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-

Daily Mass Reading and Reflection for October 8th 2025

First Reading: (Jonah 4:1–11)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 86)

Response: You, O Lord, are merciful and gracious.

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

Gospel: (Luke 11:1–4) 

Reflection

Today’s first readings is one of the most thoughtful pieces in the Bible and it remind us of the struggle between control and surrender. Jonah could not accept God’s mercy toward Nineveh. He wanted justice according to his own standards, not God’s compassion. When the plant withered, Jonah’s anger revealed a deeper issue, pride. In our world today, everyone can tell there is what seems to be injustice across the board. 

But how often do we, like Jonah, become consumed by what we think is right, or by situations we cannot control? The lesson is clear: learn when to hold on, and when to let go. Maturity and faith teach us that some things are not ours to fix. Life, at times, demands surrender, not as weakness, but as trust in God’s greater wisdom.

The Gospel complements this message beautifully. When the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray, He gives them the Our Father, a prayer of humility and dependence. Each line teaches us to let go of self-reliance and cling instead to divine grace:
“Your will be done.”
“Give us this day.”
“Forgive us.”

Letting go can be painful, pride resists it, ego fears it, but it is the path to peace. Prayer is the bridge that allows us to hand over our burdens to God. Whatever anger, resentment, or anxiety we hold, today is a call to release it and trust that God’s mercy knows better than our limited understanding and judgment.

May we pray for perspective, balance, and freedom. May we let go of what weighs us down and embrace the peace that comes from surrendering to God’s will.

God bless you and have a wonderful day.

Pal Ronnie

Reflection for the Memorial of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (October 7)

First Reading: (Acts 1:12–14)

Responsorial Psalm: (Luke 1:46–55)
Response: The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.

Alleluia:
Alleluia, alleluia.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women.
Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: (Luke 1:26–38)

Today is a very special day for me. It was on this date, years ago, that I came to America. God bless this nation. It pains me to see how it is being managed today, but I trust that God has His plan for all of us, just as He had one for me when He pulled me out of my nation of birth, comfort, and culture, and brought me here.

The whole month of October is dedicated by the Church as the Month of the Holy Rosary. Though we are encouraged to pray it daily, the Church calls us to do so with even deeper devotion during this month. The Rosary is a mighty spiritual weapon and a source of grace.

The roots of this devotion go back to the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. When the Ottoman Turks threatened to destroy Christian Europe, Pope Pius V asked all Christians to pray the Rosary for victory. Against all odds, the Christian fleet triumphed, a victory attributed to the intercession of Mary through the Rosary.

To commemorate this, Pope Pius V established the feast of Our Lady of Victory, later renamed Our Lady of the Rosary. Later popes reaffirmed and adjusted the feast, and by 1913, Pope Pius X fixed it on October 7, the anniversary of the battle. In 1960, Pope John XXIII updated the title to The Blessed Virgin Mary of the Rosary.

In 1917, during the apparitions at Fatima, Our Lady revealed herself to the three shepherd children, Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta, as Our Lady of the Rosary. She called the world to repentance and urged us to pray the Rosary for peace and the end of war.

The Rosary to many is synonymous with the Catholic Church and many ask where the Rosary is found in Scripture. In truth, every mystery and every prayer of the Rosary is rooted in the Bible.

“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28), the words of the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation.
“Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke 1:42), the words of Elizabeth at the Visitation.

The Rosary is not mere repetition. It is a meditation on the life of Christ through the eyes of His Mother: the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries. When we pray, we are invited to enter into these mysteries, to see ourselves with Jesus in Gethsemane, to feel the scourging, the crown of thorns, the carrying of the Cross, and finally to rejoice in His Resurrection and Glory.

At the foot of the Cross, Jesus gave us His Mother:
“Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother” (John 19:25–29).
From that moment, Mary became the Mother of all believers.

At Cana, she interceded with her Son: “They have no wine” (John 2:1–11). And though it was not yet His time, Jesus performed His first miracle because His Mother asked.

The Church teaches that Jesus is the only Mediator, but Mary’s intercession is an added grace, a maternal advantage. As the Memorare reminds us:
“Never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided.”

So, should we pray through Mary? We don’t have to, but why refuse the help of a loving Mother who prays with and for us?

That is why throughout this month of October, we must pray our Rosary as never before. Pray it with faith, with love, and with intention. The Rosary has brought peace to nations, conversion to sinners, and healing to countless souls.

If you doubt its power, try it. Pray it for your family, your nation, and your own journey of faith, and then, come back with your testimony. You will be amazed. 

Today's Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary is a call to reminder that the Rosary invites us to reflect deeply on the significant mysteries of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Through these meditations, we draw closer to Him and grow in understanding of His saving love.

St. Luke presents Mary as a woman of contemplation, one who ponders deeply the events of her Son’s life. She models for us the spirit of reflection and surrender that should accompany our prayer of the Rosary.

When we pray the Rosary, we meditate on the joyful, sorrowful, luminous, and glorious moments of Christ’s journey on earth. Mary, who treasured these mysteries in her heart, teaches us to look at every event of life with faith and trust in God’s plan.

Her words to the angel, “May it be done to me according to your word,” reveal a heart totally open to God’s will. That same spirit of trust and surrender has the power to transform our own lives, making us instruments of God’s love in the world.

May our prayer of the Rosary today lead us to greater peace, deeper faith, and closer union with Jesus through Mary.

God bless you and have a wonderful day.

Pal Ronnie

Mass Reading and Reflection for Monday October 6th 2025

First Reading: (Jonah 1:1–17; 2:1–10)

Responsorial Psalm:

Taken from Jonah chapter 2.
Response: “You brought up my life from the pit, O Lord.”

Alleluia

Gospel: (Luke 10:25–37)

Happy Monday!

Today’s Gospel presents the familiar parable of the Good Samaritan, a powerful call to love without boundaries, even our enemies.
While the Samaritan exemplifies love in action, we are invited to examine the priest and the Levite, who saw the wounded man but failed to act.

Why did they fail to show love? 

First, customs and traditions. ome customs and traditions prevent us from loving our neighbors. Religious statutes, societal norms, or institutional bylaws can enslave us to rules that dehumanize others. No law or tradition justifies such cruelty.

Even within the Church, members sometimes withhold love because of unpaid dues or missed obligations. When customs overshadow compassion, love loses its meaning.

Second, religious laws and fear. The priest and the Levite were bound by Jewish law: touching blood or corpses could render them ritually unclean (Leviticus 11:34).

Fear of breaking religious norms or facing social judgment can prevent us from showing mercy.
Yet, no law is greater than the law of love, which fulfills all commandments. True faith is expressed not in ritual, but in compassion.

Third, inherited disputes. Hatred and hostility passed down through generations can blind us to goodness.

Jews and Samaritans were historical enemies, yet it was the Samaritan who acted with mercy.
We must not let inherited prejudice or old wounds stop us from doing what is right.
Love must break the chains of generational hate.

Fourth, retaliation or conditional love. We often withhold love because someone has wronged us. But two wrongs never make a right.

The Good Samaritan did not ask whether the injured man would have helped him in return, he simply acted out of compassion.
True love is not transactional; it gives freely, without expectation.

My friends, may we choose to be good, even when others act poorly.

Life is short; act with love, mercy, and compassion. We never know whose hands will be caring for us when we need help the most.

This reflection reminds us that there are no excuses for withholding love from anyone in need.

Have a wonderful week.

-Pal Ronnie-

In Amenia NY

 

Benjamin and I went out to see Msgr. Richard in Amenia, NY. It was a nice reunion for sure. Msgr. went back to Ghana the following Saturday, which was two days from this date. Bro. Ben is a trained medical doctor, very intelligent young man. Proud of you, bro.

Funeral Mass By the Priests in Sunyani

Fr. Benedict is in front of Fr. Ebo 

 

Trust but Verify: My Journey Away from Cable News

It was pre-COVID, let’s say 2018, when I finally weaned myself off cable news completely. I had always loved the news, but I preferred reading it in newspapers. Newspapers challenged my mind, gave me room to think, and allowed me to process information at my own pace.

During COVID, I lost whatever respect I still had left for cable news. At the height of the pandemic, channels like CNN ran death tickers across their screens. For our Zoomer generation, already raised in a culture of constant news consumption, this was toxic. It was especially cruel for those in nursing homes and hospitals-the sick and dying were fed a relentless stream of bad news about rising infections and death counts.

I hated it so much because I was watching it firsthand while working in some of those hospitals between two states. When newspapers weren’t available, I turned to YouTube for headlines and clips. Today, I consume so much content on YouTube that it’s almost frightening.

But I approach everything with skepticism. Being able to choose what I want to read or listen to is liberating. And I know I’m not alone. Many of us have become aware of how news channels are bought and paid for by powerful elites to push propaganda. I’ve reached a point where I can predict what a cable news anchor will say before they say it. That predictability, that manufactured narrative, totally killed my desire to watch them. If they surprise me at all, it’s usually with something I didn’t know but that still turns out to be propaganda.

Fast forward to 2025. It’s clear that these powers know their viewership is collapsing. People like me are sourcing our news from YouTube instead. To keep influencing the public, they’re now buying up or funding large channels, even smaller ones, to push their narratives.

Just last week, it was reported that Israel is paying influencers up to $7,000 a post to push its narrative on Gaza. The same thing happened four years ago during the pandemic: people knew the truth about the virus and the “not-so-safe” vaccines, yet they still took money to push certain messages on their platforms.

The main point of this piece is simple: don’t consume anything online at face value, no matter how truthful it appears. Trust but verify. In this system, it looks like everything, and everyone is for sale. Please, have a soul. Don’t sell out your trusted audience for a few pieces of silver. It’s toxic to the soul.

God bless,
from the table of your pal,
Ronnie

United Nations General Assembly 2025: Global South and Others Denounces U.S. and Israel

 

Earlier this year, I wrote a brief piece on my blog about the United Nations. The idea of the UN, conceived after World War II, is in itself so powerful, a place where all the nations of the world can come together and share their views on the issues humanity faces every day. But then I realized, as time went on, that like all other institutions in the world where money rules, the UN is corrupt and has been hijacked and hence rendered impotent.

Last month, like every other September, all these nations gathered again in New York to talk. That’s all it seems to be, talk. Only talk. Nothing ever truly changes. Yet one thing remains certain about the UN: it still gives every nation a platform to air its grievances about the state of the world. But even on that stage, one nation dominates above all, the United States.

The 2025 session of the United Nations General Assembly convened in New York amid unprecedented global condemnation of the U.S.–backed Israeli military campaign in Gaza. Delegates from across the Global South used the world stage to denounce what they described as genocide, double standards, and the failure of the United Nations to uphold its founding principles of peace and human rights. Impotence of the U.N. as highlighted. 

Widespread Condemnation of the Gaza Assault

Leaders from Cuba, Brazil, Colombia, Nicaragua, and Venezuela delivered some of the most forceful statements. Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez condemned Washington’s repeated vetoes blocking ceasefire resolutions, calling U.S.–Israeli actions “genocidal extermination and ethnic cleansing.”

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared that “nothing justifies the genocide in Gaza,” adding that the supposed moral superiority of Western powers “lies buried under the rubble.”

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro labeled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “genocidal war criminal,” invoking Bolívar’s cry of “freedom or death” and calling for an international coalition to protect Palestinians.

Nicaragua and Venezuela likened the United States and Israel to colonial and fascist regimes of the past, warning that “new Hitlers have emerged in the West.”

The United States as a Rogue Power

Many speakers accused the United States of acting as a rogue state, violating international law while imposing sanctions, coups, and economic coercion on other nations. They cited U.S. wars in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan, as well as its ongoing support for Israel, as evidence of a decaying empire enforcing global subjugation under the guise of democracy. Petro charged that Washington and NATO are “killing democracy and spreading totalitarianism.”

The session highlighted a growing consensus for reforming the UN, especially the Security Council’s veto system, which allows a small group of powers to override the will of the majority. Cuba’s Rodríguez noted that when the UN was founded in 1945, only 51 largely colonial powers were members, while today there are 193 nations still governed by the same unequal structure.

Speakers across the Global South called for a new, multipolar world order rooted in equality, peace, and mutual respect, rejecting what they termed “U.S. imperialism and Western hegemony.” 

Again, despite all its flaws, the UN remains one of the few forums where oppressed nations can speak. It definitely has potential but corruption built in from its inception has rendered it ineffective in addressing some of its stated missions. This year, 2025, they made it clear, the world rejects U.S. imperialism and demands a just, multipolar international system.

That is my take post this year's UNGA.

Pal Ronnie 

How Long? Mass Reading and Reflection for Sunday, October 5, 2025

First Reading: Habakkuk 1:2–3; 2:2–4

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 95:1–2, 6–9
Response: If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:6–8, 13–14
Alleluia: 1 Peter 1:25 — The word of the Lord remains forever. This is the word that has been proclaimed to you.
Gospel: Luke 17:5–10

Reflection

In an age when news of tragedy and violence reaches us instantly, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and lose hope. Habakkuk’s cry, “How long, O Lord?” (Habakkuk 1:2), echoes the questions of many hearts today. Yet God responds with a message of patience and faith: “The just one, because of his faith, shall live” (Habakkuk 2:4).

Who among us hasn’t prayed those words in our own way? We look at the suffering of the world, or at the pain in our own lives, and we ask, “Where are You, God? Why don’t You act?”

This cry comes from our limited human perspective, from the small window of understanding we possess. We see so little of the vast story God is writing. It’s as if we’ve found one torn-out page of a thousand-page novel and, after reading it, declared that the book makes no sense.

Faith is trusting that the Author knows the full story, even when our page is filled with confusion, pain, or silence.

Saint Paul, in his letter to Timothy, reminds us that “God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). Faith, then, is not a passive feeling but a living force, one that strengthens us to serve, love, and persevere, even when the world feels heavy.

Jesus teaches that even faith the size of a mustard seed (Luke 17:6) has the power to transform. It may seem small, but true faith works quietly, humbly, and powerfully. Like the saints, Vincent de Paul, Teresa of Kolkata, and Dorothy Day, we are called to unite prayer and service. Their faith inspired not only their words but their deeds.

Let us, too, pray with confidence and act with compassion. Let our small acts of faith become seeds that grow into love, hope, and renewal in our world.

These readings remind us of who we are: servants of God.

As servants, our purpose is to be faithful and dutiful, to serve without expectation of reward.

In our world today, service has often become transactional. People ask, “What will you give me?” before offering help. Even in our homes and churches, the spirit of service is sometimes overshadowed by the desire for payment or recognition.

But true service, the kind God calls us to, is done with humility and joy, even when no one sees or thanks us. Our service to God should not depend on what we get in return. Whether we are praised or not, blessed or not, rewarded or not, we must serve faithfully, for that is our duty as children of God.

St. Peter tells us to serve “not for sordid gain, but eagerly.”
Our motivation must be love, love for God and love for one another. A true servant’s heart finds peace in doing what is right, even when unseen.

And alongside our duty to serve, we are called to live by faith.
The apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith, thinking they needed more of it. But Jesus teaches that the smallest faith, faith as tiny as a mustard seed, is enough to move mountains. Faith is not about quantity but quality; not about how much we have, but how deep and genuine it is.

There is a story of a mother whose child was born with a severe heart defect.
With no money and no medical knowledge, she clung to her rosary and her faith. Doctors predicted her child would not live past his second birthday. Yet she said, “I do not know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow.”

Her faith carried her through years of fear, and her son lived far beyond the doctors’ expectations.

Faith gives us strength when logic fails, courage when fear overwhelms us, and hope when all seems lost.
Like the prophet Habakkuk, we too may cry, “How long, O Lord?” when we see injustice, pain, or unanswered prayers. Yet God calls us to live by faith, trusting that His time and His ways are perfect.

So today, we reflect on our lives:

• What mountain stands before us?

• What burden seems too heavy to carry?

• What situation feels impossible to move?

Bring it to God in faith.
You do not need to know how or when He will act, only that He will.
Surrender it to Him, trust Him, and rekindle that gift of faith within you.

For it is not about the size of your faith, but the power of the One in whom you place it.
Serve Him faithfully, live by faith, and let your mustard seed move mountains.

Amen.

Have a wonderful day.

-Pal Ronnie-

Daily Mass Reflection – Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi

First Reading (Baruch 4:5–12, 27–29)

Response Psalms (Psalm 69:33–37)-The Lord listens to the poor. 

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

Gospel: (Luke 10:17–24)

The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus,
“Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.”
Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy, and nothing will harm you.

Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

At that very moment, He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,
“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal Him.”

Turning to the disciples in private, He said,
“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

Mass Reflection:

It is natural for us to feel proud of our achievements, especially when our efforts bring success. Today, the disciples return to Jesus filled with excitement, rejoicing that even demons obeyed them in His name. Yet Jesus gently redirects their joy: not to the power they wielded, but to the grace they have received “rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Please let that sink in. Powerful!

The true source of our joy, then, is not in our accomplishments, no matter how spiritual or impressive they may seem, but in our belonging to God. Our relationship with Him gives meaning to all we do and transforms every task, victory, or trial into a pathway toward eternal life.

“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see,” Jesus says. The disciples are blessed not simply because they witnessed miracles, but because they recognized the presence of God in Jesus. They believed, and through that belief entered into His divine relationship with the Father.

This connection, this communion with God, is our deepest treasure. It is the source of true peace, joy, and purpose. Many kings and prophets longed to see and hear what we now experience through faith: the love of God revealed in Christ and continued in the Church.

Let us, like St. Francis of Assisi whose feast we celebrate today, seek that same simplicity of heart. In humility and joy, may we recognize God’s presence in the poor, in creation, and in our daily lives. And may our greatest joy always be that our names are written in heaven.

God bless you and have a wonderful day.

-Pal Ronnie-

Mass Readings and Reflection for October 3rd 2025

First Reading: (Baruch 1:15–22)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 79) "For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us".

Alleluia: 

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

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: (Luke 10:13–16)

Jesus said:
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. It will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld. Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the One who sent me.”

Reflection

The readings today remind us of two realities: our tendency to stray from God, and His call to repentance. In Baruch, the people confess that their suffering stems from turning away from the Lord and following their own hearts. In the Gospel, Jesus warns cities that saw His miracles but refused to change.

Holiness is not found only in grand gestures, but often in small acts of love and kindness. Simple deeds, a word of encouragement, a gentle touch, an act of service, become signs of God’s compassion in the world. Jesus Himself was deeply moved by these gestures: the woman who washed His feet, Veronica wiping His face, or anyone who showed mercy in His hour of need.

In our own lives, we are called to be bearers of this same kindness. The world has enough anger and division; what it needs is more love, more small acts of compassion that reflect the heart of Christ. As we continue our journey of faith, let us open our hearts to daily opportunities for kindness, so that through us, others may glimpse the love of God.

May our kindness expand exponentially to all we meet and much more. 

Amen

God bless you and have a wonderful weekend. 

Pal Ronnie

Planet Morning Time

 

Daily Mass – Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

First Reading (Exodus 23:20–23)

Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 91)
Response: For you has He commanded His angels, to keep you in all your ways.

Gospel (Matthew 18:1–5, 10)

Meditation and Reflection

The first reading reminds us that God has commanded His angels to guard us on our way and to lead us safely to the destination He has prepared for us. They surround us before us, behind us, beside us, and above us even while we sleep. How many dangers have we been spared without ever realizing it? Only God knows. 

But protection requires cooperation. God tells us: “Give heed to him and listen to his voice. Do not rebel against him.” The whisper of caution, the sudden sense not to go somewhere, the inner nudge that saved you from danger that was not “just something.” That was your guardian angel guiding you.

Therefore, build a relationship with your guardian angel. Speak with him. Pray with him. Ask for his intercession. Each day, when you rise, say:

“Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day (or night) be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.”

The guardian angel is a constant reminder that you are precious to God. No president, celebrity, or diplomat is as protected as you are, for the Lord Himself has entrusted you to the vigilant care of His heavenly messengers.

The Letter to the Hebrews says, “Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.” This profound message reminds us that those we encounter may be more than they appear, possibly even angels in disguise.

Jesus conveys a similar idea in today’s gospel when he says, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.” In Jesus’ time, children had no social standing or status. Yet he tells his disciples that when they welcome the least among them, like little children, they are actually welcoming him.

He comes to us through those whom society deems lowly and insignificant, calling for humility that transcends social standards and expectations. This lesson is crucial for the disciples who have just been arguing about which of them is the greatest.

Not only do we welcome Jesus when we embrace a child, but unless we adopt a childlike attitude distinct from being childish, we will never enter the kingdom of God. This should inspire us to cultivate a childlike mindset characterized by innocence, trust, and dependence on God.

With faith that God hears our prayers and knows our true needs, we bring these petitions before Him: that we may rely on our guardian angels for guidance and strength as we deal with the decisions of our daily lives. Amen.

God bless you and have a wonderful day 🙏 

Pal Ronnie 

Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

First Reading: (Nehemiah 2:1–8)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 137)- “Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you.”

Gospel: Luke 9:57–62

Today is the first day of the month of October and the feast day of St, Therese. In today’s reading of the Good News, we encounter three people and three very different responses to the call of Jesus. One offers to follow him, but Jesus responds with the hard truth that “the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Another is personally called by Jesus, but he asks first to go and bury his father. A third promises to follow, but only after saying farewell to his household. All with conditions. Is that not like you and me? 

At first glance, Jesus’ responses seem harsh, even discouraging. Why not welcome the eager volunteer? Why not allow a son to honor his father’s burial? But what the Lord reveals is deeper: vocation begins with God’s initiative. “You did not choose me,” Jesus says elsewhere, “but I chose you.” We cannot take up a calling on our own terms; we must respond to the timing and purpose of God.

Second, when he calls, our response must be immediate and undivided. Excuses, even reasonable ones, can become obstacles to God’s work in our lives. Following Christ requires both readiness and total availability. This is why Jesus warns, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

How often do we place conditions on our discipleship? How often do we delay, saying: “Not now, Lord, later, when I have more time, more strength, more freedom”? But God calls us knowing our limits, and he supplies the grace. What he seeks is not perfection, but willingness, a heart that says yes.

Today we also celebrate Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who embodies this spirit of humble availability. At only 15, she entered the Carmelite convent of Lisieux, embracing a hidden life of prayer and sacrifice. She discovered what she called her “Little Way”, a path of childlike trust in God’s love, doing ordinary things with extraordinary love. Despite her frailty and suffering, especially during her illness with tuberculosis, she offered her life completely to God for the salvation of souls. She died at only 24, yet her influence has reached all corners of the world. Declared Patroness of the Missions and a Doctor of the Church, her life teaches us that holiness is found not in grand achievements, but in fidelity and trust.

So, today as we begin this new month of October, let us reflect: Am I making myself truly available to God’s call, Do I allow excuses to delay my response to doing the right thing for the Kingdom? Can I embrace, like Saint Thérèse, the “Little Way” of trusting surrender and everyday holiness?

May her intercession help us to say a wholehearted yes to Christ, here and now.

Happy feast of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus!

May God's love and favor continue to be with us all now and forever.

Amen

Pal Ronnie