All Souls Day Sunday, November 2, 2025

First Reading: (Wisdom 3:1–9)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 130)
Response: Out of the depths, I cry to you, O Lord.
Second Reading: (Philippians 3:20–21)
Gospel: (John 17:24–26)

Reflection

Today was a beautiful day at mass, St. Pio. The priest began the Mass by reflecting on yesterday, when the Church celebrated the saints, those who have successfully made it to heaven.

Today, on All Souls Day, we commemorate those who have died in God’s grace and friendship but have not yet reached heaven. They are the souls in purgatory, according to Church teaching, souls on the waiting list, as it were, awaiting the full glory of heaven after completing their purification.

When we commit sin and are absolved through confession, our souls are cleansed, but the punishment for sin may remain unfinished. Penance through prayer, fasting, or almsgiving completes this purification. If we die before fulfilling it, our souls undergo purification in purgatory.

The Church, in her mercy and wisdom, prays for these souls, that through our intercession they may swiftly enter eternal rest. Our prayers, penances, and acts of charity assist the souls in purgatory. Like someone posting bail for a friend in prison, our prayers help release those souls who cannot help themselves.

When the priest said this, something went off within me. We are all connected to people who have passed through this life before us, amazing. Some might not have done so with grace and would surely need our prayers and intercession. It is a profound act of love and mercy, for as Scripture says, Charity covers a multitude of sins.

In churches around the world, as we pray for them, let us live worthily so that we may not depend on others to remember us when we die. Let us daily embrace small acts of penance, offering our sufferings as participation in the redeeming love of Christ.

Let us not forget those who have been forgotten. Remember every precious life that ever walked this earth without family or friends to pray for them. Throughout this month of November, let us remember all the faithful departed in our prayers, Rosaries, and the Holy Mass.

May our love hasten their joy, and may their prayers in heaven intercede for us. It is a two-way street. Keep praying for the faithful.

God bless. 🙌
Amen.

Pal Ronnie

Daily Mass for November 1st 2025: Solemnity of All Saints

First Reading: (Revelation 7:2–4, 9–14) 

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 24)

Response: Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Second Reading: (1 John 3:1–3)

Gospel: (Matthew 5:1–12)

Reflection

Today is november 1st, 2025. Where did October go? For me, it's duty call at St. Raphael for me. And more importantly, it is also all Saints Day, a day not merely a time to honor those who have attained sainthood in the church, but also a call to us to reflect on our own vocation to holiness.

We are invited to follow Jesus with pure hearts,
imitating the saints who have gone before us. You can read about that in the Gospel today, the beatitudes. 

Sainthood is not bestowed by the Church, it is recognized as the fruit of a life lived in unity with the will of God.

Each of us is called to that same sanctity through love, humility, and faithfulness.

God bless you 🙏 

Pal Ronnie and Happy November 

Daily Mass -Friday, October 31st

First Reading: (Romans 9:1–5)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 147:12–15, 19–20). Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Alleluia

Alleluia, Alleluia.
The word of the Lord remains forever;
this is the word that has been proclaimed to you.
Alleluia.

Gospel: (Luke 14:1–6)

Reflection

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is dining with Pharisees and other devout men.
A man suffering from dropsy appears, perhaps brought there to test Jesus.
Despite the trap, Jesus responds with compassion and heals him immediately.

This act teaches us that true holiness is not about rigid rule-keeping,
but about love, mercy, and compassion.
All religious practice loses meaning if it lacks kindness and humanity.
We are called to reflect Jesus’ heart, healing, lifting, and loving others,
especially when it is inconvenient or misunderstood. God bless and have a wonderful weekend. 

Pal Ronnie 

Mass Reading & Reflection for Date: October 30th

First Reading: (Romans 8:31–39)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 109)

Response: Save me, Lord, with your merciful love.

Gospel: (Luke 13:31–35)

The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection:

Many times, we have reacted poorly to those who reveal our weaknesses. We have turned them into enemies simply because they told us the truth. Yet, only a true friend will tell you your weaknesses; an enemy conceals them, letting them destroy you.

In today’s gospel, some Pharisees, whom Jesus often criticized for hypocrisy, warned Him about Herod’s plan to kill Him. Despite being publicly corrected by Jesus, they told Him the truth. They chose honesty and protection over resentment or vengeance. Information is life and death. 

3 Lesson for us today:

• Those who tell you the truth are not your enemies. Accept correction with humility.

• When part of a group planning evil, be courageous and reveal the truth to protect the innocent.

• Stand out from wrongdoing; do not let loyalty to a group make you complicit in evil.

We learn from these Pharisees that truth and justice must come before fear of social backlash, and that protecting good and innocent people is always worth courage.

Have a wonderful Thursday and God bless you.
-Pal Ronnie-

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection on Wednesday, October 29, 2025

First Reading: (Romans 8:26–30)

The Spirit helps us in our weakness, interceding for us when we do not know how to pray. All things work for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 13:4–6)

Response: My hope, O Lord, is in Your mercy.
Even when darkness surrounds us, we trust in God’s steadfast love and rejoice in His salvation.

Alleluia: I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.

Gospel: (Luke 13:22–30)

Jesus urges His followers to strive to enter through the narrow gate, for the path to salvation demands effort and faithfulness. Many will come from all directions to share in God’s kingdom.

Reflection

When asked if only a few will be saved, Jesus redirects the question to a challenge: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.”
The narrow gate is not about exclusivity but about commitment, following Christ with faith, humility, and perseverance. True discipleship means constant conversion, effort, and trust in God’s mercy. The kingdom of God welcomes all who seek Him sincerely, from every direction, but the journey requires daily choice and grace-driven effort.

May we seek God daily and like the narrow door, when things get harder for us, we will persevere. 

God bless you 🙏 

Pal Ronnie 

Daily Mass Reading and Reflection for the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude

First Reading: (Ephesians 2:19–22)

Responsorial Psalm

Response: Their message goes out through all the earth.

Gospel: (Luke 6:12–16)

Reflection

Today is the feast of St. Simon and Jude. All four Gospels recount Jesus choosing his Apostles, but only Luke tells us that he spent the entire night in prayer before doing so. Prayer. His choices flowed directly from that communion with the Father. Throughout Luke’s Gospel, Jesus turns to prayer at crucial moments, after his baptism, before his passion, and even on the cross. It will be nice if we could pray and ask God to intervene for us when we go out to choose our leaders. 

We are reminded that when we face important decisions, we too should first seek God in prayer. Prayer doesn’t guarantee ease or perfect outcomes, after all, one of the twelve chosen betrayed Jesus, but it opens space for God to act, to guide, and to strengthen us in ways unseen.

Our task is to surrender trustfully, allowing the Lord’s will to shape ours, even when the path leads through uncertainty.

Saints Simon and Jude, pray for us. 

God bless you 

Pal Ronnie

Jesus Heals: Mass Readings and Reflection October 27th 2025

First Reading: (Romans 8:12–17)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 68)
Response: Our God is a God who saves.

ALLELUIA: Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth; sanctify us in your truth.
Alleluia.

Gospel: (Luke 13:10–17)

Reflection:
As a clinician, I love all things healing in the Bible. In this profession, our sole mission is always to heal the sick. Unfortunately, sometimes we fall short of that mission to heal. In a greedy market based economy where everything is tied to spreadsheets and profits, to heal completley could mean that someone could be put out of business, so we would rather manage symptoms and be getting perpetually paid.

Today Gospel then presents a powerful lesson where Jesus healed that woman. Those leaders perhaps wanted to uphold their laws more than they wanted to see that woman healed. It is not hard to picture that in the world we live in today. Jesus heals a woman who had suffered for eighteen long years. Instead of rejoicing, the synagogue leaders are offended, not because the healing was evil, but because it broke their interpretation of the law. 

Their hearts, hardened by pride, jealousy, and legalism, became blind to compassion. The law, given to serve humanity, had become more important to them than the human person standing before their eyes, burdened by man made rules. During COVID, people were not allowed to go outside for sunlight. The sun, the greatest disinfectant compatible with all living things for billions of years, was prohibited by man made laws to, in their words, “flatten the curve of the covid spread.” Man can be wicked in his belief systems.

Anyway, this blindness to humanity still happens today all around us like stated above. We can become so attached to rules, positions, pride, or our own anger and prejudice that we fail to see the suffering, dignity, and value of another human being. The rulers of the synagogue could not rejoice with their own sister in faith, who had carried pain, shame, and burden for eighteen lomg years. They did not share her tears, so they could not share her joy. Some people where actually unhappy covid didn't kill more people than it did. 

But Jesus reveals the heart of God:
When a human life, human dignity, or human suffering is before us, love must speak louder than law. Mercy must stand above ritual. Compassion must outweigh pride. When life and dignity are at stake, every other law falls silent. The only law that remains is the law of love.

Recently at work, I had an exchange with a staff member in another department. My clinical judgment superseded hers. She wanted to uphold the rules, and I would not. I did what was necessary, and she questioned it, showing a great deal of displeasure.

Let us examine our hearts. Have we allowed jealousy, anger, prejudice, or rigid legalism to make us cold toward others? Have we forgotten that those we judge or mistreat are human beings, children of God, whose blood, like ours, flows with pain and hope?

Today, Jesus calls us to recover our humanity. To put the human person first. To let love be the highest law. To heal, to lift, to rejoice with others. For there is no law greater than love.

Have a wonderful week and God bless you.

Pal Ronnie

Sunday Mass Readings and Reflection October 26th 2025

Daily Mass Readings:

First Reading: (Sirach 35:12–18)
Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 34)-“The Lord hears the cry of the poor.”

Second Reading: (2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18)

The Gospel: (Luke 18:9–14)

Reflection
We sinners, in the words of Bishop Barron, loves to show off, not just spiritually like the Pharisee did above and in the parable, but in all our daily dealings with fellow men. We sees only outward appearances, the esthetics, the piercings, jewelries, and styles, all while ignoring the deeper reality of the heart. 

How often:

• Examine Pride: Where do I imitate the Pharisee, assuming I am better or holier than others?

• Embrace Mercy: Can I approach God like the tax collector, honest, vulnerable, and aware of my need for grace and God's mercy?

• Trust God’s Justice: Sirach and Paul reassure us that God Himself defends the humble and raises up those who rely on Him.

May we learn to see others as God sees them, beyond appearances, beyond judgments, down to the heart.

God bless you,
Pal Ronnie

On Work

 

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection for October 25th 2025

First Reading: (Romans 8:1-11)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 24)
Response: Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Alleluia
Alleluia, Alleluia.
( no verse provided, but I can insert the proper one if you want the official lectionary Alleluia.)
Alleluia, Alleluia.

Gospel: (Luke 13:1-9)

Reflection

In the Gospel today, Jesus’ parable of the fig tree confronts us with two profound truths: God’s justice and God’s patience. The vineyard owner represents justice, there is an expectation that our lives bear spiritual fruit. The gardener represents mercy, God sees potential in us even when we fail, and He fights for our conversion.

Like the fig tree, some souls grow slowly. Some resist grace. Some appear barren. Yet God, in His mercy, cultivates, nourishes, and waits. This parable reminds us that now is the time to repent, to grow, and to bear the fruits of the Spirit, before our time in the vineyard runs out.

We are not hopeless, and we are not abandoned. With God’s grace, even what looks spiritually fruitless can become fruitful again.

I hope you get something out of this. I did. 

God bless and have a wonderful weekend.

Pal Ronnie

Mass Reading and Reflection for Friday October 24th, 2025

First Reading: (Romans 7:18–25a)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 119)

R: Teach me your statutes, O Lord.

Alleluia

Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
Alleluia.

Gospel: (Luke 12:54–59)

Reflection

All week, the Church has led us to reflect on the Last Things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. Each day has reminded us that life is short, death is certain, and the hour is unknown.

• On Monday, Jesus warned that wealth cannot save us from death.

• On Tuesday, we were urged not to live like fools, forgetting eternity.

• On Wednesday, we were told not to delay our preparation, for death can come at any moment.

• On Thursday, we were exhorted to choose friendship with Jesus, even over friendship with the world.

Today, Jesus adds a final warning: reconcile now, before it is too late.

Just as two people should settle a dispute before it reaches the court, Jesus tells us to settle our souls before we stand at the judgment seat of God. A simple problem becomes complicated once it reaches court: it costs more, involves more people, exposes more shame, and may lead to prison.

So, it is with the soul.

Now, while we are “on the way,” we still have time.
Now, while we breathe, we can:

• forgive and ask forgiveness

• seek peace

• confess our sins

• return to God

But after death, it will no longer be in our hands. The case will be God’s. We risk purgatory, and even then, we depend on others to pray for us. And who will remember us for long? Today is the time. A stitch in time saves nine.

So, let us not carry grudges, sins, or pride to the judgment. Go to confession. Reconcile. Fix it while it is still easy to fix. Make peace with God and with one another. Time is a gift, and today it is still on our side.

God bless you

Amen

My Favorite Season

 

Daily Mass Readings and Reflection October 23rd 2025

First Reading: (Romans 6:19–23)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 1)

Response: Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Alleluia: (Philippians 3:8–9)

Alleluia, Alleluia.
I consider all things so much rubbish
that I may gain Christ and be found in him.
Alleluia, Alleluia.

Gospel: (Luke 12:49–53)

Reflection

Jesus declares that He has come to set the world on fire, a fire that symbolizes the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Before that fire could be unleashed at Pentecost, Christ first had to endure His Passion, the “baptism” of suffering He speaks of. His burning desire is to purify, refine, and ignite hearts with divine love.

But the Gospel reminds us that the truth divides before it unites. When the light of Christ enters a soul, it forces a choice: for Him or against Him. Even families can experience division when some embrace the Gospel and others reject it. This division is not caused by Christ’s desire for conflict, but by the dramatic nature of conversion, the Gospel demands a decision.

Meanwhile, Saint Paul reminds us that we must no longer be slaves to sin. Sin promises freedom, but leads to death; Christ offers surrender, but it leads to eternal life. The fire of the Holy Spirit both burns away sin and lights the path to holiness.

May we allow that divine fire to burn within us, purifying what is unholy, igniting what is good, and giving us courage to choose Christ even when it costs us.

Amen 🙏 

Pal Ronnie 

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025: Mass Readings and Reflection

First Reading: (Romans 6:12–18)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 124)
Response: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Gospel: (Luke 12:39–48)

Reflection

If you were told that today would be your last day on earth, how would you spend your remaining time? Most people when asked, almost everyone gave the same answers: some said they would rush to confession, knowing no one can enter heaven with unrepented sins. Others said they would go straight to church and remain in prayer until their final breath. Some even said they would give away their possessions, realizing they would no longer need them.

In other words, we know what leads to heaven, repentance, prayer, charity, and readiness. Yet in everyday life, we postpone these very things.

Imagine a person in a plane moments before a crash, or in a car seconds before a fatal accident. What floods the mind at that moment? We have seen videos of people crying out, “Jesus!” In the face of eternity, priorities become painfully clear.

This is how a Christian ought to see life: tomorrow is not guaranteed. If we know we need confession, why wait for another day? If we need to forgive, to love, to reconcile, to break from sin, or to do good, why delay?

Jesus tells us: “If the householder had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.” We do not know the hour, not of death, not of judgment, not of the Lord’s return.

We treat time as if it were endless. We delay tasks, arrive late, and even take our spiritual life casually. Yet there is one account we draw from daily without ever seeing the remaining balance: the account of life itself. Each sunrise is a withdrawal. How much remains, only God knows.

Should we fear death? No. But we should live each day so well that if death came this very afternoon, we would be at peace. The good you can do, do it today. The confession you need, go today. The forgiveness you are withholding, offer it today. Time is not waiting for us.

So let us ask ourselves honestly: If today were my last, would I be ready to meet God?

May St. John Paul II intercede for us, that whenever our hour comes, we may be found faithful, watchful, and prepared. Amen.

Amen.
-Pal Ronnie-

Mass Readings and Reflection on Tuesday October 21st 2025

First Reading: (Romans 5:12, 15b, 17–19, 20b–21)

Through one man, Adam, sin and death entered the world; but through one man, Jesus Christ, grace and redemption overflow for all who receive Him.

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 40)

Response: “Here I am, Lord; I come to do Your will.”
The psalmist rejoices that God does not desire empty sacrifice, but a willing heart ready to obey His will.

Alleluia

“Be vigilant, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Gospel: (Luke 12:35–38)

Jesus calls His disciples to be watchful and ready, like servants awaiting their master’s return, promising blessing for those found vigilant.

Reflection

Today, St. Paul gives us a sweeping summary of salvation history, what is often called the kerygma: the good news, the bad news, and the best news. Through Adam, sin enters the world, and through sin comes death. This original rupture creates a chasm between humanity and God, one we cannot bridge by our own effort. But through one obedient man, Jesus Christ, grace, redemption, and new life overflow. His obedience cancels Adam’s disobedience, and His sacrifice opens the way for us to live in grace.

The Gospel then calls us to respond. Jesus tells us, “Gird your loins” and “light your lamps.” In ancient times, this meant tucking in long garments so one could run freely. In other words: be ready. He urges us to live each day prepared for His return, whether in the first watch or the third, because the Master will come at an hour we do not expect.

If Christ were to return for you today, would you be ready? Or would you say, “Lord, give me a moment, I still need to forgive…I still need to repent…I still need to return to prayer”? Jesus warns us not to delay conversion. Vigilance is not fear, it is faithfulness. It is choosing daily prayer, Scripture, the sacraments, and a life of charity so that our hearts stay awake.

And then Jesus gives us a stunning image: if the Master finds us ready, He will seat us at table and serve us. The One who washes feet will one day satisfy every hunger of our soul in the heavenly banquet.

So how do we remain vigilant? Three simple pillars:

1. Prayer, Scripture, Sacraments, build a daily plan of grace.

2. Community, surround yourself with believers who call you higher.

3. Mission and Service, share your faith and love your neighbor.

Love is not a feeling, is willing the good of the other. When we live this way, our faith becomes dynamic, joyful, and alive.

May we stay awake, stay ready, and stay rooted in grace, so that when the Lord knocks, our lamps are already burning.

God bless you,

-Pal Ronnie-

Mass Readings and Reflection October 20th 2025

First Reading: (Romans 4:20–2)

Responsorial Psalm: (Luke 1)

Response: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; He has come to His people.

Alleluia

Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.

Gospel: (Luke 12:13–21)

Reflection

Today’s Gospel is not a condemnation of success or wealth, it is a warning against greed, attachment, and self-reliance without God. The rich man in the parable builds bigger barns but never builds a bigger heart. He prepares for many years on earth, but not for eternity with God. His tragedy is not his harvest, it is that his treasure was in grain, not grace.

Jesus reminds us that life is not measured by possessions, productivity, or comfort, but by our capacity to love, to share, and to trust God. In a world obsessed with “more,” Christ invites us to detach, to make room for Him, and to invest in what lasts: mercy, forgiveness, generosity, gratitude, and compassion.

The greatest poverty is not lacking material goods,  it is having full barns and an empty soul. Let us choose today to be “rich in what matters to God.”

Wealth is a blessing ans we should not turn into burdens on our souls. 

God bless you,

Pal Ronnie 

Persistence Pays: Mass Readings and Reflection for Sunday October 19th 2025

 

First Reading: (Exodus 17:11–13)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalms 121:1–2, 4–5, 7–8) “I lift up my eyes toward the mountains. From where shall help come to me?”
Second Reading: (2 Timothy 3:14–17)
Alleluia: “The Lord is just and merciful. The Lord is compassionate and faithful.” Alleluia. (Psalm 111:4–5)
Gospel Reading: (Luke 18:1–8)

The Reflection

Throughout Scripture, the lifting of our hands, hearts, and eyes to heaven is a powerful symbol of prayer, trust, surrender, thanksgiving, and appeal to God. Since heaven is above, our upward gaze expresses our orientation toward the One who reigns over heaven and earth.

We see this gesture throughout salvation history: Abraham lifting his hands in oath, Solomon lifting his hands in dedication, Paul urging believers to lift holy hands in prayer, and Jesus himself lifting his eyes to heaven. The Psalms echo the same truth: “Let my prayer rise like incense before you, and the lifting of my hands like an evening offering.”

The Mass makes this symbolism visible in our worship. The priest lifts his hands in intercession, just as Moses lifted his hands on the mountain. As long as Moses’ hands were raised, Israel prevailed; when he grew weary, Aaron and Hur supported him. In the Gospel, the persistent widow “lifted” her plea again and again until justice was granted. Both stories teach us the same lesson: never grow weary in supplication.

The Psalm today proclaims our conviction: Our help comes from the Lord. If our help comes from him alone, then we must never tire of lifting hands, hearts, and eyes to God. In sorrow or joy, in distress or thanksgiving, lift them up.

From today’s readings, three themes emerge: perseverance, divine help, and the power of Scripture and prayer.

In the First Reading, Moses’ raised hands and the support of Aaron and Hur offer a vivid image of human weakness and communal strength. We all experience moments when our arms, our resolve, our courage, our zeal, begin to drop. Scripture reminds us: we are not meant to fight alone. Sometimes we support the weary; sometimes we are the ones upheld.

The Responsorial Psalm lifts our eyes to the mountains and to the Creator of all. No matter how strong or weak we feel, our ultimate help is divine, not human. The Lord guards our coming and going, now and forever. When our hands grow weary, we turn to the God whose hands never tire.

The Second Reading declares that Scripture is “God-breathed” and equips us for every good work. And in the Gospel, Jesus urges us to pray always and never lose heart. The widow, though powerless in earthly terms, prevails through persistence. If even an unjust judge can be moved by perseverance, how much more will God, who loves us, answer those who cry out to him day and night?

So then:

When we are weary in body, mind, or spirit, we should not hesitate to seek support from friends, from the community, and above all from God.

Lift our eyes. Do not fix our gaze only on our own strength, but on the One who upholds us.

We should pray without ceasing. Let prayer be our rhythm and Scripture our formation. Strength of faith comes not from sheer willpower, but from being rooted in God’s Word and in persistent communion with him.

May we hold steady until the sun set, and beyond, trusting in the Lord, our keeper. 

Amen.

Pal Ronnie

Quinnipiac Riverview on a Fall Day

 

Feast of St. Luke’s Mass Readings and Reflection on October 18 2025

 

First Reading: (2 Timothy 4:10–17)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 145), “Your saints, O Lord, make known the glory of your reign.”

Gospel: (Luke 10:1–9)

St. Luke was not a Jew but a Gentile, a man who once lived as a pagan. By profession, he was a doctor, educated and compassionate, and he was born in Antioch around the first century A.D. Through his encounters with St. Paul, he came to faith in Christ, converted, and became one of the greatest witnesses to the Gospel. He wrote both the Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, dying at the age of 84.

Luke’s writings focus on God’s mercy and love for all people, especially the poor, the outcast, and women. His gospel emphasizes universal salvation, that God’s love is not reserved for the Jews alone but is open to all nations. This is why Luke included parables like:

• The Good Samaritan (Luke 10),

• The Prodigal Son,

• The Lost Coin,

• The Rich Fool, and

• The Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

Through these stories, he reminds us that God’s mercy knows no boundaries. The same God who welcomed Luke, a Gentile and a sinner, invites each of us into His grace.

Our lessons for Today:

1. Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.
   St. Luke’s transformation from pagan to evangelist proves that God’s grace can reach anyone who is open to it.

2.  We should surround ourselves with people who strengthen our faith.
   Luke became holy through his companionship with St. Paul. Our relationships can either lead us closer to God or away from Him.

3. We should cooperate with God’s grace.
   God’s grace is always active, but it requires our willingness to change and grow.

4. We should love the poor and welcome all.
   Like Luke, we are called to extend compassion, not judgment, to be instruments of God’s inclusive love.

A Call to Action:

We should not write people off because of their past. Instead, see in them what God sees, a potential saint in the making.
We should not also be content with our own weaknesses. The Lord can use us, just as He used St. Luke, if we let Him.

We should also continue praying, learning, and growing in faith. We should join communities that inspire us to holiness, and above all, live the Gospel through love.

God bless you 

Pal Ronnie 

Mass Readings and Reflection on Friday October 17th 2025

St. Ignatius of Antioch Pray for us

First Reading: (Romans 4:1–8)

“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 32:1–2, 5, 11)

R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.

Alleluia: (Psalm 33:22)

May your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we place our trust in you.

Gospel: (Luke 12:1–7)

Reflection

In the Gospel, Jesus contrasts fear and faith. He reminds us that God’s care extends even to the smallest creatures, not a single sparrow is forgotten. If God values them so deeply, how much more are we, made in His image, cherished and protected?

The message is clear: faith, not fear, should guide us. Like Abraham, we are called to trust God completely, not in our works or appearances, but in His mercy and love. God’s attention to detail in creation is proof that He knows and values every moment of our lives.

So when we feel insignificant or unseen, let us remember: even the hairs of our heads are counted, and our worth is immeasurable in God’s sight.

God bless you 

Happy Friday 

Pal Ronnie

Daily Mass Reflection October 16th 2025

 

First Reading: (Romans 3:21–29)

Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 130)

Response: With the Lord there is mercy, and in Him is plentiful redemption.

Gospel: (Luke 11:47–54)

Reflection

Today the Church honors St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the humble Visitation nun through whom our Lord Jesus Christ revealed the devotion to His Sacred Heart, a devotion that has since become a source of immense grace for the Church. Through her fidelity, love, and suffering, she showed that intimacy with Jesus begins in the heart- a heart purified by faith and inflamed with divine love.

In the readings, we see a beautiful harmony across all of them:

• St. Paul teaches that righteousness comes not from works but from faith.

• The Psalmist reminds us that God’s mercy is deeper than our sin.

• Jesus exposes religious hypocrisy, urging us to live authentically from the heart.

These themes converge in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the symbol of divine mercy, justice, and love. Like St. Margaret Mary, we are invited to bring our “scared and scarred hearts” to Him so that they may be remade and molded in His likeness, meek, humble, and burning with compassion.

In a world wounded by pride and indifference, devotion to the Sacred Heart remains a call to reparation and renewal. Through love, humility, and faith, we unite our own hearts to His, trusting that “with the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.”

God bless you and have a wonderful day

Pal Ronnie

Daily Mass Reflection – Wednesday, 15th October 2025

First Reading: (Romans 2:1–11) 

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 62)

Response: “O Lord, you repay each man according to his deeds.”

Gospel: (Luke 11:42–46)

Reflection

In the Gospel today, Jesus’ words strike deep into the heart of human hypocrisy, the habit of judging others while ignoring our own failings. He condemns the Pharisees and lawyers for outward religiosity without inner conversion, and by extension, He speaks to us who find pleasure in gossip, criticism, and judgment.

If we are honest, we have all taken part in conversations about other people’s faults, who committed what sin, who failed morally, who cheated, or who fell from grace. We listen with curiosity, laugh at their shame, and even add our own commentary. Yet, when we examine our hearts, are we any better?
Each of us has “skeletons in the proverbial closet.” If our hidden sins were exposed, the world would see how much worse we are than those we mock.

Jesus reminds us through His confrontation with the Pharisees and lawyers that silence and humility are better than hypocrisy and judgment. The lawyer who tried to exonerate himself ended up exposing his own guilt. Sometimes, we too provoke divine correction by thinking we are holier or better than others. When pride blinds us, God may allow humiliation to humble us and remind us that holiness is grace, not merit.

When we gossip about others’ sins, we forget the mercy that keeps us standing. As St. Philip Neri once said when seeing a sinner:

“There goes Philip- but for the grace of God.”

A truly holy person never delights in another’s fall. Holiness does not expose; it prays, heals, and restores. The one who laughs at another’s weakness is far from sanctity.

For today's Saint of the Day: St. Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)

Virgin, Mystic, and Doctor of the Church

• Born in Ávila, Spain, she entered the Carmelite order at 20.

• For years, she lived a mediocre spiritual life, until God’s grace led her to seek true holiness.

• Together with St. John of the Cross, she reformed the Carmelites into a more contemplative and disciplined order.

• She was blessed with mystical revelations and deep insights into prayer and union with God.

• Her writings, such as The Interior Castle and The Way of Perfection, are treasures of Christian spirituality.

• She died at 67 and was declared a Doctor of the Church for her profound teachings on prayer and the interior life.

Her life teaches us that even those who begin weak or lukewarm can become saints by surrendering to grace. Just as Teresa was transformed, so too can we, if we stop judging others and allow God to purify our own hearts.

Big picture: avoid gossips

God bless you 🙏 

The Economic Reality We’re Living These Days

These days, people seem easily angry, especially at work. The workload has gone up, but the pay?... My assistant mentioned the other day that their pay was only increased by 50 cents. No wonder everyone’s frustrated.

People take it out on their coworkers, the ones they see every day, instead of the invisible corporate executives we never see who aren’t fighting for the “little guys” to make a decent living from their labor. The average CEO of a Fortune 500 company makes around $16 million a year, while the rest of us are trying to stretch every dollar to give it back to them for services and goods we need.

When was the last time you got a decent raise?
Meanwhile, the companies we buy from as stated above every day keeps raising prices on our daily essentials.

I just came home from Walmart after picking up some veggies, kale, cabbage, carrots, and a few cans of tomatoes, and it cost me $25. I shook my head. People are told not to complain, just work harder. The results? everyone’s walking around frustrated and angry at the system. Most healthcare institutions are now scrambling to find people to work because people are quitting because of being overworked and underpaid. And those who stays, the smallest thing can trigger someone because they’re already carrying so much that is burdening them.

That’s why I mostly keep to myself these days. If I accidentally bump into someone, I’d rather joke or apologize than risk an argument. People are looking for an outlet for their frustration, and sadly, that’s become normal both in public and at work.

Stay safe out there.

-Pal Ronnie-

Daily Mass Reflection October 14th 2025

First Reading: (Romans 1:16–25)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 19:2–5)
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
Faith.

Alleluia
The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Gospel: (Luke 11:37–41)
Jesus exposes the emptiness of external religiosity. True purity is not in ritual, but in a heart that loves and gives generously.

Reflection
Today, St. Paul and Jesus both warn against false appearances of faith. Paul reminds us that God’s truth is already visible, through creation, conscience, and grace, yet humanity often chooses darkness over light. Likewise, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for focusing on ritual cleanliness while their hearts remain impure.

True holiness is not found in outward practices alone, but in a heart transformed by compassion, mercy, and justice. When we give from the heart, especially to the poor and the suffering, we participate in the inner cleansing Christ speaks of.

Faith, when lived with humility and generosity, aligns our priorities with God’s. Only then can we see with clear eyes, love with a clean heart, and walk in the light of truth.

God bless you 

Pal Ronnie

Monday October 13th Mass Readings and Reflection

First Reading: (Romans 1:1–7)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 98)-The Lord has made known his salvation.

Alleluia Verse:

Even if you have to die, says the Lord, keep faithful, and I will give you the crown of life.

Gospel: (Luke 11:29–32)

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus rebukes the people not because they asked for a sign, but because many signs had already been shown to them, and yet they refused to believe. The crowds wanted more proof, something spectacular to satisfy curiosity, but Jesus saw through their unbelief. Their hearts were hardened.

Throughout Scripture, God has always used signs to confirm His power and His promises: A rainbow after the flood as a sign of His covenant with Noah (Genesis 9).

A virgin conceiving a child, as Isaiah foretold, to show His saving might (Isaiah 7:14). The shadow on the sundial moving backward for King Hezekiah, proving God’s healing (2 Kings 20). The staff of Moses turning to a serpent and the waters of the Nile turning to blood, signs that God was with His chosen messenger (Exodus 4). And when Jesus Himself was born, a star appeared in the heavens to lead the Magi to the Savior.

Jesus worked countless miracles, raising the dead, walking on water, feeding multitudes, yet the people still doubted. He therefore told them that the only sign left would be the “sign of Jonah”: His own death, burial, and resurrection after three days. That would be the ultimate proof of His divinity. Look at that, pals. 

The problem, then, was never the absence of signs, but the absence of faith.
Jesus teaches us that miracles do not create belief. Hearts open to God will see His hand even in small things; hearts closed to Him will not believe, even if the dead rise.

Dear friends, we too have been shown many signs of God’s love: The gift of life each morning we wake up, the family and friends who care for us. Healing after sickness. Safety after danger. The mystery of the Eucharist, where Christ remains truly present among us in our faith's journey. 

What more do we need to believe?
Let us not be like the generation that demanded endless proof while ignoring the miracles before our very eyes daily. Let us open our hearts, see God’s signs in daily blessings, and strengthen our faith.

For indeed, “even without signs, one who wants to believe will believe, and even if all signs were given, one who does not want to believe will not believe.”

May we, therefore, learn to see, believe, and be thankful for the signs already given to us by God.

Amen and God bless you 🙏 

Pal Ronnie

Sunday Mass Readings and Reflection for October 12th, 2025

Mass Readings:

1st Reading: 2 Kings 5:14–17
Psalm: Psalm 98- “The Lord has shown his deliverance to the nations.”
2nd Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8–13
Gospel: Luke 17:11–19

Reflection

Today’s readings speak deeply to the heart, especially for those of us in healthcare, where healing and restoration of life after illness is always our mission. We are reminded that every form of healing, physical, social, moral, economic, or spiritual, comes ultimately from God, the source of life itself.

Naaman, the Syrian commander, was a powerful man, yet he suffered from leprosy, a disease that left him marked and isolated. When he obeyed the prophet Elisha and bathed seven times in the Jordan, he was not only cleansed of his leprosy but renewed in spirit. His healing led him to faith and gratitude as he declared, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.”

True healing is more than the restoration of the body. It is the transformation of the heart, the awakening of gratitude and faith.

St. Paul, writing from prison, says, “The word of God is not chained.” Even in suffering, he finds life and victory in Christ, proclaiming, “If we die with Him, we shall live with Him; if we endure, we shall reign with Him.” Though the world may bind us with challenges, fears, or limitations, God’s word and grace remain free, renewing us daily.

In the Gospel, ten lepers were healed, but only one-a Samaritan-returned to thank Jesus. The others received healing but forgot the Healer. Gratitude made the Samaritan’s healing complete; it brought him not just restoration, but salvation. Jesus said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Gratitude completes the miracle. It turns mere healing into a living relationship with God. Like Naaman, the thankful leper made a return journey-he looked back, remembered where he had been, and gave thanks. The others moved forward without reflection, but only the one who returned was truly made whole.

Each of us carries some form of “leprosy”-sin, weakness, fear, pride, envy, greed, or despair. These isolate us from others and from God. Yet through the mercy of Christ, especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are cleansed and restored. When we sin, we experience a kind of death, but through the cross and resurrection of Christ, we rise again to new life.

Like Naaman and the Samaritan leper, let us look back and remember how far God has brought us-from sickness to health, from despair to hope, from sin to grace, and give thanks from the depths of our hearts.

“Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Happy Sunday!
God bless you. 🙏

Pal Ronnie 

Mass Readings and Reflection for October 12th 2025

 

First Reading –(Joel 4:12–21)

Responsorial Psalm – (Psalm 97:1-12)

Response: Rejoice in the Lord, you just.

Alleluia: Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.

Gospel – (Luke 11:27–28)

Reflection

Today's reading is perhaps one of the shortest in the lectionary-just two verses long-yet it holds a profound truth. A woman, moved by admiration for Jesus, calls out a blessing upon His mother, recognizing her as the one who bore and nourished the Savior. But Jesus replies, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

He was not dismissing His mother’s greatness; rather, He was revealing the true source of her blessedness, her faithful obedience to God’s word. Mary’s greatness comes not only from her motherhood, but from her discipleship. Her entire life was lived in the attitude of, “Let it be done to me according to your word.”

This, then, is the path of true blessedness for us as well: to listen deeply to the Word of God, to allow it to take root in our hearts, and to live it out daily in our words and actions. When we obey God’s word in love, we share in Mary’s blessedness and reflect Christ’s light in the world.

God bless this 

Pal Ronnie 

Mass Reading and Reflection for Friday October 10th 2025

 

First Reading

Joel 1:13–15; 2:1–2

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 9)

Response: The Lord will rule the world with justice.

Alleluia, Alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times and pray,
that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
Alleluia.

Gospel: (Luke 11:15–26)

Reflection 

This Friday morning's readings, the Word of God calls us to spiritual vigilance and repentance.
The prophet Joel warns of the Day of the Lord -a day of darkness and judgment, urging the people to awaken from complacency and return to God with contrite hearts. It is a divine alarm, not meant to terrify but to transform.

In the Gospel, Jesus confronts those who accuse Him of working by demonic power. He reveals a profound truth: evil cannot stand against itself. A divided house collapses. But where the finger of God moves, the Kingdom of Heaven has already arrived.

This passage reminds us that spiritual warfare is real. Evil seeks to return to any heart that has been cleansed but left empty, a soul swept clean yet unfilled by grace. When we drive sin out of our lives but fail to fill the void with prayer, virtue, and love of God, darkness easily returns, stronger than before.

The strong man in today’s parable represents satan guarding his domain. Yet Christ is the stronger one, the conqueror, who disarms the enemy and claims victory over sin and death. To belong to Christ is to stand firm with Him. To waver in faith, to remain indifferent, is to risk being scattered.

Let us, then, stay rooted in the Lord.
Let us fill our hearts daily with His Word, His Spirit, and His presence in the Eucharist.
As we await the Day of the Lord, may we live not in fear but in faith, ready, steadfast, and filled with grace, so that when that day comes, it will not be a day of terror, but a day of triumph.

Amen. Stay awake. Stay faithful to the Lord.

God bless you

-Pal Ronnie-

We Can't Manipulate God: Mass Readings and Reflections for October 9th 2025

First Reading: (Malachi 3:13–20b)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 1:1–2, 3, 4, 6)

Response: Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Alleluia: (Romans 8:15) Alleluia, alleluia.

You have received a Spirit of adoption as sons, through which we cry: “Abba! Father!”
Alleluia.

Gospel: (Luke 11:5–13)

The Reflection

Today’s readings were an invitation to us to rediscover the power of persistence and faithfulness in God.

In Malachi, the people complain that serving God yields no reward, yet the Lord reminds them that those who revere His name will one day shine like the “sun of justice.” God listens, remembers, and acts in His time, not ours. 

In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us to ask, seek, and knock. Prayer is not about manipulating God, but about trusting Him enough to keep asking, even when He seems silent. Like a good Father, He gives not what harms us but what heals, above all, His Holy Spirit.

Today’s feast of Saint Denis and companions, who gave their lives for the faith, reminds us that true discipleship demands courage. St. Denis continued proclaiming Christ even in death, a striking image of faith that persists through persecution.

Let us, too, persevere in faith and prayer, asking for the Holy Spirit to strengthen us, that we might live boldly and faithfully, even when the world misunderstands or mocks our devotion.

God bless and have a wonderful day. St. Dennis, Pray for Us.

-Pal Ronnie-