Joseph Osho

  Tuesday of the 2nd week of Lent  Isaiah 1:10,​16-20 Psalm 49(50):8-9,16-17,21,23 Matthew 23:1-12 A disciple humbly submits to learn from the master, Christ, to teach others the truth. Without learning from Him, we risk leading others astray by failing to practice or live our professed beliefs. This hypocrisy is inauthentic Christianity. Today , the Lord calls us to shun hypocrisy and self-examination of our witness. We should ask how to practice better what we preach, grow closer to Christ, and remove obstacles like the plank in our eye to see clearly. We must consider how to add value to others' lives and draw them closer to Christ. Ultimately, our deeds matter more than titles. If our life and death teach lessons, this is true Christianity producing good fruits. It must start with us, here and now

Monday of the 2nd week of Lent  Daniel 9:4-10 Psalm 78(79):8-9,11,13 Luke 6:36-38   During Lent, we focus on prayer, fasting, and good works. The first week's readings highlighted prayer, and this second week emphasizes good works—being compassionate, forgiving, and generous. The Book of Daniel tells us, “But yours, our God, are compassion and forgiveness!” written 300 years after the stories, offers hope through Daniel’s faith during Israel’s suffering.  Daniel’s actions prove that God and His people are united. Our failures humbly remind us of God's compassion and forgiveness. We can see ourselves in the actions of the wayward Israelites, and searching our hearts is essential. We must guard against being hardened by sin and drifting from our first love.  As this week begins, remember God’s generosity and strive to imitate Him through good works. Amen.  

  2nd Sunday of Lent  Genesis 12:1-4 Psalm 32(33):4-5,18-20,22 2 Timothy 1:8-10 Matthew 17:1-9 A GLIMPSE INTO THE ESCHATON  Today's gospel passage presents us with a very vivid picture, but perhaps a rather surprising one for Lent. We tend to think of Lent as a rather gloomy season, but today what exactly has been revealed in the transfiguration? From the moment of his birth, Our Lord's divinity has been hidden behind His humanity. But slowly, Jesus has been teaching His disciples the truth about who He is and why He has come, and they have been gradually grasping some of what He was teaching. This understanding reached a climax when Peter said, 'You are the Christ'. As soon as Peter said this, Jesus immediately made the first prophecy of His passion and death, and told His disciples that they would have to take up their cross and follow Him. That was the mood of the group against which the wonderful event of the transfiguration took place.    The disciples were...