The Subtlety of Jesus’ Teaching

Mt 5:20-26

‘For I tell you, if your uprightness does not surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of Heaven. ‘You have heard how it was said to our ancestors, You shall not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you, anyone who is angry with a brother will answer for it before the court; anyone who calls a brother “Fool” will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and anyone who calls him “Traitor” will answer for it in hell fire. So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering.

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Keeping and Teaching the Commandments

Mt 5:17-19

‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. In truth I tell you, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, is to disappear from the Law until all its purpose is achieved. Therefore, anyone who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of Heaven; but the person who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of Heaven. Read More

Faithfulness to the Lord and His Church

Feast of St. Barnabas the Apostle

Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3

In those days, a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. Read More

LOVE PAYS FOR EVERYTHING

“Even if your sins were as repulsive as mud, your confidence and your love will make Me forget them, so you will not be judged! I am just, it is true, but love pays for everything!” (Father’s message to Sr. Eugenia Ravasio).

Our Father speaks here of grave and repugnant sins, which perhaps we ourselves find it difficult to forgive. Not infrequently it happens that people, once they recognize the magnitude of their faults, fall into despair and are unable to forgive themselves. Thus, they block their own lives and, despite having received God’s forgiveness, sin continues to cast its shadow over them. Read More

“Blessed are the pure in heart”

Mt 5:1-12

Seeing the crowds, he went onto the mountain. And when he was seated his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them: How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance. Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have their fill. Read More

ONE SMALL STEP

“I am the best of Fathers! I know My creatures’ weaknesses! Come to Me, come with confidence and love! I will forgive you after you have repented” (Father’s message to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).

It is that simple… That is how simple God’s love is offered to us day by day.

It was God who took upon Himself our faults, nailing them to the Cross. He carried all our sufferings and sins to Mount Calvary. Read More

Accusations against Jesus

Mk 3:20-35

He went home again, and once more such a crowd collected that they could not even have a meal. When his relations heard of this, they set out to take charge of him; they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’ The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘Beelzebul is in him,’ and, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he drives devils out.’ So he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household can never last. Now if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he cannot last either – it is the end of him.

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