Joseph Osho

  Tuesday of week 4 in Ordinary Time  2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14, 24-25, 30-19:3 Psalm 85(86):1-6 Mark 5:21-43 DAVID GRIEFS   In 2 Samuel, we see David’s grief over his son Absalom’s death in battle. Absalom, David’s third son, was estranged, fighting for his enemies. His long hair caught in a tree allowed soldiers to kill him. When told of Absalom’s death, David grieves intensely, lamenting: “My son Absalom! My son…” JAIRUS GRIEFS  A synagogue official, Jairus, begs Jesus to heal his dying 12-year-old daughter. Jesus immediately goes with him.  A WOMAN’S GRIEF  On the way, a woman with chronic hemorrhage for twelve years touches Jesus’ cloak, hoping for relief. She feels healed instantly. Jesus senses power leaving him and asks, “Who touched my clothes?”The woman, trembling, kneels; Jesus affirms her faith: “Daughter, your faith has saved you.” Jairus’ daughter is dead, but Jesus says she is sleeping. He takes her hand and says, “Arise.” She wakes and walks. The...

  The Presentation of the Lord  - Feast   Malachi 3:1-4 Psalm 23(24):7-10 Luke 2:22-40 Today marks the feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple, 40 days after his birth, when Mary and Joseph presented him, symbolized by turtle doves, as prescribed by law. This act echoes Leviticus 12:8, where turtle doves replace a lamb sacrifice. Love and faithfulness, attainable in any vocation through obedience to God, bring wisdom of heart. Simeon, who had been promised he would see the Messiah, recognized Jesus as salvation and proclaimed him a light to the nations (Luke 2:21-32). This is often said at compline to entrust our lives to God before we sleep.  The feast also celebrates Mary’s purification, a Jewish ritual of reverence for birth. All need spiritual cleansing from sin, which only Jesus can provide. The Gospel concludes with Jesus growing in wisdom and God's favor (Luke 2:40). In 1997, Pope John Paul II established a day of prayer for those in consecrat...

  4th Sunday in Ordinary Time  Zephaniah 2:3,​3:12-13 Psalm 145(146):6-10 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Matthew 5:1-12a Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.   Today's gospel consists of a short but very concentrated passage of teaching by our Lord, coming in Matthew's gospel almost at the beginning of His public ministry. Indeed, it was just in the previous chapter that we had Christ's temptations in the desert, the start of His teaching, and the call of the first of His disciples. But already, great crowds are following Him, attracted by His message, by His authority, and, of course, by His ability to cure the sick. The work He was doing closely matched what the Old Testament prophesies said were signs of the Messiah, and so many were attracted to that possibility.   The first verse of our gospel reading today tells us that Jesus went up on the mountain. I am sure that you remember that in the book of Exodus, God's law was revealed to Moses on Mount...