Joseph Osho

  Saint Ignatius Loyola, Priest  Jeremiah 26:1-9  Psalm 68(69):5,8-10,14 Matthew 13:54-58 Recognizing God's Presence In today’s gospel passage, the people of Nazareth may recall the young Jesus, the one who grew up among them, who was lost for three days and found by his parents in the Temple and who worked in a carpenter’s shop. Their difficulty in recognizing that the preacher and healer is the same Jesus may stem from biased memories, making them less receptive to perceiving God's presence in Jesus. From today's readings, we learn that remembering the good that results from God's work in our lives through others can foster appreciation and gratitude. Conversely, focusing only on ordinary moments and overlooking God's hand in daily life may hinder our ability to recognize and accept divine blessings when they arrive. Reflecting on our lives, we often see instances where God has touched us in ways that draw us closer to Him. Such remembrance involves a sense of the...

  Thursday of week 17 in Ordinary Time  Jeremiah 18:1-6 Psalm 145(146):2-6 Matthew 13:47-53 Keep God’s word alive and active in you The word of God as Sacred Scriptures was given to us so that we may revere and treasure both the Old and New Testaments, which God has prepared as spiritual guides and promises for all who desire to enter His kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. It is the Holy Spirit that helps us to be diligent stewards and faithful disciples of His word.  Taking time, therefore, to listen for God’s response and engage in a personal covenantal dialogue can serve as a meaningful opportunity to deepen our relationship with God and grow in the love and grace that He has for us. May we at the end of our lives come to share in the harvest of eternal life. 

  Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus  Jeremiah 15:10,​16-21  Psalm 58(59):2-5,10-11,17-18 John 11:19-27 Friendship with Christ deepens and flourishes On January 26th, 2021, Pope Francis announced and highlighted that not only Martha but also Mary and Lazarus—friends of Jesus—should be collectively honored on July 29. The gospels reveal that they often welcomed Jesus into their home, and in turn, Jesus made His residence not only in their house but fundamentally in their hearts. Their hearts became the residence of God. They placed their faith in Him and in the power of His resurrection. They were truly His friends. We are encouraged to walk alongside our sisters and brothers from diverse walks of life, listening attentively to their stories and responding in faith to how God is guiding us to serve and support those in need. By genuinely listening to one another, we can foster remarkable growth in our communities. It is natural at times to judge or dismiss those who hold diff...

  Tuesday of week 17 in Ordinary Time  Jeremiah 14:17-22 Psalm 78(79):8-9,11,13 Matthew 13:36-43 If it is within God's will, He could easily express His displeasure with humanity’s wrongful actions, and with a single command, the entire universe might cease to exist. One might wonder whether it was necessary for God to sustain humans thus far—beings who often act with wickedness and sin. Given the prevalence of darkness and evil covering the earth, it is remarkable that the world persists as it does, and if God’s nature were different, the duration might be much shorter. This raises the question: why does God demonstrate such patience toward a world filled with so much evil? The psalmist offers an insightful answer—God is characterized by compassion and love. His goodness, kindness, and merciful love are evident. He is the loving Father who cares deeply for His children. If it were solely up to humans, the world might have already reached its end. God's patience reflects His i...

  Monday of week 17 in Ordinary Time  Jeremiah 13:1-11 Deuteronomy 32:18-21 Matthew 13:31-35 The Messiah, Christ Jesus, has guided us to place faith and trust in Him, promising that He will fulfill our heartfelt desires. It is important to remember that just as a mustard seed can grow into countless mustard trees, so too do each of us possess significant potential. We, as seeds, have much to contribute—skills, talents, and the capacity to activate our inner potential. Development from seed to fruitful tree requires ongoing transformation. If it had pleased God, each of us might have entered heaven immediately upon our conversion. Our preparation for eternal life does not necessarily require a prolonged stay here; it is conceivable that a person who has merely believed in Jesus could be called to the inheritance of the saints in light. While sanctification is a continuous process until we transition from this earthly life, it remains within God's sovereign will to bring us to h...

  Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)   I Kg 3.5, 7-12;   Ps 118;   Rom 8.28-30;   Mt 13.44-52   Today’s Gospel presents three parables that reveal different aspects of the Kingdom of Heaven. The parable of the fishing net teaches that good and evil exist together in the world until God’s final judgment. Like the wheat and weeds, people respond differently to the Gospel—some accept it, while others reject it. The final separation belongs to God at the proper time. The parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price emphasize the immense value of God’s kingdom. Those who recognize its worth willingly give up everything to obtain it. This requires detachment from selfishness and complete trust in God. Some discover faith unexpectedly, while others find it after a long search, but both experience great joy. King Solomon, in the first reading, is an example of someone who sincerely sought God’s wisdom and received it. St. Paul reminds us t...

  Saint James, Apostle  - Feast   2 Corinthians 4:7-15  Psalm 125(126):1-6 Matthew 20:20-28 CALLED TO LOVE, CALLED TO SERVE  Today, the Church honors St. James, the brother of St. John—son of Zebedee and fisherman by trade. After they met with Jesus, he witnessed the Transfiguration and was present during the sleepless hours of the Agony in the Garden. Notably, he was the first of the apostles to face martyrdom, beheaded by King Herod Agrippa I to appease Jewish opponents of Christianity. He also played a role in Peter’s arrest and once got a harsh lesson in humility—being consumed by an internal parasite or worms as a punishment for pride. The Lord puts it to us in today’s gospel that Power, status, privilege, and prestige often go hand-in-hand with leadership—and they can be dangerously tempting. Like James and John, some of us follow Christ for the recognition and honor, while others seek to be in charge and exert control as men and women of God. Some pu...

  Friday of week 16 in Ordinary Time  Jeremiah 3:14-17 Jeremiah 31:10-13 Matthew 13:18-23 Perseverance calls all of us to live Gospel-centered lives with unwavering commitment. We live in a world and within a church community that challenges us to nurture and hold fast to the seeds of faith planted in us at baptism. To deepen our faith, we must be willing to walk on rocky ground, endure the thorns we encounter, and persevere in the Gospel message—even when it is difficult to understand or when we would rather ignore it. Today's Gospel reminds us that the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word, understands it, and actively produces fruit—yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirtyfold. May we continue to cultivate ourselves as the rich soil that bears abundant spiritual fruit, not only enriching our own lives but also impacting everyone we meet on our faith journey with compassion and love.

  Thursday of week 16 in Ordinary Time  Jeremiah 2:1-3,​7-8,​12-13 · Psalm 35(36):6-11 Matthew 13:10-17 In today’s Gospel reading, I was particularly struck by Jesus’ explanation of why He often spoke to the people in parables. He quotes Isaiah: ‘They look but do not see, and hear but do not listen or understand.’… The hearts of these people are dull; they scarcely listen with their ears, have closed their eyes, so that they cannot see with their eyes, hear with their ears, or understand with their hearts—yet, if they did, I would heal them. You might wonder why these words of Jesus resonated so deeply with me. It’s probably because it feels like we struggle to see what truly matters and to hear what we need to hear. We find it hard to recognize the humanity in certain groups of people. We often don’t take the time to listen to their stories, and we struggle to hear how far Jesus is calling us to go in loving God and our neighbors. In our first reading from Jeremiah, God ...