Mass Readings and Reflection for Tuesday, February 10, 2026: Memorial of St. Scholastica, Virgin

First Reading: (1 Kings 8:22–23, 27–30)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 84)

Response: How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts.

Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia

Gospel: (Mark 7:1–13)

Reflection

Have you ever asked ourselves: What are laws really meant for?
Beyond being orderly, law-abiding, or a “good person,” what do we truly gain from keeping the law?

This question applies not only to civil laws, customs, or traditions, but also to ecclesiastical laws-even the Commandments of God.

If we do not reflect deeply, we may become law-abiding only for the sake of observance, and nothing more. But laws-especially God’s laws-are never meant to end at the external level. External observance must lead to internal transformation.

Keeping the law should:

• build our relationship with God,

• strengthen our love for neighbor, and

• bring inner peace and satisfaction.

When I keep the law, I do not do it merely for others to see or praise me. I do it because it forms my heart. I do it for God, for my neighbor, and for my own soul.

In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees and scribes attack Jesus because his disciples ate with unwashed hands. But their concern was not love of the law-it was self-righteousness. They used the law to elevate themselves and condemn others.

Jesus exposes the deeper problem:
They observed the law perfectly, yet their hearts were far from God.

What truly changed because hands were washed-or not washed?
Did the food lose its taste?
Did love increase or decrease?
Did anyone’s life improve?

The law was observed, yes-but nothing was transformed.

This is the danger Jesus warns us about:
keeping laws without love,
ritual without relationship,
religion without conversion.

Friends, if keeping the law does not lead us to love God more, to love our neighbor more, and to become inwardly transformed, then we reduce faith to fanaticism.

The same applies to religious practice:

• Why do I go to church?

• Why do I fast?

• Why do I pray?

Is it merely because it is commanded-or because it changes me?

If I fast but refuse to forgive, of what use is my fasting?
If I go to church but remain unchanged, of what use is my attendance?

Jesus is not against the law.
He is against empty observance.

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

Today we celebrate Saint Scholastica, sister of Saint Benedict. She consecrated her life entirely to God, not out of obligation, but out of love. Her obedience flowed from devotion, her discipline from desire for God.

Through her intercession, may our observance of God’s law never be mere routine, but always an expression of love that transforms our hearts.

Amen

Brought to you by Pal Ronnie

Mass Readings and Reflection February 9, 2026

First Reading: (1 Kings 8:1–7, 9–13)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 132:6–7, 8–10)

R. Lord, go up to the place of your rest!

Alleluia: (Matthew 4:23)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: (Mark 6:53–56)

Reflections

Two powerful images dominate today’s readings: the glory of God filling the Temple and the healing power flowing from Jesus.

In the First Reading, we witness a moment of overwhelming holiness. The cloud of God’s presence fills the Temple so completely that even the priests are unable to stand and minister. This is not the image of a distant or detached God. This is a God who chooses to move in, to take up residence among His people. Solomon’s words express the awe of the moment: “I have truly built you a princely house, a dwelling where you may abide forever.” Yet beneath the grandeur of stone and gold lies a deeper truth. God’s ultimate dwelling place is not a building made by human hands, but the human heart that is open and surrendered to Him.

The Gospel reveals that same divine nearness in a different form. Jesus walks among the people, and crowds rush to Him from every direction. They are not asking for long explanations or signs. They simply want to touch the fringe of His cloak. Their faith is urgent, humble, and expectant. And the Gospel tells us, “As many as touched it were healed.” Here, God’s presence is no longer hidden in a cloud. It is visible, tangible, and compassionate. Jesus Himself is the living Temple-God dwelling among His people in flesh, meeting suffering with mercy and power.

The connection between these readings is striking. In Solomon’s time, God’s presence filled a physical Temple. In Jesus’ time, God’s presence walked the streets, healing the broken and restoring the wounded. Today, that same presence desires to fill the temple of your own life through the Holy Spirit. The movement is always the same: God drawing closer, inviting deeper intimacy, seeking not distance but communion.

These readings gently but clearly turn the question toward us. Where do you need God’s healing touch right now? Where is God asking to dwell more deeply in your life? Do you approach Jesus with the same trust and urgency as those who ran to Him in Gennesaret? Faith does not always require great words or complex understanding. Sometimes it is as simple as reaching out, believing that even the hem of His garment is enough.

Prayer today:

Lord, fill the temple of my heart with Your presence. Heal what is wounded, strengthen what is weak, and dwell with me today. Make me a place where Your glory rests and where Your love flows freely to others. Amen.

God bless you

Pal Ronnie

Mass Readings and Reflection for February 8th 2026

First Reading: (Isaiah 58:7–10)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 112:4–9)

Second Reading:(1 Corinthians  2:1-5)

R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright. 

Alleluia: (John 8:12)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: (Matthew 5:13–16)

Reflection:

I made it to mass today at St. Augustine's in New City, NY. The 12 pm mass was packed. The priest started the homily by recalling the Christmas Eve Mass, where one candle was used to light up the rest in the candles in church as a symbol of light conquering darkness. He also reflected on the Beatitudes, on the question at the heart of every human life: How do we find true happiness? Jesus shows us that happiness is not found in self-assertion or self-indulgence, but in ordering our lives around Him.

Today, Jesus continues speaking, not only to the Twelve, but to a large crowd. And He gives us three powerful images: salt, light, and a city set on a hill. What is striking about all three is this: none of them exist for themselves. Salt exists for food. Light exists for others to see. A city on a hill exists as a guide and a refuge.

And this, I believe, is a key to true happiness: realizing that life is not about serving myself, but about loving others. As Jesus tells us, the greatest commandment is love, and love, at its core, is willing the good of the other, not the self.

Let’s begin with salt.
Today, salt is ordinary. We keep it on our dining room tables. It’s inexpensive and easy to replace. But in Jesus’ time, salt was precious-so valuable that people were sometimes paid with it. Hence the saying: “He’s worth his weight in salt. In fact the Roman soldier in ancient times were paid with salt and the very word salary is derived from salt. Let that sink in my friends. 

And salt has two essential purposes: it adds flavor, and it preserves. We can all relate to these two qualities of salt especially those of us who had the privilege of growing up on farms where there were no refrigeration. 

Jesus tells us that we are to be salt for the world. Our lives should add flavor-not bitterness, not judgment, but joy. Jesus says, “I came so that you might have life and have it to the full.” Christians should be joyful people.

And the question for us is simple: Do our lives bring out the goodness in the world around us? We do this not by imposing ourselves, but by seasoning the world, using the gifts God has given us. Do I know my gifts, and am I using them to give flavor to the world God loves?

The second image is light.
At first, this can feel confusing. Jesus is the Light of the world, so how can we be light? But then we realize: we are not the source of the light; we are called to reflect it, like the moon reflects the sun. The moon has no light of its own, yet on a clear night it can illuminate the earth so brightly it almost feels like day.

Do our lives reflect the light of Christ?

Isaiah tells us how: share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and homeless, clothe the naked. It sounds a lot like Matthew 25-the corporal works of mercy. When we serve others, we become light. And this parish has a lot of programs for the poor and people should check them out and see how they can assist those in need,

Think of Moses, who spoke with God face to face on Mount Sinai. When he came down the mountain, his face was radiant-so radiant that he had to veil it. He reflected the glory of God because he had been in God’s presence.

Or think of Mother Teresa, who told her sisters that every day they must spend an hour in adoration-and on the busiest days, two hours-because we cannot give what we do not have. Anyone who has encountered joyful religious sisters knows that their light comes from somewhere else. Christ is the source.

Spend sometime in adoration. It’s like marriage: the longer two people spend time together, the more they begin to look alike, speak alike, even finish each other’s sentences. The more time we spend with the Lord, the more we begin to reflect Him.

Today, nearly one-third of the world identifies as Christian. Imagine what the world would look like if all of us truly reflected the light of Christ. And yet, there is hope. Across the United States and beyond, RCIA groups are growing-especially among young people. People are catching the light. The Kingdom is stirring.

Jesus warns us not to hide that light under a bushel basket. He commands us to let it shine.

Finally, Jesus gives us the image of a city set on a hill-a city that cannot be hidden.

I think of Assisi, the hometown of St. Francis, built along a mountainside. Before GPS, cities like this served as guideposts for travelers-places of protection, direction, and hope. People would say, Go there, then turn west.

And the question for us is this: Are our lives guideposts? Do people look at us and say, I want to live like that because their life leads me closer to Christ?

Sadly, the opposite can also be true. I remember being in college, where Catholics were known not for their witness, but for hypocrisy-partying through the weekend and stumbling into Mass without conviction. That kind of life doesn’t draw people to Christ; it pushes them away.

So we must ask ourselves honestly: Is my life leading people closer to Jesus, or further away?

Jesus says, “They will see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Not glorify us, but glorify God in us.

St. Augustine said it perfectly: “Let your life be a sermon.”

So this week, reflect on these three images:

• Are you salt? Does your life add flavor and preserve what is good?

• Are you light? Are you spending time with Christ so that His light can shine through you?

• Are you a city set on a hill? What example are you setting for those who are watching?

And believe me-people are watching.

May our words and actions draw others not to ourselves, but to Christ, so that in everything, God may be glorified.

Amen 

God bless you 

To you by Pal Ronnie

On Pain: Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology of Nociception

Core Perspective

• Anatomy: how the body is built

• Physiology: how the body works

• Pathology: how the body breaks down, is injured, or is destroyed

Pain is central to pathology because nearly all diseases, injuries, and dysfunctions involve pain.

Why Pain Exists (Purpose of Pain)

Pain is not a flaw, it is a survival mechanism.

1. Warning System

• Alerts the body to tissue damage or potential injury

• Prompts withdrawal from harmful stimuli

2. Learning Mechanism

• Negative reinforcement prevents repeated injury

• Example: touching a hot stove once teaches avoidance

Clinical Insight

People with Congenital Insensitivity to Pain (a rare genetic disorder) cannot feel pain in the peripheral nervous system and are at high risk for:

• Burns

• Cuts

• Fractures

• Chronic injury without awareness

Pain is essential for survival.

Types of Sensory Receptors (Normal Sensation)

Before pain, we must understand normal sensation.

Mechanoreceptors

• Light touch (hair follicle movement)

• Pressure

• Proprioception (body position awareness)

Example:
You can touch your palm with eyes closed because muscle length receptors inform the brain of limb position.

Thermoreceptors

• Sense temperature within a normal physiological range

• Skin typically senses up to ~52°C (125°F) without tissue damage

Transition From Sensation to Pain

All sensory receptors operate within a safe range.

When stimuli exceed that range → pain receptors activate.

Nociceptors

• Activated by noxious stimuli

• Respond to:

  • Extreme heat or cold

  • Excessive pressure

  • Chemical irritation

  • Tissue damage

Pain begins when nociceptors fire.

Peripheral Nervous System: Pain Transmission

Neuron vs Nerve

• Neuron = single cell

• Nerve = bundle of neurons

Example: Ulnar Nerve

• Mixed nerve (sensory + motor)

• Supplies the pinky finger

Burning the pinky finger:

1. Nociceptor activates

2. Signal travels through the ulnar nerve

3. Enters the spinal cord

Spinal Cord Processing

The spinal cord is part of the Central Nervous System (CNS).

Key Site

• Substantia Gelatinosa (dorsal horn of spinal cord)

• First synapse between:

  • Primary nociceptor neuron

  • Secondary ascending neuron

This site is critical for pain modulation.

Ascending Pain Pathway (Brain Processing)

Step 1: Brainstem

Secondary neuron ascends through:

• Medulla oblongata

• Pons

• Midbrain

Step 2: Thalamus

• Acts as a sensory relay hub

• Distributes pain signals to:

  • Sensory cortex

  • Limbic system

  • Other processing centers

Cortical Awareness of Pain

Primary Somatosensory Cortex

• Located in the parietal lobe

• Just posterior to the central sulcus

• Organized somatotopically:

  • Each body part maps to a specific cortical region

Conscious awareness of pain occurs here (and partially in the thalamus).

Emotional Component of Pain

Amygdala (Limbic System)

• Processes negative emotions

• Generates distress, fear, and avoidance

Why this matters:

• Pain must be unpleasant to discourage repetition

• Positive pain response would be maladaptive

Pain Modulation (Descending Control)

Pain does not remain maximal indefinitely.

Peri-aqueductal Gray (PAG)

• Surrounds the cerebral aqueduct in the midbrain

• Receives signals from the thalamus

Descending Pathway

1. Thalamus signals PAG

2. PAG activates descending neurons

3. Signals return to the substantia gelatinosa

4. Endogenous opioids are released

Effect

• Inhibits nociceptive transmission

• Reduces perceived pain

The body produces its own painkillers (endorphins, enkephalins).

Ventricular System (Relevant Anatomy)

• Lateral ventricles (2)

• Third ventricle (between thalami)

• Fourth ventricle (between brainstem and cerebellum)

• Cerebral aqueduct connects 3rd to 4th ventricle

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF):

• Produced in ventricles

• Cushions and protects the brain

Subjectivity of Pain

Pain is real, but subjective.

Phantom Limb Pain

• Occurs even when peripheral structures are gone

• Sensory cortex region remains active

• Brain-generated pain without peripheral input

Clinical Implication

Two people receiving the same injury will rate pain differently due to:

• Emotional state

• Prior experiences

• Cortical processing differences

Pain perception varies between individuals.

Key Takeaways

• Pain is a protective, adaptive mechanism

• It involves:

  • Peripheral nociceptors

  • Spinal processing

  • Brainstem transmission

  • Thalamic relay

  • Cortical awareness

  • Emotional interpretation

  • Descending modulation

• Pain is both physiological and psychological

• Despite extensive knowledge, pain perception remains incompletely understood

One-Line Summary

Pain is a complex sensory and emotional experience involving peripheral detection, central processing, emotional modulation, and endogenous control, essential for survival but uniquely subjective.

Mass Reading and Reflection for February 7th 2026

First Reading: (1 Kings 3:4–14)

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God. 

Responsorial Psalm:  (Psalm 119)

Response: O Lord, teach me your statutes.

ALLELUIA:

Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL: (Mark 6:30–34)

REFLECTION:

At the dawn of the covid pandemic about six years go, most of us clinicians worked and also witnessed extraordinary selflessness by doctors, nurses, other healthcare workers, priests, religious, and even the ordinary people in the community worked and served others tirelessly, often at the cost of their own health, and many even lost their lives. Most of us did not think first of ourselves; we thought of the patients who were suffering. That is what it means to be truly human: to live in relationship, to reach out beyond oneself.

The first reading presents Solomon, a young king entrusted with a great responsibility. Faced with the weight of leadership, he does not ask for wealth, success, or power. Instead, he asks for wisdom-an understanding heart to discern between good and evil. His request is not self-serving; it is for the good of the people entrusted to him. Because his heart is rightly ordered, God grants him not only wisdom but also what he did not ask for.

The Gospel reveals the same spirit in Jesus. Though tired, though seeking rest with his disciples, Jesus sees the crowd and is moved with compassion. He does not turn inward; he turns outward. Seeing them as sheep without a shepherd, he teaches them many things. Jesus fulfills what Solomon prefigures-yet he is far greater than Solomon. Jesus is not merely given wisdom; he is the wisdom and Word of God.

This contrast is crucial. Adam and Eve desired to discern good and evil apart from God, to replace God. Solomon sought wisdom from God in order to serve others. Jesus, the Wisdom of God incarnate, gives himself completely for his people, even unto death on the cross.

So today we must ask ourselves:
Why do we seek God?
Is it for our own benefit alone?
Or do we seek God to know his will, to obey his word, and to serve others selflessly?

The Psalm gives us the answer:
“How shall the young remain pure on their way? By obeying your word.”

True wisdom is not knowledge for self-advancement. True wisdom is obedience to God, humility of heart, and compassion for others, even when we are tired, afraid, or stretched beyond comfort.

As we celebrate this Eucharist, let us pray for the grace to seek God not for what he can give us, but for who he is, so that, like Solomon and above all like Christ, we may discern rightly, live faithfully, and serve generously.

Amen

God bless you

Have a great weekend. 

Mass Readings for February 6, 2026

Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs

First Reading: (Sirach 47:2–11)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 18:31, 47, 50–51)
Alleluia: (Luke 8:15)
Gospel: (Mark 6:14–29)

From the first reading:

(Sirach 47:2–11)

David is praised as God’s chosen servant, victorious in battle, faithful in worship, and sustained by divine mercy. His strength, courage, and kingship are revealed not as personal achievements, but as gifts from God. Though imperfect, David’s heart remained deeply oriented toward the Lord, marked by repentance, praise, and enduring love for God.

PSALM, Psalm 18

Response: Blessed be God my salvation!

God’s way is perfect, and His promises are unfailing.
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
The psalmist proclaims God’s greatness among the nations and praises His saving power.
The Lord grants victory and steadfast love to His anointed, showing mercy across generations.

Alleluia: (Luke 8:15)

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart, and yield a harvest through perseverance.

GOSPEL: (Mark 6:14–29)

King Herod hears of Jesus and is seized by fear, believing that John the Baptist has risen from the dead. The Gospel then recalls the events leading to John’s martyrdom. John had been imprisoned for condemning Herod’s unlawful marriage to Herodias. Though Herod recognized John as righteous and holy, Herodias harbored a grudge and sought his death.

During a banquet celebrating Herod’s birthday, Herodias’ daughter danced and pleased the king. Bound by his oath and fearful of losing face before his guests, Herod granted her request. Prompted by her mother, she asked for the head of John the Baptist. Though deeply distressed, Herod ordered John’s beheading. John’s disciples later came, took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

REFLECTION:

Today’s memorial honors Saint Paul Miki and his companions, martyrs of Japan who, like John the Baptist, remained faithful to Christ even unto death. Their witness echoes the courage of David and the steadfast trust proclaimed in today’s Psalm.

John the Baptist spoke the truth of God without fear, even when that truth confronted power, immorality, and corruption. Saint Paul Miki did the same, proclaiming Christ openly as he was led to crucifixion. Both lives remind us that authentic discipleship sometimes demands costly honesty and unwavering fidelity.

The Gospel also warns us of the danger of pride and fear. Herod knew that John was righteous and holy, and he even enjoyed listening to him. Yet when faced with a choice between truth and reputation, Herod chose pride over righteousness. Fear of human opinion became a prison that led to an irreversible and tragic decision.

In contrast, the First Reading presents us with a heart like David’s. Sirach praises David not because he was flawless, but because he loved God wholeheartedly. When he fell, he repented. When he was blessed, he praised. His life teaches us that God does not seek perfection, but a heart that continually turns back to Him.

The Alleluia reminds us that a generous heart, one that receives God’s word and perseveres, bears fruit. Faithfulness is not measured by comfort or success, but by endurance. The martyrs understood this truth deeply. Their perseverance became a harvest for the Church and a testimony that still speaks today.

PRAYER TODAY:

Lord God,
grant us the courage of John the Baptist,
the repentant and worshipful heart of David,
and the fearless witness of Saint Paul Miki and his companions.
Strengthen us to choose truth over comfort,
faith over fear,
and perseverance over compromise.
May our lives bear abundant fruit for Your glory.
Amen.

God bless you

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Pal Ronnie 

Mass Readings and Reflection for Thursday February 5th 2026

First Reading: (1 Kings 2:1–4, 10–12)

Responsorial Psalm: (1 Chronicles 29:10–12)

Response: Lord, you are exalted over all.

Alleluia: (Mark 1:15)-The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in God.

Gospel: (Mark 6:7–13)

Reflection:

The Gospel reading today presents us once again with a moment of mission. Jesus sends out the Twelve, much like the earlier sending of the seventy-two. In this repeated action, a clear pattern emerges, one that defines what it truly means to live the Christian life.

Our faith is, at its core, missionary. To be a Christian is to be sent. And this mission is never meant to be lived in isolation. Jesus sends the apostles out two by two, reminding us that faith is always lived in communion. Whether in families, parishes, religious communities, or groups engaged in social action, discipleship is both communal and missionary. We are not only called to believe, but to go forth together and witness to the Gospel in the world.

Jesus also gives very concrete instructions to those he sends. They are told not to bring excess, no food, no sack, no money, no extra tunic. This simplicity is not meant to romanticize poverty or hardship. Rather, it is an invitation to radical trust. The less we cling to, the more space we create for God to act. Simplicity becomes an expression of faith, a sign that our confidence rests not in what we carry, but in the One who sends us.

This kind of trust is beautifully captured in the prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola: “Take, Lord, and receive all that I have and possess. Give me only your love and your grace. That is enough for me.” When we entrust everything to God, we discover that His love and grace truly are sufficient. Simplicity, then, is not loss, it is freedom. It allows us to be disposed according to God’s will, ready to serve wherever and however He calls.

Underlying this call to mission and simplicity is a deeper assurance: that God Himself brings the mission to completion. The work is ultimately His. Our role is to discern faithfully, not only what God asks us to do, but how He asks us to do it. Jesus’ instructions to the apostles are clear and detailed, teaching us that discernment includes the manner of our service, not just its goal.

This discernment is especially important in our engagement with the world, including social action. We act as Church, bringing the Gospel worldview into every work of justice, development, and transformation. It is the Gospel that gives meaning and direction to our mission.

Today, we are invited to revisit these essential dimensions of our faith. We are a missionary people, called to live and serve in communities. We are called to simplicity, born of complete trust in God. And we are called to discernment, trusting that when we act according to God’s will and in His way, He Himself will bring everything to fulfillment.

May we have the grace to say, with humility and confidence, “Lord, I want to do this, not my way, but the way You want it done.”

Amen 

God bless you all

Mass Readings and Reflection for Wednesday February 4th 2026

First Reading: (2 Samuel 24:1–10, 15–17)

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 32:1–2, 5, 6, 7)

Response: Forgive, Lord, the guilt of my sin.

Gospel Acclamation: (Matthew 4:4)

Alleluia, alleluia.
Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: (Mark 6:1–6)

Reflection

The mass readings today is a call to examine a subtle but dangerous spiritual error: mistaking stewardship for ownership.

In the First Reading, King David orders a census of Israel. On the surface, this seems harmless, after all, is he not the king? But Scripture reveals the deeper issue. Israel does not belong to David; Israel belongs to God. David’s role is that of a steward, not a lord. By counting the people as though they were his possession, David crosses a spiritual boundary. His action springs not from obedience, but from pride and self-reliance.

This is why the sin carries social consequences. Pride is never private. When leaders forget that what they govern is entrusted, not owned, entire communities suffer. David recognizes this and pleads with God: “It is I who sinned… but these sheep, what have they done?” True repentance always accepts responsibility.

The Responsorial Psalm echoes this movement of the heart, from guilt to confession, from confession to mercy. God does not desire punishment; He desires truth in the heart and humility before Him.

The Gospel presents the same sin in a quieter form. The people of Nazareth reduce Jesus to what they think they know: the carpenter, the son of Mary, the familiar face. Their pride blinds them. Because they believe they already understand Him, they cannot receive Him. Familiarity becomes an obstacle to faith.

My dear friends in Christ, we fall into the same error whenever we take pride in our achievements, our families, our positions, or even our faith itself, as if these were our own doing. Everything we have, life, talents, relationships, resources, has been entrusted to us by God. When we forget this, pride creeps in, and grace is resisted.

Today’s Word warns us gently but firmly: never confuse what is given with what is owned. We are stewards, not masters. One day, we will be asked to give an account, not of what we possessed, but of how faithfully we served.

May God almighty grant us the grace of humility, the courage of honest repentance, and the wisdom to recognize His work even when it comes through what feels familiar. Through Christ our Lord. 

God bless you

St. Blaise Pray for Us

Mass Readings and Reflection for Feb 3rd, 2026

• 1st Reading: (2 Samuel 18:9–10, 14, 24–25, 30–19:3) 

The death of Absalom and David’s profound grief. 

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 86:1–6). A cry of the poor asking God to listen and have mercy. 

Gospel: (Mark 5:21–43).

Jesus heals the woman with the hemorrhage and raises Jairus’ daughter. 

Reflection

Theological Themes Healing:

1. The Heart of the Father (2 Samuel 18–19)

• David’s love and anguish over Absalom, despite Absalom’s betrayal.
• A king whose justice and mercy collide as he faces the consequences of sin within his own family.

Th Theological Insights:

• God’s fatherly compassion surpasses even David’s.
  David cries, “Would that I had died instead of you!”.
  This foreshadows the self-giving love of God-fulfilled in Christ, who actually dies in our place.
• The text reveals the brokenness of human freedom: sin wounds relationships; mercy bears its cost.

2. The Cry of the Poor (Psalm 86)

The psalmist describes:

• Human poverty of spirit
• God’s steadfast mercy and responsiveness
• The heart of prayer: dependence on the Lord alone

Theology:

• Psalm 86 anticipates the Beatitudes: those who know their need for God are closest to Him.
• It also harmonizes with today’s Gospel: those who cry out in need (the hemorrhaging woman, Jairus) are heard.

3. Christ the Healer and Life-Giver (Mark 5:21–43)

In this Gospel, Jesus:

• Heals a woman suffering for 12 years
• Raises a 12‑year‑old girl from death

Theological depth:

• Faith as participation in Christ’s power:
  “Your faith has saved you” (summarized) teaches that faith is not magic but relationship.
• Jesus restores what sin and death steal:
  He heals physical suffering and reveals His authority over death.
• The dual miracle shows Christ’s tenderness toward suffering bodies, making today especially fitting for the Blessing of the Throats on St. Blaise’s feast.

 St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr -Feast Day Theology

St. Blaise (4th century):

• Bishop of Sebaste
• Known for healing miracles, especially of the throat
• Martyred for the faith

The traditional blessing:

“Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness.”

Theological significance:

• The blessing is not superstition.
• It is an invocation of Christ’s healing power through the communion of saints.
• St. Blaise, a physician of bodies and souls, mirrors Christ the Divine Physician.
• This feast, combined with today’s Gospel, illuminates how God works bodily, spiritually, and sacramentally to restore His people.

Integrated Reflection: The Father’s Compassion and Christ’s Healing

Today’s liturgy places three powerful images side by side:

1. David weeping over the death of his son
2. A psalmist crying for mercy
3. Two desperate people begging Jesus for healing

All three forms of suffering-parental grief, personal vulnerability, and physical illness-meet their fulfillment in Christ.

1. Christ is the fulfillment of David’s cry.

David wishes he could die for Absalom, but cannot.
Christ does die for sinners who rebel us.

2. Christ answers the plea of Psalm 86.

The psalmist begs God to bend down and hear.
In Jesus, God literally bends down into human misery, touching the unclean and raising the dead.

3. Christ transforms suffering  He does not avoid it.

• The hemorrhaging woman finds healing not through isolation but through encounter.
• Jairus’ daughter is raised not from a distance but by Christ taking her hand.

4. St. Blaise reminds us that healing continues in the Church.

The blessing of throats is a sign:

• that our bodies matter,
• that Christ still heals,
• and that the communion of saints is active in the life of the faithful.

Spiritual Application for Today

A. Do you carry grief like David?

Offer it to the One whose heart is pierced for you.

B. Do you cry from the depths like the psalmist?

Let your poverty become prayer.

C. Are you suffering in body or soul like those in the Gospel?

Come forward in faith, Christ still heals through the sacraments, the saints, and the Church.

D. Receive the St. Blaise blessing with theological clarity.

It is:

• a prayer for protection,
• an act of faith in Christ’s healing,
• and a reminder that holiness embraces both body and soul.

God bless you, 

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