Joseph Osho

  Saint John Bosco, Priest  2 Samuel 24:2,8-17 Mark 6:1-6 It seems that Jesus’ rejection in his village of Nazareth was often commented upon by early Christian writers. Three Gospel writers recount the episode in great detail. According to Mark, Jesus arrived at Nazareth accompanied by his disciples and with the reputation of being a prophetic healer. His neighbors don’t know what to think.  When it was Sabbath, Jesus entered the small village synagogue and «began to teach». His neighbors and relatives hardly listen to him. Within them, all kinds of questions are arising. They know Jesus from childhood: he’s one more neighbor. Where has he learned that surprising message about God’s reign? From whom has he received that power to heal? Mark says that Jesus «had them upset». Why? Those villagers believe that they know all about Jesus. They have an idea of him from his childhood. Instead of welcoming him as he presents himself before them, they get stuck by the image they ha...

DO NOT WEEP JUST HAVE FAITH IN GOD  2 Samuel 18:9-10,14,24-25,30-19:3 Mark 5:21-43 In the Old Testament reading from 2 Samuel today, we hear of David’s abject grief when he hears that his son Absalom has been killed in the heat of battle.  Absalom was David’s third son and estranged from his father, even fighting on the side of his enemies.  While on horseback in the heart of battle, Absalom’s long hair is caught in the branches of a tree, allowing soldiers favorable to David to kill him and when the news is brought to David he is consumed with grief, a grief all the more intense because of their alienation.  David’s parental lament reaches us through the ages: “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!” Another example is the way Christ ministered to the pressing grief of people surrounding him and also of individuals and terrifying parental grief as found in the gospel reading for today from Mark. A synagog...

  GOD’S PROVIDENCE PERMEATES ALL OUR ACTIONS   2 Samuel 15:13-14,30,16:5-13 Mark 5:1-20 In today’s first reading, King David, whose family history is complicated, pathetic, sordid, brilliant, and successful, is burdened with blotches of adultery and homicide in the case of Bathsheba and Uriah. The house is confronted with a son in revolt and seeking his life, David advises restraint (to kill Absalom or that the clansman related to Saul should not be executed for cursing David) and he attributes the situation to God’s Providence.  He declares, “Let him alone and let him curse for the Lord has told me to. Perhaps the Lord will look upon my affliction and make it up to me with benefits for the curse he is uttering this day.” (2 Sam. 16:12)           In today's gospel also God’s Providence shows itself in this “bizarre” and startling incident whereby Jesus encounters a demoniac, “man out of the tombs,” a “legion” of evil spirits inside ...

  Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) Deut 18.15-20;   I Cor 7.32-35;   Mk 1.21-28 GOD’S AUTHORITY OVER OUR LIVES In our Lord's day, exorcists were two a penny. Anyone who could pass himself off as a healer or exorcist did just that. Faith-healers were part of daily entertainment in the market-place. Such attempted healings were also quite a performance, a performance with all the trappings of ritual magic, special formulae and elaborate ceremonies. Against this background, Christ's effortless authority was impressively contrasted. Unlike the shamans of His day, He needed no ritual incantations.    With a simple command, He frees the sufferer from the evil spirit.    "Be silent. Come out of him!"    It was this effortless control over the supernatural sphere which astonished the crowds.    He was clearly on a far superior level from the demon He cast out.    His amazing powers marked Him out as one Who came f...

  O, LORD! CONTINUE TO GRANT US YOUR UNDERSTANDING 2 Samuel 12:1-7,10-17 Mark 4:35-41 In the Gospel, Christ awakens, quiets the sea, and then asks two questions of the Apostles: “Why are you terrified?” and “Do you not yet have faith?”. By this point in Mark’s Gospel, the Apostles have witnessed a couple of miracles and have just heard three parables about the Kingdom of God. Perhaps, these two questions have come out of disappointment and bewilderment as to why the Apostles haven’t understood the message yet. They were not paying attention. Hmm, how could the Apostles not pay attention to Jesus?  They were average fishermen, tax collectors, farmers, and the like. Common ordinary men who most likely distracted during some of Jesus' teachings and miracles. Or they just didn’t understand. We know that they “get it” at Pentecost after receiving the Holy Spirit. The last verse in today’s Gospel tells us that they were still trying to figure it all out, “They were filled with awe a...

Saints Timothy and Titus,    Bishops 2 Timothy 1:1-8  Mark 4:26-34 Stir up the gifts of God ... As a Pharisee Paul had always been a Jewish conscientious worshiper of God, and later of God through Jesus Christ. He had even been, at first, a conscientious persecutor; after his conversion, he became an apostle to the Gentiles and today we celebrate two of his converts to Christianity. Timothy and Titus were third-generation Christians; They were his secretaries and later became bishops. Timothy, the bishop of Ephesus, and Titus the bishop of Crete respectively.  Timothy’s mom and grandmother were faithful Jewish women who taught the Old Testament scriptures to this boy they loved so much. They had seen Paul preach and heal while being persecuted and tortured. Paul preached believing in Jesus.  Acts 16:1; 2Timothy 1:5; 2 Cor. .2:3)  Paul suffered for the sake of Christ so they decided to follow in the path he had laid down; to die to self and allow Christ to s...