The ordinary raised to extraordinary

During the pandemic, one of the hobbies that helped many ease the boredom of lockdown was planting. Thus, the monickers plantito and plantita emerged. I asked a friend why she became a plantita. She said grooming the plants relieved her of mental stress caused by the pandemic.

Though the pandemic limited her activities, the multiplication of her cultivated plants brought her joy. She showed me her Alocasia elephant ear, her favorite plant. She said, “Look at this, Father. Before the pandemic, this was unimportant. But now, this is so expensive. I made a fortune out of this. The pandemic,” she continued, “taught me to see the beauty and value of even the small things.”

The Gospel today presents similes of the Kingdom of heaven. It likens the greatness of the Kingdom of God to things the world considers as ordinary and unimportant: a mustard seed and yeast. However, Jesus went beyond the object’s size and focused on the power hidden within. Though they are small, great things can come out of them. The mustard seed will be a large plant; the yeast can leaven the dough. However, they must undergo a rigorous and painful process to release their potential. The mustard seed had to be buried, while the yeast had to be dissolved to produce these effects.

We may be small and what we can do may be limited, but allowing ourselves to see God’s purpose can help us overcome even the worst conditions of life. There is power within us.

~ Fr. Eugene Fadul

How do you deal with your life’s challenges?

May I always remember that my life’s trials are meant to strengthen my faith in You, Lord. May I not shrink from my sufferings, but rather enlarge my heart to beat more and more for You.

Prayer

… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the strength and healing of the sick.

... for the healing and peace of all families.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

It happened this midnight (May 8, 2025, 12:30 a.m.) that the white smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel came out.“Habemus papam!”— “We have a pope!” This set off notifications across social media. Many people had their candidates and bets for the See of Saint Peter. But who came out from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica? His Eminence Robert Francis Prevost, OSA, who took the name Pope Leo XIV. He was not on the list of the famous papabiles, nor was he a “darling” of the press. His election was unexpected. The common question was: “Who is he?”

The world is so preoccupied with fame. At times, the measure of things is popular opinion. In today’s Gospel, the Lord exhorts those who witness His actions as “blessed.” Blessedness is not based on the accolades given by the majority, but on the opportunity God gives to those whom He chooses. “Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear . . .”

Like the recent event this morning, when a non-popular cardinal came out as the 267th successor of Saint Peter, the simple and even those considered by the world as unimportant occurrences in our lives can be opportunities to encounter God. We must only have eyes that see the hands of God and ears that heed His message. Being aware of the presence of God in our daily lives is a blessing.

~ Fr. Eugene Fadul

Each day, preferably at night, take the time to ask yourself this question: How did I see God’s presence today?

May my eyes and ears be always alert to Your presence in my daily life, O Lord.

Prayer

… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the strength and healing of the sick.

… for the healing and peace of all families.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Reflection: Not Garbage

Luis Pascual Dri, a 98-year-old Capuchin priest, was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in September 2023. Aside from being a priest for almost 73 years, he did not have any notable achievements. He lived simply in Argentina and dedicated his life to the confessional. What did he do that made him worthy of the cardinalate? Answer: Mercy.

In an audience with Pope Francis, Cardinal Dri told him that, many times, he would apologize to Jesus for being so merciful in the confessional. He would absolve a penitent immediately, relying solely on the mercy of God. He said, “I turn my gaze to Jesus, who forgave all.”

Today is the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. Throughout the history of Christianity, Mary Magdalene was known for her sinful life. But what made Mary Magdalene so special? Mary is the assurance of the power of God’s mercy over sin—that sinners as we are, God can forgive us.

We can learn two lessons from St. Mary Magdalene. First, God’s mercy and forgiveness are so powerful that no sin can defeat it. Second, we can receive God’s mercy and forgiveness if we go to Him and change our lives.

Remember: God looks not at your sins but at your ability toreceive His mercy and change your ways. You are not garbage—you are God’s child!

~ Fr. Eugene Fadul

How have you experienced God’s mercy recently?

Thank You for Your mercy, O Lord! Amen.

Prayer

… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the strength and healing of the sick.

… for the healing and peace of all families.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

It is curious that Saint Matthew used the word “stretch” in this narrative: “And stretching out his hands . . .” (Matthew12:49, NAS). In the Greek text of this Gospel, the word used is ekteino. If the frequency of its usage is researched, one will discover that all the synoptic Gospel writers—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—had used it in the context of Jesus’ healing of the man with withered hands in the synagogue during the Sabbath in Matthew 12:13, Mark 3:5, and Luke 6:10.

Matthew repeated ekteino in the same chapter, but now in a different context. The hand that is now stretched is His own, and this was done to indicate that His disciples’ belong to His family.

From this understanding, the word ekteino is not simply a movement of the arms. The man with withered hands was excluded from his community because of his infirmity. The Sabbath, the day Jesus healed him, was an exclusion to the day when ordinary work could be done legally. But Jesus, by stretching the man’s hand, expressed the return of that man not only to society but also to the Kingdom of God. His healing restored both his body and spirit.

The stretching of Jesus’ hand in today’s Gospel speaks of the same message: “Whoever does the will of my Father” becomes a family member, a part of the Kingdom.

Every day, Jesus stretches out His hand to us. Let us always grab it, so we may never get lost. Let us allow His hands to guide us.

~ Fr. Eugene Fadul

Imagine Jesus stretching out His hands in front of you, inviting you to an embrace. How do you feel?

Lord Jesus, thank You for always extending Your loving hands toward me. Amen.

Prayer

… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the strength and healing of the sick.

… for the healing and peace of all families.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Jaden’s son, Justin, was staying in Italy. To give his father the chance to go abroad, Justin brought his father to Rome for a vacation. While Justin was off to work one day, Jaden left the house to go sightseeing. He got lost. Since he did not know the language and could ask nobody for directions, he called Justin via the phone booth.

Jaden: Hello, Justin! I am lost.

Justin: Yes, Dad, where are you?

Jaden: I don’t know this place. Wait. I will look for a sign. (He held the phone for a moment). Ah, now I know. I am hereat Senso Unico.

For those who do not know Italian, senso unico means one way.

Signs are information that direct us to the right location. When one does not understand the message that signs convey, that person is indeed lost.

In today’s Gospel, the scribes and Pharisees demanded a sign from Jesus.

Their purpose was not really to believe that Jesus was the Messiah but simply for amazement. Jesus’ response was very wise. He did not brag about His credentials, but instead, alluded to what the Scriptures said of Him. By using the stories of Nineveh and the Queen of the South, He pointed out that those who did not have faith but had sincere hearts would quickly recognize Him as the Messiah. They read the sign correctly, while the scribes and the Pharisees did not because they remained stubborn in their hearts.

We may know many things about Jesus, but the question is, do we know Him personally? Do we read the signs that point us to Him?

~ Fr. Eugene Fadul

God gives us signs of His presence day in and day out. How well do you recognize these signs? Make it a habit to go through your day each night, and thank God for signs of His presence.

Thank You, Lord God, for your never-ending love and presence in my daily life. Amen.

Prayer

… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the strength and healing of the sick.

… for the healing and peace of all families.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

The Lord’s invitation is surprising: He calls to follow Him people who are lowly and burdened by a difficult life; He calls to follow Him people who have many needs, and He promises them that in Him they will find rest and relief. This means those who cannot rely on their own means, nor on important friendships. They can only trust in God. Conscious of their humble and wretched condition, they know that they depend on the Lord’s mercy, awaiting from Him the only help possible. At last, in Jesus’ invitation they find the response they have been waiting for. Becoming his disciples they receive the promise of finding rest for all their life. The yoke which the poor and the oppressed bear is the same yoke that He bore before them: for this reason the yoke is light. He took upon his shoulders the pain and the sins of the whole of humanity. For a disciple, therefore, receiving Jesus’ yoke means receiving his revelation and accepting it: in Him God’s mercy takes on mankind’s poverty, thus giving the possibility of salvation to everyone. The Lord teaches us not to be afraid to follow Him, because the hope that we place in Him will never disappoint. Thus, we are called to learn from Him what it means to live on mercy so as to be instruments of mercy.(Pope Francis, General Audience, 14 September 2016)

Prayer

… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the strength and healing of the sick.

… for the healing and peace of all families.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

There’s something beautiful about watching a child experience the world. Their eyes sparkle at the sight of a rainbow, their laughter bursts out at the simplest joys, and their excitement is pure and unfiltered. A butterfly, a firefly, or the first drops of rain can fill them with awe. But as we grow older, that sense of wonder begins to fade. We become too busy, too preoccupied, or too “wise” to be amazed by life’s simple miracles.

Jesus reminds us that the heart of a child is the key to experiencing the Kingdom of God. A child’s heart is open, eager, and filled with trust. Sadly, as we achieve more and face life’s burdens, we risk losing this openness. We grow skeptical, expecting nothing new. Our hearts, once soft and ready to receive, harden with indifference. Yet God continues to work in our lives, showing His love in countless ways. The question is: do we still notice?

God’s wonders are not always grand or dramatic. Sometimes, they are found in a quiet sunrise, an answered prayer, a moment of unexpected kindness, or the peace we feel in His presence. Those who keep the heart of a child will always find reasons to be amazed. They will continue to witness God’s surprises because their hearts remain open.

~ Fr. Toto Cerada, SDB

Have you lost your sense of wonder in your faith and in life? Do you still allow God’s love to amaze you?

Lord, renew in me the heart of a child—one that is open, trusting, and full of wonder. Let me never grow tired of seeing Your love at work in my life. Amen.

Prayer

… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the strength and healing of the sick.

… for the healing and peace of all families.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.