OUR HOMILISTS
Rev. Fr. Nelson Lobo, OFM Cap. is a preacher, teacher, writer, author, blogger, YouTuber, gardener & animal lover. He has served in many places and in different ministries. He is based in Kuwait and is the Director of Catechism, Faith Formation and Bible Studies in AVONA. He is active on various social media platforms including:
https://youtube.com/@WonderingGuru
https://youtube.com/@goemkarguru
https://wonderingguru22.blogspot.com
Category Archives: Fr. Franco Pereira SDB
Year A – The Ascension of the Lord
“I am with you always” “I am with you always” (Mt 28:20) Seeking redress for injustice is a human need: when we perceive that we are unjustly treated we want justice to be restored. There are mainly two ways in … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Easter, 2022-2023
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Year A – Sixth Sunday of Easter
Lessons from the Ministry of Philip, the Deacon During the Eastertide we hear so much from and about the Acts of the Apostles. The first reading of today focuses on the ministry of Philip, one of those seven who were … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Easter, 2022-2023
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Year A – Fourth Sunday of Easter
Jesus, the Shepherd, is the Gate to Abundant Life (Jn 10:1-10) Every year, the 4th Sunday of Easter is celebrated as the Good Shepherd Sunday and Vocations Sunday. Each year, for the gospel reading, we hear one part of John … Continue reading
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Year A – Third Sunday of Easter
The Eucharistic Celebration at Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35) As is the case often, there are several possible reflections on the gospel text of today. I would like to suggest that Lk 24:13-35 bears resemblance to the Eucharistic liturgy that we celebrate … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Easter, 2022-2023
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Year A – Second Sunday of Easter
FROM A COMMUNITARIAN FAITH TO A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF JESUS Today, as we conclude the octave of Easter – eight day celebration of this great feast – the Gospel passage of today concludes the series of events that we heard … Continue reading
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Year A – EASTER – The Resurrection of the Lord
EASTER LOVE- HE IS RISEN The other meaning of Easter is LOVE Love because it was the love of God that he not just send his Son to be with us, but to die for us and for our sins … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Easter, 2022-2023
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Year A – Holy (Maundy) Thursday
REFLECTIONS FOR HOLY THURSDAY REFLECTION 1 HOMILY STARTER ANECDOTES # 1: Man in the International Space Station Astronaut Mike Hopkins was one of the select few who spent six months on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2013. And though … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Lent, 2022-2023
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Year A – Palm Sunday
The King on a Donkey en-route to Die Today we begin the week of weeks in the liturgical calendar: the Holy Week. Today we begin the commemoration of the high points in the history of salvation: the passion, death and … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Lent, 2022-2023
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Year A – Fifth Sunday of Lent
True Faith is Alive Bethany was a town near Jerusalem where Jesus was evidently a frequent visitor (Mk 11:11; 14:3: Lk 10:38); Mary and Martha are presumably well known to John’s readers, Mary being identified as the woman who anointed … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Lent, 2022-2023
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Year A – Fourth Sunday of Lent
Coming to see Jesus, the Light of the World The gospel reading of this Sunday (the 2nd in the sequel) invites us to reflect on the story of the encounter between Jesus, the man born blind, his parents, and the … Continue reading
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Year A – Third Sunday of Lent
Restoring our Relationship with God One of the purposes of Lent is to restore one’s relationship with God as indicated in today’s readings. In today’ Gospel we see how Jesus helps the Samaritan woman to restore her relationship with God. … Continue reading
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Year A – Second Sunday of Lent
Transfiguration: Towards an Experience of God in Jesus Mountains are perceived to be locations of God-experience in many traditional cultures and in many world religions. This is true also in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It is not by chance then that … Continue reading
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Year A – First Sunday of Lent
Temptations: The Journey through the Wilderness ‘Forty’ is symbolic of a generation, a lifetime. The people of Israel walked in the wilderness for forty years (Dt 8:2). Practically, it was a new generation that entered ‘the Promised Land’ (Num 32:13). … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Lent, 2022-2023
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Year A – Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
“You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Mt 5:48 Dachauwas the first Nazi concentration camp to be opened. It was basically a forced labor camp. Today it is open to the public. In this memorial … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Ordinary Time I, 2022-2023
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Year A – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Your Righteousness Must Go Deeper (Mt 5:20) The powerful invitation of the Sermon on the Mount, that we continue to listen to in the gospel reading of today, is to embrace the previous revelation of God and to be available … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Ordinary Time I, 2022-2023
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Year A – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
You are the salt of the earth… and light of the World (Mt 5:13-14) The sentences that we hear in the gospel reading of today immediately follow the Beatitudes. It is still part of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Ordinary Time I, 2022-2023
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Year A – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Evangelizing Families “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Dear Friend, When Jesus called His disciples, He told them to come and follow Him. Jesus wanted His disciples to have His joy that is … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Ordinary Time I, 2022-2023
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Year A – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
“At once, leaving the boat and their father, they followed him” (Mt 4:12-23) The gospel text of today from Matthew narrates to us the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus in Capernaum. It was one of the principal towns … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Ordinary Time I, 2022-2023
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Year A – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Life Journey of John the Baptist (Jn 1:29-34) In the liturgical calendar, we are back to the ordinary time. But in our gospel reading there is an attempt to make the liturgy of today special. Perhaps it is just … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Ordinary Time I, 2022-2023
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Year A – Solemnity of Our Lady of Arabia
MOTHER MOST ADMIRABLE Among the divinely inspired passages of Sacred Scripture, the one from the twelfth chapter of the Apocalypse is a compendium of all the great things that can be said or thought of our marvelous Queen. “A great … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Ordinary Time I, 2022-2023
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Year A – The Epiphany of the Lord
Epiphany: God is made visible! (Mt 2:1-12) In most cultures, one of the games that children play is “hide and seek”, with many variants – tag, sardines, or hidey (in Scotland). There is a lot of fun in finding hidden … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Christmas, 2022-2023
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Year A – Feast of the Holy Family
HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH Abraham Lincoln was asked “If you had a second chance to be horn, how would you like your birth to be?” “I want to be born to the same parents, same poverty, and cobblers by professions.” … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Christmas, 2022-2023
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Year A – CHRISTMAS – The Nativity of the Lord
Wish you a holy, peaceful and joyful Christmas! Here is the Christmas Video Message of our Apostolic Administrator HE Bishop Paul Hinder, OFM Cap.
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Christmas, 2022-2023
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Year A – Fourth Sunday of Advent
“You must name him Jesus” (Mt 1:21) We are all aware of the annunciation of angel Gabriel to Mary. When we think of annunciation, we only think of the annunciation to Mary (Lk 1:26-38). It is interesting to note that … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Advent, 2022-2023
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Year A – Third Sunday of Advent
SPIRITUALITY OF WAITING One day, I had to travel across the city on a weekday during the morning rush hour to preside at a Eucharistic celebration. The internet estimated that my journey would take about an hour and a half, … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Advent, 2022-2023
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Year A – Second Sunday of Advent
“As they were baptized they confessed their sins” A priest went to hear confessions of boys in a boarding school. As the priest went to this place every Saturday to hear confessions, he would find about 10 to 15 boys … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR A, Advent, 2022-2023
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Year A – First Sunday of Advent
BEHOLD, HE COMES! Readings: Isaiah 2: 1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44; Arrivals can be interesting and exciting, especially when the situation or person expected is long awaited. The coming of a near and dear one, the expected new addition to … Continue reading
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Year C – Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
CHRIST THE KING It was to challenge some unkind kings that (one of the reasons) the feast of today was introduced by Pope Pius XI in 1925. It was a warning against the totalitarian governments of the 20th century. It … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Day of the Lord (Lk 21:5-19) I was rushing to catch a bus to college. Two young men accosted me in a rather friendly manner. I was almost near the bus stop, so I stopped by to listen to … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A FRUITFUL PRAYER LIFE Introduction: Spirituality does not consist in following some rituals or doing some spiritual exercises such as vocal prayers, novenas, pilgrimages etc. Limiting oneself to these things will lead to religiosity. Today’s readings invite us to begin … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Perseverance in Prayer (Luke 18: 1-8) In life we look at the quality of perseverance in different ways in like. If a young child is persistent we say the child is bold, if politicians are persistent we say they are … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
He threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him (Lk 17:11-19) A few years back, while back in India for holidays, I was once traveling by train. It was past the lunch time and I was anxiously waiting … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
“We have done no more than our duty” (Lk 17:5-10) The Spirituality of Daily life In the late 1990’s, CNN, the American news channel, ran an ad in the print media that made a deep impression on me: not necessarily … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Responsibility Towards Others! Readings: Amos 6: 1, 4-7; 1 Timothy 6: 11-16 Luke 16: 19-31; There are times when we look at ourselves and honestly feel that we are living good lives because we are not doing anything wrong to … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Use Money to Win You Friends (Lk 16:1-16) A clear message in the gospels: Renunciation The gospel of this Sunday, this is one of the repeated themes in the gospels: · In the Beatitudes, Jesus begins with a counter-cultural statement, … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Lost Son (Lk 15:1-3, 11-32) Today is one of those days when I feel a homily might steal the gospel reading of its depth. The parable that we heard read is a much-quoted story and we are all too … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Remember, you are following a martyr! (Lk 14:25-33) Our world today has too many celebrities and very few heroes. Our contemporary culture focuses so much on celebrities. The media hypes up stars in sports, entertainment, and popular culture. Often these … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Virtue of Humility Humility, the forgotten virtue? There is an online test for these character strengths, also referred to as “Values in Action” (https://www.viacharacter.org/www/ ). This survey would point out to you your most developed and least developed character … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Narrow Door (Lk13:22-30) When you were in school, did you prefer easy-going teachers to demanding ones? In the gospel reading of today, Luke presents Jesus as a demanding teacher. This portrayal of Jesus is very unlike Luke. For instance, … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Disturb me, Lord…! When I read the gospel reading of today, a phrase kept coming back to me very spontaneously. It was the first line of a prayer that I had heard before. I googled and came across this poem-prayer, … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Spiritual Capital: Treasures in Heaven (Lk 12:32-48) During the course of the past week, I happened to chance upon a former student of mine, thanks to the Facebook. We had a brief chat. I was intrigued by what he was … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Seek the Things that are in Heaven (Lk 12:13-21) “What stone?” asked the sage. “Last night I was told in a dream that if I went to the outskirts of the village at dusk, a sage would give me a … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Ask, Seek, Knock (Lk 11:1-13 Let me begin with a story from Tony de Mello – shortened here: The village priest was a holy man so each time the people were in trouble they had recourse to him. He would … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mary sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. (Lk 10:38-42) One of the realities that we notice in urban life today, across the globe, is speed. I feel sucked into speed. I get into a car … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Moved with pity… he went up and bandaged his wounds (Lk 10:25-37) There are many parables that are unique to the Gospel of Luke. The parable of the lost son (Lk 15:11-32), the parable of Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31), the parable … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
SHARE THE GOOD NEWS Start off now, I am sending you out… A few years ago, a priest wrote a short reflection in the Diocesan Newsletter of the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya. The reflection was entitled, “Away with Motorcars and … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Are we ready to follow Jesus! There are several films on Jesus. Each movie has its own take on the life and message of Jesus as narrated by the Gospels and, sometimes also, using extra-biblical sources. One of my own … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
CORPUS CHRISTI The blood transfusion Shortly after undergoing major surgery, a woman decided to put her thoughts in writing. She wrote: ‘When someone said that when Jesus referred to the Passover wine as his blood, and then shared it with … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Three Persons in One: The God of Relationship Social scientists these days are pointing out the increase of spirituality in the contemporary world, a spirituality that is not only distinct but often separate from institutional religion. According to one author, … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time II, 2021-2022
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Year C – Pentecost Sunday
Receive the Holy Spirit In the recent years I have been travelling and living in different cultural contexts. The question, “Where do you come from,” has become so difficult for me to answer. I am sure, these days many people … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Easter, 2021-2022
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Year C – The Ascension of the Lord
Eyes Fixed on Heaven and Feet Firm on the Earth Luke tells us in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:3) that Jesus was seen in his risen form for forty days. After those forty days, Jesus was no more … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Easter, 2021-2022
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Year C – Sixth Sunday of Easter
I am going away, and shall return John 14:23-29 Have you ever felt that Jesus was absent in your life? Have you ever felt that God was far away? Sometime back I was talking to a young friend of mine … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Easter, 2021-2022
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Year C – Fifth Sunday of Easter
Love one another, just as I have loved you From the Golden Rule to a Programme of Life Many Diocesan Catechisms, after listing the Ten Commandments would immediately add, “And these can be summarised in two Commandments: –‘You must love … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Easter, 2021-2022
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Year C – Fourth Sunday of Easter
I am known to the Shepherd (Jn 10:27-30) With the increasing urban life, young people of today might think, oranges are just churned out of factories. The only fruits that they may be familiar with are: Apple products, Black-berries and … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Easter, 2021-2022
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Year C – Third Sunday of Easter
Peter’s Mentor: The Beloved Disciple (Jn 21:1-19) In the liturgy, since the beginning of the Easter Triduum (the three days before Easter), through the Eastertide we hear so much from the Gospel of John. In the passion narrative and in … Continue reading
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Year C – Divine Mercy Sunday
In Jesus, I trust. One day a nurse at a hospital heard cries of ‘Help! Help!” coming from the room of a 96 year old woman who had broken her hip. They rushed in to find that she was just … Continue reading
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Year C – EASTER – The Resurrection of the Lord
WITNESS IS ONE WHO “SAW” THE LORD The words with which John begins his first letter are moving: “What we have heard and have seen with our own eyes, what we have looked at, and touched with our hands, I … Continue reading
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Year C – Easter Vigil
DO NOT LOOK FOR THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD We Christian are convinced we are custodians of an excellent project of humanity and society. We are proud if the noble and elevated moral proposal that we preach is recognized. We … Continue reading
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Year C – Good Friday
WE CONTEMPLATED A LOVE STRONGER THAN DEATH The dramatic agony on the cross has often led the preachers of the past to insist excessively on the gory aspects of Jesus’ passion. From this preaching, images, popular representations, and some devotions, … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Lent, 2021-2022
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Year C – Maundy Thursday
JESUS: BROKEN BREAD, OFFERED AS NOURISHMENT Among the many names by which the Eucharist was called, the one that best expresses the meaning and richness of the sacrament is the breaking of the bread. The disciples of Emmaus recognized the … Continue reading
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Year C – Palm Sunday
The King on a Pony en route to Die Lk 19:28-40 (Before the Procession) Today we begin the week of weeks in the liturgical calendar: the Holy Week. Today we begin the commemoration of the high points in the history … Continue reading
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Year C – Fifth Sunday of Lent
The Man Caught In Adultery! Jesus was teaching in the temple in the midst of his disciples, when some Pharisees and the Scribes brought to him a man who was caught in the very act of adultery. “Master, this man … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Lent, 2021-2022
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Year C – Fourth Sunday of Lent
The Good Boy and the Bad Boy (Lk 15:1-3, 11-32) SToday is one of those days, when I feel, a homily might steal the gospel reading of its depth. The parable that we heard read is a much-quoted story and … Continue reading
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Year C – Third Sunday of Lent
The God Who Offers Me A Second Chance (Lk 13:1-9) Is the God you believe in, a coach or a referee? What does a coach do, for instance, in the context of football? He trains his team before the match. … Continue reading
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Year C – Second Sunday of Lent
Our Families and Transfiguration Climbing the mountain, we normally have those who pitch their tents at the base and enjoy what life gives them; campers as we would call them. The others are like the hikers who climb the mountain; … Continue reading
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Year C – First Sunday of Lent
The Journey through the Wilderness Pleasure, Possessions, Power It is this journey that the Season of Lent reminds us of! It is the nature of this journey that the gospel reading of today narrates to us from the life of … Continue reading
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Year C – Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
When it Comes to Conversion, it is I First! In one of his daily sermons (on 19 May 2017), Pope Francis said, some people “use rigidness to cover weaknesses, sins, personality flaws, and they use rigidness to rank themselves above … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time I, 2021-2022
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Year C – Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Compassion is Christian Perfection We continue to listen to the Sermon on the Plains from the Gospel of Luke (6:12-49). Last Sunday we reflected on the Lukan version of the Beatitudes. What we come across in Luke is a briefer … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time I, 2021-2022
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Year C – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
People of the Beatitudes! Readings: Jer 17: 5-8; 1 Cor 15: 12, 16-20; Luke 6: 17, 20-26; If anyone said to us, “You are blest because you are poor, hungry, sad and rejected”, we would think that person was crazy. … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time I, 2021-2022
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Year C – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
I say, “Leave me, Lord!” God says, “Do not be afraid!” Lk 5 There is this musical called, ‘The Witness’ by Jimmy & Carol Owens. It is a musical which narrates the life and ministry of Jesus as witnessed by … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time I, 2021-2022
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Year C – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Lk 4:21-30) The Rejection of God Have you ever been rejected by a group of people? If you are a teacher – and a capable one, you might have an experience of being rejected by a class. If you are … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time I, 2021-2022
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Year C – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR (Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21) One of the popular books that have inspired me a great deal is The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. Supposedly, the book has sold more than 15 million … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time I, 2021-2022
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Year C – Solemnity of Our Lady of Arabia
(Celebrated on 14, 15 & 16 January 2022) The central message of the song is clear: the marginalized as well as the oppressed of society are central figures in God’s sight; God does His best work with powerless people; God’s … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Ordinary Time I, 2021-2022
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Year C – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
God is here: There is abundance! (Jn 2:1-11) Today we begin the Sundays in Ordinary Time of the liturgical year. This year, generally we would listen to the gospel readings from the Gospel of Luke. However, this Sunday we read … Continue reading
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Year C – The Baptism of the Lord
Called to be Active Participants Today we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. With this feast we conclude the Christmastide. What could this feast mean for us? To answer this question, first we need to ask ourselves … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR C, Christmas, 2021-2022
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Year C – The Epiphany of the Lord
ENCOUNTERING JESUS The Gifts Gold, frankincense and myrrh may be thought of as prophesying Jesus’ future. Gold was a gift for kings; frankincense (an ancient air purifier and perfume) was offered to God in Temple worship (Ex. 30:37); and myrrh … Continue reading
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Year C – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
MARY MOTHER OF GOD Let us as we begin this Eucharist that is, THANKSGIVING, by bringing to our mind the many things we would like to thank the Good Lord that we received in 2021. To prepare ourselves to enter … Continue reading
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Year C – CHRISTMAS – The Nativity of the Lord
GOD IS WITH US Introduction: We have come today to celebrate “God is with us” (Emmanuel). For the past four weeks we have been preparing ourselves spiritually to welcome Jesus in our lives, just as God from all eternity has … Continue reading
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Year C – Fourth Sunday of Advent
THE LORD IS NEAR We have arrived at the final Sunday of Advent. As it is always, some of us have come to this day prepared and ready; some of us have come in disarray and a near state of … Continue reading
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Year C – Third Sunday of Advent
JOYFUL WAITING INTRODUCTION We are at the half way mark in our preparation to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is good to look into our lives and check out what has been our progress and preparation to receive … Continue reading
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Year C – Second Sunday of Advent
Prepare the Way of the Lord! Bar 5:1-9; Phil 1:4-6, 8-11; Lk 3:1-6 As we enter deeper into Advent the call is to keep hoping in the Lord and believing that God will come and change our lives. What prevents … Continue reading
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Year C – First Sunday of Advent
TAKE HEED AND BE PREPARED! Jer 33:14-16; 1 Thes 3:12–4:2; Lk 21:25-28, 34-36; As the year comes to an end we are beginning a new season, the season of Advent. Advent is a season of hope, a season of renewal. … Continue reading
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Year B – Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
ECHARISTIC ADORATION CHRIST THE KING SOLEMNITY Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: O SALUTARIS The King of kings is here among us. Let us pay our deepest adoration and love to Him. The One who has made us not just brothers … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR B, Ordinary Time II, 2020-2021
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Year B – Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Last Days of Hope Year B (Mk 13:24-32) Everything comes to an end Since the age of 10, I have been in boarding schools. One of the exciting times in such schools is towards the end of term when … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR B, Ordinary Time II, 2020-2021
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Year B – Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
God Prefers Generosity from the Heart There are two ways of being generous: the way of the scribes, and the way of the widow. The scribes were the experts in interpreting the Law of Moses, and the Law of Moses … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR B, Ordinary Time II, 2020-2021
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Year B – Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Three Dimensional Spirituality A conviction that deep contemplative prayer facilitates a three-dimensional spirituality (3D spirituality). I realized that at the core of Christianity is a way of life that integrates a wholesome relationship with the self, the other, and God. … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR B, Ordinary Time II, 2020-2021
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Year B – Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me (Mk 10: 47) The gospel story of this Sunday has many meaningful aspects for meditation. In the reflection below I focus on this powerful prayer: “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR B, Ordinary Time II, 2020-2021
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Year B – Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Power of Suffering and Service Pleasure, Possessions and Power We are created to be happy. Our pursuit of happiness revolves around, and often misled by, the three P-wants: Pleasure, Possession, and Power. Pleasure is the ability to enjoy positive … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR B, Ordinary Time II, 2020-2021
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Year B – Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Do not be possessed by possessions Here is a story from Tony de Mello: When the sage reached the outskirts of the village and settled under a tree for the night, a villager came running up to him and said, … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR B, Ordinary Time II, 2020-2021
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Year B – Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Let the Children Come to me, in Families! (Mk 10: 2-16) ,Once again, the gospel text of today invites us to revisit Jesus’ mind regarding marriage and family. I would like to look at two dimensions emerging from the longer … Continue reading
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Year B – Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Stumbling blocks or stepping-stones. Num: 11:16-17, 25-29; Jam 5: 1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48; It sometimes happens that when misfortune befalls us or when disaster strikes, we sometimes wish other too have a taste of the same, but when good … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR B, Ordinary Time II, 2020-2021
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Year B – Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Powerless in His Kingdom Wisd 2: 12, 17-20. James 3: 16- 4:3. Mark 9: 30-37. Mohamed Ali, the one-time heavy weight champion would often boast, “I am the greatest!”, and people believed he was. We may not openly claim to … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR B, Ordinary Time II, 2020-2021
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Year B – Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Superstar with the Scar “Anyone who loses his life…will save it” (Mk 8:35). The great orator Bishop Fulton Sheen in one of his many sermons makes a positive comment on the eagerness of Apostle Thomas wanting to put his … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR B, Ordinary Time II, 2020-2021
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Year B – Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Look, your God is coming”: The Messiah is here! “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of Christianity.” May be you’ve heard this expression before. It was written by one of the Church Fathers, Tertullian (197 AD). This sentence … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR B, Ordinary Time II, 2020-2021
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Year B – Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
From Religious Traditions to Religious Spirituality Some of the recent, popular books in the study of religion include, Why God Won’t Go Away?, God is Back, and A New Religious America. What these books suggest is that secularism as a … Continue reading
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Year B – Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
You have the message of eternal life, and we believe! (Jn 6:69) With today’s gospel reading we conclude the five weeks of reflection on the Bread of Life from John 6. This conclusion offers a mixed sense of reaction to … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR B, Ordinary Time I, 2020-2021
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Year B – Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY What is common in the Mass readings today is “movement.” In the first reading (Day Mass) we see a mother about to give birth: there is movement from the womb into the world. Another movement is … Continue reading
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Year B – Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“The bread … for the life of the world” (Jn 6:51) Some years back, I was staying at the Salesian community in Florence, Italy, for a few weeks. Florence is known for its art and architecture. Following that great tradition, … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR B, Ordinary Time II, 2020-2021
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Year B – Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Jn 6:24-35) Do you seek the bread that the Father gives, or do you seek the Father who gives you bread? <p style="text-align: justify"A few years ago a priest was back in India on his home-leave. And he met a … Continue reading
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Year B – Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
From Emptiness to Abundance (Jn 6:1-15) Which is the only miracle of Jesus (besides the healing of the blind man – with differences in detail!) that is narrated in all the four gospels with similar details? It is the miracle … Continue reading
Posted in Fr. Franco Pereira SDB, YEAR B, Ordinary Time II, 2020-2021
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