Joseph Osho

  Thursday of week 30 in Ordinary Time   Ephesians 6:10-20 Psalm 143(144):1-2,9-10 Luke 13:31-35 The Pursuit of Lasting Freedom through Faith in Jesus Christ The Gospel reading presented today conveys a profound assurance that Jesus represents the divine essence of God and that His intention is to liberate all individuals. The path to this freedom is found in Jesus. This innovative teaching, however, was met with resistance from the religious elite in the Temple of Jerusalem and their adherents, who challenged Jesus' message and diminished its significance. This opposition likely stemmed from their discomfort, as it exposed the hypocrisies ingrained in their lives. Historical accounts reveal the culmination of this tension on Good Friday. The question arises: how can one adhere to Christ’s teachings in order to attain true freedom as a child of God? Henri Nouwen posited, "When we can shed the compulsions and coercions imposed upon us by external sources and allow the Holy Spir...

  Wednesday of week 30 in Ordinary Time Ephesians 6:1-9 Psalm 144(145):10-14 Luke 13:22-30 WE OCCUPY A POSITION OF GREAT PRIVILEGE  In today's biblical discourse, a query was posed to Jesus regarding the salvation of individuals. In response, He issued a compelling admonition that the path to Heaven is fraught with challenges and that one must endeavor diligently to enter through the narrow gate. The inherent message emphasizes that mere feelings of adequacy in one's devotion do not guarantee salvation at the conclusion of life. Conversely, the path to perdition is broader and rife with deception. Consequently, individuals are presented with two distinct paths: the narrow or the wide. The choice rests with each individual. Christ epitomizes wisdom and serves as the focal point of all divine revelation. Within Him resides the profound truths of wisdom and knowledge, which are not only essential but also eternal. By emulating His example, individuals can navigate the difficult j...

  Tuesday of week 30 in Ordinary Time   Ephesians 5:25-33 Psalm 127(128):1-5 Luke 13:18-21 GROWING IN PATIENCE  Jesus employs analogous imagery from nature to illustrate that the kingdom of God develops quietly yet consistently, providing shelter and support to all who seek refuge within it. Similarly, the unseen hand of God continually graces us with His presence, ensuring our daily sustenance while maintaining order and harmony within the universe. These represent the subtle miracles that occur daily. Hence, a common thread in both parables is the gradual growth of the kingdom of God, which manifests itself through patience. Often, patience is perceived as a delay or a weakness, regarded as an obstacle to be surmounted. It requires an individual who is prayerful and has cultivated a spirit of submission to truly embody patience. Indeed, the most challenging aspect of any journey lies in the initial steps taken, yet it is important to recognize that the fruits of labor a...

  Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles  - Feast   Ephesians 2:19-22 Psalm 18(19):2-5 Luke 6:12-19 PRAY BEFORE YOU MAKE A CRITICAL DECISION  Jesus while praying asked for wisdom from His Heavenly Father before choosing twelve men of faith who loved Him and would be faithful to His purposes (John 14:21-14).  Before you make a critical decision in your life do you pray? Is there anything you prayer cannot do? Anyone who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.Romans 10:13 When we call on the name of the Lord, we are lifting up our minds to God. There is a bound. A relationship of a Father and a son or daughter. There is companionship . There is sacrificial love. And of course, that captures today’s feast of the Apostles Simon the Zealot and Judas Son of Alpheus. There were companions of Christ. They were with him from the cradle of Christianity. They died for the sake of the kingdom which has been given to us as a privilege. We are called to pay attention to t...

  30th Sunday in Ordinary Time     Jer 31.7-9;  Ps 125;  Heb 5.1-6;  Mark 10.46-52   OUR HOME IS IN HEAVEN  The discussions surrounding the Middle East, particularly between Israel and the Palestinian people, are frequently in the news. Following the Second World War, the establishment of the State of Israel marked a return for many Jews to their historic land after being scattered for nineteen centuries. This experience is not new in Jewish history. The people of Israel endured exile and slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh, but they were led back to the Promised Land by Moses.  In today's Old Testament reading, the prophet Jeremiah addresses Jews who find themselves in exile, this time in Babylon during the sixth century BC. He envisions a procession returning to Israel: “the blind and the lame, women with child, women in labor, a great company returning here… I will guide them to streams of water, by a smooth path where they will not stumble.” T...

  Saturday of week 29 in Ordinary Time   Ephesians 4:7-16 Psalm 121(122):1-5 Luke 13:1-9 THE PRESENT MOMENT SERVES AS A CRITICAL JUNCTURE FOR SEEKING SALVATION  In the Gospel narrative presented today, there is a profound atmosphere of fear and dread among those who approach Jesus to convey the tragic news of the massacre of certain Galileans by Pontius Pilate, who, appallingly, mingled their blood with the sacrificial offerings being made in the temple in Jerusalem. The temple, a sacred site, serves as a refuge for the people of God. It is conceivable that some individuals believed this event might incite Jesus, a prophet from Galilee, to initiate a revolt or deter Him from continuing His journey to Jerusalem. Additionally, there may have been assumptions that the Galileans' possible sinful nature could have contributed to their tragic fate. Repentance embodies the essence of life, while procrastination can be viewed as an unwarranted consumption of time. We are granted ...

  Friday of week 29 in Ordinary Time   Ephesians 4:1-6 Psalm 23(24):1-6 Luke 12:54-59 WINDS OF CHANGE  Following Christ's address to His disciples, He then directed His attention toward the crowd to provide insights concerning global affairs, specifically His second coming. His audience, primarily engaged in agriculture and maritime activities, would logically possess an understanding of environmental signs related to impending weather changes. For instance, if clouds appeared in the west, precipitation could likely be anticipated, given that the sea lies in that direction relative to Jerusalem. Additionally, a southern wind would indicate warmer conditions due to the presence of arid deserts south of Jerusalem. Consequently, this understanding enabled them to make informed decisions regarding their agricultural practices—either sheltering their crops or transporting them as necessary. They could seize opportunities for harvesting when conditions permitted or stockpile th...