Shema: A Divine Love

10-31-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

When one of the scribes asks which is the first of all the commandments? Jesus answers by bringing back the teaching of Moses to the people of Israel, the Shema: “Hear, O Israel! the Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” But Jesus also adds the love of neighbor and yourself as an extension to it. The scribe gets it; he knows that these two double commandments of love are the greatest; and far superior to any exterior worship, “worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

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The Faith of Blind Bartimaeus

10-24-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

What do you want me to do for you? The question Jesus asks the blind man is the same He presents to James and John last Sunday. The blind beggar answers in a simple direct way: "I want to see." The touching account of the healing of Bartimaeus reminds us what Jesus asks us also, what do you want me to do for you? Let us learn from Bartimaeus. Have the courage to approach Jesus, do not be afraid to bring our illness, helplessness, and blindness to Him. But also have the faith of Bartimaeus and persevere in praying. Ask, and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find - knock, and the door will be opened to you. (Mt. 7:7)

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Wisdom: The Highest Good

10-10-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

The readings of this Sunday have the theme of the wisdom of God. The first reading from the Wisdom of Solomon written a century before the birth of our Lord speaks in the voice of Solomon himself. The Lord tells the young Solomon to ask for anything he wants. Without any hesitation, he chooses wisdom. (2 Chr. 1:10) This text is what he must be referring to when he says, I prayed, and prudence was given me, I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. Yes, divine wisdom is more valuable than anything else gold, precious stone, health, beauty, power, and prestige. In comparison to divine wisdom, all these are worthless.

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Being Faithful and True

10-03-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

More than ever in our society: the institution of marriage continues to be questioned: Two trends exist. The first are those who no longer see the value of marriage as an essential foundation of family life and as the basic unit of society. Marriage is a personal option or preference, which can be permanent, or nor, in any case, it is not as important to them. The second trend belongs to those who espouse gay rights, who insist that samesex union is equivalent to marriage; and is an essential foundation for family life and society. They see this right as necessary, and denial of such a right to marriage is an injustice. Even though these erroneous trends seem contradictory, they both contribute to the confusion about the real meaning and nature of marriage. Today’s readings bring us to the heart of the matter by giving us a peek at the will of God and His beautiful plan for marriage.

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Christian Inclusivity

09-26-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

Jesus tells in the Gospel last Sunday how to welcome the weakest members of the community. Whoever welcomes, one child such as this in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes, not me but the One who sent me. The Gospel this Sunday picks up on this: John sees someone expelling an unclean spirit using the name of Jesus. The man is an outsider, the disciples tried to stop him, but Jesus says: Anyone who is not against us is with is. It’s easier for the disciples to accept a little child because they pose no threat to them. But welcoming another person practicing a powerful ministry who is not in their company is too much to accept. They think that exorcism is a privileged ministry for them alone. Their envy blinded them to the good works done by another person, not in their company.

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The Greatest

09-19-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

A week after the scene of the famous confession of Peter and the first passion prediction, Jesus reiterated His coming suffering, death, and resurrection. As they return to Capernaum, Jesus asks them what they were arguing about along the way. They argued among themselves, who is the greatest? Since Peter seems to be the unofficial leader, they expect him to give them an answer. But instead, Jesus gives them an unexpected answer; If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all. Meaning, the greatest does not think of himself to be the first in the eyes of God. He does not expect to be the leader but serves the least among all.

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"You are the Christ"

09-12-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

The Gospel last Sunday shows us the compassionate and personal love of God for us. This generous gift of divine love demands a wholehearted response from us. Accepting God, loving Him means embracing the mission entrusted to us, even if it means a sacrifice. Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, follow me. It means going beyond our comfort zone, denying ourselves, and carrying our cross. Love of neighbor means walking our talk, making sacrifices, especially for those in need.

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Opening the Ears of the Deaf

09-05-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

Isaiah describes the people of Israel rejoicing because the Lord came to their aid and saved them. The Lord’s presence vindicated them from the eyes of their enemies. Israel experiences a transformation as they acknowledge God’s saving power. He removes the ills of Israel – a spiritual freedom people experience when the Messiah comes. In the Messianic time, the deaf can hear, and the mute can speak. When Christ came, He fulfilled all the Messianic prophesies, cited in Lk. 7:22, Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind sees, cripples walk, healing of lepers, the deaf hears, the dead resurrected to life, and the good news proclaimed to the poor.

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God Sees the Heart

08-29-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

The 1st reading tells us to observe the letter of the law, while the Gospel emphasizes the "spirit" of the law. Jesus cites the hypocrisy of the Pharisees for insisting on human tradition while neglecting the more important demands of the "spirit" of the law. The 2nd reading, by chance, also fits in: A command to be doers of the Will of God, walking our talk.

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Jesus the Word and the Bread of Life

08-22-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

Today is the last Sunday of Jn. 6 that speaks of Jesus as the Bread of life. The people following Jesus and many disciples left scandalized by His claims that He is the bread that comes from heaven much more when He tells them that this bread is His flesh, and they should eat it. The bread He offers is the bread that comes down from heaven. The bread of life is the bread for eternal life. Among His disciples, only the 12 Apostles took a stand and did not leave Jesus, “Master to who shall we go, you have the words of eternal life.” (Jn. 6:68) In a way, the Israelites at Shechem took the stand for Yahweh and the covenant. (1st reading)

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The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

08-15-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

The readings for this glorious feast, The Assumption of the Blessed Mother, gives us a peek back into salvation history to an event in the life of Mary, the 2nd Joyful mystery, the Visitation of Elizabeth by Mary. In the 1st reading, Rev. 11, 12 describes the sign in the sky, leading to the 2nd reading describing the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. In a way, these readings are signs which direct the readers to their journey of salvation. The Assumption of the Mother of God into heaven reminds us of God’s plan for His people, a glimpse of the future glory of man, and the joy of the promised eternal life. “I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” (Jn. 11:25—26)

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True Bread from Heaven

08-08-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

A line from a song says: Bread from heaven, Jesus, it’s you. Your way of loving makes us all like you. He becomes the bread of life by dying for us on the cross. The bread that provides us our provisions for our journey of life just as Elijah survives the pilgrimage to Mt. Horeb with the miraculous bread. Forty days Elijah lived with only this bread at Mt Horeb identical with Mt. Sinai. God establishes the covenant on Mt. Sinai with Moses. Elijah is the second Moses, upholds that covenant at Mt. Horeb. The hearth cake of Elijah is the equivalent of the Holy Eucharist, which is our provision in our journey of life. Nourished by the Eucharist, we shall reach our final destiny, eternal life.

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Manna from Heaven

08-01-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

Many of the Jews of the Exodus were stubborn, grumbling, and complaining people. They grumbled and complained to Moses, and God enacted several miracles to show His providential care for the people of Israel in their journey in the wilderness. One of the five miracles that stand out is the provision of bread (manna) and the quails sent by God when Israel complained about the lack of food. The famous manna word derived from the Hebrew expression: What is it? (manhu) (Ex. 16:15) There were attempts to reduce the symbolism of the manna as a congealed sap of a desert shrub. But Scriptures clearly say that the manna was a supernatural phenomenon. And its appearance is limited to the forty years when Israel was in the wilderness (Ex. 16:35). Thus, there is only one possible explanation: God performs the miracle (Hebrew niphloth) in the deliverance of the people of Israel.

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