St. Blaise Pray for Us

Today is the feast day of St. Blaise,
patron saint of throat ailments and healer of those who suffer. 

St. Blaise, pray for us.

Have a great day.

Pal Ronnie 

Mass Readings and Reflection for Sunday February 1st 2026

First Reading: (Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12–13)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 146:6–10)
Response: “The Lord keeps faith forever.”

Second Reading: (1 Corinthians 1:26–31)

Alleluia: (Matthew 5:12)

Gospel: (Matthew 5:1–12a)

Reflection

I made it to the 11 a.m. Mass at St. Mary’s Church at Yale University. It was wonderful, as I was seated right in front, taking in everything. The homily was broad and very dynamic, and I was able to walk away with a few points to share and ponder for the day. Happy February 1st, by the way.

The priest started the homily by talking about how he never gets the chance to be at that parish anymore and joked about age discrimination, because he is the oldest one in the system. 

Then we went on to talk about the Beatitudes: love of God vs. love of God’s benefits. Drawing from a question once posed by Bishop Robert Barron, whom I also listen to online, he challenged listeners to examine whether their faith is rooted in genuine love of God or in the material and emotional benefits they receive from Him. True love of God must remain even when blessings, comfort, or success are taken away (see Job, Abraham).

First Reading (Zephaniah) applied: Israel mistook prosperity as proof of God’s favor, and we all do that today. When something bad happen happens and unsettles us, we question God. Material comfort led to spiritual complacency and forgetfulness of God. Exile became the painful path through which trust in God was restored for the Israelites back in the day. In our world today, many of us are blessed with more than our fathers and great-grandfathers. I can testify to that in terms of material things, and yet most of us are very unhappy in this life. That tells us that materialism is not the way for us, but the love of God is His way for us.

False ideas of happiness: society teaches conditional happiness, “I will be happy when I have that girl, that car, the house, and that bank account.” This mindset always focuses on what is lacking rather than what truly with us and fulfills. Earthly happiness is temporary and incomplete.

Beatitudes as the cost of discipleship: Jesus defines blessedness in ways that contradict human logic, poverty of spirit, meekness, persecution. Following God may require sacrificing wealth, power, status, and even reputation. Being faithful often comes at a real cost.

This world is not our final home. Earthly possessions, success, and comfort are temporary and should be used as a vehicle to our final destination after this place. Humans are created for heaven and for happiness, not permanent satisfaction here. They priest confessed that he usually doesn't think much about paradise but should. We might think the life we have here in this world is good and comforting but it's not, he added. Look at the sufferings we see around us, poverty, homelessness, disease, wars etc. 

He added that, restlessness in life despite some successes is a sign of our longing for God (St. Augustine: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”)

It was a wonderful Mass, and I hope you get something from it.

God bless you.

Pal Ronnie

Mass Readings and Reflection for January 31st 2026

First Reading: (2 Samuel 11:1–17)

Response Psalm: (Psalm 51)

“Be merciful, Lord, for we have sinned.”

Alleluia

God reveals the mysteries of the Kingdom not to the self-sufficient, but to the humble. The childlike heart sees what pride obscures. This humility is the doorway through which grace enters.

Gospel (Mark 4:26–34)

Reflection

Today’s readings place two truths side by side: the fragility of the human heart and the unstoppable mercy of God.

David’s fall warns us that spiritual complacency is dangerous. He remained behind while others went to battle, and in that idleness, temptation took root. Sin often begins not with rebellion, but with neglect. Prayer fades. Awareness dulls. Ego creeps in. Like David, we can become blind to how far we have drifted.

Yet the Gospel reminds us that God never abandons the soil, even when it is wounded. The seed of God’s love is already planted within us. It grows quietly, persistently, if we allow it. Prayer is what keeps us awake. It sobers us. It realigns us when fear, pride, or self-doubt threaten to stunt our growth.

Spiritual life is not about instant perfection; it is about faithful nurturing. When we return to God with humility, even our failures become fertile ground for grace. God specializes in growth we cannot explain and mercy we do not deserve.

Today, we are invited to trust the slow work of God within us. To repent honestly. To pray faithfully. And to believe that no storm, no sin, no weakness is stronger than the love in which we are anchored.

Be merciful, Lord, for we have sinned-and make us grow again.

Amen.

God bless 🙌 

Have a wonderful weekend 

Mass Readings and Reflection Friday January 30th 2026

First Reading (2 Samuel 11:1–17)

Psalm (Psalm 51)

“Be merciful, Lord, for we have sinned.”

Alleluia

God reveals the mysteries of the Kingdom not to the self-sufficient, but to the humble. The childlike heart sees what pride obscures. This humility is the doorway through which grace enters.

Gospel (Mark 4:26–34)

Reflection

Today’s readings place two truths side by side: the fragility of the human heart and the unstoppable mercy of God.

David’s fall warns us that spiritual complacency is dangerous. He remained behind while others went to battle, and in that idleness, temptation took root. Sin often begins not with rebellion, but with neglect. Prayer fades. Awareness dulls. Ego creeps in. Like David, we can become blind to how far we have drifted.

Yet the Gospel reminds us that God never abandons the soil, even when it is wounded. The seed of God’s love is already planted within us. It grows quietly, persistently, if we allow it. Prayer is what keeps us awake. It sobers us. It realigns us when fear, pride, or self-doubt threaten to stunt our growth.

Spiritual life is not about instant perfection; it is about faithful nurturing. When we return to God with humility, even our failures become fertile ground for grace. God specializes in growth we cannot explain and mercy we do not deserve.

Today, we are invited to trust the slow work of God within us. To repent honestly. To pray faithfully. And to believe that no storm, no sin, no weakness is stronger than the love in which we are anchored.

Be merciful, Lord, for we have sinned, and make us grow again.

God bless you

Have a wonderful weekend.

Pal Ronnie 

Mass Readings and Reflection for January 29th 2026

First Reading: (2 Samuel 7:18–19, 24–29)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 132)

R. The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.

Gospel: (Mark 4:21–25)

Reflection

Today mass readings reflect on Yesterday's, where Jesus taught us about the sower, the seed, and the soil, showing how fruitfulness depends on receptivity and faithful labor. Today, He continues His teaching using another powerful image: light.

The purpose of light is simple, to dispels darkness.
Therefore, it defeats the purpose of a lamp to place it under a bed or hide it beneath a basket.

Streetlights are raised high on poles; they are not buried underground.
Bulbs are placed above the ceiling, not hidden inside the roof.
A light that does not shine is useless.

Jesus uses this image to teach us a profound truth:
Christians are the light of the world.

How Christians Shine as Light

The light of the Christian shines through good deeds:

• Where there is hatred, Christians shine by bringing love.

• Where there is unforgiveness, Christians shine through forgiveness.

• Where there is disunity, Christians shine by promoting unity and togetherness.

• Where there is war and violence, Christians shine by being instruments of peace.

• Where there is falsehood, Christians shine by speaking and living the truth.

This is how Christians become light in a dark world.
This is how our light shines.

Beloved, when you possess these qualities, whether you like it or not, you will stand out. People will notice. They will say:

• “This person is truthful.”

• “This person is honest.”

• “This person loves peace.”

• “This person lives forgiveness.”

In the same way, when these qualities are absent, people will also know that a person is living in darkness.

Where Is the Light?

If our Christian light is not seen,
if it is dim, or barely visible, or completely extinguished, 
then something is wrong.

With billions of Christians in the world, one must ask:

• Why does evil still ravage our societies?

• Why does corruption still thrive?

• Why does hatred still spread so easily?

Beloved, let us be honest:
Much of the darkness in the world is perpetrated by Christians themselves, or sustained by Christians who see evil and remain silent.

Cheating in markets, stealing, falsehood, bribery, embezzlement,
these are not done by pagans alone.
Christians are often involved, or they look away and become silent partners.

Jesus tells us:

“Nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest.”

If our light truly shines, evil will be exposed.
Those who do evil will feel uncomfortable around us because light reveals darkness.

But when Christians compromise, when they blend into the darkness, evil flourishes unchecked.

Let Your Light Shine Everywhere

Beloved, let your light shine:

• In your office

• In the marketplace

• On the roadside

• On the bus or train

• Even on the football field

Wherever you find yourself, let people say:
“This is a Christian.”

The Measure You Give

Jesus continues:

“The measure you give will be the measure you get.”

This is an invitation to generosity of heart.

When you give:

• Give freely

• Give wholeheartedly

• Give without calculation

Thin sowing produces thin reaping.
Generous sowing produces abundant harvest.

There is a multiplier effect in generosity:

• When you give your talents, they grow.

• When you use your gifts, they multiply.

• When you share your time and love, they return to you a hundredfold.

But when we are stingy,
when we refuse to use our talents, 
even what we think we have begins to die.

That is why Jesus says:

“To him who has, more will be given;
and from him who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.”

We are the light of the world.

Our world is in darkness.
We cry when we see evil, corruption, and violence.

But the deeper question remains:
Where are the Christians?
What has happened to the light?

Let our light shine brightly,
so that it may dispel the darkness of evil,
expose injustice,
and bring glory to God.

Amen.

God bless you 

Pal Ronnie 

Inspired by Fr. Blessed 🙌 

Mass Readings and Reflection om Wednesday, the 28th of January, 2028.

First Reading: (2 Samuel 7:4–17)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 89)

R. I will keep my faithful love for him always.

Gospel: (Mark 4:1–20)

Reflection

The parable of the sower is very familiar to us. It presents three main actors:

1. The sower

2. The seed

3. The soil

Very often, when we reflect on this parable, we focus on the soil and its productivity. Today, however, let us deliberately focus on the sower.

For a great harvest to occur, all three must play their role.

• A good and hardworking sower with good seeds cannot produce a harvest if the soil is poor.

• A good sower and rich soil cannot produce a harvest if the seeds are rotten.

• Even with good soil and good seed, a lazy sower will still fail, because the seed cannot sow itself.

However, a hardworking sower can till unproductive land, water it, manure it, and cultivate it until something good comes out of it.

Before blaming the soil for unproductivity, the sower must ask:
“Have I been effective and faithful in my work?”

Examining Ourselves as Sowers

It is easy:

• For a teacher to blame students for failing exams, but did the teacher teach well and complete the syllabus?

• For parents to blame wayward children, but did they reflect honestly on their parenting?

• For priests to blame Christians for lack of repentance, but did they preach homilies that pierce hearts and call for true conversion?

Sometimes our homilies are dry.
People come to church hungry for God, longing to be edified, but they leave spiritually empty.

We preach about:

• money,

• miracles,

• breakthroughs,

but not enough about:

• repentance,

• conversion,

• carrying the cross,

• holiness of life.

We publish homily books with beautiful titles, Scattering the Seeds, My Daily Bread, The Mustard Seed, Breaking the Word, but we must ask ourselves:

Do we truly scatter the seed?
And what kind of seed are we scattering?

It is possible to scatter seeds, and still scatter the wrong seeds.

We Are All Sowers

Dear friends, being a sower is not the duty of priests or pastors alone.

• Parents are sowers in the home.

• Teachers are sowers in the classroom.

• Leaders are sowers in society.

• Every Christian is a sower by word and example.

Wherever you find yourself, you are sowing something.

So ask yourself:

• What kind of seed do I sow?

• Seeds of love or hatred?

• Seeds of peace or division?

• Seeds of unity or discord?

Remember:
A person reaps what they sow.

Do Not Give Up on the Soil

What effort do we make to manure the soil, even when it seems unproductive?

Christ never gave up.
That is why He is the Good Sower.

Some of us have already given up, on our children, on our communities, on our parishes, on people we consider “hard soil.”

But Christ kept sowing.
He kept watering.
He kept manuring.

Let us therefore focus on our responsibility as sowers.

Let the unproductivity of the soil never be blamed on our poor sowing skills.

Do your part faithfully:

• Teach well.

• Parent well.

• Preach with conviction.

• Live the Gospel authentically.

So that tomorrow, when fruit appears, or even when it does not, we can say before God:
“Lord, I did my part.”

Saint of the Day: St. Thomas Aquinas

Today we celebrate the Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, priest, philosopher, and one of the greatest theologians in the history of the Church.

Born in 1225 and dying at the young age of 49 in 1274, he devoted his life to:

• prayer,

• study,

• deepening the Christian faith.

He authored monumental works in theology and philosophy and is known as the Angelic Doctor. He is the patron saint of Catholic schools.

St. Thomas pray for us. 

God bless you 🙏 

Pal Ronnie 

Heavily inspired by Fr. Blessed 🙌 

Mass readings and a reflection for Tuesday, January 27, 2026

First Reading: (2 Samuel 6:12b-15, 17-19)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10)
“Who is this King of glory? It is the Lord!”

Gospel: (Mark 3:31-35)

Reflection

Today, in our first reading today, King David’s unrestrained joy at bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem shows a heart fully alive to God’s presence. With every step, David rejoices with dancing, music, and sacrifice,  not out of formality, but out of deep relationship. His joy isn’t contained; it overflows and blesses the whole community.

The Psalm echoes this celebration: “Who is this King of glory? It is the Lord!”, a refrain that invites us to surrender the “gates” of our hearts, allowing God to enter and transform within us.

In the Gospel, Jesus expands our understanding of family. When told that His biological mother and brothers are calling for Him, Jesus looks at those gathered around and declares that true kinship is rooted in doing the will of God. This is a radical invitation: family isn’t only who we are related to by blood, it’s who we join in faithful obedience to God. 

Now, Jesus teaches that spiritual kinship comes from living God’s will. Our identity as brothers and sisters in Christ flows not from association alone, but from obedience and love that reflect God’s heart.

Amen and God bless you

Pal Ronnie 

Division In The Church

 The Church is Divine 

Big Snow Day❄️

 Big snow all over 

Mass Readings — Friday, January 23, 2026

First Reading: (1 Samuel 24:3–21)

David spares Saul’s life in the cave, choosing mercy over vengeance.

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 57:2, 3–4, 6, 11)

R. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

Alleluia: (2 Corinthians 5:19)

“God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”

Gospel: (Mark 3:13–19)

Jesus goes up the mountain and chooses the Twelve, calling them by name and sending them out.

Reflection

1. “Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.” (Psalm 57)

This psalm is David’s prayer while hiding from Saul. It is the cry of someone who knows danger, betrayal, and fear, yet refuses to let bitterness take root.

David’s prayer becomes our own:
“Lord, protect me, but also protect my heart from becoming like the one who hurts me.”

Mercy is not weakness.
Mercy is strength under control.

2. David Spares Saul: Mercy Over Vengeance (1 Samuel 24)

This reading presents one of Scripture’s most dramatic moments. David has every reason to strike Saul down:

• Saul is unjust.

• Saul is violent.

• Saul is hunting him.

• Saul has betrayed him.

Yet David chooses mercy, not revenge.

This moment foreshadows Christ Himself, the One who forgives His enemies and refuses to return evil for evil.

David teaches us this enduring truth:
Character is revealed not when we are powerless, but when we have power and choose restraint.

3. “He Called to Himself Those He Wanted.” (Mark 3:13)

Jesus ascends the mountain—a place of encounter with God—and chooses the Twelve.

He does not choose the perfect;
He chooses the willing.

He does not choose the powerful;
He chooses the available.

He does not choose the already holy;
He chooses those who will walk with Him and be transformed.

This Gospel reminds us that our calling is not accidental. Christ calls each of us by name—not because we are flawless, but because He desires to work through us.

4. “Entrusting to Us the Message of Reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

The Alleluia verse unites today’s readings beautifully.

David reconciles with Saul.
Jesus forms a community of apostles.
God reconciles the world through Christ.

And now, we are entrusted with that same mission:

• healing wounds,

• restoring relationships,

• choosing mercy,

• speaking peace,

• living forgiveness.

This work is not easy, but it is holy.

The Reflection: “Called to Mercy, Called by Name”

Today’s readings form a clear and compelling arc:

• David chooses mercy when vengeance is within reach.

• The Psalm cries out for God’s protection and compassion.

• Jesus calls ordinary people to an extraordinary mission.

• Paul reminds us that reconciliation is our vocation.

The message is unmistakable:

God calls you to be a person of mercy-a bridge-builder, a reconciler.

Not because it is easy,
but because it is the way of Christ.