I Take Off the Mask

Scripture: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 (WEBBE) *“Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem. Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is, unwashed, hands, they found fault. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews don’t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders. They don’t eat when they come from the marketplace unless they bathe themselves. And there are many other things which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.) The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?” He answered them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘These people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ For you set aside t...

The Catholic Church’s teachings on LGBT issues, particularly its stance on homosexual marriages, can sometimes be a source of deep pain and confusion, especially for parents of transgender and gay children. It is understandable that some parents might feel that the Church is judging or condemning their children, but it is essential to understand that the Church’s teachings, though often difficult to reconcile with contemporary views, are rooted in love—a love that extends to all people, including transgender children. The Church’s Teachings and the Dignity of the Human Person At the heart of the Church’s teachings is the belief in the inherent dignity of every human being, created in the image and likeness of God. This belief is central to Catholic doctrine and forms the basis of the Church’s approach to all moral and social issues. While the Church upholds a traditional understanding of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, it also affirms that every person, regardless of the...

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30 (WEBBE) 14 “For it is like a man going into another country, who called his own servants and entrusted his goods to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two. 18 But he who received the one went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 “Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them. 20 He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 “He also...

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13 (WEBBE) 1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered...

Scripture: Mark 6:17-29 (WEBBE) 17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. 18 For John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him; and she couldn’t, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and he heard him gladly. 21 When a convenient day had come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his nobles, the chief men of Galilee; 22 and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat at the table, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23 He swore to her, “Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 She went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” She said, “...

Scripture: Matthew 23:27-32 (WEBBE) *27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. Reflection: In this passage, Jesus continues His stern rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees, using vivid imagery to highlight the profound discrepancy between their outward appearances and their inner realities. His words challenge us to confront the truth ...

Scripture: Matthew 23:23-26 (WEBBE) 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel! 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of extortion and unrighteousness. 26 You blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the dish, that its outside may become clean also.” Reflection: In this passage, Jesus delivers a sharp rebuke to the scribes and Pharisees, exposing their focus on minor details while neglecting the more important aspects of the law. His words challenge us to reflect on the nature of true righteousness and the necessity of inner purity. 1. The Injustice of Neglect: Jesus begins by condemning the scribes and Pharisees for...

Scripture: Matthew 23:13-22 (WEBBE) 13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for you don’t enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter. 14 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense, you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you go about sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. 16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’ 17 “You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that has sanctified the gold? 18 “And, ‘Whoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated.’ 19 “You blind men, for which ...

Scripture: John 6:60-69 (WEBBE) 60 Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying. Who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? 62 Then what if you would see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and are life. 64 But there are some of you who don’t believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn’t believe, and who it was who would betray him. 65 He said, “For this cause I have said to you that no one can come to me, unless it is given to him by my Father.” 66 At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Jesus said therefore to the twelve, “You don’t also want to go away, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe...

Scripture: John 1:45-51 (WEBBE) 45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 He said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Reflection: This passage from the Gospel of John captures a pivotal moment in th...

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-40 (WEBBE) 34 But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, gathered themselves together. 35 One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him. 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” Reflection: In this passage, Jesus addresses a profound question about the essence of the law, providing insight into the core of God’s commands. His response not only simplifies the law but also reveals the fundamental principles that should govern our lives. 1. The Greatest Commandment: When asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” (Matthew 22:36), Jesus responds with a commandment that encapsu...

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38 (WEBBE) 26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his kingdom.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I don’t know a man?” 35 The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the po...

Lord, help me to realize more how much you love me. Theoretically, I know you died for me. And I’m sorry if even that doesn’t always melt the coldness of my heart. Help me to know that you didn’t die only for humanity as a whole but personally also for my sake. The saints say that you would have died even for just one person. That means that you would have died even if just for me. Help me to believe that. That you would leave the ninety-nine sheep behind just so you could look for me. Let me know that you love me uniquely and that you see me and care about me personally…intimately. Help me remember that gaze of love in your eyes…how you see me and know me through and through, even the very depths of my heart. Your love is so wide, Lord, that encompasses all being. But your love is also deep, intimate and personal. Your love for me is so full that it could never be lessened by any creature in the whole of creation. Let me dwell always within you and may my heart be worthy en...

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16 (WEBBE) 1 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. 4 To them he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5 So they went. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day idle?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’ 8 When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’ 9 “When those who were hired at the eleventh hour came, they each re...

The phrase “the truth hurts” is a universally recognized saying, often invoked when a harsh reality pierces through the comfortable illusions we construct around ourselves. But why does the truth hurt? What is it about confronting reality that can provoke such a profound emotional response? This article explores the psychological, emotional, and spiritual reasons behind the pain of truth and offers insights into how we can learn to embrace it as a catalyst for growth and healing. The Nature of Truth Truth, by its very definition, is the state or quality of being in accordance with fact or reality. It is unchangeable, unyielding, and often indifferent to our feelings or desires. Truth exists independently of our beliefs, perceptions, or wishes. While we may try to bend or avoid it, the truth remains steadfast, waiting to be acknowledged. This unyielding nature of truth is part of what makes it painful. When we encounter a truth that contradicts our beliefs, shatters our illus...

Discerning God’s will is one of the most profound challenges a believer can face. As Catholics, we are called to live in harmony with God’s plan, aligning our desires, decisions, and actions with His divine will. But how can we know what God wants for us, especially when life presents so many choices and uncertainties? This article offers a Catholic perspective grounded in prayer, Scripture, the sacraments, and the wisdom of the Church. Understanding the Nature of God’s Will Before delving into the practical steps of discernment, it’s essential to understand the nature of God’s will. The Church teaches that God has a perfect plan for each of us, which is rooted in His infinite love and wisdom. This plan, however, is not a rigid blueprint dictating every moment of our lives. Instead, it is a loving invitation to cooperate with His grace and to grow in holiness. God’s will can be understood in two ways: The Universal Will of God : This refers to God’s desire for all people to know, ...