“I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.” These words from Jesus, the Good Shepherd, are a powerful reminder of the awesome blessing and abundance of life given to all who hear his voice and follow him. Jesus walks ahead of us, and we follow him because we recognize his voice. And how do we recognize his voice? Our readings show us several examples of the ways Jesus speaks to his flock.
Today, on this Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker, we are reminded of the important role St. Joseph had in the life of our Blessed Lord. In today’s Gospel passage, we see the people of Nazareth referring to Jesus as the son of the carpenter. The Greek word for carpenter is tektōn, which means “craftsman,” “wood-worker,” or “builder.” This is essentially how we continue to use the word today. Carpenters are skilled with their hands and building things, and they have a keen eye for the way things…
Today, we continue to focus on the awesome reality of Jesus’ Resurrection. In the Acts of the Apostles, St. Peter gives powerful testimony to what he and the disciples have witnessed with their own eyes, linking it to the prophecy of David, which we heard in the Psalm: “You will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.” And while King David remains entombed, the crucified Jesus has been raised, thus fulfilling the aforementioned…
I have to admit that it has been difficult for me to pray some of the collects and prayers of the Mass, especially those that highlight the awesome reality of Jesus’ true presence in the Most Blessed Sacrament. It’s difficult for me because our congregation is not currently able to receive what Jesus has commanded me to provide. Proclaiming today’s Gospel is particularly difficult, because we all know that the sign Jesus performs of the multiplication of loaves and fish is truly a sign of the…
