#prayes

Todays Reflection:

Over the last fourteen years, as many of you know, my focus in ministry has been on hearing confessions, to which I have now added spiritual direction. How many confessions or sessions I have heard over the years is unknown, and it really does not matter. What matters is that I have noticed, as the catechism states, hearts that are heavy and hardened, as much as the two disciples Jesus encounters today on their way to Emmaus in our gospel.[1]

When we look at our gospel, we see that these two were hoping Jesus would be the one to redeem Israel. However, as they walked along, they were now at a loss. They did not understand what all of this meant. “[For the] Cross raised on Calvary was the most eloquent sign of a defeat which they had not foreseen.”[2] Therefore, naturally, as they headed home, they had heavy hearts.

Yet, despite this uneasiness, this tremendous sadness, this leaning towards despair, something remarkable was occurring that would change the world forever. For at the core of this remarkable occurrence is the Resurrection of Jesus. Without this, Christianity would be in vain, as Saint Paul would state.[3] However, at this moment, they did not fully understand this when they encountered a stranger in Jesus, and this is why, I believe, Saint Luke tells us this story about a journey that helped his community, and us come to believe in the resurrection through a journey of hope, which these two disciples in our gospel took toward salvation.

In this story, Jesus first opens the Sacred Scriptures to these two disciples. As Jesus speaks, they gain hope. They say their hearts were burning during this journey of discovery. Something similar has happened as I hear confessions. I have come to realize that I am not alone in the confessional. The Holy Spirit is present as well. For the Holy Spirit has more than once guided me in finding meaningful words, ideas, or expressions – including examples from Sacred Scripture – that help a penitent grow toward God. With this, many have left the confessional with renewed confidence in a better future and hearts burning with hope.

Although this is wonderful, the journey is incomplete at this point, for the cornerstone of the Church occurs after Sacred Scripture unfolds divine revelation. Because it is only through the breaking of the bread that the resurrected Jesus brings eternal life, Pope Francis once brought forth a question: “Is there not in every Eucharist, also the symbol of what the Church should be? Jesus takes us, blesses us, ‘breaks’ our life — because there is no love without sacrifice — and offers it to others; he offers it to everyone.”[4] For it is only through Jesus' suffering that we have the eternal hope of Easter, which the Church boldly proclaims.

Therefore, it is through this journey with Jesus, first through sacred scripture and then with the breaking of bread, that we come to believe that divine revelation occurs, and occurs only through a suffering and risen Messiah. This changes everything and is the reason why such a remarkable event as the resurrection ever occurred, for when God is walking beside us, our heavy hearts turn sin to hope. For through his grace our hearts ought to burn with hope and the zeal at the promise of eternal life.

[1] CCC1432

[2] Pope Francis, General Audience of Wednesday, 24 May 2017.

[3] Cf. First Corinthians 15.

[4] Pope Francis, General Audience of Wednesday, 24 May 2017.

Image: Christ and his Disciples on the Road to Emmaus, by Jan Wildens

Today’s Spiritual Links for April 19, 2026

Todays Reflection:

Plato a Greek philosopher produced over thirty dialogues, which featured the great philosopher Socrates. In Phaedrus Socrates states, “[that] things are not always what they seem; [and as such, what] first [appears] deceives many; [with only] a few perceiving what has been carefully hidden.”[1] This statement by Socrates occurs as he is discussing the nature of love and its meaning comes forth quite clearly in the following example. When one looks at the light of day, one observes light in one wavelength that of white. If one jumps to a conclusion this is all they would see, when in fact light contains many wavelengths. When light, viewed through a prism, a rainbow of colors of appear, for things are not always, what they seem.

This same idea appears in our readings today beginning in our first reading where we witness the prophet Samuel at the home of Jesse in which one of his sons will become king. However, Samuel assumes at seeing Eliab that he would be king. Yet, at this thinking, God said,

"Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart."

It is only when Samuel stops being arrogant and humbly listens to God that the youthful and ruddy David appears as the new king upon which Samuel anoints, for David was something more than what he seemed to be as a youth.

In our second reading, Saint Paul counsels those who want to advance in knowledge of the divine that they ought to wake up and rise from the dead, so that Christ will enlighten their lives.

Therefore, Paul in his letter to the Ephesians wants those who are searching for the knowledge of the divine to stop ignoring what occurs in the darkness. If one assumes that there is nothing dangerous in the dark, they will find in short order that there are dangerous elements present. Because, what appears in the darkness hides every form of sin and decadence so that it may corrupt the innocent and tear down morality until morality no longer exists. That is to say, Saint Paul points out the unknown; that is the secrets of the night so that those who seek hope will understand and embrace their need to remain vigilant in divine light in order to remain faithful to God within his kingdom.

This brings us to our Gospel where Jesus examines this same idea that what is not seen is important to know. This occurs when he and his disciples encounter a blind giving Jesus the opportunity to say,

“Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.  We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Jesus then cures the blind man who could now see far better than anyone else could. Because as we read this gospel, the blind man begins a journey, in which his faith grows where the Pharisees fail to grow at all.

In this encounter with Jesus, the blind man came to understood that Jesus was the Messiah. Through this, he learned, and so do we, that salvation comes through Jesus. This occurs not only to this blind man, but also to those who have stopped assuming that salvation was automatic. For Jesus teaches that salvation is reserved to those who humbled themselves and admit that they are in need of something more, that is a loving and merciful God.

This is why it is important to stay in the light so that we, who can see, can grow in our faith.  Though this, we continue to foster and set a good example through how we live our lives. In doing so, we help those who are blind to faith, that may regain the ability to see and know that there is something more outside the darkness of life. For Jesus is the light of the world, and for this we ought to rejoice and be joyful for we have seen a great light.

[1] https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1636/1636-h/1636-h.htm

Today’s Spiritual Links for March 15, 2026

Today’s Reflection

As Jesus grew in strength and wisdom, he did so within an extended family. This means that Jesus and John were acquainted with each other. As members of the same family, they must have spent some time together, though limited. Seeing that this is true, how can John say, twice in our gospel, that he did not know him? Yet we must remember that John knew Jesus only as a family member, not as the Messiah. It must have been a shock to John to see the divine witness of the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus. Although this may be true, we see John’s character manifest itself today. John was a man of virtue who knew his place. It is here that John realizes there is something more to Jesus, which means he must decrease so Jesus can increase. This gospel, then, gives us a moment of pause, as the question arises: How well do we really know Jesus?

Spiritual Links for January 03, 2026

Today’s Reflection

Today’s gospel needs to be read through the lens of yesterday’s gospel with the Beatitudes. Because at the very core of each Beatitude is humility, and if a Christian truly embodies this virtue they must become the salt of the earth, and light for the world. What this means is that Christians are to display the passion and character of the Beatitudes to enhance the virtue of humility. Because anything less allows salt to become tasteless as much as one sitting in the darkness all because the ingredient of humility is missing.[1] Therefore, a Christians must understand the parable of Jesus, as much as Saint Benedict did, for his whole rule in based on being humble so that those who believe will not become flat or dim,[2] but rather grow and enhance the world.

[1] Norman H. Drummond, True Humility: Finding Power and Joy in This Biblically Mandated Virtue, (Bloomington, In, WestBow Press, 2012), (Chapter 5, Salt and Light) [2] Ibid, (Chapter 5, Salt and Light).

Today’s Spiritual Links for June 13, 2023

Today’s Reflection

There once was a monk who made baskets and put handles on them. When he heard another monk saying nearby: “What am I to do? The trader is soon coming, and I have no handles to put on my baskets.” So the monk who heard this statement took the handles off his baskets and took them to the nearby monk, saying, I do not need these: take them and put them on your baskets.” And he allowed the nearby monk to finish his baskets, but left his own unfinished. (SF 17.16) That is to say, this monk who gave so willingly embodied the message of Jesus that the greatest commandment of the Law, is love, which the poor widow in our gospel displays so beautifully. For the action of giving two small coins – all that she had – does more to help others than all the prideful actions of the Scribes.

Today’s Spiritual Links for June 11, 2023

Today’s Reflection

Mary, it is said, set out and traveled to the hill country in haste,“ and she did this without thinking about herself or her safety, for her only thought was to give aid to Elizabeth, despite the many dangers found in traveling.[1] This she did freely out of her grace and through her great faith for the sake of her cousin and in doing so; she became a sign of comfort for Elizabeth and a further example of her role in our salvation. Therefore, it is good that we remember Mary, as our guide and role model, for she gives to us the example of what it means to give up  everything for God, because Mary even today helps us move closer to God and his plan for our salvation.

[1] Basil Pennington, 20 Mysteries of the Missouri: Liguori, 15 /

Today’s Spiritual Links for May 31, 2023

Today’s Reflection 

On Christmas Day, we heard  that, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. However, Today's Gospel turns the Christmas message upside down with a new perspective that of the Lord's empty tomb.1  Therefore, when we look at the beginning of John’s gospel, John tells us that the very heart of Christmas is that Jesus, in his divine nature, now appears to us in our human nature, for the Word became flesh and dwelt among us to give us life. For God thinks highly of us and more importantly, Jesus is willing to giving up his life just to save us. This is Good News, so come and see the infant in a manger and his empty tomb, and believe that Jesus came to save us from the darkness of our sins by bringing us into light of his grace that transforms us and helps become more divine.

[1] Fr. Manel VALLS i Serra, https://evangeli.net/gospel/day/V_52

Today’s Spiritual Links for December 27, 2022