Top 10 RISKIEST Foods (Based on Evidence)

“Risky foods” (from a health perspective) are foods that increase the chance of foodborne illness, toxicity, or long-term disease risk-especially if they’re improperly handled, contaminated, or consumed frequently.

These are top 10 ranked based on strength of evidence and  frequency of exposure risk

1. Mold-Contaminated Foods (Aflatoxins)

• Peanuts, corn, spices

Recognized by:

• International Agency for Research on Cancer

 Strongly linked to liver cancer

2. Alcohol (All Types)

• Wine, beer, liquor

 Dose-dependent cancer risk (Group 1 carcinogen)

3. Processed Meats

• Bacon, sausages, hot dogs

 Strong link to colorectal cancer

4. Charred / Burnt Meats

• Over-grilled steak, BBQ

 Forms carcinogens (HCAs, PAHs)

5. Deep-Fried & Burnt Starches

• French fries, chips, burnt toast

Acrylamide formation

6. High-Salt Foods

• Pickled vegetables, salted fish

 Increased stomach cancer risk

7. Salted / Preserved Fish

• Especially traditional salted fish

 Linked to nasopharyngeal cancer

8. Very Hot Drinks

• Coffee or tea >65°C

 Damages throat lining → cancer risk

9. Ultra-Processed Foods

• Packaged snacks, sugary cereals

 Associated with:

• Obesity

• Chronic disease (indirect cancer risk)

 10. Excess Sugar / Sugary Drinks

• Soda, candy

 Not directly carcinogenic—but:

• Drives obesity → increases cancer risk

How to Think About This (Most Important Part)

Risk is not binary—it’s about:

• Dose (how much)

• Frequency (how often)

• Preparation (how it's cooked)

• Context (your overall diet & health)

Simple Rule:

🟢 Eat more of:

• Whole, fresh, minimally processed foods

🔴 Limit:

• Burnt, processed, heavily salted, or contaminated foods

The Sin and Corruption We Are All Going to Pay For

Our great country, the U.S.A., has been torn apart by debt-slavery, gambling, pornography, and never-ending wars.

These are sins that God hates. This should be preached frequently in church. How often do you hear this in your place of worship?

Please be honest 🙏 🙂 

Is This Market Manipulation?

Mad Monday March 23rd, 2026 and the markets were absolutely wild this morning.

Early signs pointed to serious instability, not just in oil, but in the bond market. The 10-year Treasury yield surged to 4.45%, signaling deeper financial stress. Analysts warned that the bond market was becoming a bigger threat than energy prices.

Then, everything shifted.

Within hours, President Donald Trump intervened, postponing planned strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days. The decision followed warnings that continued escalation could trigger major market fallout.

And that’s when the most important move happened:

Oil prices dropped.

Not slightly, sharply.

Brent crude futures plunged as much as 14% at one point, before stabilizing. Even after recovering some ground, prices were still down significantly from their peak.

Let that sink in.

Oil prices didn’t rise with tension, they dropped the moment policy shifted. 

That drop wasn’t random. It came right after signals that escalation might pause. It came before markets fully opened. And it came as investors recalibrated expectations around war risk and supply disruption.

But the story doesn’t end there.

Within minutes, Iran denied that any real negotiations were taking place. That uncertainty caused oil prices to rebound partially, erasing nearly half of their losses.

Still, even after the rebound, crude hovered around $90 per barrel, down from the highs, but far from stable.

Gas prices are pushing toward $4 per gallon nationally, with some states far exceeding that. In California, prices are nearing $6 per gallon.

And when oil spikes, or even stays elevated those costs ripple outward:

• Truckers pay more for diesel

• Businesses pay more to transport goods

• Consumers pay more for everything they need on a daily basis. 

One truck driver reported spending $1,800 in diesel in a single week, a 40% increase from normal costs.

That cost doesn’t disappear. It gets passed down the chain.

At a recent town hall, a young worker asked a simple question:

“How does a war halfway across the world help me?”. 

It’s a question many Americans are asking, especially as prices rise at the pump, in grocery stores, and even at fast-food counters.

Officials continue to frame the situation as:

“Short-term pain for long-term gain.” lies. 

But markets operate in real time, and so do people’s lives.

Analysts suggest there may be a two-week window to stabilize the situation. If tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue, oil prices could spike again. This price gyrations are hurting and not helping anybody around the world. 

So, is this market manipulation? Yes, if you ask me. Somebody is always benefiting whether the prices are going up or down. 

But to many, there are no clear evidence of deliberate manipulation.

But the timing is hard to ignore:

• Policy shifts

• Market reactions

• Oil price swings

All happening within hours.

But don't forget, whether you support this government or not, we are all going to feel their policy impacts. 

Stay sharp!

Pal Ronnie

Top 10 SAFEST Foods (Protective / Lowest Risk)

These foods are consistently linked with lower cancer risk and overall health benefits.

1. Cruciferous Vegetables

• Broccoli, kale, cauliflower

• Contain compounds that support detox pathways

2. Berries

• Blueberries, strawberries

• High in antioxidants → reduce cellular damage

3. Colorful Vegetables

• Carrots, peppers, spinach

• Rich in vitamins + protective phytochemicals

4. Legumes

• Beans, lentils, chickpeas

• High fiber → supports gut health

5. Whole Grains

• Oats, quinoa, brown rice

• Linked to lower colorectal cancer risk

6. Fatty Fish

• Salmon, sardines

• Omega-3s → anti-inflammatory effects

7. Nuts (Properly Stored)

• Almonds, walnuts

• Healthy fats + antioxidants
  ⚠️ Avoid moldy peanuts (aflatoxin risk)

8. Fresh Fruits

• Apples, citrus

• Fiber + vitamin C

9. Olive Oil (Extra Virgin)

• Anti-inflammatory

• Core of Mediterranean diet

10. Coffee & Tea (Warm—not hot)

• Linked to reduced risk of:

  • Liver cancer

  • Endometrial cancer

Avoid very high temperatures (>65°C)

Mass Readings & Reflection – Monday March 23rd 2026

First Reading: (Daniel 13:1–9, 15–17, 19–30, 33–62)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 23)

Response: Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me.

Gospel: (John 8:1–11)

Reflection:

Casting the first stone. What does this mean? It means that the evil we do has a way of returning to us. What we throw into the world often comes back, sometimes with greater force.

From experience, those who are quickest to accuse others, those who take pleasure in exposing the faults of others, are often the worst offenders themselves. Yes, it may sound harsh, but it is true.

If you find yourself enjoying conversations about the sins of others, pause and reflect. You may be worse than those you are discussing. Why? Because there is a hidden pride in it.

We speak about others to hide behind their sins. We say, “Look at what they have done,” so that no one looks at us. We create distractions so that our own weaknesses remain unseen.

But the truth is this: if we were truly aware of our own faults, if we truly examined our conscience, we would not take pleasure in discussing others.

The stone is always light when we are throwing it at others. But when we are asked to throw that same stone at ourselves, suddenly it becomes heavy, and we drop it.

“Let the one who has not sinned cast the first stone.”

These are not just words, they are a mirror.

The woman in the Gospel was guilty. She did not deny it. She stood there in silence.

But what about her accusers?

Was she alone in that sin? Where was the man? Why was only she brought forward?

Those ready to stone her were not innocent. Perhaps some of them had committed worse sins. Yet they stood there, ready to judge her.

When Jesus spoke, something happened.

The stones became heavy.

Not physically, but spiritually.

Each one realized: “If I throw this stone, I condemn myself.”

And so they walked away.

My friends, how easy it is to point fingers. How easy it is to discuss others’ failures.

But Jesus calls us to something higher:

• Not condemnation, but reflection

• Not exposure, but mercy

• Not gossip, but prayer

When people bring you stories about others, close your ears. Ask yourself:

• Am I better?

• Would I want my own sins exposed like this?

Imagine if Jesus had listed the sins of the Pharisees publicly. Imagine the shame.

But He did not.

Why? Because mercy triumphs over judgment.

A wise saying reminds us: “Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.”

Holiness is not proven by exposing others, it is proven by humility and prayer.

If you want to measure your holiness, here is the test:

• Can you see the faults of others and remain silent?

• Can you pray for them instead of speaking about them?

If yes, you are growing in holiness.

If not, there is work to do.

Some people enjoy gossip. They seek it out, share it, and feel justified. But they forget: their own story is not fully known.

Others remain silent, not because they are ignorant, but because they understand grace.

Imagine if everyone’s sins were exposed. None of us would stand.

It is only by the grace of God that we are here.

So today, let us make a decision:

• To drop our stones

• To guard our tongues

• To pray for others

Because the moment we forget our own weakness is the moment we begin to fall.

Let's drop our stones, lest we end up throwing them at ourselves.

Amen.

Have a great week. 

God bless Fr. Blessed for this Word. 

Interconnected power network in America

• Intelligence agencies → covert action.
• Wall Street → economic influence.
• Corporations → lobbying power.
• Media → narrative framing
• Government → decision-making.

The Most Fake Poll Ever

 This is how all polls are, by the way--fake.

Sunday March 22nd 2026

First Reading: (Ezekiel 37:12–14) 

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 130)

Second Reading:  (Romans 8:8–11)

Gospel: (John 11:1-45) 

Reflection:

On this Fifth Sunday of Lent, the final Sunday before we enter into Holy Week, the Church places before us one powerful theme: from death to life, from the grave to the glory of God.

All the readings today speak one message: God brings life where there is death.

In the First Reading, God speaks through the prophet Ezekiel: “I will open your graves and raise you.” This was not only about physical death. It was about a people in exile, broken, humiliated, and without hope. Their suffering felt like a grave. Their despair felt like death. Yet God promised: “I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live.”

The Psalm echoes this cry: “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.” These depths are not just physical, they are the depths of sorrow, fear, anxiety, and pain. And yet, even from the deepest darkness, God hears.

In the Second Reading, St. Paul teaches us something deeper: there is a kind of death that happens even while we are physically alive. When we live according to the flesh, when we are trapped in sin, we are spiritually dead. But when the Spirit of God lives in us, we are made alive again. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is at work within us.

Then we come to the Gospel, the raising of Lazarus.

Lazarus is not just dead. He is four days dead. The situation is beyond hope. Martha herself says, “Lord, by now there will be a stench.” In other words, it is too late. It is finished.

But Jesus declares:
“I am the resurrection and the life.”

Not I will be. Not I can be.
But I am.

And then He calls into the tomb: “Lazarus, come out.”
And death obeys Him.

What Does This Mean for Us?

My dear friends, this Gospel is not only about Lazarus.
It is about you and me.

Because we all experience different kinds of “death”:

• Physical death, the loss of loved ones

• Emotional death, heartbreak, trauma, depression

• Spiritual death, sin that separates us from God

• Moral death, when we lose our sense of right and wrong

• Situational death, poverty, sickness, failure, despair

Sometimes we feel like Lazarus, buried, stuck, and forgotten.

But today, Jesus stands before your “grave” and says:
“Come out.”

The Condition: Faith

Before the miracle, Jesus asks Martha one question:
“Do you believe this?”

And she responds:
“Yes, Lord, I believe.”

That faith opened the door to the miracle.

God can raise anything in our lives, but we must believe.

Even when:

• It looks finished

• It smells like failure

• It feels too late

God is not limited by time, decay, or human logic.

A Glimpse of Easter

This miracle points forward to something greater:

Just as Lazarus came out of the tomb,
Jesus Himself will rise from the dead.

And through His Resurrection:

• Death will be defeated

• Sin will be conquered

• Life will be restored

As He says in John 10:10:

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

So I ask you today:

• What grave are we in?

• What part of our lives feels dead?

• Where have we lost hope?

Bring it to Jesus.

Because our stories are not over.
Our lives are not finished.
Our grave are not our end.

God is still able to call us out.

Amen

Happy Sunday, and

God bless you 🙏 

Pathological Liar or Pseudologia Fantastica?

 

Mass Readings & Homily Saturday, 4th Week of Lent March 21, 2026

First Reading: (Jeremiah 11:18–20)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 7)

Response: “O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.”

Gospel: (John 7:40–53)

Reflection:

There are some people for whom, however clear the truth may be, despite evidence beyond reasonable doubt, they will still refuse to see it. They will refuse to believe in it and they will refuse to be convinced about it. Not because they do not see it, but because they have chosen not to see it and not to be convinced about it.

The guards who were sent to arrest Jesus went to do the work as they were ordered. They were following strict instructions. But when they got there, when they saw Him and had the opportunity to listen to Him from their firsthand experience of seeing Him and hearing from Him, they saw and heard the truth and were convinced. And they saw how useless the order to arrest Him was. They returned without arresting Him.

Even if they were following strict orders, they saw for themselves how wrong the order was, to arrest a man who had committed no crime, to arrest a man who spoke the truth. 

Now you may ask, were they wrong not to have followed the instructions given to them? Should they have followed the order?

Following orders should not blind us or stop us from reasoning. We must apply reason. How many people were arrested and are in prison today because their case officers were just following orders? Think about it. 

The chief priests and Pharisees were disappointed with the guards on the sole motive that no authority had believed in Jesus, and so the guards had disobeyed the order. But if the authorities are evil and fail to see the truth despite how glaringly evident it is, must others also choose not to see it simply because authority refuses to?

They were old enough to judge for themselves. 

Let us ask ourselves: do we follow orders from such authorities simply because they have said so?

The guards dared to oppose authority because they had come to believe in the truth. They saw it, they were convinced, and they recognized that the order given to them was an evil order. They knew their jobs were at risk, too.

Sometimes authority may pressure us to do evil to serve personal interests, and we comply simply because we are told to. But where is the voice of reason? Where is the voice of good conscience? Where is the voice of good and righteous judgment?

It is different when authority asks us to do what is good. But when the instructions are evil, we must not follow it simply because it comes from authority. We are called to judge for ourselves, using reason, conscience, and truth.

The soldiers placed reason, good conscience, and right judgment above blind obedience. They chose to do what was right.

We are not told what happened to them afterward, but it is possible they suffered consequences, perhaps punishment or loss of status. Yet they chose to suffer for what is right rather than be rewarded for doing what is evil.

They stand in contrast to those who accepted bribes to spread lies about the resurrection. Those men followed evil orders for gain. But the guards in today’s Gospel chose truth over comfort.

My friends, even when we are under authority, even when we are given strict instructions, we must ensure those instructions are not evil.

Put reason first.
Listen to your conscience.
Judge rightly.

When you see the truth, have the courage to follow it, not because you were told to, but because it is right.

Amen!

God bless you all

Happy Saturday 

Credits to this YouTube Commentator

 

How the World Works for the Kids

 

Mass Readings and Reflection for March 20th 2026

First Reading: (Wisdom 2:1a, 12–22)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 34:17–18, 19–20, 21, 23)

Response: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

Gospel Acclamation: (Matthew 4:4)

“One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Gospel: (John 7:1–2, 10, 25–30)

Reflection:

 the Gospel of John that we read from today, sometimes we have to do a mental translation. When the Scriptures in John talk about “the Jews” in a very negative way, we must remember that Jesus was Jewish, Mary was Jewish, and all the Apostles were Jewish.

But by the time the Gospel of John was written, after the destruction of the Temple, there was strong tension between the early Christian community and certain Jewish authorities. That conflict is reflected in the language of the Gospel.

In today’s Gospel, we see the growing tension between Jesus and those authorities. They question Him, misunderstood Him, and ultimately sought to arrest Him. Yet, as the Gospel tells us, they cannot lay a hand on Him, because His hour has not yet come.

Over these past weeks of Lent, we have been hearing from John’s Gospel:

• The woman at the well

• The man born blind

• Soon, the raising of Lazarus

In each of these, we see people coming to a deeper understanding of who Jesus is.

And isn’t that what Lent is about?

From ashes to Easter, we are called not just to external practices, but to interior transformation, to grow in our relationship with Christ, to know Him more deeply, and to live that knowledge in our daily lives.

Those who opposed Jesus did so because they did not fully recognize Him. They missed what was right in front of them.

But we are different.

We know the end of the story.
We know that Jesus is the risen one.
We know that He is the Christ.

That knowledge is a gift, and also a responsibility.

So as we continue this Lenten journey, we are called to live as true disciples:

• Growing closer to Christ

• Deepening our faith

• Reflecting His presence in the world

We are also reminded to approach others with respect and dignity. The Church, especially since the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, calls us to honor all people of faith and to recognize the roots of our own faith in the Jewish people.

Therefore, we pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters, and for all who seek God with sincere hearts.

As we see the tension in today’s readings, let us not focus on division, but on transformation.

Let this season change us, 
not only outwardly,
but inwardly.

May we deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ,
our Lord and Savior,
and carry His presence into the world.

Amen 🙏 

St. Joseph Pray for Us

 

Litany Invocation:

Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us.

Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.

Patron of the Universal Church, pray for us.

Terror of demons, pray for us.

Protector of families, pray for us.

March 19th Mass Readings and Reflection St. Joseph Pray for Us

 

Mass Solemnity of St. Joseph

First Reading: (2 Samuel 7:12–14, 16)

Alleluia: (Psalm 84:5)

Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord; they never cease to praise you.

Second Reading: (Romans 4:13, 16–18, 22)

Gospel: (Matthew 2:13–15, 19–23)

Reflection:

Today’s Gospel reveals something deeply human and deeply holy about Saint Joseph.

Joseph loved, protected, and guided Jesus, but he did not always fully understand Him.

After searching anxiously for days, he and Mary find Jesus in the Temple. And there, the child speaks words that stretch beyond earthly understanding:
“I must be in my Father’s house.”

In that moment, Joseph is confronted with a mystery, 
that the son he raised belongs first to God.

This is the quiet strength of Joseph:

• He protects, but does not possess

• He guides, but does not control

• He loves, but learns to let go

Joseph teaches us that true fatherhood, and true discipleship, is not about holding tightly, but about trusting God’s plan, even when it surpasses our own.

For parents, this is a difficult calling:
to raise, to nurture, and eventually, to release.

For all of us, Joseph is a model of faith in silence,
of obedience without full understanding,
and of humility before the will of God.

Today, we ask for his intercession:

That we may trust like he trusted.
That we may follow like he followed.
And that, like him, we may always choose God’s will over our own.

Happy Feast Day of St. Joseph. 

Amen.

Mass Readings and Reflection for March 18th 2026

First Reading: (Isaiah 49:8–15)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 145) "The Lord is kind and full of compassion".

Gospel: (John 5:17–30)

Reflection:
Rich scripture readings today. God has not and will never abandon us. Through the prophet Isaiah, we hear a question that touches the very core of human love: “Can a mother forget her child?” Even if such a thing were possible, God declares, “I will never forget you.” These words are meant especially for those who feel forgotten, those weighed down by suffering, loss, or unanswered prayers.

Like Israel in exile, many of us have moments where we ask: Where is God? Does He see my pain? Does He hear my cry? In those moments, it is easy to conclude, like Zion, “The Lord has forsaken me.” But today’s reading corrects that fear. God is not absent; He is present, even when silent. His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. What we see as delay, He sees as perfect timing.

The Gospel deepens this truth. Jesus reminds us that the Father is always at work. Even when nothing seems to be happening, God is working, giving life, bringing healing, preparing something greater than we can understand. Just as the Father raises the dead, so too the Son gives life. This means that no situation is beyond God’s power, not even the darkest moments of our lives.

We must also remember that sometimes God allows difficulties not to destroy us, but to reveal His glory. Just as in other parts of the Gospel, suffering can become the place where God’s power is made visible. What seems like an ending may actually be the beginning of something greater in God’s plan.

So what are we called to do? We are called to trust, to pray, and to surrender. This is not easy. In pain, we are tempted to give up, to lose faith. But the example of Christ shows us the way: “Father, not my will, but yours be done.” When we entrust everything into God’s hands, even our suffering becomes a path to grace.

Therefore, be consoled. Even if you have lost someone you love, even if your prayers seem unanswered, even if you feel alone, God has not abandoned you. He sees you. He knows you. He is working in ways you cannot yet understand. And in His time, His glory will be revealed.

Hold on to this truth: God has not forgotten you, and He never will.

Amen 🙏 

Driving Test

 

Joke 😃

 

Man Paralyzed for 38 Year

 

War and Public Opinion Are Important

When a nation goes to war, public support is everything, and controlling the narrative becomes just as critical as controlling the battlefield. 

Right now, our government at home doesn’t seem to have that advantage. You can see the frustration showing, even from the president and his war secretary, as the messaging slips out of their control. A lot of name calling these days. 

Do you think it will get better, or is the narrative already lost? 

Drop a comment.

Joe Kent Resignation today March 17th 2026

Breaking Development: Joe Kent Resigns

Today brings a striking development: Joe Kent has resigned from his national security position, reportedly in opposition to the war with Iran.

For context, Joe Kent is a former Green Beret and intelligence officer who later entered politics, aligning himself with an America First foreign policy approach that has often been skeptical of prolonged foreign wars. His resignation marks one of the first high-profile breaks from within national security circles over this conflict.

If confirmed in full, this move signals something deeper than routine disagreement, it suggests that even inside the system, there are fractures forming over the direction of this war.

Below is his letter of resignation:

March 17th 2026

Director of National Intelligence

National Counterterrorism Center

President Trump,

After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today.

I cannot, in good conscience, support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.

I support the values and foreign policies that you campaigned on in 2016, 2020, and 2024, which you enacted in your first term. Until June of 2025, you understood that the wars in the Middle East were a trap that robbed America of the precious lives of our patriots and depleted the wealth and prosperity of our nation.

In your first administration, you understood better than any modern president how to decisively apply military power without getting us drawn into never-ending wars. You demonstrated this by killing Qasem Soleimani and by defeating ISIS.

Early in this administration, high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media deployed a misinformation campaign that wholly undermined your America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage a war with Iran. This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, and that, should you strike now, there was a clear path to a swift victory. This was a lie and is the same tactic the Israelis used to draw us into the disastrous Iraq War, which cost our nation the lives of thousands of our best men and women. We cannot make this mistake again.

As a veteran who deployed to combat 11 times, and as a Gold Star husband who lost my beloved wife, Shannon, in a war manufactured by Israel, I cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives.

I pray that you will reflect upon what we are doing in Iran and who we are doing it for. The time for bold action is now. You can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or you can allow us to slip further toward decline and chaos. You hold the cards.

It was an honor to serve in your administration and to serve our great nation.

Joseph Kent
Director, National Counterterrorism Center

Mass Readings and Reflection for Tuesday, the 17th of March 2026.

First Reading: (Ezekiel 47:1–9, 12)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 46)

Response:
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Gospel: (John 5:1–6)

Reflection

There is a painful reality in many societies: people often appear only when someone has died. At funerals, you see crowds, relatives, friends, acquaintances, many claiming closeness to the deceased. Yet the question remains:

Where were they when the person was alive and suffering?

• When they were sick

• When they were hungry

• When they could not pay their bills

• When they felt abandoned

Many people live with a silent cry:

“I have no one.”

This is exactly the cry of the man in today’s Gospel:

“Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool.”

For 38 years, he lay there, ignored, overlooked, forgotten.

• Did he have family?

• Did he have friends?

• Where were they?

Even those who came to the pool were focused only on themselves.

He truly had no one… until Jesus came.

A Living Message

Today, many people still carry that same cry:

• The sick in hospitals with no visitors

• Prisoners abandoned and forgotten

• The poor who cannot access opportunities

• The unemployed despite qualifications

• The misunderstood, judged, and rejected

• The lonely who just need someone to listen

They all say:

“I have no one.”

A Call to Action

The Gospel is not just about what Jesus did.
It is about what He wants to do through us.

Can you be that someone?

• Someone who helps

• Someone who listens

• Someone who shows up

• Someone who cares

Let God reach others through you.

• Be the one who visits

• Be the one who feeds

• Be the one who supports

• Be the one who listens

Because sometimes, the greatest miracle is not dramatic healing,
it is simply presence.

A Word of Hope

And if you are the one suffering…
If you feel abandoned…
If your heart says, “I have no one”…

Remember this:

Jesus sees you.
He knows how long you have been waiting.
And He will come.

“Rise… take up your mat… and walk.”

Do not lose courage.
Do not give up.

Is America Asking for Help In Iran?

Three weeks into the war with Iran, President Donald Trump has asked allies and major oil-dependent nations to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that carries roughly 20% of the world’s traded oil.

So far, the global response has been mixed but largely reluctant. Many countries are avoiding direct military involvement.

Global Responses So Far

❌ Countries rejecting military participation

Several U.S. allies have declined to send warships or join a combat mission. These includes:

• Germany – Rejected military involvement, arguing the conflict was not a joint NATO decision.
• Spain – Opposes the war and previously denied U.S. forces use of bases for attacks on Iran.
• Italy – Declined participation in a military coalition. Meanwhile the Prime Minister there is a supposedly a good friend of Trump. 
• France – Has avoided joining a combat operation, preferring defensive shipping protection.
• Australia, Canada, Norway, Japan – Reportedly unwilling to join militarily.

Many governments say they want to avoid escalating the conflict.

Countries considering limited or non-combat support

Some nations have not fully rejected involvement but are pushing for limited roles.

• United Kingdom – Discussing a multilateral plan and possible mine-hunting or defensive support rather than combat operations.
• Denmark – Suggests a cautious European role focused on de-escalation.
• France and European partners – Exploring escort missions to protect commercial shipping rather than join the war.

Countries undecided or silent

Some major powers are evaluating the situation or staying publicly neutral.

• China – Holding talks with Iran but has not committed to a U.S. coalition.
• South Korea – Reviewing legal and strategic implications before deciding.
• Japan – Considering its position but has not joined militarily.

Why Many Countries Are Hesitating

Several factors explain the reluctance:

1. The war was initiated without a broad coalition
Many governments say they were not part of the decision to strike Iran.

2. Risk of regional escalation
Direct naval involvement could trigger attacks on foreign ships or bases.

3. Economic and political risk
Oil markets have already surged nearly 40% since the strait was disrupted.

4. NATO complications
Some leaders argue the alliance never approved a joint mission.

The Strategic Importance of the Strait

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy routes:

• About one-fifth of global oil trade passes through it.
• Major importers include China, Japan, South Korea, and India.
• Any disruption can affect global oil prices and shipping security.

In short:
Three weeks into the conflict, the United States is struggling to build an international coalition. Most allies are declining combat roles, some are considering limited support, and major powers like China remain non-committal.

Stay safe 🙏 

A Riddle

 

Mass Readings and Reflection for Monday March 16, 2026

First Reading: (Isaiah 65:17–21)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 30)

Response: I will extol you, Lord, for you have raised me up. 

Gospel: (John (4:43–54)

Reflection:

The joy of new things is the kind of joy that the prophet describes in the first reading from the Book of Isaiah.

God tells His people:

“Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth.”

At that time, Jerusalem had been destroyed. The people had suffered exile and slavery. They had lost their homeland, their temple, and their dignity. But God promised them something extraordinary:

He would make everything new again.

No more weeping.
No more suffering.
No more lives cut short.
People would build houses and live in them.
They would plant vineyards and enjoy their fruits.

God was promising restoration, hope, and renewal.

But this message is not only about ancient Jerusalem. It is also about us.

God wants to make us new.

During the season of Lent, God invites us to let go of the old self, the person we used to be in sin. The person who lies, quarrels, gossips, cheats, or refuses to forgive.

Lent is the season when we begin the process of becoming a new creation.

Saint John captures this same idea in the Gospel when the royal official believes the word of Jesus even before seeing the miracle. His faith begins a transformation not only for him but for his whole household.

Faith makes life new.

Lent prepares us for the great moment of Easter, when we celebrate the victory of Christ over sin and death. In a spiritual sense, we also rise with Christ as new people.

But here is the important question:

Do we truly want to become new?

Sometimes we are comfortable with our old habits. We say:

“This is just who I am.”
“I have always been this way.”

But God does not accept that limitation. God sees something better inside us. He sees the person we can become.

Look at nature after the rain. Dry trees grow fresh leaves. Brown grass becomes green again. Everything becomes alive.

In the same way, God wants our hearts to become alive again.

So during this season of Lent:

• Let the old anger die.

• Let the old lies die.

• Let the old jealousy die.

• Let the old selfishness die.

And allow God to create in you a new heart and a new spirit.

When people meet you after this Lent, they should say:

“Something has changed.”
“This person is different.”
“I see a new person.”

Friends, have the courage to accept the new life that God wants to give us.

Because the new person God creates in us will always be better than the old one you leave behind.

Amen.

Have a wonderful week

Are You The Winner 🏆 🥇?

 

Drop Your Answer

 

Sunday March 14th Mass Readings and Reflection

First Reading: (1 Samuel 16:7, 12–13)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 23)

Response: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Second Reading: (Ephesians 5:8, 11, 14)

Acclamation: (John 8:12)

“I am the light of the world,” says the Lord; “whoever follows me will have the light of life.”

Reflection:

Among the many lessons in today’s Gospel, one stands out clearly. Some may find it strange that Jesus used saliva and earth to make clay, placed it on the man’s eyes with his own fingers, and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. After all, Jesus could have simply snapped his fingers and healed the man instantly. Yet he chose a more tangible and personal approach.

In ancient times saliva was believed to have life-giving healing properties. But even more importantly, through this method the blind man experienced the personal touch of Jesus Christ. He heard his voice, felt his hands, and actively participated in God’s saving action.

Christ communicated God’s grace in a way adapted to human nature, engaging both body and spirit. He always worked not from a distance but up close and personal. His touch inspired hope and confidence, turning the miracle into a personal encounter rather than a mere display of power.

The Church continues this same pattern today through the sacraments. The priest’s words of absolution at the end of confession give real closure to our longing for forgiveness. The water of baptism, the bread and wine of the Eucharist, and the chrism of confirmation are tangible signs that express God’s desire to reach out and touch us. Since we are not purely spiritual beings, it is fitting that we encounter God through physical realities.

Christ saves human nature by redeeming it, not destroying it.

Many people become frustrated with God, wishing he would instantly solve the world’s problems. Some even point to injustice and suffering as evidence against God’s existence. They argue that if God were real, he would not allow such suffering. But this is a superficial argument.

Faced with injustice, God has two options. He could destroy the world and start over, wiping out every sinner. But that would include all of us, even those guilty of the smallest selfish thought. Instead, God chooses another path: he offers salvation. He invites us to cooperate with him in saving the world. This takes longer, but it gives sinners a second chance.

God is always at work, most often through ordinary people and events, never violating our freedom.

The American writer Whitaker Chambers, who exposed communist spies during the Cold War, once described how his atheism began to crumble. One morning he watched his young daughter at breakfast. His gaze fell upon her ears, and he marveled at their intricate design. In that moment he realized such perfection must come from an intelligent creator. There were no fireworks, no dramatic miracles, just God quietly reaching him through human reality.

The Church asks us to go to confession at least once a year if we are conscious of mortal sin, but she recommends going much more often. Christ does not want us to experience forgiveness vaguely or from afar. He knows we need a real encounter with mercy.

That is why confession is sometimes called the sacrament of regained joy.

Lent is a season of penance and repentance. But Christian penance does not end in sadness. It leads to deeper communion with God. Jesus suffered on the cross and took upon himself the punishment for our sins so that we might find in him a new beginning and unconditional forgiveness.

Today Christ renews that promise through the sacraments and through Holy Communion. As we receive him, let us give him the joy of being our Good Shepherd, allowing him to heal and renew our souls through the grace of reconciliation and the light of his presence.

The passage John 9:6–7, 35–38 is one of the most theologically rich healing stories in the Gospel of John. It is not only about a physical miracle but about creation, baptism, faith, and spiritual enlightenment. Below are the major theological themes.

1. Jesus as the Creator: The Clay and New Creation

In the miracle, Jesus spits on the ground, makes clay, and places it on the man’s eyes.

This action intentionally echoes Genesis, where God forms humanity from the dust of the earth. The symbolism suggests that Jesus is performing a new act of creation, restoring what was broken in humanity.

Theologically this means:

• Humanity was created from dust (clay).

• Sin brought spiritual blindness.

• Christ recreates the human person, restoring sight.

So the miracle is not merely healing; it shows that Christ has divine creative power.

2. The Pool of Siloam: “The One Who Is Sent”

Jesus tells the man to wash in the Pool of Siloam, and John specifically explains that Siloam means “Sent.” (

This detail is deeply symbolic.

In John’s Gospel:

• Jesus repeatedly calls himself the One sent by the Father.

• The blind man must go to the pool called “Sent” to receive sight.

The message is theological:

The one who was “sent” (Jesus) sends the blind man to “Sent” (Siloam).

This reinforces that:

• Jesus is the Messiah sent by God.

• Healing and salvation come through the One sent by the Father.

3. The Washing as a Symbol of Baptism

Many Christian theologians interpret the washing in Siloam as a symbol of baptism.

The pattern mirrors Christian initiation:

1. Encounter Christ

2. Obey His command

3. Wash in water

4. Receive spiritual sight

The water symbolizes purification and illumination through faith.

Thus the story represents how:

• Baptism opens the eyes of faith.

• Christ moves a person from darkness to light.

4. Physical Blindness vs. Spiritual Blindness

A major theme in the chapter is contrast.

The man who was physically blind ends up seeing spiritually, while the religious leaders who claim to see are actually blind.

The progression is powerful:

Stage	What the Man Says About Jesus
At first	“The man called Jesus”
Later	“He is a prophet”
Finally	“Lord, I believe”

Meanwhile the Pharisees move in the opposite direction, from questioning to rejection.

This reveals a core message of John’s Gospel:

Faith gives sight; pride produces blindness.

5. Faith Leads to Worship

The climax is John 9:38:

“Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

This moment is crucial.

The healed man does three things:

1. Recognizes Jesus

2. Believes in Him

3. Worships Him

In Jewish theology, worship belongs only to God.

By accepting worship, the passage strongly points to the divinity of Christ.

6. Jesus as the Light of the World

Earlier in the chapter Jesus declares:

“I am the light of the world.”

The miracle illustrates this claim.

The blind man moves from:

• Darkness → Light

• Ignorance → Faith

• Isolation → Worship

The miracle becomes a living sign of salvation.

7. Obedience and Faith

Another theological point is obedience.

Jesus does not heal him instantly.
Instead, the man must go, wash, and trust the command.

His healing comes through obedience

This reflects a biblical principle:

Faith is not only belief but action.

Summary of the Theology

This passage reveals multiple layers of meaning:

• Creation: Jesus recreates humanity like God forming Adam.

• Mission: The “Sent One” brings salvation.

• Baptism: Washing symbolizes spiritual rebirth.

• Faith: True sight comes through belief.

• Divinity of Christ: The healed man worships Jesus.

• Spiritual blindness: Religious pride prevents seeing truth.

In short:

The man receives two miracles, physical sight and spiritual.

Lent, you know, is bringing us through spiritual basic training, so it’s really important for us to pay attention to these marvelous stories.

This week: the man born blind.
Next week: Lazarus.
Last week: the woman at the well.

These great stories from the Gospel of John are meant to help us identify with each of these people, with the woman at the well, the man born blind, and then with Lazarus. They’re all talking about the dynamics of the spiritual life.

So let me just share a few insights from this incomparably rich story that’s beguiled Christians up and down the centuries.

Right at the beginning it says:

Jesus passed by and saw a man blind from birth.

So his disciples asked him:

“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Listen now to the answer of Jesus:

“Neither he nor his parents sinned. It is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.”

We see suffering every day, of course.

Why did this happen?
How could God possibly have allowed this horrible thing to happen, to my husband, to me, to our family?

And the poor priest says, “Let me share a parable with you.” He tells a story, and he gives that answer of Jesus:

“It’s not because of his sin or anyone’s sin. It’s that the works of God might be made visible through him.”

You know, we all suffer in different degrees, I get it, but we all suffer, and we’re always looking for the answer:

Why?
Why?
Why?
Why is God allowing this?

Let this answer, everybody, sink in.

When you’re going through some terrible suffering, it may be that the works of God might be made visible in you. Somehow, God is using this struggle, this difficulty, this pain for His purposes.

Now, what do we see as this story unfolds?

Jesus declares Himself the Light of the World, one of the great “I AM” statements in John. I’ve told you about these before:

• I am the Bread of Life.

• I am the Good Shepherd.

• I am the Resurrection and the Life.

These echo the “I AM WHO I AM” from the Book of Exodus. Jesus is asserting His divine identity and authority.

In this case:

“I am the Light of the World.”

Beautiful.

He is the one by whom we see properly.

And here’s the point: we’re dealing with a man born blind.

Some people become blind later in life. But this man is blind from birth. He’s never seen. From the beginning of his life he’s been in the dark.

Do you see what he stands for?

Our great tradition has said: original sin.

That’s all of us. We’re all men and women born blind.

We’re born into a dysfunctional world, spiritually speaking. It’s like someone born into a household where there’s physical abuse, sexual abuse, drug abuse, something that affects everyone. The whole environment is damaged.

Well, that’s the human race.

We’re born into a world infected by cruelty, violence, hatred, and everything else. We breathe it in. We take it in from the time we’re born. And it blinds us.

It takes us out of the light.

But Jesus says:

“I am the Light of the World.”

He has come to illumine and heal the blind eyes of all of us born blind in original sin.

So identify with this man.

Now what does Jesus do?

After saying this, the Gospel tells us:

He spat on the ground, made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on the man’s eyes.

Kind of peculiar, right?

Was He mimicking some healing practices of the time? Maybe. But with Jesus, especially as John tells the story, there’s always something richly theological going on.

St. Augustine noticed something fascinating.

The saliva comes from the mouth, from the head, and it mixes with the earth, the clay. Augustine said this symbolizes the Incarnation, the Word of God becoming flesh. God’s spirit mixing, as it were, with matter.

And what does that produce?

It produces a salve.

Imagine Jesus taking this mud in His hands. He’s got this salve that He rubs into the man’s eyes.

The word salve in English is closely related to the Latin salus, which means health. When you greeted someone with the wish of good health, you would say:

Salve!

We have that great hymn:

Salve Regina, Hail Holy Queen.

Who is Jesus?

He is the Savior. From the Latin Salvator.

Same root.

He is the healer par excellence.

His very being, the coming together of divinity and humanity, functions as a healing balm, a healing salve. It’s as though Jesus Himself is being rubbed into the man’s blind eyes.

What does that look like for us?

The sacraments of the Church.

What are they? Just vague symbols?

No. They are the means by which God’s grace is communicated to us, body and soul.

We speak of the matter and the form of a sacrament.

Think of:

• Baptism: water + the words

• Confession: the absolution + the words

• Confirmation: oil + the words

The sacraments are the prolongation of the very being and presence of Christ, rubbed like a salve into our sin-sick bodies and souls.

How do we come to see, we who are blind from birth?

Not through the lights provided by the world. Those are more obscuring than illuminating.

No. We come to see by the light of Christ. We are healed through contact with Him.

So think of that, Catholics. Next time you receive one of the sacraments, think of that mud paste, that salve, that Jesus rubs into the man’s eyes. That’s what the sacraments are doing for us.

Then Jesus says:

“Go wash in the Pool of Siloam.”

And John adds:

“which means Sent.”

The Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem was a place of cleansing and bathing. But the fact that it means “Sent” is important.

One of the great descriptions of Jesus in John’s Gospel is that He is the One who has been sent.

Jesus constantly refers to the Father as “the One who sent me.”

So to bathe in the Pool of Siloam, what is that?

It’s baptism.

It’s being washed in Christ.

Baptism is not just a vague symbol. It is the means by which we are incorporated into Christ. We come to share His relationship with the Father.

So the salve, the sacraments, the Pool of Siloam, what’s being described here is how all of us born blind in sin are brought to healing and vision through immersion in Christ, mediated by the sacraments.

That’s how the Church Fathers read this great text.

Now listen to what happens.

He went and washed, and he came back able to see.

Is this a physical healing? Yes, absolutely. Jesus healed people physically. They remembered this story.

But with Jesus, everything operates at different levels. There’s a physical level, and then there’s the richly symbolic and spiritual level.

How do we come to see?

How do I know where I’m going?

Don’t follow the false lights of the world.

Wash in the Pool of Siloam. Receive the sacraments. Be immersed in Jesus.

There are so many great details in this story.

Imagine the man, someone who has never seen and now suddenly can see. He comes back overwhelmed. And the people don’t know what to make of it.

Some say:

“Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?”

Others say:

“No, it just looks like him.”

I love that detail.

Because when you come to Christ and you’re changed by Him, you don’t look the same. You don’t act the same.

People might say:

“Is that the same guy? No way.”

Of course not. He’s been transformed and transfigured by Christ.

Then the man says something fascinating.

Some say it’s him; others say it’s not. And the man says, in Greek:

Ego eimi.

“I am.”

On the surface, he’s just saying, “Yes, it’s me.”

But in John’s Gospel we can’t miss that phrase. Jesus says it again and again:

“I am. I am. I am.”

Why? Because He is the Son of God, I AM WHO I AM.

And here’s the extraordinary thing.

When we are grafted onto Christ in baptism, and through the sacraments, we share in His life. We become conformed to Him. We begin to see with His eyes, think with His mind, and move as He would move.

“I am.”

We become identified with Him.

I also love what happens next in John’s Gospel.

This marvelous thing has happened, the man was born blind and now he sees.

And what’s the reaction?

The crowd isn’t happy.

They say:

• “How did this happen?”

• “Who does this guy think he is?”

• “Wasn’t this the wrong day to do it?”

I get it, because I know what the fallen world is like.

A miracle of grace happens, and the reaction is negative.

Why?

Because it’s in the interest of blind people to keep other people blind.

Blind systems, blind institutions, blind cultures, they want to keep everyone blind.

It’s like Plato’s famous parable of the cave. If someone escapes and starts seeing the truth, the others don’t like it.

So don’t be surprised when you come to Christ and He changes you so much that people hardly recognize you. Don’t be surprised if they oppose you.

Even the man’s poor parents get dragged into the controversy. They’re afraid of the authorities.

But how does the story end?

The formerly blind man encounters Jesus again.

Jesus asks him:

“Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

The man says:

“Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”

Jesus replies:

“You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.”

And the man worships Him.

Not just thanks Him.
Not just admires Him.

He worships Him.

That’s the goal.

The problem in the world is always false worship. Our blindness leads us to worship the wrong things.

But when we are healed by Christ, when we are baptized in the Pool of Siloam, when the sacraments are rubbed into us, when we are conformed to the I AM, then we finally know:

• where we’re going

• what we’re about

And we bow down and worship the One who gave us light and vision.

God bless you.