Our blog offers a weekly meditation on Sunday’s liturgical readings. It refers to the original context behind the scriptures and offers reflections aimed at a better commitment to God‘s Word and putting it into practice.
In good times and in hard times, God‘s Word keeps us in love, hope, and active charity simultaneously. We can have positive energy and positive insight at all times, and in all circumstances.
We see the Lord Jesus "taking up the children in his arms, laying his hands on them and blessing them"
In the past, salt was used as currency. Workers were paid their salary with salt. It may be the root of the word "salary".
John's Gospel ends the teaching on the Bread of Life with challenges which are difficult to accept.
Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?
Jesus, the Divine and the Human, is the Only One who provides His faithful ones with the bread that guarantees their tomorrow's life, eternal life.
The fruit of hatred and conspiracy lead to John's head on a platter but can never extinguish … his Voice.
On your own, you are not the Church. Without you, the Church is not what it should be. Jesus sends us as a team.
Jesus is absolutely aware and willing to share His powers of love, compassion and healing—"a power went out of Him"
Lord, accept us as your brothers and sisters, and help us live our family ties according to your will.
When you abide in Jesus' love, don't say, "I am in God's heart, but rather say, "God is in my heart."
Jesus tells us, “I am the vine, and you are the branches." What does this mean for us today?
Since the earliest days, pilgrimage to the Holy Land has been a great spiritual adventure and blessing for peoples of faith. Throughout history, though, there have been times when this journey has become hazardous or even impossible. Wars, plagues, and economic disasters have all taken their turn to disrupt pilgrimages over the centuries.
You may know that when journeys to Jerusalem become impossible for ordinary people, local faith communities create alternative "journeys of the heart" - including spiritual exercises like the labyrinth, the Way of the Cross, meditations at local shrines, and reflections on scripture. It is always possible to create a sacred journey in some way.
Today, our longing for international pilgrimage is hindered. As we continue to pray for the freedom to follow the pilgrim paths, to Jerusalem and other places made holy by faith, we can also forge pathways at home. Our blog posts will offer spiritual insights and open windows to the spirituality of pilgrimage, beyond the literal sense of physical travel. With wellness and safety on all our minds, we share a hope that - when conditions permit - we will regain our sure footing on the road to Jerusalem. Until then, we support "the pilgrims of the heart" in every way we can.
Blessings of Peace - Salaam and Shalom - from the Holy Land.
The "Holy Land in Depth" Coordination Team June, 2020
Questions & Answers for FR. Kamal
Most scholars agree on these general dates:
You are God's temple (I Corinthians 3:16-17). Let us clean our temple as the Lord did, then we will be ready to welcome the risen Christ as we celebrate His Resurrection!
For your spiritual readings, meditations and prayers, I propose reading a paragraph of a chapter from the New Testament every day.
Our church is not a building. It is the people of God inhabited and joined by the Holy Spirit.
The identity of St. Mark remains under debate.
Good question about Jesus’ baptism! There was no baptism in the Old Testament.
One of expectations of Israel was that the Messiah would be a descendant of David, and come exclusively for the Jewish nation.
The general differences are that the Jews don’t accept Christ and are still waiting for Messiah.
The apostles and the disciples were empowered by the Holy Spirit and sent to proclaim the Good News all over the world.
Go to Jesus asking what's most important.