Commentary on the Gospel for Saturday, January 18, 2025
Today’s Gospel text is truly surprising: Jesus chooses to keep company with the so-called “wrong crowd.” Many people come to Him, and Jesus welcomes them all, speaks with all of them, and teaches everyone. But when it comes to choosing someone to join His closest disciples—those who would follow Him most closely and truly be […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Friday, January 17, 2025
What’s at stake in this Gospel story isn’t so much whether Jesus can heal or not. The real question is whether He can forgive sins. That’s where those listening to Him find what they consider blasphemy—a radical offense against God. Only God can forgive sins! Only God holds the key to free a person from […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Wednesday, Thursday 16, 2025
I’ve always been struck by the words the leper uses when he encounters Jesus: “Lord, if you want, you can make me clean.” The first explanation that comes to mind—one that likely occurs to many—is that the leper doesn’t have much faith in Jesus. That lack of faith would explain his hesitant request. But I […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Wednesday, January 15, 2025
The Gospel text for today might seem like a collection of stories or anecdotes that don’t really connect. It recounts Jesus’ activities over two days. Jesus leaves the synagogue and goes to Simon’s house. There, He heals Simon’s mother-in-law, who gets up and begins to serve everyone. Crowds gather at the door, hoping to be […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Sunday, January 12, 2025
Dear brothers and sisters, Peace and blessings to you all. Every year, we notice a leap in the Gospel stories. We move from Jesus’ birth and the visit of the Magi to His baptism by John the Baptist at about 30 years old. What did Jesus do during those «hidden» years? We can only imagine. […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Saturday, January 11, 2025
The texts from today’s Mass, beginning with the Collect prayer, emphasize the central event: God became human flesh. As the First Letter of John says, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” The post-Communion prayer asks that the faithful receive both the present and […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Friday, January 10, 2025
The entrance antiphon for today’s Mass says: In darkness, a light shines: the Lord who is just, merciful, and compassionate. The Gospel of Luke recounts Jesus’ first public act in the synagogue of Nazareth, where He announces His mission as the Anointed One and calls for conversion. This same passage inspires the third luminous mystery […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Thursday, January 9, 2025
“Courage, courage, my daughters; remember that God does not give anyone more burdens than they can bear, and His Majesty is with those who are troubled.” These words, written by Saint Teresa, beautifully illustrate the Gospel passage from Mark in today’s liturgy. A passage worth recalling, especially when we are tired of rowing against the […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Something I find almost amusing is the style of the evangelist Mark. His style is devoid of rhetoric. Mark recounts what he has seen or heard with remarkable simplicity, like a chronicler reporting events without adding any personal evaluations. It’s as if he has no opinion and no intention of evoking amazement or admiration—he just […]
Commentary on the Gospel for Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Matthew explains, in the Gospel sequence of the Feast of the Epiphany, what Isaiah had prophesied: the salvation awaited by the Jewish people extends to all nations. Paul affirms this in his letter to the Ephesians: the Gentiles, too, are co-heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the same promise in Christ Jesus. […]
