocrisy and their uncharitable attitude towards perseveration of life. Doing something good for the glorification of God’s name does not bend or go against the law and the rituals of the Sabbath We all know...